Longleat Safari Park hippo house plan approved

Plans to build a new home for hippos at Longleat Safari Park have been approved.

The Wiltshire attraction was home to female hippos Sonia and Spot for almost 50 years until their deaths in 2023 and January respectively.

Work to the new hippo house, which will eventually welcome a bull and females, will begin on Monday.

David Leverett, Longleat's Development Director, said the park hoped to welcome hippos back at the site by early summer.

"Our guests will be able to see the largest free-range water habitat in the UK for hippos in human care," he said.

"This is the next chapter in the story of hippos at Longleat and is a really exciting time for us as well as ensuring we continue to keep conservation at the forefront of what we do," he added.

The planning application, submitted to Wiltshire Council in November, asked for permission to replace the existing structure with a new hippo house as well as make improvements to the grazing paddock and Half Mile Pond by the side of Longleat House.

The plans also feature indoor pools for the hippos and a classroom for educational talks, behind-the-scenes tours and group visits.

"We know how much guests valued being able to see this vulnerable species when Sonia and Spot were here and they have been asking us regularly to bring them back," said Mr Leverett.

Simon Askew, Chief Operating Officer, said: "This will build on our conservation commitments and ensure we are continuing to be at the forefront of breeding vulnerable and rare species."

The site's sea lions will also be relocated as part of the plans, with the introduction of a new pontoon.

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