Belfast Zoo Awarded Four Stars by Tourism NI

Q Radio News

Belfast Zoo has been awarded a four-star grading from Tourism NI and the zoo’s mascot ‘Brian the Lion’ has been celebrating with great ‘pride’.

The Quality Grading Scheme for Visitor Experiences offers tourism operators a chance to be awarded via ‘The star’ award, an independent mark of quality. The four-star rating means visitors to Belfast Zoo can expect to enjoy an ‘excellent’ overall experience.

Belfast Zoo has over 55 acres to explore and is home to over 500 animals and more than 110 different species, most of which are endangered or extinct in the wild. The zoo continues to maintain and improve the scenic 55-acre site, and recently opened the new “Sloth Snug” in their refurbished Rainforest House with further developments to be launched in the coming months.

Belfast Zoo has been recognised with numerous previous awards. This accolade comes after Belfast Zoo won a Gold, a Silver and a Bronze Award at the 2022 British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquarium (BIAZA) Awards. This included the prestigious Gold Award for Diversity and Inclusion after the zoo implemented a range of changes to significantly improve their accessibility over the last few years.

Zoo Manager Alyn Cairns said, “We’re delighted that Belfast Zoo has achieved this four star rating from Tourism NI. Belfast Zoo is one of the oldest visitor attractions in Northern Ireland and has been home to animals since 1934. We have an outstanding team who work hard to ensure all animals are cared for along with delivering the highest level of customer service to all our visitors.

The zoo welcomes more than 200,000 visitors each year and being awarded this ‘Excellent’ rating is a triumph for the zoo staff and the work they do to ensure our visitors enjoy their time here.”