Colchester Zoo — Zoo in Colchester

Colchester Zoo and its collection

Colchester Zoo, opened in 1963, is a zoo in Colchester, Essex, East of England, United Kingdom.

Australian Rainbows opened in the summer of 2014, in a building that had previously been an animal theatre. Its walk-through aviary allows nectar to be offered to rainbow lorikeets.

History

It has been trading since June 1963, opening under the name Stanway Hall Park Zoo. Money trouble in the 1970s led the owner, Frank Farrah, to sell it to the Tropeano family.

Animals and collection

Big cats, primates and birds are kept alongside fish and invertebrates. Australian Rainbows, occupying a building that had earlier served as an animal theatre, opened during the summer of 2014, its walk-through aviary allowing nectar to be offered to rainbow lorikeets.

Conservation and approach

It runs its own charity, Action for the Wild, which funds projects internationally. Since 2005 it has been establishing the 6,000-hectare UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve in KwaZulu Natal.

What the venue says

• Madagascar Express road train
• There are multiple catering outlets, cafes, and snack kiosks located throughout the zoo, as well as designated outdoor picnic areas if you prefer to bring your own food.
• On-site car parking is free for visitors, with designated accessible spaces close to the entrance.
• The park provides disabled parking on hardstanding ground near the entrance, accessible restrooms (including a Changing Places facility requiring a Radar Key), and manual wheelchairs or mobility scooters available for hire.
• Because the natural terrain is hilly, certain inclines are highlighted to help visitors navigate the grounds.