Campaigners and donors have helped raise more than £1 million in a bid to save Chester Zoo from permanent closure.
The fundraising appeal, set up following the government's ruling that the attraction should close indefinitely, has got thousands of supporters onside.
They fear the zoo may close permanently in autumn if it doesn't reopen soon.
So far, the Save Our Zoo fundraiser has raised £1,020,821 and more donations are rolling in, Chester Live reports.
Local MPs and the Cheshire community have been trying to be heard by government in a bid to get Chester Zoo reopened as soon as possible.
Jamie Christon, Chester Zoo's chief operating officer, said the zoo could close by the autumn if the government don't act soon. He said: "I hope the zoo is strong enough to survive this - we have lots of passion and support behind us which has buoyed us up, but if this goes on through the summer and gets to autumn and we're still closed then I'm afraid I can see us at the point of no return.
"We just desperately need the government to see sense."
Chester Zoo look after 35,000 animals, with animals and plants costing the charity £465,000 a month.
Launching the campaign, a zoo statement said: "Our conservationists have continued to prevent extinction, our virtual days have cheered up the nation, our learning resources have helped thousands of home-schooling families.
"We wanted to remain a beacon of hope. We really tried.
"But now, as the government has ordered we may have to stay closed indefinitely, it hurts us to say that this crisis has literally left us fighting for our future."
Staff have been told the attraction is to remain closed, despite efforts of putting strong safety measures in place to ensure it is "Covid secure".
The attraction is now appealing for the public’s help to secure its future, and the charity now needs to raise £1.6 million a month to save it.
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