Episode Details

Gatwick Zoo, once a beloved family destination with nearly 900 animals and 30 years of history, shut its doors in 2002 after Terry and Sheila Thorpe retired. The site—now a housing estate in Surrey’s green belt—once hosted animals from around the world, including some relocated from Windsor Safari Park. All animals were rehomed to UK zoos like Chessington and Colchester. Though it once drew 70,000 visitors annually, declining attendance and a tough 2001 summer due to foot and mouth disease sealed its fate. Mr. Thorpe fondly recalled the joy of new births and conservation work, but admitted he’d rather skip the cleanup and regulations. The zoo’s legacy lives on in the animals it saved—and the homes now standing where wildlife once roamed.

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