Blackpool Zoo’s huge giraffe upgrade of £500k opens to visitors this weekend
Visitors to Blackpool Zoo can experience giraffes like never before this weekend as a major £500,000 habitat transformation opens to the public, promising closer encounters and an immersive African savannah setting.
Blackpool Zoo is set to unveil its biggest giraffe development yet this weekend with a £500,000 transformation that triples the size of the animals’ outdoor habitat and introduces a host of new visitor experiences.
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Opening to the public on Saturday, May 2, the revamped enclosure offers guests a rare chance to come eye-to-eye with the zoo’s giraffes thanks to a newly constructed elevated walkway.
The expanded space is now three times its original size giving residents O’Grady and Olympia significantly more room to roam.
But the changes go beyond scale. The development has been designed to immerse visitors in an African savannah environment, complete with atmospheric soundscapes, safari-style lookout points and educational trails aimed at bringing guests closer to the animals’ natural world.
A newly built antelope stable at the opposite end of the paddock will also welcome the zoo’s sitatunga herd, creating a shared space that highlights two of Africa’s most distinctive species.
Adam Ford, Senior Keeper, said: “This investment marks a huge milestone in our ongoing commitment to the care of these majestic animals.
“The fantastic new development will not only create an incredible space for O’Grady and Olympia, but the immersive savannah experiences and extended viewing platforms mean we’re going to be taking the visitor experience to new heights too.”
He added: “We’re also excited to see the sitatunga herd move into a new purpose-built home at the opposite end of the paddock, bringing together two of Africa’s most striking species.”
Home to more than 1,000 animals across 37 acres, Blackpool Zoo continues to invest in its facilities, with this latest upgrade offering a fresh reason for visitors to return this spring.