Africa Alive launches naming competition for new giraffe calves
Monday 16th November 2020
We’re asking for members of the public to help name our two newly born reticulated giraffe calves, with two winners receiving a free ticket to the zoo and a giraffe feeding experience! We recently welcomed two reticulated baby giraffes to the zoo with a male giraffe calf born on Wednesday 7 October and a female […]
More infoZoos to recognise Community Champions
Tuesday 10th November 2020
The Zoological Society of East Anglia has announced it is searching for 12 Community Champions and is urging people to nominate family, friends, neighbours and local heroes who have made a real difference this year in their local community. The charity, which runs Banham Zoo and Africa Alive, will be rewarding each of the 12 […]
More infoLocal zoos devastated by second national lockdown
Tuesday 3rd November 2020
The Zoological Society of East Anglia say they are devastated by the second forced closure of Africa Alive in Suffolk and Banham Zoo in Norfolk, following the government’s announcement of the national lockdown. In line with the government’s requirements, the zoos will be closed from Thursday 5th November until Wednesday 2nd December. During the first […]
More infoLocal zoo welcomes second giraffe calf in under a month
Friday 30th October 2020
Keepers at Africa Alive in Suffolk, which is run by the Zoological Society of East Anglia, were absolutely over the moon to welcome the second birth in under a month of a reticulated giraffe calf. The female calf was delivered without any complications on Friday 23 October at around 5:30pm. Although this is mother Kiara’s […]
More infoKeepers welcome a new arrival at Africa Alive!
Tuesday 13th October 2020
Keepers at Africa Alive! in Suffolk, which is run by the Zoological Society of East Anglia, were pleasantly surprised when they arrived to work on Wednesday 7 October to the birth of a reticulated giraffe – the first at the zoo in six years. The male calf was delivered without any complications to mother Kibibi, […]
More infoThe annual Africa Alive! bioblitz takes place!
Tuesday 6th October 2020
Zoo staff pleasantly surprised by more than just their usual animals calling the zoo home Although this summer has been anything but normal at Africa Alive! (and everywhere else!) the zoo staff were very happy to see that that some things do never change. Over the weekend of the 12th and 13th of September, Africa […]
More infoLocal zoos face funding crisis without government support
Friday 2nd October 2020
The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), which runs Banham Zoo in Norfolk and Africa Alive! in Suffolk, has branded the government’s emergency zoo funding “impossible to access”, and has called for greater support in the months ahead. The UK government announced their long-awaited £100m Zoo Animals Fund in June but, as assistance is only […]
More infoDEATH OF BELOVED FEMALE SRI LANKAN LEOPARD SARISKA
Thursday 17th September 2020
Banham Zoo mourns death of beloved female Sri Lankan leopard Sariska Keepers and staff at Banham Zoo in Norfolk have been left devastated by the death of the female Sri Lankan leopard Sariska on 16 September following a period of illness in recent weeks. It was very clear at post-mortem that Sariska had a serious […]
More infoZSEA aid conservation through Ural owl reintroduction project
Tuesday 1st September 2020
Zoological Society of East Anglia contributes to conservation through Ural owl reintroduction project The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), the charity which runs Banham Zoo in Norfolk and Africa Alive! in Suffolk, is delighted to announce its contribution to the Germany-based Ural Owl reintroduction project. In February 2019 Banham Zoo donated a breeding pair […]
More infoWorld Photography Day Competition
Tuesday 18th August 2020
Local Zoos encourage visitors to take part in World Photography Day competition The Zoological Society of East Anglia, the charity which runs Banham Zoo in Norfolk and Africa Alive! in Suffolk, is asking the public to support World Photography Day by submitting a favourite photo they have taken at either zoo. World Photography Day, on […]
More infoDo I need to wear a face covering/mask on my visit?
Thursday 23rd July 2020
The government has made it mandatory for customers who visit shops in England to wear face coverings from 24th July 2020. We have highlighted below some key points to help you understand what you need to know about this change at Africa Alive and Banham Zoo The guidelines make it clear that our teams in both our […]
More infoPRESSURE MOUNTING ON GOVERNMENT TO OPEN ZOOS
Friday 5th June 2020
Today we have announced that if our zoos do not reopen soon, the Zoological Society of East Anglia could collapse. We have welcomed the announcement that there’ll be a debate in parliament on 11 June about the crisis facing zoos and representatives from ZSEA will today (5 June) meet DEFRA officials to make the case […]
More infoBanham Zoo and Africa Alive announce survival plan
Tuesday 26th May 2020
The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), which runs Banham Zoo in Norfolk and Africa Alive in Suffolk, has announced a plan to give our award winning attractions a fighting chance of survival in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Chair of Trustees at the charity, Gerard Smith, has today (26 May) written to 201 […]
More infoAmazing cousins Hero, Aged 9, and Ottilie, aged 17, help save Africa Alive!
Sunday 26th April 2020
These two gorgeous girls and budding musicians created this magical song for the Zoological Society of East Anglia. Since the temporary closure of both Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! due to Covid-19, our keepers have continued caring and feeding for all our thousands of amazing animals. It costs £25,000 a week to feed and care […]
More infoZSEA donates £25,000 to vital rhino conservation
Thursday 13th February 2020
The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) are committed to protecting animals and their habitats for future generations and through the ZSEA Conservation Fund, have donated £25,000 to ‘Save the Rhino International’ to support vital rhino conservation in Africa. The funds raised by ZSEA have been channelled directly to the rhino project based in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi […]
More infoIt’s time to count the animals!
Thursday 9th January 2020
Spare a thought for the keeping staff at two of the region’s top zoo’s Africa Alive! and Banham Zoo who have started the New Year in style – by counting and recording every single animal at each zoo! The keepers now face this mammoth annual task for zoo licensing requirements and also to assist with […]
More infoRecord-breaking visitor numbers for the East Anglia’s top rated Zoos
Monday 30th December 2019
The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) are delighted that its award winning visitor attractions, Africa Alive! in Suffolk and Banham Zoo in Norfolk have smashed their all-time visitor records breaking all previous best years since the zoos first opened over 50 years ago. Staff and volunteers at both zoos are celebrating this fantastic achievement, […]
More infoLAUNCH OF NEW CONSERVATION FUND
Wednesday 7th August 2019
Zoological Society of East Anglia Pledge to save animals from extinction with first donation from NEW ZSEA CONSERVATION FUND PROFESSOR DAVID FIELD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SPRAYS PAUL SMITH PERFUME ON A CHEQUE FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF EAST ANGLIA (ZSEA) CONSERVATION FUND TO ENCOURAGE SVETA THE SIBERIAN TIGER TO TAKE AN INTEREST AS THE FUND […]
More infoHow many species did we count!
Wednesday 31st July 2019
Whilst crowds listened to the banging beats of the music festival Latitude, just 10 miles up the A12, an enthusiastic team from the Zoological Society of East Anglia were busy listening for another beat – the click click click of a bat detector! Africa Alive!, located in Kessingland, is home to over 80 species of […]
More infoZSEA staff ‘take the plunge’ for endangered Lemurs!
Friday 19th July 2019
Three members of staff from the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), the charity that leads Africa Alive! and Banham Zoo, will be taking on the exhilarating challenge of jumping from 13,000ft on a tandem skydive, freefalling at speeds of up to 120mph and raising funds to save critically endangered lemurs. The brave, (some may say crazy!) trio are taking […]
More infoRare foal and twin lemurs born!
Thursday 20th June 2019
Very rare and critically endangered species born at Africa Alive! We’re delighted to announce the recent births of two very rare and critically endangered species. Twin black & white ruffed lemurs were born on Tuesday 4th of June and our little Somali wild ass foal appeared on Wednesday 19th June. The Somali wild ass is […]
More infoBest Large Visitor Attraction
Friday 1st March 2019
The staff and trustees of the Zoological Society of East Anglia are delighted that Africa Alive! was announced as winner of the Best Large Visitor Attraction at the Norfolk & Suffolk Tourism Awards on Thursday 28th February held at the Open in Norwich. These awards honour those businesses and attractions who showcase the very best […]
More infoBirth of serval cubs at Africa Alive!
Wednesday 13th February 2019
On the 11th of November last year, staff at Africa Alive! were overjoyed to find two very welcome additions in the form of serval kittens. Strong, healthy and adorable, they are being closely watched over by their mother Milia. The serval is a wild cat native to Africa. It is rare in North Africa and […]
More infoAfrica Alive! begins the big count …….
Tuesday 8th January 2019
At the start of each year keepers and the Animal Records Keeper at Africa Alive! have one of the biggest jobs on the calendar, counting all of the residents at the park, from the tiniest of insects to the tallest giraffe, everything has to be accurately counted which is by no means an easy task. […]
More infoRare Baby Colobus Born
Thursday 1st November 2018
Latest Birth at the Park! Staff at Africa Alive! were overjoyed to find a very welcome addition to the parks growing family of king colobus monkeys. This rare primate from the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa is considered to be highly endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting by man (to which it […]
More infoZoo Keepers, Staff and Friends conquer Three Peaks Challange
Thursday 4th October 2018
On Saturday 22nd September keepers and staff from Africa Alive! set off, along with their friends, on a big challenge – to walk each of the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales, all in just 36 hours – to raise money for the Zoological Society of East Anglia’s chosen charity “SAVE THE RHINO”. The “three […]
More info‘Animals have such a power to do good’ says new boss of Banham Zoo & Africa Alive!
Wednesday 12th September 2018
A critically endangered animal known as Asia’s unicorn, and almost as mythical as the name suggests, links eastern Vietnam’s Ammanite mountain range with a seaside village on Suffolk’s east coast in a project that encapsulates the work of a local animal conservation trust. Tony Wenham reports. Delivered in the amiable and inclusive cadence […]
More infoBirth of Zebra on the African Plains!
Tuesday 31st July 2018
Animal Keeping staff at Africa Alive! are proud to announce the birth of a Chapman’s zebra. The strong healthy (and very cute) foal was born at the park on the 18th July and is being closely watched over by its mother ‘Fennel’ who was also born at the park in July 2012 and father Max […]
More infoBanham Zoo and Africa Alive! drive the move against single use plastic
Thursday 22nd February 2018
Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! have joined with other zoos across the UK to remove all single-use plastic drink bottles from their shelves, as part of a campaign to help protect the world’s oceans from the devastating impact of plastic pollution. Going a step further, both zoos are also removing all plastic straws, drinking cups […]
More infoTwo of East Anglia’s Top Visitor Attractions starts their annual recruitment drive for additional staff for the 2018 season
Friday 19th January 2018
Africa Alive! and Banham Zoo are looking to recruit staff for a variety of positions across the two attractions for the 2018 season. After a busy 2017, the attractions are really positive as they head into what is expected to be another successful year. The parks require flexible, personable individuals, who enjoy interaction with guests […]
More infoBabies Galore!
Wednesday 3rd January 2018
Africa Alive! have had a busy year with lots of new arrivals! Accurately counting all of Africa Alive!’s residents is no easy feat and it is a task that the keepers and the Animal Records Keeper face at the start of every year. The information is then sent to the local authorities as part of […]
More infoA Change at the Top!
Friday 17th November 2017
A Change at the top! The Zoological Society of East Anglia is delighted to report the appointment of Professor David Field as Chief Executive Designate. Professor Field will take over from the founding Chief Executive Martin Goymour in the spring of 2018. The two will work together to achieve a smooth transition in the management […]
More infoHRH the Princess Royal meets Africa Alive!’s Director of Conservation in Madagascar
Friday 27th October 2017
A Zoo Directors role can be full and varied, to begin with you are responsible for the care and welfare of hundreds of animals and there is paperwork by the plenty. What perhaps isn’t part of your daily routine is arriving in Madagascar to meet Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal! That is exactly what […]
More infoRare babies at Africa Alive!
Thursday 19th October 2017
On the 12th of July animal staff at Africa Alive! were thrilled to learn that our female fossa ‘Tana’ had given birth to her second litter of cubs. The clue was when they heard noises coming from the nest box in the cubbing den. The nest box had been specially constructed by her keepers once […]
More infoVolunteering in Zoos Changes Lives
Tuesday 17th October 2017
“Life Enhancing”….. “Empowering”… “One of the best decisions of my life” These are just some of the responses given by Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) volunteers when asked what effects volunteering at Banham Zoo and Africa Alive! has had on their lives as part of a national survey, led by Chester Zoo and including […]
More infoIt’s all black & white at Africa Alive!
Wednesday 19th July 2017
In the space of three months, Africa Alive! has experienced three high profile births that are simply….black & white! The first to be born were delightful twin black lemurs back in April. Tiny and completely dependent on mum for the first two to three months of their life, they are only now just starting to […]
More infoUnusual Baby at Africa Alive!
Wednesday 21st June 2017
On the 16th of May, an extremely unusual addition joined Africa Alives! interesting and varied animal collection. A baby aardvark entered the world at approximately 11am, when mum Boo gave birth in the outside enclosure, in full view of watching visitors. The actual birth process is very rarely witnessed where aardvarks are concerned and this […]
More infoTwo Large Arrivals at Africa Alive!
Thursday 11th May 2017
Africa Alive! is delighted to announce the arrival of two southern white rhino. On the 24th and 25th of April, Africa Alive! received two new southern white rhino. One was a female named Tootsie from ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and the other, was a young male called Zimba from Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire. Both have […]
More infoZoological Society of East Anglia send Barbary sheep to Tbilisi Zoo, Georgia.
Friday 7th April 2017
On the night of 13th to 14th June 2015, a significant flood occurred in the Vere river valley in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Tragically, it resulted in 19 human deaths (including three zoo workers) and also struck the Tbilisi Zoo, leaving half of its animal inhabitants either dead or on the loose. In the […]
More infoRare Primate baby at Africa Alive!
Tuesday 21st March 2017
On the 17th of February staff at Africa Alive! were overjoyed to find a very welcome addition to the parks family of drill monkeys. The little male is named Kofi which in West Africa means ‘born on a Friday’. Drills are among Africa’s most endangered mammals, and are listed by the IUCN as the highest […]
More infoHow do you accurately count nearly 900 animals?
Thursday 29th December 2016
This is the rather daunting task that Africa Alive! keepers face at the end of 2016. Yes, it’s that time of year where our zoo keepers and animal records keeper are preparing to count the many species within their care. Keepers aren’t just expected to clean out, feed and provide enrichment for a wide variety […]
More infoRare baby at Africa Alive!
Monday 12th December 2016
On the 3rd of November staff at Africa Alive! were overjoyed to find a very welcome addition to the parks small group of golden-bellied mangabeys. This rare primate is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where it can be found south of the Congo River. Very little is known about this species in the […]
More infoEnjoy Good Food and Great Conservation!
Wednesday 7th September 2016
As the summer departs and the freeze begins, many of us want to get together with friends before the big pre-Christmas hibernation sets in. Now the Zoological Society of East Anglia (known as ZSEA and said “ZEE”) has created an event called The “ZSEA dinner party weekend” that will encourage people from across Norfolk to […]
More infoIt’s all Black & White at Africa Alive!
Wednesday 20th July 2016
In the space of three months, Africa Alive! has experienced three high profile births that are simply….black & white! The first was a West African black crowned crane chick that hatched on the 24th of April. Classified as ‘Vulnerable’ in the wild, in recent decades, wetlands and grasslands throughout the crane’s range have been devastated […]
More infoAfrica Alive! voted a finalist in the group travel awards
Monday 27th June 2016
Staff at Africa Alive! are delighted to hear that the park has been voted a finalist in the 2016 Group Travel Awards, category Best Animal or Sea Life Attraction for Groups. The UK Group Travel Awards are decided by the readers of GTO magazine and have earned an enviable reputation as the most distinguished and […]
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