Zoo charity is short-changed by ticket touts

The zoo, which is run by conservation charity ZSL, relies on ticket sales to fund a large number of its projects.

But the eBay tickets, many of which are being offered at nearly half price, are being sold online in large batches without the charity’s knowledge.

At present, a one-day adult ticket for the zoo costs £17. However one vendor, who had already flogged 11 tickets and had just seven left, was offering the very same deal on eBay for just £9.

Another seller, whose account had been removed by the time the Gazette went to press, had sold more than 70 tickets at a similar price.

Given the sheer quantity of tickets being sold at reduced rates, it seems highly unlikely the sellers had paid full price for them at the zoo’s ticket office.

And a ZSL Whipsnade Zoo spokesperson said one of the goals of the investigation will be to establish exactly where the tickets have been sourced from.

The extent of the practice is such that as well as selling tickets for the zoo, eBayers are also selling ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ vouchers for zoo tickets which are sent to the buyer by email.

The spokesperson added: “Our marketing department is looking into these issues of tickets being sold by other vendors and in particular where these are in large numbers.

“We would hope that most people who purchase a ticket for the zoo, uses it for that purpose, as income from visiting the zoo goes direct to the charity, ZSL, which runs both Whipsnade and London Zoos.

“ZSL is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity – our key role being the conservation of animals and their habitats.”

No representatives from eBay UK were available for comment this week.