OPENING TIMES

10am to 6pm - 7 days a week
Last admission: 4:45pm
Tel: 01752 837 645

The Story of DZP

Business as Usual

Some of you may already have seen recent news reports about the liquidation of Mee Conservation Ltd, the company that managed DZP. As serious as this news is, we would like to make clear that given our ongoing commitment to sustaining the animal collection, not to mention the jobs of our staff, we have made arrangements to ensure that life at DZP can continue as normal.

We continue to provide the highest standards of animal care, all existing commitments with regard to the likes of Keeper for a Day experiences, Guided Photography Tours, Birthday Parties and other events, will be met without difficulty and, most importantly, we remain open to welcome visitors seven days a week.

After many months of struggling with the costs of essential infrastructure work, critical veterinary interventions, bad weather and ever decreasing levels of assistance from the bank, the company was forced to take the inevitable step of liquidation earlier in early August.

It must be said at this stage that many of our creditors have been extremely patient. Many are, like us, small businesses struggling through very difficult times. A glance at the business pages of any newspaper will show that this situation is not uncommon; many small business are having to rely on the good will of their creditors, as well as friends and family, to provide the necessary assistance to stay afloat in the absence of support from the banks. This, despite repeated government insistence that the banks increase levels of lending.

To be forced into taking this step in the face of such support from companies and people far less able to dispense such assistance than the banks is particularly difficult. However, we do so in the confident expectation that all our creditors will eventually be paid.

The impending Hollywood production of Benjamin Mee's book, "We Bought a Zoo" is by now a well known event. We understand from the producers that production will get under way before the end of the year, at which point the remainder of the not insubstantial film rights will become due. Since the personal rights to revenues from the book were signed over to Mee Conservation Ltd by Benjamin some years ago, this means that the rights from the film production are now considered an asset of the company, one which will be liquidated and dispersed in favour of the existing creditors. Coupled with the royalties from the movie, this asset is more than sufficient to account for the amounts outstanding.

The way ahead from this point is far from assured. Despite these significant developments much remains unchanged. The hierarchy of demands on available funds here places promotional activities far down the list behind animal care and staff wages. Given recent developments, credit is understandably difficult to come by. Most importantly, the financial climate remains uncertain and the overarching approach of the banking profession remains unconducive to the needs of the the small business.

In short, there are difficult times ahead.

We are extremely encouraged by the messages of support we have received in the wake of these developments. To be reminded of the extent to which people appreciate what we are trying to achieve is truly heart warming.

If you'd like to help then the best thing you can do is pay us a visit and enjoy what we have to offer. Bring your friends, get annual membership, get someone you love a Keeper for a Day experience or join one of our incredibly popular Guided Photography Tours.

If you can't come to visit then how about an Animal Adoption? You'll be making a real contribution to the animals' welfare. Failing that, you can also make a donation to our charitable trust, The Friends of Dartmoor Zoo. (Please note that one consequence of recent developments is that we are currently unable to process card transactions.)

Or, if you already know what a fantastic place DZP is, just be sure to tell your friends, help us spread the word.