Who Owns The Dartmoor Zoo? Unveiling The Zoos Ownership

Is Benjamin Mee still the owner of Dartmoor Zoo? This question often arises in discussions about the zoo’s ownership and operation. To provide some clarity, it’s important to note that Benjamin Mee and his family, who were once the owners of Dartmoor Zoo, made a significant decision in 2014. At that time, they generously donated the zoo to the Dartmoor Zoological Society, a charitable organization. Benjamin Mee now serves as the CEO of this charity, which plays a pivotal role in managing and maintaining the zoo. Moreover, he continues to reside on the zoo’s premises along with his two children. This unique arrangement allows Benjamin Mee to remain closely connected to the zoo’s activities and conservation efforts.

In August 2006, Dartmoor Zoological Park underwent a significant change in ownership when it was purchased for £1.1 million by the Mee family. This family is led by the matriarch, Amelia Mee, and includes four out of her five children, with Benjamin Mee being one of them. Shortly after the Mee family took over the park, an unexpected incident occurred just four days into their tenure – a jaguar managed to escape from its enclosure. This event marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey for the Mee family and the entire Dartmoor Zoological Park community, as they embarked on a mission to recover the escaped jaguar and transform the park into a thriving wildlife sanctuary.

In the movie “We Bought a Zoo,” there’s a scene where Matt Damon’s character scales a tree. During this moment, keen-eyed viewers might spot the real Benjamin Mee, who inspired the film’s story, along with his children Milo Mee (whose character is portrayed as Dylan in the movie) and Ella Mee (whose character is Rosie in the film). This cameo appearance of the Mee family serves as a special connection between the real-life events that inspired the movie and the fictional portrayal on screen.