EXCLUSIVE: Dutch millionaire’s extraordinary plans for Fenland’s first green 'zoo'

EXCLUSIVE

By John Elworthy

DUTCH environmentalist Lari Foorp today announced exciting plans for a new Fenland based 'green' zoo.

The multi millionaire entrepreneur - who built a fortune running virtual health clubs for overweight Danish businessmen- now hopes to extend his business empire to north Cambridgeshire.

"I have been working on this project for the past 10 years and many of the animals I hope to bring to the zoo not only like wind farms but positively thrive on being close to them," he said.

Mr Foorp hopes to use locally sourced renewable energy to heat the zoo buildings and waste from the animals will be used in a state of the art anaerobic digestion plant to run specially adapted buggies for zoo keepers.

"In truth the whole project will be self sufficient from an energy point of view," he explained. "We are now in talks with planners about the acreage we need for the zoo and expect an announcement shortly.

"To be honest you caught me on the hop. We didn't intend to put up the sign announcing the zoo until we had got planning permission and called a proper press conference. It's fair to say you've once again scooped the opposition."

South African environmental campaigner Alfi Prool was in London for the G20 summit but told us today that, in broad terms, he supported Mr Foorp's ambitious plans.

"Fenland, I hear, has long needed a new tourist attraction," he said. "It's got a brewery, some fields, a bit of water, and a couple of nice buildings but not much else. We see this as providing jobs, too, and that should be good for the local economy."

Full details of the new zoo can be found on the website, www.gotcha.com