Animal rescue centre closes six months after zoo

Cookham Zoo had housed animals such as meerkats before closing in March

A rescue centre for exotic animals has said it is "saddened" to have to close after its mini-zoo was forced to shut down earlier this year.

Cookham Rescue Centre announced on Wednesday that it was unable to keep paying rent at its site on Lower Mount Farm on Long Lane.

The centre said its animals would be relocated to other zoos and rescue centres, but added that it said it was still raising funds to set up a smaller facility where it can keep looking after some animals.

It comes after it had to close its mini-zoo earlier this year after failing to get planning permission.

The zoo, opened in May 2023, had not been issued planning permission at the time it was opened.

This was then refused by Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council in March this year, on the basis that it would cause harm to the green belt.

In a statement the rescue centre said: “Despite our best efforts over the past six months, circumstances beyond our control have forced us to leave our beloved facility."

The centre said its team had “worked tirelessly" on the zoo project.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts to comply with local regulations, the council decided in March that our facility was not suitable for the greenbelt, even though other businesses on the land were approved.”

It added: “With our rent remaining the same despite the facility not being able to use it for the agreed purpose we find ourselves unable to continue to pay for the property.”

The rescue centre has set up a GoFundMe page seeking to raise £10,000 from supporters to set up a smaller facility.

Animals housed there would include two wolfdogs Otis and Pippa, which the team had been unable to relocate and had "formed strong bonds with their keepers".