Banham Zoo and Monkey Sanctuary was established on a two acre part of an orchard in the village in 1968.

The zoo has since grown to 35 acres with more than 1,000 residents.

In July 1974, Banham Zoo was accepted as a member of the Federation of British Zoos.

In 1978, manager Herbert Dornbrack leaves after nine years, taking his woolly monkey colony.

In June 1979, South Norfolk MP John MacGregor opens a new lecture hall at Banham Zoo.

A freak wind rips through the zoo site toppling trees and damaging buildings in December 1979.

In February 1982 a missing macaw is found alive and well in Thompson by Tony Parrott.

Two snow leopards Nazar and Nanga were voted the most popular in the zoo in a visitor questionnaire in June 1989.

TV presenter Johnny Morris opens a new bird garden in April 1990.

A new penguin pool is opened in 1991.

The zoo buys Suffolk Wildlife Park in Kessingland, near Lowestoft, now called Africa Alive.

In March 1994 26 parrots, worth �15,000 are stolen from Banham following a break-in. Banham Zoo also receives an award from the National Federation of Zoos for breeding Emperor Tamarin Monkeys.

Princes Trust volunteers complete a new enclosure for Amur leopard cats in October 1995.

In September 1995, a 10-year-old penguin is kidnapped and left in a pond in Christchurch Park, Ipswich.

The zoo celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008 with a party, including a 6ft high fruit and vegetable cake for its animals.

A new giraffe enclosure was unveiled in 2008.

A new snow leopard enclosure opened at the zoo in 2009.