Chester Zoo is offering free tickets to school children during the teacher’s strike this week.
In an email update to supporters, the zoo said: “Primary and secondary school children can visit the zoo for free during this week’s planned teacher strike, to explore the zoo and learn about our mission to prevent extinction of endangered species.”
The zoo will be running a range of in-zoo workshops and events which will be available at no extra cost.
Visitors will be able to join Chester Zoo’s rangers at Madagascar Basecamp for ‘Around the World in 30 Minutes’ as well as ‘Learn and Play’ sessions throughout the day.
Charlotte Smith, director of conservation education at Chester Zoo, said: “Our education team will be hosting lots of extra fun interactive activities on Wednesday – all aimed at helping educate children about the incredible animals here at the zoo, as well as equipping them with the skills they’ll need to become the conservationists of the future.
“As one of the world’s leading conservation zoos, we put everything into our work to prevent extinction both here in the UK and globally.
“Our huge team live and breathe wildlife conservation – so we want to give children and young people the opportunity to learn all about how they can help play a vital role in creating a more sustainable future for people and wildlife.”
Staff at the zoo are also supporting a move to have conservation education – including issues such as climate change and sustainability – embedded into the UK curriculum.
Meanwhile, bosses have advised that due to recent outbreaks of avian influenza in the UK, some of its walkthrough aviaries are temporarily closed to ensure the safety of their animals.
This includes the Latin American Wetland, Tsavo, Bali and Sumatra aviaries.
As well as this, the Tropical Realm aviary will be temporarily closed for essential maintenance.
The Monsoon Forest aviary will remain open with disinfectant footbaths at the entrance and exit.
To secure the free tickets, people will need to book in advance via the zoo’s website.
Tickets must be booked online before 9.30am on the day of visit, so anyone wishing to go to the zoo on Wednesday needs to act fast.
Children must be accompanied by a paying adult during their visit.
Anyone wishing to visit can click here to book.
