EXCLUSIVE evening tours are set to give a select few people access to a behind the scenes look at Colchester Zoo.
The A Toast to Wildlife events are returning to the Maldon Road attraction later this month and in June.
Each event has just 60 tickets on sale and allows attendees to learn more about the zoo and the work it does.
Andy Moore, director of science, education, and training said the event was a chance for people to learn things about the zoo they might not know.
He said: “People can get up close to wildlife and find out more about it. People tour around the zoo and will get to meet some staff.
“They will have a 20 minute presentation from one of the directors about the work we do here at the zoo and our conservation.
“There will also be information about the conservation we do here in Essex, for example with the Fisher’s Estuarine Moth, and what we do out on the UmPhafa nature reserve.”
Other highlights include learning more about the Patagonian sea lions and watching the Amur tigers as they are fed.
Visitors can also feed giraffes and enjoy a close encounter with the lemurs.
The events come as the zoo begins its transition to become a charity which will be known as Colchester Zoological Society.
Mr Moore said the move was about the zoo’s evolution.
He said: “We celebrated our 60th birthday last year and have started the transition into becoming a charity which will come into effect in January.
“Behind the scenes lots of work is going on.
“We don’t expect anyone will change how they refer to the zoo – it will still be Colchester Zoo. The change will allow us to access more funding and help us do more conservation work with endangered species.
“We want to bring people from Colchester and north Essex along with us.”
Mr Moore said the zoo wanted to be a “beacon for conservation.”
He added: “Our ethos is about getting people close to wildlife."
The A Toast to Wildlife event takes place on May 17 and June 21 from 6.30pm.
Tickets cost £65 for passholders and £70 for all other guests.
The event is for people aged 16 and over and all under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
To buy tickets visit www.colchester-zoo.com.
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