Noah's Ark Zoo Farm celebrates 25th anniversary with exciting new carnivores project

The charity is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a bold new vision and five-year strategy: Project Carnivora.

The ambitious project will see the transformation of the existing lion pride’s habitat as well as the creation of brand-new habitats for tigers, Arctic foxes and vultures.

It’s the first major project since the building of the Andean bear habitat in 2016, which led to the successful birth of two endangered Andean bear cubs, and is the inspiration for the new carnivore habitats.

The first phase, the lion’s habitat, is currently underway and is expected to be complete by spring 2025.

The second phase will focus on tigers. Noah’s Ark will be working with internationally renowned animal welfare charity AAP (Animal Advocacy and Protection) to provide a forever home for a rescued tiger by summer 2025.

Larry Bush, Director of Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, commented: “It’s the first big project we’ve launched since we became a charity last year.

“They’re going to be really exciting spaces, they’re designed for the lions and tigers to have some great features and enrichment. So they’re designed with the welfare of the lions and the tiger paramount.

“And there’s also going to be some amazing visitor experiences and some great interactive features. There’s gong to be boulders to climb on, balance beams and it all mirrors the habitat you can see for the big cats we’re creating.

“The other thing that we're really proud about is we're building this in a really sustainable way, so we're using all local materials. The big boulders are from a local quarry. We're using FSC certified timber and we have solar panels on the Lion House roof and we've even got rainwater harvesting which is going to feed the ponds for the tigers. So we're really proud and it's important to us that we're building this in a very sustainable way.”

When asked about the lions, Emma, the Lead Lion Keeper at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, said: “The lions are still being kept here at Noah's Ark on site, they have the best view of what's going on, they spend a lot of time just watching the new habitat to develop.

“They still are living in the same house, the same yards and dens that they have always been used to and also have part of the field as well. So they still have their home comfort and they just get a better view of what's going on.”

While the majority of the project is being funded by Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, the charity is calling on the support of the public to raise the final £175,000 needed to build the new tiger habitat and provide a rescued tiger with a new lease of life in its forever home.

To support the fundraising campaign and help create a forever home for a rescued tiger, donations can be made via the charity’s website here - https://noahsarkzoofarm.digitickets.co.uk/category/60558

For the latest news and updates, and to find out more about Project Carnivora visit www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk or follow @noahsarkzoobristol on Instagram and TikTok and @Noahs_Ark_Zoo on X.

Scroll through to see and learn more about Project Carnivora and current progress or check out the video above to learn more about the project from the team at Noah’s Ark Farm Zoo.

#LoveYour Campaign

From the greatest pub in Bristol to the newest independent stores or the places that make a difference in our community... We want to hear what makes the city so special to you.

For more information on the campaign or to tell us about your favourite spots,[email protected]

You can also submit your own article about something that makes this city special to you in your own words or via video - by submitting to YOUR WORLD.