The zoo has blamed the mistake on a computer error
Chester Zoo is one of the most popular zoos in the UK(Image: MEN)
Chester Zoo bosses have responded after an advert for a ‘child predator’ tour was criticised.
The attraction was opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family. The zoo is one of the UK’s largest zoos at 51 hectares and in 2024 it was named as the best zoo in the UK.
It has come under fire after advertising tickets for a 90-minute bus tour at which visitors could see various animals including tigers, lions, rhinos and Komodo dragons.
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The problem came as people saw the unfortunate name the tour had been given. One of the ticket options was labelled “child predator tour”.
Bosses have since blamed a computer error for the mistake, with it quickly being rectified online. A spokesperson said: “The error was due to our default naming convention in our system.”
The description on the website reads: “Discover the predators of the animal kingdom, and their prey in our brand new guided tour. You’ll be the first visitors in the zoo as you board our electric tour bus and enjoy 90 minutes of the zoo all to yourself!
“Come face to face with some of the zoo’s most iconic animals, away from the crowds, including our family of Sumatran tigers.
“Your expert tour guides will be on hand to share fascinating facts about some of nature’s most effective hunters.”
The tickets start at £25 for children and £30 for adults, with up to 32 people allowed per experience. Now on the website, the names of the tickets have seen been changed.
It now reads as “Child Tour” or “Child Tour & Admission” instead of the original mistake which went viral on X (formerly known as Twitter) earlier this week. There are other options for adults and carers to book on as well.
@martynholland_ screenshotted the error and quipped: “lets all go to chester zoo for the ….. child predator tour”. In the replies, someone else joked: “I hope this has been cleared by Cheshire Police – seems a bit dangerous.”
