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In the next five years, the park in Wraxall also plans a new café, improved facilities for disabled visitors and a conservation building for teaching school children about local nature and global wildlife.

"The elephant enclosure will comprise seven acres of rich grassland, 7000 sq feet of heated housing plus an outdoor sandy area with a water pool," said owner Anthony Bush.

"We're looking to keep four elephants, three females and one male, who will hopefully breed and help the dwindling numbers of elephants in the wild."

The zebras will move in with Gerald the giraffe to create a mixed African-grassland exhibit

The attraction says it expects to employ about 75 full-time staff and welcome 300,000 visitors a year by 2012.

It made the announcement after North Somerset Council asked the park about its plans for expansion over the next five years.