July 6 1972 was when, in the pouring rain, the zoo was officially opened.
The zoo actually stands on the site of an airport and it was where the Royal Lancashire Show was held. It has evolved unimaginably since then. These photos remember the past five and a half decades.
19. 50 years of Blackpool Zoo
When an 18 stone tiger needed root canal treatment it required more than a simple visit from the vet dentist. A specialist team of ten was called upon to treat Blackpool Zoo’s Amur Tiger, Alyona, in a successful two-stage operation to treat and repair her four damaged canine (‘fang’) teeth. Alyona is pictured top with Radzi, Barney in front, and then Zambar Photo: submit
20. 2017
2017 was a year of celebrations. Its oldest resident, and one of the first to arrive at Blackpool Zoo in 1972, Darwin the Aldabran tortoise, turned 100 in February and the zoo welcomed its 15th Millionth visitor in April. There was a whole host of new arrivals including a YouTube sensation. Bornean orangutan Jingga became famous in 2015 after a video of her went viral. Her hilarious reaction to a magic trick has been viewed more than 20 million times. Blackpool zookeeper Andy Bubbins is pictured with 35-stone Aldabran tortoise Darwin Photo: submit
21. 2018
In 2018 the zoo announced that it was set to become home to a herd of elephants from Twycross Zoo following the completion of its multi-million pound Project Elephant development (pictured) Photo: submit
22. 2019
2019 was another incredibly exciting year as it welcomed some of the world’s most endangered birds. Two new birdhouses, designed by the zoo’s in-house avian experts were built. They house birds whose plight was being highlighted in an international Silent Forests fundraising and awareness campaign. This is one of the zoo's beautiful Rainbow Lorikeets Photo: submit
23. 50 years of Blackpool Zoo
Keepers kept on keeping to take care of more than 1000 animals during the pandemic. In 2021 Peter Morris (pictured) who started his first day of work at Blackpool Zoo in October 1973, retired after becoming the longest serving keeper in the zoo’s history. Photo: submit