Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 58
social scene
Island Life - December 2010
Photo: Charlotte Corney pictured by the Tiger enclosure
Charlotte's story
It was once the ‘slum zoo of Britain’. Then, by sheer force of personality, one man
turned it into one of the Island’s premier draws for visitors. His daughter describes
growing up with the animals, and her scheme for winter openings. For the first time
Islanders can pay their furry friends a festive visit, Charlotte Corney tells Island Life.
herself.
It’s Christmas time at the zoo. And
hibernate and the staff go home. But
yes, the monkeys’ dextrous fingers will
actually it’s a really expensive time for
open their stockings, and the tigers
us – bills are higher, the animals eat
remember, just ten years ago, seeing
are partial to a bit of turkey. But this
more and for three months there’s no
Charlotte taking young and frolicsome
year, for the first time, it won’t be just
income.”
tigers for a splash on Sandown beach;
the zoo keepers but the general public
It is not inappropriate that she sounds
Many residents of Sandown will
others might recall walking past her
who can share the festivities, thanks to
like a harassed mum trying to make
sister Emma, not more than four,
winter openings for the first time at the
the household ends meet. She has
pushing a pram in which was coiled a
Isle of Wight Zoo.
hand-raised many of the animals from
python.
“The staff can’t tell the animals
cubs, and her commitment to sharing
That there is still a zoo here today
they’re off to have their Christmas
her Christmas with them is not just
is thanks to Charlotte’s father, Jack
dinner,” says chief executive Charlotte
about economics. Charlotte has been
Corney, who began the slow and costly
Corney. “People think the animals
part of the zoo since she was a cub
process of its rescue in the 1960s.
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