A rescue centre for exotic animals has said it is ‘saddened’ to have to close after its mini-zoo was forced to shut down earlier this year.

Cookham Rescue Centre announced on Wednesday, August 28 that it was unable to keep paying rent at its site on Lower Mount Farm on Long Lane. It comes after it had to close its mini-zoo earlier this year after failing to get planning permission.

In a statement the rescue centre said: “Despite our best efforts over the past six months, circumstances beyond our control have forced us to leave our beloved facility. Our entire team is deeply disappointed that Cookham Zoo didn’t thrive in this location.”

Cookham Zoo opened in May 2023 and featured animals such as ring-tailed lemurs, polecat-ferrets, Brazilian cavy, and caracals.

READ MORE: Rescue centre seeks funds after closure of Cookham Zoo

But the zoo had yet to be issued planning permission at the time it was opened. This was then refused by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in March this year on the basis that it would cause harm to the green belt.

The council said installing metal containers, fencing and hard surfacing for the zoo would be ‘alien’ to and at odds with the surrounding open farmland. Without planning permission, the council was then also unable to grant it a zoo licence.

Owners continued to try and keep running the facility as a rescue centre, but now say they can’t afford to carry on.

In its statement, the rescue centre said: “We worked tirelessly to create an affordable, family-friendly attraction where children could learn about the diverse wildlife of our world.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts to comply with local regulations, the council decided in March that our facility was not suitable for the greenbelt, even though other businesses on the land were approved.”

It added: “Unfortunately with our rent remaining the same despite the facility not being able to use it for the agreed purpose we find ourselves unable to continue to pay for the property.”

Cookham Rescue Centre said its animals are being relocated to other zoos and rescue centres. But it said it was still raising funds to set up a smaller facility where it can keep looking after some animals, including its wolfdogs Otis and Pippa.

The statement said it had been unable to relocate the two wolfdogs, which it said had also ‘formed strong bonds with their keepers’.

The rescue centre has set up a GoFundMe page seeking to raise £10,000 from supporters. It has also held several recent fundraising events including a ‘Wild Fest’ music festival on Sunday August 25.