Ponderosa Zoo

In 1988, businessman Howard Cook MBE purchased a 50 acre neglected dairy farm in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. The farmland was considered poor quality with little use to the farmer and surrounding community so, in 1989, Cook began to redevelop it and used it as a base for his building company. Cook's family, which was associated with the learning disability charity Mencap, decided to use the farmland for the disabled and established the Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre. A greenhouse and other facilities were built in collaboration with the Ravensthorpe Education Centre which allowed students to experience and develop their horticultural skills. In 1991, Cook's wife, Maureen Cook (née…

The zoo lies within an 80 acre plot of land off Smithies Lane in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. It is laid around a small lake and comprises various animal enclosures, a ticket office, cafe, lakeside restaurant, reptile house, adventure play area and guest amenities. The zoo's animal collection has gradually expanded since its beginnings in 1991 as a "rare breeds farm" with Highland cattle, llamas, wallabies and emus. As of 5 May 2020, the zoo's collection of over 120 animals includes serval, Scottish wildcats, lemurs, reindeer, coati, otters and raccoon dogs, plus various birds, reptiles and small invertebrates. Prior to becoming a zoo, the centre's founding mission was to "bridge the gap"…