00:00This Aberford attraction is home to a spectacular variety of wildlife species, including wallabies, capybaras, emus and penguins.
00:09Now, Lotherton Hall's Wildlife World has received an official mark of excellence from the British and Irish Association of Zoos
00:16and Aquariums.
00:17The accreditation ranks the zoo as one of the best in the country, as experts recognise the high quality of
00:23the zoo in terms of animal welfare, conservation, education and research,
00:28coinciding with Love Your Zoo Week.
00:31The venue also takes part in international breeding and conservation programmes.
00:36In 2025, the staff, through careful management, successfully bred the blue-crowned laughing thrush,
00:43a critically endangered bird considered one of the rarest in the world.
00:47Tropical World in Leeds is also BIAZA accredited after a screening in 2025.
00:53The two zoos are among the first to be accredited in the new scheme,
00:57whose accreditation process includes screenings by industry experts, questionnaires and documented evidence.
01:04The process goes above and beyond the UK and Ireland Zoo licensing inspection
01:08and marks the extra efforts of good zoos and aquariums in providing the very best in animal care.
01:14Dr Jo Judge said receiving accredited status is not an easy thing to do
01:19and is testament to the passion and hard work of every member of staff.
01:22She added that we need good zoos more than ever as we face a nature crisis
01:27and have the power to make a big difference.
Comments