Ponderosa Zoo

Ponderosa Zoo is a zoo in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, England. It was originally opened in 1991 as the Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre before being granted a zoo license in 2004.[3]

Ponderosa Zoo
The lake within the zoo grounds.
Slogan"Helping to bridge the gap"
Date opened1991
LocationHeckmondwike West Yorkshire, England
Coordinates53.6934°N 1.6709°W / 53.6934; -1.6709
Land area11 acres (4.5 ha)[1]
No. of animals120[2]
Annual visitors200,000[3]
MembershipsBIAZA
Websitehttp://ponderosa-centre.co.uk/

History

In 1988, businessman Howard Cook MBE purchased a 50-acre (20 ha) neglected dairy farm in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. The farmland was considered poor quality with little use to the farmer and surrounding community so, in 1989, Cook began to redevelop it and used it as a base for his building company. Cook's family, which was associated with the learning disability charity Mencap, decided to use the farmland for the disabled and established the Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre. A greenhouse and other facilities were built in collaboration with the Ravensthorpe Education Centre which allowed students to experience and develop their horticultural skills.

In 1991, Cook's wife, Maureen Cook (née Totton), developed the site further by introducing a rare breeds farm, named the Ponderosa Rare Breeds Farm, which was built upon a 7-acre (2.8 ha) landfill between two disused railway lines.[3] By 2002, the centre had grown to house around 150 animals, including wallabies and water buffalo. Llamas, emus and deer also joined the collection after moving from a small zoo in Lancashire.[4] During the same year, the zoo received £13,000 in compensation due to a nationwide outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease which resulted in the centre closing for over two months. The money was used to build new attractions, including an enclosure for marmosets, a reptile house, an aquatic centre and two lakes.[5] A zoo license was also applied for due to the increasing size of the zoo's animal collection, which was granted in 2004.[3] In 2014, the zoo was put up for sale at a price of £1.3 million.[6]

In 2017, the centre became a provisional member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums and adopted the name Ponderosa Zoo.[2][7] During the same year, it closed for several months to carry out planned refurbishments amid reports of poor animal welfare and mistreatment in the local press. Following an inspection, Kirklees Council subsequently concluded that standards had been met.[8][9]

Zoo co-founder, Maureen Cook, died in April 2020.[10]

Overview

The zoo lies within a 80-acre (32 ha) plot of land off Smithies Lane in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. It is laid around a small lake and comprises various animal enclosures, a ticket office, cafe, lakeside restaurant, reptile house, adventure play area and guest amenities. The zoo's animal collection has gradually expanded since its beginnings in 1991 as a "rare breeds farm" with Highland cattle, llamas, wallabies and emus. As of 5 May 2020, the zoo's collection includes serval, Scottish wildcats, lemurs, reindeer, coati, otters and raccoon dogs, plus various birds, reptiles and small invertebrates.[11] Prior to becoming a zoo, the centre's founding mission was to "bridge the gap" between disabled and able-bodied people through using animals as a form of therapy. However, today, the zoo's mission also includes educating people on conservation.[2]

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References
  1. "PONDEROSA Rural Animal Attraction & Restaurants". CBRE. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  2. "About Ponderosa Zoo". Ponderosa Centre. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  3. "Ponderosa – a vision for the future" (PDF). Ponderosa Business Park. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  4. "Animals rehoused". Lancashire Telegraph. 28 March 2002.
  5. "Ponderosa set for some monkey fun". Telegraph and Argus. 23 May 2002.
  6. Zientek, Henryk (13 April 2014). "Heckmondwike's Ponderosa for sale at £1.3m". Examiner Live.
  7. "Ponderosa Zoo". BIAZA. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  8. "Conditions at Ponderosa zoo 'failed to meet Government standards'". Examiner. 20 October 2017.
  9. "Ponderosa zoo closing for refurb as bosses deny animal welfare worries". The Press. 20 October 2017.
  10. "Maureen Cook". Legacy.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  11. "Our Animals". Ponderosa Centre. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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