Twycross Zoo

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Twycross Zoo (also known as the 'World Primate Centre') is a large zoo in a village called Twycross on the border of Leicestershire (on the A444 about 3 miles off the A42/M42). The zoo was founded in 1963 by 2 remarkable ladies called Molly Badham and Nathalie Evans.

It is notable for having the largest collection of Primates in the world, including the UK's only group of breeding Bonobos (which joined the zoo back in 1992). It is also known for it's collection of Chimpanzees of which some of them were the original PG Tip Chimps.

Other Primates here include Gorillas, Orang-utan, the worlds largest collection of Gibbons & Siamangs, also Lemurs and many other old and new world Monkeys.

Twycross Zoo also holds collections of many other animals, most of them endangered, they include the rarest Big Cat in the world, the Amur Leopard, of which only 30-40 remain in the wild, and a further 140+ in captivity, and recently had 2 rare male twin Leopards born. Also here are Asiatic Lions, Asian Elephants, Giraffes, Camels, Sea Lions, Penguins, many other Mammals, Birds and some Reptiles.

Twycross Zoo has recently been undergoing many exciting new developments including work on the Elephant paddock, which includes the UK's largest Elephant pool and a large sand area. Other work include a new Wetland area where many species of birds can be seen. (Completion around June 2007). The zoo have completed work on a new Tropical Amazon Rainforest in 2005 where some animals are roaming free inside including many Bird species, Iguanas, Common Marmosets, Fruit Bat cave, and a snake behind glass area.

The zoo is open all year round except Christmas day from 10am.

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