'WE SIMPLY CANNOT LET TWYCROSS ZOO CLOSE ITS GATES'

MOVIE ICON IN CAMPAIGN PLEA TO ENSURE CHARITY DEDICATED TO COMBATING EXTINCTION DOES NOT 'BECOME EXTINCT ITSELF'

MOVIE and theatre icon Dame Judi Dench has made a passionate plea to keep the gates of struggling Twycross Zoo open as it teeters on the edge of extinction.

The legendary James Bond actress has added her considerable voice in support of conservation to the plight of Atherstone's world famous wildlife sanctuary – still reeling from the exponential threat of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A month on from reopening, Dame Judi acknowledges the zoo remains an endangered species as she backs its Summer of Survival campaign – being seen as a "last chance SOS call".

The conservation society – home to more species of monkeys and apes than any other zoo on Earth – admitted without access to the Government's £100million fighting fund that surviving the upcoming winter period is far from certain.

During lockdown, with nearly two-thirds of the staff furloughed and monthly running costs of more than half a million pounds, it pleaded with the Tory administration for grants to support large zoos after a change in the law saw it added to a list ordered to stay closed 'indefinitely'.

Even with an appeal campaign, launched in April, which has raised more than £300,000 to date and brought a huge wave of local support – CEO Sharon Redrobe said said the zoo, first opened in 1963, would run out of reserves at the end of June.

The zoo today thanked Dame Judi for her "moving words of support" as she warned: "Twycross Zoo may soon close its gates for the last time, putting many of its animals at risk.

"We simply cannot let this happen!

"For almost 60 years the zoo has meant so much for so many in so many different ways."

The actress, who famously played 'M' in the Bond series, added: "It carries out conservation in the UK and all over the world. As one of the UK's 'science zoos', it is important for science and education.

"After three months of closure with no income, but massive expenditure to feed and care for the animals, Twycross Zoo now faces a huge financial mountain to become viable once more.

"How ironic if a charity dedicated to combating extinction, should itself become extinct. I am asking you now to get behind the zoo's fundraising campaign.

"Please help the zoo and its animals survive, so that children and families can enjoy it for generations to come."

Recent visitors to the zoo will certainly have noticed it has clearly fallen on incredibly hard times.

An Atherstone family went last weekend and commented on the overgrown nature of the enclosures – some boarded up and appearing careworn.

"I feel really sorry for a zoo that has been a shining light to the world of animal conservation in the last half century," Nub News was told.

"It looked tired, and as Dame Judi says, we mustn't let it fall by the wayside."

To help the zoo's plight, you can donate here.