London and Whipsnade zoos: Voluntary redundancy scheme launched

BBCThe Zoological Society of London mentioned it monetary state of affairs had received “sharply worse” in latest monthsThe Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has launched a voluntary redundancy scheme in an effort to scale back prices by £2m a yr.The wildlife charity, which runs London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, says it has been “hit arduous by the abrupt finish” of USAID funding, the UK authorities’s 40% lower to international help spending, and the continuing cost-of-living disaster.Matthew Gould, chief govt of ZSL, has mentioned he couldn’t rule out future obligatory redundancies however “is doing all the things attainable” to keep away from them.The federal government mentioned it remained “dedicated to worldwide growth” and was “modernising” its strategy to sort out the local weather disaster. USAID has been approached for remark.In an e-mail despatched to all workers, Mr Gould mentioned ZSL had already tightened budgets, frozen non-essential recruitment, and squeezed spending, however, he wrote, “we have to go additional”.He mentioned: “I want we weren’t on this place. However the financial state of affairs has received sharply worse over latest months.”He added that though ZSL was “not in rapid bother”, the organisation wanted to scale back annual prices by £2m “so we will climate what’s coming and emerge in stronger form”.’Exceptionally difficult’ Alongside operating London and Whipsnade Zoos, ZSL collaborates on greater than 100 world scientific analysis and conservation tasks.Many of those have beforehand obtained funding from USAID and UK international help.Sir Keir Starmer introduced in February that the UK’s help price range could be slashed from 0.5% to 0.3% of nationwide revenue by 2027, with the intention to fund elevated funding in defence.A spokesperson for ZSL informed the BBC that the previous yr had been notably difficult for UK tourism and the worldwide conservation sector. They added that the organisation had additionally been affected by the rise in employer Nationwide Insurance coverage contributions earlier this yr.The spokesperson mentioned: “ZSL, whose revenue is partially generated by guests to its zoos, has seen the impression of decreased client confidence on customer behaviour, with visitors spending much less this summer season.”They pointed to the Nice Britain Tourism Survey, which discovered home tourism was down by 8% in spring 2025 in contrast with the earlier yr. The decline was attributed to “elevated cost-of-living and weaker client confidence” within the UK financial system.London ZooZSL runs London Zoo, the place golden lion tamarin twins had been amongst newborns earlier this yr, and Whipsnade Zoo in BedfordshireLondon Zoo – which celebrates its two hundredth anniversary in 2026 – additionally felt the impression of the Covid pandemic.Mr Gould mentioned: “We have labored arduous to scale back expenditure and develop new revenue streams, however the market is exceptionally difficult – not only for us, however all customer sights and charities. “We have opened a voluntary redundancy scheme to provide all colleagues the chance to think about whether or not it would work for them.”