A record £20m donation has been made anonymously to the charity that runs London and Whipsnade zoos as it marks its 200th anniversary.
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) revealed its largest-ever gift last week which will be used to build a wildlife health centre at its Regent’s Park, north London, headquarters.
ZSL said its most significant donation yet would fund “ambitious plans” including the UK’s first viewing gallery in a vet hospital.
Visitors will be able to watch live procedures such as penguin health checks and porpoise post-mortems at the health centre.
Kathryn England, ZSL chief executive, said: “For 200 years, ZSL has been committed to growing our understanding of wildlife and taking people on that journey with us.
“As we celebrate our bicentenary with the announcement of our ambitious new wildlife health centre, we are drawing on those two centuries of scientific leadership.”
Amanda Guthrie, charity head of wildlife services, said: “As an organisation founded with a mission to better understand wildlife, this is an extraordinary recognition of that work.
"I'm personally so excited that visitors will be able to see this work happening.”
ZSL’s income from donations and legacies in its most recent financial year to 30 April 2025 was £7.07m, up from £6.36m the year before.
Most of the charity’s £92.7m income came from its London (£35.7m) and Whipsnade (£17.0m) zoo operations, with £9.26m coming from government grants.
In the last five years, 2020-21 was the highest year for donations and legacies when £11.6m was gifted to the 19th century conservation charity.
ZSL’s income has increased year-on-year since 2021-22 and has exceeded its total expenditure each year.
The charity employs 957 people, has 11 trustees and 1,175 volunteers, according to its Charity Commission listing.
