Slimbridge Wildlife and Wetlands Trust to apply for £14m pot of Government zoo support during lockdown

Slimbridge Wildlife and Wetlands Trust will be applying for a share of the £14million of Government support fund for zoos across the country.

The social distancing guidance means that zoos and aquariums have had to close temporarily for the safety of their staff and customers.

A £14million pot of Government funding has been set aside for zoos to apply for.

Slimbridge WWT are one of the sites in Gloucestershire that have confirmed they will be applying, with the site costing £3,000 a day to run.

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Gary Haseley-Nejrup, general manager of Slimbridge Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, said: “This news is very welcome and we will be applying for a bit of extra support."

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Establishments covered by the Zoo Licensing Act will be able to bid for a portion the money and individual grant awards will be capped at £100,000.

Lord Goldsmith, Animal Welfare Minister, said: “Even in these very difficult times, the government remains absolutely committed to high standards of animal welfare. We know that many of our zoos are facing real pressure as a consequence of coronavirus, and we have made support available to them."

The Government say that this funding will ‘help zoos cover costs relating to animal keeping such as feed, heating and security.’

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