ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s brand new Centre for Elephant Care was given the royal seal of approval today (Tuesday 11 April) as HM The Queen, accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, officially unveiled the elephants’ £2m home.
Highlighting ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s elephant-expertise, the Centre provides more than 700m² of indoor space, and is fitted out with a host of elephant-friendly features, including one metre-deep soft sand flooring to provide maximum comfort and dimming lights to mimic night-time.
The Queen, who is Patron of ZSL enjoyed a private tour of the Centre where they met Assistant Curator of Elephants, Lee Sambrook and watched the elephants receive a pedicure. HM The Queen, accompanied by The Duke– former president of ZSL – then unveiled a commemorative plaque commemorating the event, during a special ceremony where Her Majesty and His Royal Highness each fed Donna the elephant a banana.
The Centre for Elephant Care opens to the public at 1pm on Wednesday 12 April.
