New zoo development works start
16th September 2026
You may have noticed over the past few months that some changes have been taking place here at Wild Discovery. Well, those changes have really started to take shape, as construction work has now begun on the exciting new zoo development.
The new zoo development has come about as Ribby Hall Village invests in the construction of a brand-new Family Activity Centre. This huge investment is the largest in Ribby Hall’s history and will transform the customer experience once completed, not just for holiday guests but for day visitors too.
However, to allow Ribby Hall to complete the Family Activity Centre, part of the current zoo needs to be relocated.
The Relocation
To begin the process of relocating part of the zoo, an extension to our current perimeter fence has been erected. New service pipes have been laid, animal enclosures have been marked out, concrete foundations for animal housing have been installed, and some enclosures are already being erected. Footpaths have also been laid out.
There is still lots more work to do — and that’s even before the animals move into their new homes!
As well as relocating part of the zoo, Wild Discovery is also investing in the construction of several brand-new enclosures, both within the new zoo area and throughout the current zoo.
These development works will take place over a period of time, allowing us to continue providing our interactive and educational visitor experience while upgrading older areas of the zoo to bring them in line with the new development.
The animals being relocated to the new zoo area include:
There will also be several new species joining the collection, which is incredibly exciting! There isn’t much more we can say just yet, until everything has been fully confirmed, but we can’t wait to share more with you.
New Entrance, Car Parking & Gift Shop
The relocation will also mean changes to our car parking, entrance and exit, and gift shop.
From September 2026, car parking for Wild Discovery will be in the area signposted “Additional Parking for The Spa Hotel”. There will be a pedestrian entrance along the woodland walkway, leading visitors through our current entrance gate.
As the development works continue, a brand-new entrance and exit, along with a new gift shop, will be built. This area will operate as a one-way system to help ensure customer safety and security.
The new gift shop will also be slightly larger, allowing us to offer an even more extensive range of gifts, souvenirs and goodies for you to take home.
What Happens Next?
Ribby Hall anticipates that the work to relocate Wild Discovery will be completed around April 2027, with the new Family Activity Centre expected to be completed in Summer 2028.
Of course, there will be some disruption and changes to our daily operation as we move through the relocation and development works. However, we promise to minimise disruption wherever possible and will do our best to communicate any changes with you in advance.
Our Animals Come First
As always, the welfare of our animals will remain our absolute priority throughout the development works.
Our dedicated team of keepers know our animals and their individual behaviours inside out. They will be monitoring them closely whenever construction work is taking place to ensure that their welfare remains protected.
The welfare of our animals will not be compromised — this is non-negotiable.
An Exciting Future for Wild Discovery
We have a plan showing what the new zoo will look like, which is currently displayed within the zoo. When you visit, if you have any questions about the development, please speak to one of our team members — they will be happy to help wherever they can.
There is still a lot of work to be done, but we are all incredibly excited about what is planned.
We can’t wait to unveil the future of Wild Discovery and share this exciting new chapter with you!