ICSM Business Insolvency News: concerns for suppliers to Zoos and Wildlife Parks as financial problems mount – some go bust, sell up or close expensive tropical features

Byharrymottram

 Feb 4, 2026

By Harry Mottram: Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo were put up for sale last year, Axe Valley Wildlife Park has closed down and Helsinki’s Ahtari Zoo has been sold for one euro with all these animal attractions suffering the same problems: historic debt, rising costs and falling visitor numbers. Borth Wild Animal Kingdom in Wales was wound up in 2021 with debts exceeding £100,000, while Jersey Zoo had to implement cost cutting measures including closing an expensive to heat tropical fruit bat house which needed replacing after it made a loss of £4.8million in 2024.

Fortunately for Paignton and Newquay Zoos they have been saved after they were bought by Dutch leisure company Libéma in December. But others have seen the gates closed and the pens and enclosures emptied as the animals are found new homes like Cleethorpe’s Zoo. In the case of Marineland in France that has proved tricky since they have two killer whales or Orcas to find homes for. Zoo animals cannot be released back into the wild (or sea) as they are used to being fed and looked after and would die fairly quickly if forced to fend for themselves in most cases.

Ian Carrotte of ICSM Business said zoos are no different from the hospitality industry or holiday sector. He said: “Poor weather during the school holidays can cause a drop in footfall, while hikes in energy costs are a major factor as many of the animals such as snakes and lizards from the tropics need constant heating in their enclosures. Jersey Zoo closed part of their reptile house for this reason as electricity and gas prices have increased. The BBC ran a survey of more than 100 zoos in the UK and almost half said they had major financial problems with some close to insolvency.”

Dartmoor Zoo gained a surge in visitors when a rare leapard cub was born called Zeya in 2025

Visiting a zoo is something many families will do when their children are young – but with the Cost-of-Living Crisis – those visits which may have been every summer and Easter holiday are cut. That means the gift shops and cafes at zoos see less trade and less income and like all businesses staffing costs with national insurance increases can push them into deficit.

“Most businesses that fail have a number of contributing factors,” said Ian Carrotte, “but for zoos if income falls, they still have fixed costs such as animal food and maintenance – if a pet dog can run up a vet’s bill think of the medical costs for lions and elephants. And if the owners fail to maintain those standards of animal health then problems quickly arise as happened at South Lakes Safari Zoo which closed having been fined hundreds of thousands of pounds in the past for allowing many of their animals to die from neglect.”

With Paignton Zoo sold and Axevale Wildlife Park shut down expect more casualties – and for suppliers more unpaid invoices. South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria closed in 2024, Living Coasts in Devon shut in the same year, and Drusillas Park in East Sussex was forced to rehome its animals last year as invoices mounted while Chester Zoo shut its aquarium as costs to modernise it were too much.

Image shows Chester Zoo’s gift shop. Those cuddly toys help to fund the upkeep of the animals. Main picture is from Cleethorpe’s Zoon, now closed down

Covid’s shutdowns didn’t help back in 2020 but zoos can go in and out of fashion with the emphasis today on education which may not be such a draw as seeing tigers and giraffes up close. However publicity created by the birth of a rare leopard cub at Dartmoor Zoo last year and an okapi at Chester Zoo make headlines – and boosted visitor numbers. So sometimes a bit of PR surrounding an unusual animal can come to the rescue of a zoo struggling to pay its bills.

Ian Carrotte said suppliers need to be careful when they see their invoices to zoos not being paid on time. He said: “They are businesses and have a huge number of suppliers and they will always prioritise the essentials like food and utilities – so always chase up their accounts department if they fail to pay – and if necessary put them on stop.”

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