More Than 1,000 Dads and Children Enjoy Special Father’s Day at London Zoo
By Community Correspondent
More than 1,000 fathers and children swapped traditional Father’s Day celebrations for a family day out at London Zoo on Sunday.
Families from the Camden Dads group spent the day exploring the zoo, taking part in wildlife talks, craft activities and special experiences designed to bring parents and children together through nature.
A handful of lucky visitors also received golden tickets, giving them the chance to meet London Zoo’s popular capybara pair, Gizmo and Kiwi.
The event was made possible thanks to a £500,000 legacy left to conservation charity ZSL, which runs London Zoo.
The gift was given with the aim of helping families spend quality time together outdoors while connecting with wildlife and the natural world.
Owen Craft, Director of Zoo Operations at ZSL, said the charity sees every day how spending time in nature can bring people together.
"At ZSL, we know that nature is essential for people's mental and physical health, and we see the benefits of people spending time together in nature every day in our zoos," he said.
"To have received a legacy that enables us to bring more people closer to nature, and in this case fathers and their children, is a really meaningful recognition of the impact we have."
The donation will also support ZSL's conservation work across London, including projects focused on restoring habitats along the River Thames.
Part of the funding will be used to recruit a dedicated learning officer who will work with schools and communities living alongside the river. The role will help young people learn more about local wildlife and encourage them to play a part in protecting one of the UK's most important waterways.
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The new position will support ZSL's wider conservation work in the Greater Thames area, including habitat restoration, biodiversity projects and monitoring native species.
Owen, a father of two himself, added: "I love being able to spend quality time with my children, connecting them to nature and seeing them appreciate the wonder that is the natural world."
While Sunday's event was a chance for families to celebrate Father’s Day together, the legacy will continue to support conservation, education and community projects across the capital for years to come.
