In August 2016 Hertfordshire's newest visitor attraction opened in Great Amwell within the grounds of the Van Hage Leisure Garden centre. Ventura Wildlife’s Zoological Gardens is one of the UK’s newest and most interactive small zoos and is currently set within approximately 2 acres of Hertfordshire countryside. This unique zoo offers visitors of all ages and abilities the chance to get up close to a variety of wild animals. The zoo is home to many animal species including; grants zebra, ring-tailed lemurs, red-fronted lemurs, red kangaroo (the first to be kept in Hertfordshire in over 150 years), wallaby, emu, Burmese python and reindeer. Highlight species housed within the collection include the only Cuban Hutia currently exhibited in a UK zoo and fossa, Madagascar's largest carnivore. Ventura Wildlife's Zoological Gardens participates within the EEP for fossa as is involved in many other conservation initiatives both locally and internationally. As with all good zoos education plays a key role within this zoo and it is a proud institutional member of the International Zoo Educators Association. The zoo has recently completed its own education and conference centre known as the 'Explorers Lodge' themed on the 1930-1950s era of exploration and adventure.