Celebrating the Coronation at Whipsnade Zoo

Meerkats, ring-tailed lemurs and Asian short-clawed otters have all been getting into the festive spirit this week at Whipsnade Zoo, as zookeepers put up red, white and blue bunting in preparation for the Coronation Weekend.  

Meerkats Bibbity, Pixie and Joey tucked into some tasty and nutritious crickets treats underneath their Union flag bunting, while the conservation zoo’s troop of endangered ring-tailed lemurs leapt agilely from bunting covered branch to branch to investigate theirs. 

The conservation zoo is part of international conservation charity ZSL, which has been supported by the Royal Family since 1826, when it was first granted a Royal Charter by King George IV.  

Since then, every monarch, including the late Queen Elizabeth II, has served as ZSL’s Royal Patron – inspiring support for nature by shining an important spotlight on ZSL’s conservation zoos and its global work protecting species. 

King Charles III has been a supporter of ZSL since joining ZSL’s Exceptional Young Zoologist Club aged just 13: A life-long champion of wildlife, in his capacity as the Prince of Wales, His Majesty became ZSL’s Vice Patron in 2014.