In 1991, Cook's wife, Maureen Cook (née Totton), developed the site further by introducing a rare breeds farm, named the Ponderosa Rare Breeds Farm, which was built upon a landfill between two disused railway lines. By 2002, the centre had grown to house around 150 animals, including wallabies and water buffalo. Llamas, emus and deer also joined the collection after moving from a small zoo in Lancashire. During the same year, the zoo received £13,000 in compensation due to a nationwide outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease which resulted in the centre closing for over two months. The money was used to build new attractions, including an enclosure for marmosets, a reptile house, an aquatic centre and two lakes. A zoo license was also applied for due to the increasing size of the zoo's animal collection, which was granted in 2004. In 2014, the zoo was put up for sale at a price of £1.3 million.