Everyone told us buying a zoo was a bad idea... but I'm glad we did (From Gazette)

Everyone told us buying a zoo was a bad idea... but I'm glad we did

5:00pm Tuesday 28th July 2009 in News By Frances Leate

Dominique Tropeano with the meerkats at Colchester Zoo Buy this photo »

WHEN his accountant and solicitor, friends and family all told Dominique Tropeano not to buy a small run-down zoo in Essex, he decided to take the plunge anyway.

After decades of hard work, it is clear Mr Tropeano made the right decision.

He and his wife, Angela, bought Colchester Zoo in 1983 and have since transformed the tourist attraction into one of the best zoos in the country.

The zoo cost £285,000 and he also bought 30 acres of land for a further £500,000. The zoo now covers around 70 acres Recently the proud recipient of an OBE, Mr Tropeano says he has no regrets.

Mr Tropeano, 64, said: “It has been challenging and we have had our troubles. Last year, we had the threat of bird flu and there has been a lot of other issues in the past, such as foot and mouth, but that is all part of running a zoo.

“As long as we maintain our ambition, vitality and determination to get on with things, we will continue to do well and prosper.

“It is not one person who makes this place, but it is a lot of people who have enormous spirit, as well as local people who support us, for which we are very grateful.”

Mr Tropeano admits few people thought the zoo would be a success when he took it over.

He said: “I certainly didn’t buy it with the blessing of our solicitor and accountant, because the reputation of Colchester Zoo was not as good as it is today.

“I recall both our solicitor and our friends being totally opposed to us buying it but we felt that this is what we wanted to do so we just got on with it.

“The early days were extremely difficult, including financially, I can’t deny that, and we had to make sacrifices and survive.”

A keen animal lover and conservationist, Mr Tropeano admits that in an ideal world zoos would not have to exist, but he maintains they are crucial if endangered animals are to survive.

He said: “When you go to Africa and see animals in their natural habitat, you realise that this is the best way of admiring wildlife. But unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a world that is getting worse and worse.

“Modern life will continue to take over and minimise the opportunities that animals have to survive. My feeling is that the modern zoo of today is vital to help animals survive.”

As well as taking on conservation projects in Africa, the zoo has undergone a dramatic transformation since it was bought by the Tropeano family. It has grown from a small centre with a limited animal collection to being a reputable conservation centre with an enviable reputation.

There were only six zoo keepers when it first opened in the late 1960s, but it now has 70 zoo keepers and up to 350 people working at the zoo during the summer months.

Mr Tropeano says he is slowly giving more and more responsibility to others, including 39-year-old son, Anthony, a zoological director there, in the hope of continuing his legacy.

He said: “The further development of the zoo won’t stop anytime soon. I want to ensure there is enough money over the next 15 to 20 years to make it a success.”