Annual Trustees, Report for the Friends of the Zoo.
This report relates to the charity's financial year l January 2023 to 31 December
2023.
The charity aims to promote and support Belfast Zoo in a variety of exclusively
charitable ways, including its conservation and education programmes, and
fundraising for projects.
During the year, our biggest expense was providing funding for a purpose-built Sloth
Snug. The sloths settled in well and have since bred, enhancing the visitor experience
and making them more visible, so the money given to a contractor to complete this
work was incidental and necessary in making this project happen.
We assisted zoo staff and the zoo gardeners with preparation of the site for the new
Kingdom of the Barbary Lion, which was opened in August 2023. These animals
(previously from north Africa) are extinrt in the wild, and the new enclosure has
given them much more space, with specialist very large viewing windows. As a result,
the visitor experience is enhanced by a much better view of these amazing creatures.
Throughout the year, we have staffed a number of touch tables, including at the zoo's
Sensory Days (for those with additional needs). These consist of animal artefacts and
confiscated items contravening CITES and allow us to stress regulations regarding
animal imports. The artefacts also have a variety of different textures and shapes for
those with additional needs. The zoo has received positive feedback from the public
regarding these, with one visitor describing the touch table as their favourite bit of
the zoo.
Throughout the year we have engaged in fundraising activities, both on and off the
zoo site. This has involved bucket collections in retail venues and our ever-popular
tombola. We have taken in far more than we have spent on prizes, so this private
benefit is incidental and necessary. Some of our prizes also benefit native species (for
example a bug hotel), enhancing the urban environment for all. This gives us further
opportunities to engage with the public and explain the conservation projects in
which the zoo is involved.
We also regularly run enclosure work sessions, which help the keepers with the
upkeep of enclosures. We also maintain a bee and butterfly friendly garden. This
allows us to have contact with the public and provide information about animals
present at the zoo and the conservation aims of the zoo. It also enhances the look of
the zoo, for a better visitor experience.
At the end of 2023, the charity was not in deficit of funds. We had a total of £2664.74
in the bank at the end of the year, and had pledged a total of £587.05 to ongoing
activities. Please see the financial report for further details.

During the charity's financial year, our trustees were as follows..
Bryan Green
Gayle Hanna
Tom Hanna
Laura Jones
Ann Neill
Alison Whann
Helen Curtis (until 24 January 2023)
Michaela Dowey (until 26 April 2023)
Claire Morrison-Donaldson (until 26 April 2023)
Katie Christie (from 26 April 2023)
Noele Christie (from 26 April 2023)
Veronika Du5ickova {from 26 April 2023)
Shannon Wilkinson (from 26 April 2023)
All our trustees are elected by the whole membership at an annual general meeting and
serve until the next one, which must be held within fifteen months. We have no other way
of appointing trustees. The charity trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's
public benefit requirement statutory guidance in determining what we have done
throughout the year.
The charity's governing document is a constitution, dated 2 November 2021.
The Friends of the Zoo is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (NIC
107494).
Registered address:
Friends of the Zoo
Belfast Zoological Gardens
Antrim Road
NEWTOWNABBEY
BT36 7PN
This report has been approved on 18 September 2024 by the management committee,
consisting of:
Katie Christie
Noele Christie
Aimee Coulter
Gayle Hanna
Tom Hanna
Matthew Jamison
Laura Jones
Ann Neill
Emma O'Boyle
Alison Whann
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