Chester Zoo is a zoological garden at Upton by Chester, in Cheshire, England. Chester Zoo was opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family. It is one of the UK's largest zoos at 125 acres. The zoo has a total land holding of approximately 400 acres. Chester Zoo is operated by the North of England Zoological Society, a registered charity founded in 1934. The zoo receives no government funding.