Chester Zoo’s new development has been given the green light.
The project, named Grasslands, will see a huge African savannah created on the site where the zoo’s monorail stands now.
The iconic monorail took its final ride yesterday before being officially decommissioned, and will soon make way for Grasslands.
The development will be home to multiple rare and endangered creatures, such as Rothschild’s giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, ostrich and antelope.
Visitors will be able to come face-to-face with the creatures in specially designed indoor habitats.
Plans for Grassland also include a new restaurant with balcony views across the savannah, and the option for the zoo to develop overnight accommodation for guests.
Jamie Christon, the zoo’s chief operating officer, said: “Grasslands will be a phenomenal experience and will cement Chester Zoo ’s standing as one of the world’s very best attractions.
“Featuring state-of-the art conservation breeding facilities for a range of threatened African species, Grasslands will yet again see the zoo push the boundaries of world-class animal care.
“Crucially, it will bring our vital, global conservation work to life for visitors, while boosting the zoo’s charitable income to further help achieve our mission to prevent extinction, here in the UK and around the world.”
The new habitat will be bordered by the zoo’s existing African Tsavo reserve area for critically endangered Eastern back rhino and rare African painted dogs.
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