Famous UK zoo used in Mission Impossible films closes for good with new use

Famous UK zoo used in Mission Impossible films closes for good with new use The zoo was the only one of its kind in the world and has closed its doors for good after its founder Jim Clubb decided to retire - and all of its animals have been rehomed A beloved Cotswolds zoo, whose exotic animals featured in countless classic British films and television shows, has been forced to close its doors permanently. The zoo, described as "the only kind in the world," sadly shut in March, according to This Is Oxfordshire, when owner Jim Clubb made the decision to retire. Clubb established the celebrated TV animal company, Amazing Animals, in 1977, with Heythrop Zoo later built as a purpose-designed location and film set in 1988. His final contribution to the industry was Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which is due for release in July. Acting as a go-to resource for animal requirements across Europe, its furry and feathered inhabitants have graced productions including the Harry Potter series, Mission: Impossible, The Mummy Returns, Stardust, Nativity, Sweeney Todd and The Golden Compass, reports Gloucestershire Live. Now 71, Clubb said the decision to close "has not been taken lightly" and extended his thanks to everyone who had shown their support over the years. He originally co-founded the zoo with his late ex-wife Sally. Clubb has also earned widespread praise for bringing his remarkable collection of animals to local care homes, and recently embarked on a heartwarming project visiting several hospices with his penguins. He said: "It was always my dream to have a private zoo but I had to be able to support it. "It has been my entire life. I have enjoyed every moment. The zoo was unique, it was the only the only one of its kind in the world. I loved the classic zoo architecture, I designed the giraffe house based on London Zoo's, which is a listed building." Clubb shared that Heythrop was envisioned as a bold reimagining of a traditional zoo, with modern animal welfare at its heart, making it a perfect setting for film and television productions. It grew into one of the biggest animal training facilities in the audio-visual industry, with major productions such as The Legend of Tarzan and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle shot on its grounds. Clubb said: "I enjoyed doing the film Fierce Creatures, with John Cleese, and Our Zoo for the BBC." While the zoo never threw open its gates to the general public, it did welcome guests for encounters, private parties and open days. "The joy it gave residents was enormous. We were inundated with requests, even after we announced the closure," Clubb stated. Every animal from the zoo has since been rehomed at other zoos or private collections across the UK, with the much-loved penguins, who had visited numerous care homes, going to a private collector. Clubb revealed he has a number of retirement plans, including caring for his reptiles and tropical fish, as well as continuing to co-write historical books about animals with his son Jamie. He added that the site and its Cotswold stone buildings are set to be transformed into storage units.