Do I need to wear a Face covering or mask?
Thursday 23rd July 2020
The government has made it mandatory for customers who visit shops in England to wear face coverings from 24th July 2020. We have highlighted below some key points to help you understand what you need to know about this change at Africa Alive and Banham Zoo The guidelines make it clear that our teams in both our […]
More infoHeartbreak as much-loved Amur tiger Sveta dies
Thursday 25th June 2020
Our keepers are heartbroken at the death of the much-loved female Amur tiger Sveta, which happened on 24 June during a routine contraceptive implant operation and while under anaesthetic. Following a post-mortem it is thought that the cause of her death may have been due to a heart defect. The team here at Banham Zoo […]
More infoPRESSURE MOUNTING ON GOVERNMENT TO OPEN ZOOS
Friday 5th June 2020
Today we have announced that if our zoos do not reopen soon, the Zoological Society of East Anglia could collapse. We have welcomed the announcement that there’ll be a debate in parliament on 11 June about the crisis facing zoos and representatives from ZSEA will today (5 June) meet DEFRA officials to make the case […]
More infoBanham Zoo and Africa Alive announce survival plan
Tuesday 26th May 2020
The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), which runs Banham Zoo in Norfolk and Africa Alive in Suffolk, has announced a plan to give our award winning attractions a fighting chance of survival in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Chair of Trustees at the charity, Gerard Smith, has today (26 May) written to 201 […]
More infoAmazing cousins Hero, Aged 9, and Ottilie, aged 17, help save Banham Zoo!
Sunday 26th April 2020
These two gorgeous girls and budding musicians created this magical song for the Zoological Society of East Anglia. Since the temporary closure of both Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! due to Covid-19, our keepers have continued caring and feeding for all our thousands of amazing animals. It costs £25,000 a week to feed and care […]
More infoZSEA donates £25,000 to vital rhino conservation
Thursday 13th February 2020
The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) are committed to protecting animals and their habitats for future generations and through the ZSEA Conservation Fund, have donated £25,000 to ‘Save the Rhino International’ to support vital rhino conservation in Africa. The funds raised by ZSEA have been channelled directly to the rhino project based in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi […]
More infoBig cats want your old ‘Purrrfume’!
Tuesday 28th January 2020
Keepers at Banham Zoo are putting out an appeal for old or unwanted Xmas perfumes. For several years now, zoo keeper’s all over the world have been aware that scent can play an important part in their enrichment programmes, providing animals with opportunities to express natural behaviours and many species, especially big cats, respond very […]
More infoIt’s time to count the animals!
Thursday 9th January 2020
Spare a thought for the keeping staff at two of the region’s top zoo’s Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! who have started the New Year in style – by counting and recording every single animal at each zoo! The keepers now face this mammoth annual task for zoo licensing requirements and also to assist with […]
More infoRecord-breaking visitor numbers for the East Anglia’s top rated Zoos
Monday 30th December 2019
The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) are delighted that its award winning visitor attractions, Africa Alive! in Suffolk and Banham Zoo in Norfolk have smashed their all-time visitor records breaking all previous best years since the zoos first opened over 50 years ago. Staff and volunteers at both zoos are celebrating this fantastic achievement, […]
More infoBANHAM ZOO WINS BEST ANIMAL DAY OUT IN THE EAST AWARD
Monday 28th October 2019
The Directors and staff at Banham Zoo are absolutely ecstatic to have been named “The Best Animal Day Out in the Eastern Region” in the Day Out with the Kids Family Favourites Awards 2019. There were hundreds of amazing days out in the running across the country and over 25,000 families voted for their favourite […]
More infoIT’S A FIRST FOR THE ZOO – BABY BOY ARMADILLO BORN!
Wednesday 16th October 2019
Keepers at Banham Zoo are overjoyed with the birth of a large hairy armadillo – the first ever to be born at the zoo. The cute male pup was born in August to first-time parents Melanie and Pedro. Their keepers have confirmed that they are showing excellent parenting skills and have allowed them to keep a check on the […]
More infoTHE SNOWMAN™ AND THE SNOWDOG BRICKLIVE TOUR
Monday 23rd September 2019
BANHAM ZOO HOST THE ZOO WORLD PREMIERE 30th November 2019 to 5th January 2020 BOOK YOUR TICKETS The Snowman and The Snowdog fans will be able to meet their favourite characters this Christmas as Banham Zoo hosts a magical new tour, The Snowman™ and The Snowdog brick trail, presented and built by BRICKLIVE. The Snowman […]
More infoBanham Zoo’s Accessibility Weekend
Thursday 29th August 2019
Banham Zoo is delighted to announce its first Accessibility Weekend, being held at the zoo on Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th September, and everyone is welcome! The whole weekend will be offering extra on-site facilities and activities enabling guests who would otherwise be unable to visit to enjoy a day out at the zoo with […]
More infoAre you the ‘Banksy’ of the Jungle Variety?
Tuesday 20th August 2019
The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) is running a competition to find the perfect ‘Street Artist’ who can theme their, as yet unnamed, learning and celebration area at Banham Zoo. Judging the competition will be Martin Rowson, multi-award winning cartoonist, illustrator, writer, graphic novelist, broadcaster, and poet. Martin’s work appears regularly in numerous UK […]
More infoLaunch of NEW Conservation Fund
Wednesday 7th August 2019
Registered Charity No: 1150158 Connecting Communities to Nature for Conservation Zoological Society of East Anglia Pledge to save animals from extinction with first donation from NEW ZSEA CONSERVATION FUND Can you imagine a world without lemurs, tigers and rhinos? With the latest IUCN Red Data List assessments highlighting more than 28,000 species at […]
More infoOtter Joy! we have Twins ….
Thursday 1st August 2019
Keepers at Banham Zoo are ‘otterly’ delighted with the birth of two adorable Asian small-clawed otter cubs. The pair, have recently been spotted by our visitors happily playing in their habitat with their year-old sibling, Makati, mother Tilly and father Sam, and are expected to enthral visitors this summer with their playful antics. The two cubs were […]
More infoZSEA staff ‘take the plunge’ for endangered Lemurs!
Friday 19th July 2019
Three members of staff from the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), the charity that leads Africa Alive! and Banham Zoo, will be taking on the exhilarating challenge of jumping from 13,000ft on a tandem skydive, freefalling at speeds of up to 120mph and raising funds to save critically endangered lemurs. The brave, (some may say crazy!) trio are taking […]
More infoHRH The Earl of Wessex Visits Banham Zoo
Wednesday 8th May 2019
Banham Zoo staff and supporters are preparing a royal welcome for HRH The Earl of Wessex when he visits on Thursday 9th May to mark over 50 years of wildlife conservation at the zoo. While there, His Royal Highness will learn about the 5-year conservation pledge being made by the Zoological Society of East Anglia […]
More infoBaby Boom at Banham Zoo
Wednesday 1st May 2019
ZOO-PER NEWS! Spring is in the air, and Banham Zoo’s keepers have welcomed an abundance of adorable baby animals born at the zoo in recent weeks! This includes the hatching of a Rüppell’s griffon vulture chick, a species which is critically endangered in the wild. It’s a busy time for births, and there’s a double […]
More infoNews Flash
Friday 18th January 2019
We are extremely sad to inform all our followers that Dora, our young sea lion pup, was found dead in the sea lion pool this morning. A full investigation is taking place and we are awaiting the results of the post-mortem. Our keepers who cared for her and indeed everyone at the zoo are absolutely […]
More infoThe animal count begins!
Tuesday 8th January 2019
From Snails to Tigers! – The animal count begins at Banham Zoo! Zookeepers at Banham Zoo welcomed the New Year in with the biggest job of all on the zoo calendar, counting each and every animal in their collection for its annual stocktake, and this year they got a helping hand at the start of […]
More infoIt’s a Boy! – Baby Red Panda Born at Banham Zoo
Monday 15th October 2018
Keepers at Banham Zoo are thrilled to announce the latest addition to the zoo, a male red panda cub, an extremely valuable addition to the ongoing international efforts to protect this threatened species. The cub, who is yet to be named, was born this summer to the zoo’s pair of red pandas, Jasper and Maggie. The two adult […]
More infoIt’s Twins – and they are Otter-ly Adorable!
Thursday 27th September 2018
Two Asian small-clawed otter cubs have been born at Banham Zoo and are expected to enthral visitors to the East Anglian zoo in the coming months with their playful antics. The two healthy cubs were born on the 19th July to female, Tilly and male, Sam and despite both being first-time parents, according to their […]
More infoCompetition Winner Names Banham Zoo’s Sea Lion Pup
Wednesday 19th September 2018
Our sea lion pup has been delighting our visitors for many weeks, but now she finally has a name! It’s Dora, the first sea lion to be born in our new saltwater marine habitat ‘Sea Lion Bay’ which opened early this year as part of the Zoo’s 50th birthday celebration. Mum Filippa gave birth to […]
More info‘Animals have such a power to do good’ says new boss of Banham Zoo and Africa Alive!
Wednesday 12th September 2018
A critically endangered animal known as Asia’s unicorn, and almost as mythical as the name suggests, links eastern Vietnam’s Ammanite mountain range with a seaside village on Suffolk’s east coast in a project that encapsulates the work of a local animal conservation trust. Tony Wenham reports. Delivered in the amiable and inclusive cadence of the […]
More infoArtist in Residence at Zoo!
Tuesday 3rd July 2018
As part of Banham Zoo’s 50th birthday celebrations we are very pleased to introduce our new Artist in Residence, Libbi Hutchence. A skilled local potter, Libbi will be joining us for a number of events and activities throughout our birthday celebrations to help promote the work of Banham Zoo and raise funds for wildlife conservation. […]
More infoThe pitter-patter of tiny flippers can now be heard around “Sea Lion Bay”!
Wednesday 20th June 2018
“Sea Lion Bay” has a new addition and keepers couldn’t be more thrilled with the birth of a Californian sea lion pup. Mum Filippa gave birth to the pup on Friday 15th June and It is the first to be born in the new enclosure, which includes a large salt water pool, and opened in […]
More infoCritically endangered vulture chick hatched at Banham Zoo
Wednesday 23rd May 2018
The world’s population of a critically endangered African vulture got a little boost recently when a pair of Rüppell’s griffon vultures at Banham Zoo successfully hatched a single chick. The egg was laid in January this year and keepers initially removed it for safekeeping, placing it in one of the zoo’s incubators. To ensure that […]
More infoThree year old ‘camel fan’ given opportunity to help zookeepers name baby camel
Wednesday 25th April 2018
For the last two years, three year old Elsie Dyer, along with her parents Billy and Marie, have made one of their regular trips to Banham Zoo in January. The trip is not just to see the animals but is also so that they can donate their Christmas tree to the animals, and on each […]
More infoNew Baby Camel Born At Banham Zoo
Tuesday 27th March 2018
Debate amongst the zookeepers at Banham Zoo was concluded last week when Lucy, one of the zoos domestic Bactrian camels, gave birth to a strapping male calf. She was closely monitored by her keepers after going into labour during the afternoon of 19th March, eventually giving birth that evening. The birth is particularly special […]
More infoSea Lion Of Approval!
Friday 16th March 2018
“Sea Lion Bay” gets ‘sea lion of approval’ as five Californian sea lions move into their new residence at Banham Zoo These adorable, playful, curious and very sociable marine mammals have already settled in and given it the ‘flippers up’ and ‘sea lion of approval’. The two males Emmet and Elmo and three females Gala, […]
More infoAnd the award for the best Mother goes to…
Friday 9th March 2018
If there was an award for best mother this coming Mothering Sunday, keepers at Banham Zoo would certainly be thinking of putting Izzy up for the accolade. But who is she……well, Izzy is a coppery titi monkey who has resided at Banham Zoo since 2013. Last week she presented keepers at the zoo with her […]
More infoBanham Zoo and Africa Alive! drive the move against single use plastic
Thursday 22nd February 2018
Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! have joined with other zoos across the UK to remove all single-use plastic drink bottles from their shelves, as part of a campaign to help protect the world’s oceans from the devastating impact of plastic pollution. Going a step further, both zoos are also removing all plastic straws, drinking cups […]
More infoTwo of East Anglia’s Top Visitor Attractions starts their annual recruitment drive for additional staff for the 2018 season
Friday 19th January 2018
Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! are looking to recruit staff for a variety of positions across the two attractions for the 2018 season. After a busy 2017, the attractions are really positive as they head into what is expected to be another successful year. The parks require flexible, personable individuals, who enjoy interaction with guests […]
More info1st Kenninghall Scouts and Cubs come to the Rescue!
Wednesday 3rd January 2018
Scouts and cubs pitch in to help count the animals for the end of year inventory Accurately counting just under 2000 animals is no easy feat and it is a task that the keepers at Banham Zoo face at the end of every year which continues into the first part of January. This information is […]
More infoKeepers at Banham Zoo share National Award for best students
Tuesday 12th December 2017
Two zoo keepers from Banham Zoo have shared 1st place on a national training course that seeks to train the next generation of zoo keepers. Their journey started over two years ago when Lucas Atkinson, 28, and Sarah Bonsall, 30, were enrolled on the DMZAA (Diploma in the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals at […]
More infoA change at the top!
Friday 17th November 2017
A CHANGE AT THE TOP! The Zoological Society of East Anglia is delighted to report the appointment of Professor David Field as Chief Executive Designate. Professor Field will take over from the founding Chief Executive Martin Goymour in the spring of 2018. The two will work together to achieve a smooth transition in the management […]
More infoHRH the Princess Royal meets Banham Zoo’s Director of Conservation in Madagascar
Friday 27th October 2017
A Zoo Directors role can be full and varied, to begin with you are responsible for the care and welfare of hundreds of animals and there is paperwork by the plenty. What perhaps isn’t part of your daily routine is arriving in Madagascar to meet Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal! That is exactly what […]
More infoVolunteering in Zoos Changes Lives
Tuesday 17th October 2017
“Life Enhancing”….. “Empowering”… “One of the best decisions of my life” These are just some of the responses given by Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) volunteers when asked what effects volunteering at Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! has had on their lives as part of a national survey, led by Chester Zoo and including […]
More infoEndangered Leopards Born At Banham Zoo
Tuesday 3rd October 2017
On Tuesday 12th September, whilst most people were watching a standard Tuesday nights offering on TV, a group of zoo keepers in Norfolk were glued to screens of a different kind, watching live CCTV footage of a female leopard as she went into labour. Sariska and her partner, Mias, are Sri Lankan leopards, an endangered […]
More infoA completely new type of shopping experience comes to Norfolk
Tuesday 9th May 2017
The Zoological Society of East Anglia has opened a brand new shop just outside of Banham Zoo that is completely different and the first of its kind in the UK. ‘Colour me Wild’ not only offers adult and child clothing and babywear featuring everyone’s favourite wild animals, but also two brand new ranges, unlike any […]
More infoArrival of female sloth gives zoo hope for baby sloth in the future
Thursday 13th April 2017
Staff and visitors are keeping their fingers crossed that love might be in the air following the recent arrival of a female Linne’s two-toed sloth. The zoos’ male sloth, ‘Santos’, arrived a little under a year ago having been born in a zoo on the Isle of Wight and since his arrival, the zoo, in […]
More infoWorld’s smallest species of primate bred at Banham Zoo
Monday 10th April 2017
As new births go, you could almost be forgiven for missing this one, keepers at Banham Zoo have recently reported the birth of a white-bellied pygmy marmoset, with their latest new offspring tipping the scales and an estimated weight of 15 grams! W So why so small, well the diminutive pygmy marmoset is the world’s […]
More infoBaby meerkats put in an appearance
Tuesday 28th March 2017
Zoo keepers are putting their thinking caps on to come up with names for a litter of four baby meerkats that were born at the zoo earlier this year. The four siblings were born in January and spent much of their early days hidden from the zoo’s guests in one of the nest boxes provided […]
More infoCoppery Titi Monkey Born At Banham Zoo
Thursday 16th March 2017
Banham Zoo is celebrating the recent birth of a coppery titi monkey, the third birth in as many years. The infant is so tiny that, to all but the most observant of visitors, he/she can remain almost hidden from view. Baby red titi monkeys cling to their parent’s backs and as the parents have fairly […]
More infoMake Valentine’s Day a Rrrrroaring success this February!
Monday 6th February 2017
Fancy wooing your loved one with a walk on the wild side at Banham Zoo this Valentines? Why not indulge in one of our fabulous Big Cat Experiences and treat the special person in your life at the same time. Book one of our fantastic Big Cat Experiences for two people and get it for […]
More infoHow do you accurately count over 3000 animals?
Thursday 29th December 2016
This is the rather daunting task that Banham Zoo keepers face at the end of 2016. Yes, it’s that time of year where our zoo keepers and animal records keeper are preparing to count the many species within their care. Keepers aren’t just expected to clean out, feed and provide enrichment for a wide […]
More infoBaby red panda born at Banham Zoo
Wednesday 26th October 2016
Apparently the best things come to those that wait and keepers at Banham Zoo have certainly had to wait for their latest new baby, a red panda, to put in an appearance. The infant was born in July but as is normal for the species, the young spend their first three months of life safe […]
More infoEndangered Grevy’s zebra foal born at Banham
Wednesday 12th October 2016
Emulating their success in 2015, keepers at Banham are celebrating the birth of another Grevy’s zebra foal, one of the world’s most endangered species of equid. Last year staff at the zoo were delighted when two foals were born in July and were thrilled to discover earlier this year that one of the mares had […]
More infoEnjoy Good Food and Great Conservation
Wednesday 7th September 2016
As the summer departs and the freeze begins, many of us want to get together with friends before the big pre-Christmas hibernation sets in. Now the Zoological Society of East Anglia (known as ZSEA and said “ZEE”) has created an event called The “ZSEA dinner party weekend” that will encourage people from across Norfolk to […]
More infoAnimal Trainer spends 48 hours with our vultures!
Thursday 1st September 2016
Tomorrow afternoon, Peter McLaren, an Animal Trainer & Presenter at Banham Zoo, will commence his 48 hour ‘sleepover’ in an aviary full of vultures,. This might not be everyone’s idea of how to spend their weekend but it is for Peter as he attempts to raise awareness and much needed funds for vulture conservation. Peter […]
More infoAnimal Trainer to raise funds for Vulture Conservation
Tuesday 16th August 2016
Spending 48 hours in an aviary full of vultures might not be everyone’s idea of how to spend their weekend but it is for Peter McLaren, an Animal Trainer & Presenter at Banham Zoo, as he attempts to raise awareness and much needed funds for vulture conservation. Peter has worked at Banham Zoo for almost […]
More infoNew arrivals at Banham Zoo
Thursday 11th August 2016
Visitors to Banham Zoo are in for a real treat this summer after the zoo announced the arrival of two new species never seen before in Norfolk’s premier zoo. First to arrive was a male Linne’s two-toed sloth, who took up residence in May in the zoo’s sub-tropical house, Eureka, where the zoo has equipped […]
More infoGolden Lion Tamarins Carry the Olympic Torch in Rio
Wednesday 3rd August 2016
On its way to the city of Rio to open the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame is now travelling through coastal Rio de Janeiro state, the region containing the last remaining fragments of Golden Lion Tamarin (GLT) habitat! Tuesday, August 2 at 11:30AM Rio time Andreia Martins, Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado biologist, carried the Olympic Torch in […]
More infoBanham Zoo hold Pokémon Go ‘Lure Event’
Monday 25th July 2016
BANHAM ZOO HOLD POKEMON GO ‘LURE EVENT’ TO KICK OFF SUMMER On Saturday 30th July Banham Zoo are delighted to announce the launch of a ‘Pokémon Go Lure Event’ which is believed to be one of the first, at any tourist attraction in East Anglia. The zoo is welcoming Pokemon Go players as they set […]
More infoNew Arrival at Banham Zoo
Friday 1st July 2016
The Heavy Horse team at Banham Zoo are absolutely delighted with the birth of a Suffolk Punch filly foal, the 15th foal to be successfully born at Banham Zoo since 1991. The new foal named ‘Bazoo Charity’ in honour of the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) the charitable trust, under whose auspices both Banham […]
More info“ZOO – DO” Banham Zoos Annual Charity Evening Event in support of the Zoological Society of East Anglia
Thursday 23rd June 2016
On Saturday 25th June come and spend a unique and enjoyable evening at Banham Zoo and help us fund-raise for ‘Project Sealion’ a fabulous new marine environment for Californian Sealions at Banham Zoo. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the magical atmosphere of the park during the evening hours and see our spectacular wildlife. […]
More infoBIAZA award for Banham Zoo’s ‘Penguin Cove’
Tuesday 21st June 2016
Banham Zoo has been recognised for their work in Exhibit Design at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) 50th Anniversary awards ceremony. BIAZA turns 50 this year and representatives from its membership came together to celebrate the past and consider future challenges at a major conference held at Marwell Wildlife, Hampshire, […]
More infoLong Stratton Gym raising money for locally based wildlife conservation charity ZSEA
Wednesday 4th May 2016
Local Gym JW CORE is hosting a weightlifting challenge to raise funds for the Zoological Society of East Anglia, the International Animal Conservation charity that also runs Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! Over the course of a week the gym hopes that its members will lift a total of 150,000kg in weight- the weight of […]
More infoNew baby camel puts in an appearance at Banham
Tuesday 29th March 2016
Zookeepers at Banham Zoo came into work on Wednesday 16th March to a welcome, if not slightly unexpected, surprise when one of their camels gave birth for the first time. Lucy, one of the zoos three domestic Bactrian camels, proceeded to go into labour in the early hours of the morning of Wednesday 16th March […]
More infoShow your support for unloved saola this Valentine’s day!
Monday 8th February 2016
Just a quick minute of your time, please vote here [http://www.arkive.org/vote-valentines2016] (hint: alphabetical order!) for saola to raise awareness of this elusive, distinctive and critically endangered animal. And ask your friends and family to share the love for saola this Valentine’s Day. Arkive.org (a website resource with photos, films and facts about endangered species), approached […]
More infoTrek to the top of Kilimanjaro for local East Anglia Charity
Monday 11th January 2016
Local Charity, the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) who’s projects include Banham Zoo and Africa Alive!, are looking for members of the public to join them on a trek to the top of Kilimanjaro. This will be to raise funds for their work helping to conserve some of the world’s most endangered species. They […]
More infoStand up and be counted!
Tuesday 5th January 2016
Zoo keepers are put to the test at this time every year as they have to get their counting brains in gear in readiness for the annual inventory. While most people are recovering from the New Year’s Eve festivities, the staff at Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! will be beginning to accurately count every animal […]
More infoPenguin colony give new enclosure a vote of approval
Monday 12th October 2015
Only months after Banham Zoo’s entire group of penguins were relocated into their new home. The colony has already increased in number with the hatching of two chicks and the potential for several more in the near future. The zoos’ 19 strong colony of penguins were moved from their old enclosure at the end of […]
More infoFour Baby Meerkats Venture Outside At Last
Friday 28th August 2015
Not one, not two or even three, but four baby meerkats have finally taken centre stage at Banham Zoo. The four siblings were born in July and spent much of their early days hidden from the zoo’s guests in one of the nest boxes provided by their keepers. However, now that the pups are over […]
More infoFlamingos Get A Helping Hand From Their Keepers
Monday 10th August 2015
Keepers at Banham Zoo have devised a very clever way to ensure that as many eggs as possible are hatched from their flock of Chilean flamingos this year. As the breeding season commences, the zoo’s flamingos make nests in the muddy substrate of the enclosure, competing for the best spots for their nests. To ensure […]
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