Inside the huge new elephant enclosure at Blackpool Zoo

Blackpool Zoo has completed work on a huge new enclosure for its elephant herd.

The zoo’s £2.5m elephant facility, Project Elephant Base Camp, will open its doors to the public this weekend (March 24).

A £2.5m investment, the biggest in the zoo’s 46-year history, has created the UK’s largest elephant house along with a sizable outdoor habitat.

Part of the enclosure’s paddock

The Blackpool Zoo herd currently consists of Kate, who has lived there for 46 years; Tara, who arrived in January from Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire; and Minbu, who came to Blackpool in March from the same zoo.

Two more females are due to be transported to Blackpool from Twycross and the search is on for a bull elephant to complete the group.

A view from the keepers’ office

Zoo director Darren Webster said: “Our brand new concept in animal care, Project Elephant, will open visitors’ eyes to the future of zoos and in-situ conservation programmes working together to preserve our most iconic species.

“The new facility is the result of years of planning and hard work by our keepers and elephant experts from across the UK and beyond, and I am absolutely delighted with the results.”

He added: “We aim to constantly evaluate and evolve our care programme to allow our elephants to be cared for to the highest level.”

Kate (pictured) has lived in Blackpool for 46 years

Speaking further, Darren said Blackpool Zoo can share its knowledge with other collections to help “the progression of captive elephant management programmes both in the UK and further afield”.

He continued: “Project Elephant Base Camp is at the very heart of Blackpool Zoo’s commitment to securing a future where Asian elephants can thrive – in the zoo’s care, in the care of others and in the wild.”