The future of Battersea Park zoo has been saved after councillors endorsed a proposal for a new operator to take over its operation from 1 July.

The zoo, currently managed by Wandsworth Council, has been losing around £220,000 a year for the last four years, so the decision was taken to invite private sector bids for its operation.

Five bids were received and the council is currently working to agree the terms of a long-term lease for the four-acre site with its preferred partner.

The company – which has not been named but is known to be a family partnership operating two other wildlife centres in the UK – plans to carry out major improvements to the zoo as well as introducing new animals.

The improvements include renovating animal enclosures, forming a new indigenous wildlife hospital with public viewpoints, providing classrooms for educational opportunities, constructing a new play area, improving café, shop and toilet facilities and forming a new wild flower meadow.

A new attraction featuring otters, deer, red squirrels, owls, pine martens, Scottish wildcats, badgers, ferrets, hedgehogs and foxes is also to be introduced.

The company plans to operate the zoo in its current state from 1 July until the end of October when it will close the site to carry out improvements. It is then expected to reopen in the spring 2005.

Cllr Guy Senior, cabinet member for environment and public services, said: “Councillors on all sides were united in their view that this bid offered the best set of proposals to secure the long term future of the zoo.

“The company has come up with a comprehensive list of improvements to the site, that they will want to carry out as soon as possible. They know that it is in their interests to provide a first class visitor attraction that is popular with the public.” Details: www.wandsworth.gov.uk