Enjoy International Animal Days in Chester

October is a huge month for animal lovers across the globe, and there are plenty of ways to make the most of these in Chester.

Not only is it World Animal Day today, October 4, but international days dedicated to sloths (October 19th) and snow leopards (October 23rd) also fall within the autumn month. Regardless of which day you’re celebrating, visitors and residents of Chester will know there is one place that is ideal to honour all.

Leading global conservationist and renowned northwest attraction Chester Zoo works tirelessly to help endangered animals in the UK and around the world. Set in 125 acres of beautiful parkland, the zoo is home to over 500 species that live in specially designed enclosures that perfectly represent their natural habitats.

Among the animals that call Chester Zoo home are sloths and snow leopards, making it the perfect destination for international animal day experiences. Chester’s two-toed sloths hail from tropical forests found in South America and have preferred diet of tender shoots, leaves and buds. However, as omnivores, in the wild their diet can include insects and small lizards. Renowned for moving slowly, sloths conserve energy through 15-hour sleep cycles when they’re not hanging upside down at the zoo.

New for 2024, Chester opened an impressive Himalayan habitat in March for snow leopards. Zoo visitors can now see the highly threatened species of big cat prowling on rugged cliffs, steep ledges and rocky outcrops, and get nose-to-nose with them as they rest in shallow air-cooled caves.

Based in Upton-by-Chester, the zoo is easily found just outside the city.