We Bought a Zoo…And It Turned Our Lives Upside Down 

We Bought a Zoo…And It Turned Our Lives Upside Down 

Ryan Shorter finally realised his lifelong dream of opening a zoo two years ago. From his earliest days, it was the one thing he always wanted, but a disastrous opening nearly made him throw in the towel! 

To make matters even more chaotic, six months after launching the Call of the Wild Zoo, near South Woodham Ferrers in Essex, he learned his partner was expecting their child. 

In Ryan's own words, he'll tell you all about living at the zoo with his young son and his hopes for the future. 

'I Didn't Know Where to Even Begin' 

My childhood dream was to open a zoo and rescue animals. The first hurdle? I'm not the best student in the world, and my science marks were terrible. My teacher told me I wouldn't be able to study zoology, but I wasn't having any of that! I stuck with it, managed to get a zoology degree, and then topped it off with a master's degree in wildlife conservation. 

Coming from a working-class background meant I had no clue where to even begin, but I knew I wanted to help animals. I volunteered at a zoo called Tropical Wings in South Woodham Ferrers, which is famous for its butterfly house. That opened the door for me, and they hired me. 

After a while, I moved on to a role on the reptile team at London Zoo, then onto Colchester Zoo's displays team. It was there I was finally able to talk in front of large crowds and build up my confidence. Best of all, I worked with tigers and even helped breed three cubs! It hadn't happened there in 50 years, so I felt incredibly lucky to be a part of it. 

'Living in a House Full of Animals During Lockdown' 

While working with the tigers, I met Lynsey, my partner. On our very first date, I told her about my zoo dream. We moved in together, and I launched a small business taking rescue animals to schools. Then... COVID hit and wrecked everything. 

Throughout the lockdown, we lived with around 25 animals in the house, including chameleons and meerkats! It was totally mad. Lynsey was working for the NHS at the time, but she started learning all about our animal residents. 

Finally, we saw a garden centre for sale. Initially, we thought about opening a butterfly farm with a small reptile house, but our planning permission was rejected due to concerns about parking. It felt like constant setbacks. I decided to try something completely different to bring in some money, so I set up a painting and decorating business and started fitting kitchens. 

Then, in May 2021, we bought the land from Tropical Wings' owners. They had to close due to health problems, and the place had been abandoned for years. It was a complete wreck with vandalised buildings, but I thought, "This is my chance!" Using money earned from my painting and decorating business, I went for it. 

Lynsey quit her job to help, which was a massive risk. In January 2022, we got our zoo license, and we opened just a month later! In only 24 hours, we built up a Facebook following of over 14,000 people. But things were far from smooth sailing... 

'Opening Day Was a Complete Disaster' 

It had always been my dream, my passion, and now opening day was finally here! I wanted to do right by the previous owners, who had given me my first break in the animal world. The park opening was incredible, but also a complete and utter disaster. I honestly felt like crying – it was the most stressful day of my life. 

The weather had been awful all week; cold and rainy. We figured people would wait for warmer temperatures. They did not! Everyone showed up all at once, and we had 500 people queuing to get in before we even opened. We quickly filled the car park, which then started backing up traffic on local roundabouts and the main road. That caused delays for the buses and upset the council and businesses nearby. 

I'd put so much effort into getting the zoo ready for its big debut and making sure the animals were alright... The car park was a total oversight, even though it should have been one of the most important things! I was starting to panic when the cars started getting stuck. I called a local company and begged them to send a dump truck to help us get people out. Once the cars were clear, I got down on my hands and knees and started laying down tarmac myself. 

To make matters worse, we only had rabbits, guinea pigs, zebras, and a few rescue animals from my home collection. We quickly got loads of negative reviews online. I kept thinking that we'd blown it and there was no way people would come back after such a terrible experience. The reviewers were absolutely right – it wasn't good enough. Yet, we couldn't afford to stay closed any longer. The animals still needed feeding, and the vet bills and heating costs weren't going to pay themselves. 

During those first two weeks, we had over 15,000 visitors! We simply weren't prepared for that kind of turnout. We had only a handful of employees and volunteers trying to keep the place running. The only way we survived that awful start was by not stopping. We pushed ourselves to the limit and beyond. My mum set up all the catering facilities, Lynsey took over the gift shop and did the marketing. We were out there meeting with visitors and making sure they saw our faces. People could tell we were putting in the hard work. 

By summertime, folks started coming back to see what changes we'd made. If it wasn't for our local community, this zoo would have never made it. Despite the rough launch, they stuck with us. The zoo costs around £100,000 per month to run, including everything like veterinary care, heating, food, and animal welfare. There's no way we could manage without the support of our visitors. 

Image Credit - BBC

'My Baby Boy Will Have a Childhood Like No Other' 

Last April, our son Kai was born! Having him added even more to the organised chaos. 

Our home is actually on the zoo site, and while it's still all quite new for us, it's the only life Kai has known. When he was born, I realized more than ever that I needed to find a balance between work and home. I'm not the best at it, but I'm definitely trying. 

Kai absolutely loves watching the monkeys and flamingos. He's having the kind of childhood people only dream of – a zoo for his back garden! I hope one day he'll take over the running of the place. 

When we opened, we received over 1,100 volunteer applications. I read every single one and hired 30 amazing people. Many of our original volunteers are now paid keepers and maintenance staff, and we now employ 42 people in total. We care for over 500 animals from 93 different species! Alongside the zebras and flamingos, we also have colobus monkeys, crocodiles, rainbow lorikeets, and we even have 19 penguins coming in May! 

'The Ultimate Goal Is to Close the Zoo One Day' 

Animal conservation is still my biggest passion. Our small zoo has a huge heart. We want to focus even more on important conservation work, and we're sending keepers to places like Madagascar and Nepal. Plus, we're getting involved with critical breeding programs to help endangered species across the globe. 

Honestly, I hope one day we can close the zoo for good. That's the ultimate goal. The dream is that zoos would no longer be needed because humans have stopped negatively impacting wild animal populations. 

These past two years have been beyond crazy! I really underestimated how challenging it would be, but I'm immensely proud of what we've achieved. Most of all, I want Kai to know that he can dream big, and those dreams can become a reality. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't follow your passions. 

'The Response to Our Crowdfunder Was Incredible' 

Even with the increased number of visitors, we were still running at a loss and struggling to catch up. There were so many things we wanted to improve; we needed more staff, better animal enclosures, and to build a new car park and toilets. It felt overwhelming. 

We knew a bank loan wasn't the answer for us as that would just put us in more debt. That's when we decided to launch a crowdfunder at the end of 2022, and we couldn't believe the response. We ended up raising a whopping £250,000, which was amazing but also humbling. All this money was entrusted to us by people who believed in our zoo. 

That money helped us massively. First, we used some of it to hire more keepers. I'm incredibly proud of them and how hard they all work; they're out there whatever the weather, making sure the animals are well cared for and happy. Then, we built new homes for our monkeys, meerkats, lemurs, and even our reindeer. Our visitor toilets also got a much-needed revamp, and we created a new sensory garden. 

One unexpected expense was the energy crisis; our electricity costs tripled, and that had a big impact on our funds. It was a tough time, but we kept on going and thankfully, we had the best Christmas on record, so that brought some welcome relief. 

'We Get All Sorts of Unusual Donation Requests!' 

We get some wonderful donations from local supermarkets. Asda, Tesco, and Lidl regularly give us fruit and vegetables that are past their sell-by dates, but are still perfectly good for our animals. One downside to this is that we sometimes get far too much of one thing, like lettuce. Our wallabies and monkeys absolutely love it, but even they have their limits! 

Some donation requests are a bit more unusual. For instance, we had one lady call up to ask if we'd take her late husband's ashes so she could scatter them around the tiger enclosure. She said he loved tigers! We also get quite a few people wanting to donate those old Christmas trees that animals often like to nibble on. 

People are incredibly generous, and we always try to find the best uses for all those donations, big or small. Nothing goes to waste if we can help it! 

'People Ask Why We Don't Charge More for Admission' 

We know zoos can be expensive places to visit, particularly for families. But we try our best to keep our ticket prices as affordable as possible, especially for our local community. We want everyone to experience the joy of seeing animals from all over the world. However, we do get a lot of comments on social media about why we don't charge more. Honestly, if we were a bigger zoo or in a central London location, then of course we could get away with charging more. But we're not in that position. We need to be realistic with what people can afford, considering the rural location and everything else families have to pay out for. 

Some visitors suggest we offer annual memberships so regulars can come as often as they like. That's a great idea and something we're definitely looking at for the future! 

'Education Is Just as Important as Animal Welfare ' 

While animal welfare is our absolute top priority, educating the public is incredibly important too. One of my best jobs is giving talks and interacting with our visitors during their trips. The kids are always full of hilarious and interesting questions. One little girl asked me if crocodiles lay eggs – I loved that! When kids have access to zoos, they can actually see animals, and hopefully, that sparks a lifelong interest in wildlife and conservation. 

We also run "Keeper for the Day" experiences which have been really popular. These are a great way for people to interact with the animals, understand what zookeeping is all about, and learn about why conservation matters. It also helps us financially to offer them. We're planning to expand the experiences on offer, especially for our younger visitors. 

Every February, we transform a large marquee at the zoo into a dinosaur experience. We have animatronic, life-size dinosaurs, dinosaur eggs for kids to 'dig up', and fun educational activities. This past February half-term was our biggest yet, with huge queues to get in. Events like this help massively during the quieter winter months. I love that kids can come here and learn all about fascinating creatures that roamed the planet millions of years ago. It makes me want to be a kid again! 

'Handling the Negative Comments Can Be Tough' 

I'd love to say that the bad reviews and online comments have stopped, but unfortunately, they haven't completely. We work incredibly hard making continuous improvements, and most people see that. Still, there will always be someone who finds something to complain about. 

Occasionally, we get hit with accusations of animal cruelty that are totally unfounded. It's difficult to read those comments as we know how much we care about our animals and how well looked-after they are. Most of the time, it's easy to ignore those comments, but sometimes they do get to me. 

Lynsey is amazing at dealing with the social media side of things and often comes to my defence. I'm incredibly grateful for her. We also have an army of loyal followers who don't hesitate to stick up for us, and that kind of support means the world. 

Image Credit - BBC

'We Take Inspiration From Other Wildlife Projects' 

I get inspiration from amazing places like Monkey World in Dorset, which does tremendous work rescuing apes and monkeys. I also love the work of the Aspinall Foundation and what they do at their Kent wildlife parks, focusing on breeding and releasing endangered animals. It's great to see projects like that making a difference. 

One day, I hope we can travel to some of the wildlife projects and sanctuaries we donate to. I'd love to see first-hand the impact our contributions are having on the ground. Maybe one day we can even help establish and manage our own project overseas. That would be incredible! 

'Social Media Is Vital…But It Can Be a Double-Edged Sword' 

Social media has been one of the keys to our success. When we started out, it was just a few photos here and there. However, Lynsey is an absolute whiz at it and she quickly built up a large following. We now have over 90,000 followers across our various platforms. It's great for showcasing new animals, sharing exciting news, and raising awareness of important conservation work. Our supporters love seeing what goes on behind the scenes and watching our animals grow up. 

Of course, with a bigger audience comes more responsibility and the potential for wider exposure to negativity. Lynsey does a brilliant job of moderating comments and stepping in when things get heated. She works hard to maintain a positive, friendly community on our pages. I think people appreciate that we are real people with a genuine passion, and not some faceless corporation. 

'We Love the Sense of Community' 

One of the best things about the zoo is the sense of community it brings. We've got to know so many of our regular visitors, and some have even become firm friends. They've been there through the ups and the downs, sharing our journey with us. 

We also love having school groups visit, particularly those with special educational needs. It's so gratifying to see kids having the best time and experiencing the wonder of animals firsthand. Recently, we had a child in a wheelchair who was so excited to get up close to the meerkats and even got to hand-feed them. The smile on their face was unforgettable. Moments like that make all the hard work completely worthwhile. 

'There's Still a Long Way To Go ' 

The zoo is still a work in progress. Every day, we're thinking of new ways to improve – better enclosures, more staff, more experiences for visitors. Running a zoo is physically, mentally, and financially demanding. It's a 24/7, 365 days a year job. Thankfully, I have an amazing team around me and a supportive family, which makes the toughest days that bit easier. 

It's funny, some people look at the zoo and see money-making potential. What they don't see are the astronomical costs of running the place and the years of hard work, worry, and sacrifice that went into making Call of the Wild Zoo a reality. 

There have been times I've wondered what on earth I was thinking, but then I see how happy the zoo makes people and the positive impact we're having on animal conservation. That's worth more than any amount of money. 

'The Future is Bright' 

My plans for the future? I want the zoo to grow, but sustainably and responsibly. I want more educational opportunities for children, bigger and better habitats for the animals, and the chance to be involved in even more conservation projects around the world. Above all, I want to give Kai the best life possible, teach him about the importance of animals and conservation, and hopefully inspire him to carry on the legacy of the zoo. 

It may have had a rocky start, but I feel incredibly lucky to be living my dream. Now, I just need to find a better way to balance everything…maybe one day!