The Welsh Mountain Zoo – National Zoo of Wales – has reported its strongest Christmas Eve visitor figures in over a decade.

The number of visitors through the gates on Christmas Eve reached over 1600, marking a 40% increase on the year previously and making these the highest figures in some 12 years.

Jennifer Jesse, Director of Operations and Administration at the Welsh Mountain Zoo commented:

“The Christmas period is busy time for us here at the Zoo and we were really pleased to see so many visitors on Christmas Eve. We launched a brilliant festive campaign with lots of additional activities for visitors to enjoy including a visit from the cast of Colwyn Bay’s festive theatre production and for the second year, we held our already much loved Grotty Grotto!

“These factors, combined with a continued interest in the Zoo, our animals and our initiatives, drives and attracts more and more people to spend a day here with us. We have welcomed visitors from within the immediate area as well as across the North West, Midlands, other parts of Wales and further afield.

“Of course with any attraction you cannot stand still and we continue to develop the site to add to our offering for visitors. Work is now underway with Silk Road, our latest project, which will see a new home for our magnificent pair of Snow Leopards. We're incredibly excited about the potential of 2020 and the changes that we will begin to see here at the Zoo.