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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Carmella de Lucia & Catherine Murphy

Iceland's incredible gesture to help save Chester Zoo as it 'fights for future'

Supermarket Iceland has pledged its support to Chester Zoo to help save it from closure.

Last week, Chester Zoo sent out a series of heartbreaking tweets in which its team said they are left with no choice but to "desperately" ask for help from the public to save the zoo from closing for good.

It comes as the Government ordered the site to remain closed despite safety measures put in place by the zoo's team.

Since the tweets were shared, donations have surpassed the £2m mark and bosses have been left "overwhelmed" with the reaction, although there is still a long way to go.

And now, Iceland has adopted Chester Zoo's entire rookery of Humboldt penguins and also agreed to lobby the UK government on the zoo’s behalf, encouraging current legislation to be amended to allow zoos to open with strict social distancing guidance in place, reports CheshireLive.

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Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland Foods, said: “We were all saddened to hear of Chester Zoo’s recent struggles; it’s the heart of the local community in Chester and a much loved family favourite – I remember visiting the zoo as a child and my own kids love going there.

“We’re proud to be able to lend them our support both through the adoption of the Humboldt penguins on behalf of our colleagues, and by lobbying in support of zoos being allowed to reopen soon.

"The conservation work undertaken by the zoo is vital and along with the park itself reopening it is incredibly important that this amazing work is able to continue.”

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