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In recent years the Zoo has been the subject of demonstrations by local animal rights campaigners, who allege that the conditions in which some of the animals are kept do not reflect their natural habitat and therefore are not conducive to the animals' welfare. These groups stage peaceful pickets and distribute leaflets, usually on bank-holiday weekends. The Zoo prepares for these events by producing targeted, anti-protestor literature that is distributed upon their arrival.

Since Blackpool Zoo’s takeover by Grant Leisure, there has been a number of criticisms regarding the treatment of staff. Most employees are taken on in a temporary nature, despite many being full-time, long-term employees. Having little in the way of legal rights, staff at Blackpool Zoo can find themselves jobless without warning and without being given genuine reasons by management.

2005 saw the opening of the 'Dinosaur Safari', a walkthrough exhibition featuring plastic models of 32 life-size dinosaurs around a trail. The exhibition has had a lukewarm reception as the models of the dinosaurs are deemed by many to be unrealistic and the extra cost of the trail catches many guests unaware.

New for 2006 is "Amazonia", a walk-through enclosure of South American animals and birds including 5 species of monkeys. Visitors can come face-to-face with the inhabitants, offering them an extraordinary opportunity to experience life in the wild.

External links

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