Construction is well underway on Twycross Zoo's new £25m conservation centre, with the main building frame now completed.
Due to open in 2027, the state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for conservation research, education and collaboration.
The new centre is being built by Henry Brothers Construction in partnership with Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and leading UK universities.
Once complete, it will feature a 200-seat lecture theatre, classrooms, wildlife gardens, and a science lab overlooking a new orangutan habitat.
Additionally, a 24-room residential wing will host visiting experts and students, helping to train the next generation of conservation leaders.
Craig Dunkerley, CEO of Twycross Zoo, said: "This isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s about the bold future we are building for wildlife, and the extraordinary opportunities it will create for scientists, students, and conservationists to work together to protect endangered species.
"The centre embodies our vision to inspire the next generation of wildlife heroes and make a lasting impact on global conservation."
A "world-class project"
Ian Taylor, managing director at Henry Brothers Construction, said the "topping out of the orangutan building marks a milestone in the construction of this exciting development".
The centre, he added, is a "world-class project that will make a game-changing contribution to the fight against extinction for endangered wildlife".
The project will also benefit the local community, creating 90 new jobs and generating an estimated £3.9m in GVA per year.
Rebecca Biddle, chief conservation officer at Twycross Zoo, said: "This facility will allow scientists, educators, and conservationists from across the globe to work alongside the species we are striving to protect, developing practical solutions for some of the world’s most threatened wildlife.
"By connecting our research and education programmes with the new Indonesian-themed land, including a world-class orangutan habitat, the centre will offer unparalleled opportunities to learn, collaborate, and act for conservation."
Images courtesy of Henry Brothers Construction
