Latest Paignton Zoo News

Imagine having your whole home refurbished, with an indoor pool, hi-tech heating and the best interior design. Well, the Aldabran giant tortoises at Paignton Zoo had all this done – and they love it.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon has got four new residents, and they’re as weird and wonderful as you could imagine. The blue tree monitor lizard is the latest animal to join Paignton Zoo.  Four have joined the charity zoo, and are around 5 years old and 2 feet long – they are currently living in the reptile nursery.

Conservation charity has been awarded a huge United Nations fund, for its project in South East Asia.Selamatkan Yaki (“Save the Yaki”) is funded by the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, based at Paignton Zoo, and works on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia to protect the Sulawesi crested black macaque, known locally as yaki. The United Nations Development Programme grant is worth 265,000 US dollars, more than £200,000, over five years.

A local business has boosted the cause of conservation by doing what it does best – selling great beer. Bays Brewery has been raising money by selling a special beer - Crocod-ale - on behalf of wildlife charity Paignton Zoo Environmental Park.

New research has found that light pollution is causing bats to go hungry across the UK. Too many streetlights are attracting insects, the food of the nocturnal creatures, but due to their nature light-sensitive nature, the animals can’t go near the lamps to feed.

The newest addition to Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, as part of an effort to save the species – the Majorcan midwife toad come to the zoo. The tiny amphibian has large eyes and a shiny golden green colouring, and like all midwife toads, the male carries the eggs.

Research student, Emily Tyack, at Paignton Zoo has found research to support the benefits of building hotels for bees. Whilst studying solitary bees, laying eggs in cavities, she created ‘bee hotels’ each with a range of materials and then studied to see if bees would nest.

Two toco toucan chicks are being hand reared at Paignton Zoo due to their parents failing to raise previous hatched chicks. The task of bringing up the birds falls on Nikki Watt, a bird keeper from the Devon based zoo. The charity zoo is the only collection in the UK to have hatched this species this year, and one of three who have bred the remarkable bird in 2017, in Europe.

Life for the animals at Paignton Zoo is about to change, as they’re catapulted into fame and fortune, on National TV. The Zoo is a new children’s comedy series, featuring the voice acting talents of comedian, Hugh Dennis and a cast of comical voice actors.

Torquay’s coastal zoo has sent 20 penguins to Parque Zoologico de Lagos in Portugal. It’s all in the name of species conservation, but - like anyone going overseas this summer - they all had to have their travel documents in order.

The second of two huge smelly flowers has bloomed at Paignton Zoo.

The second of two huge smelly flowers is getting ready to bloom at Paignton Zoo.

Paignton Zoo has revealed new plans for its African habitat. The charity was given planning permission last year to reshape its existing savannah area, which includes elephant, giraffes and zebras. It has now revised this scheme, while keeping many exciting elements from the original design.

A major Devon conservation charity has hosted a key national conference. The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust held the BIAZA Native Species Working Group 2017 annual conference on 27th and 28th June.

Steve Nash happily describes himself as a recycled zookeeper and “a bit of a geek when it comes to zoos”. You might also describe him as a reptile expert and an inspiring educator – and his parents might easily describe him as a bit of a nightmare, as he was keeping snakes and scorpions in his bedroom from the age of 7.

When it comes to laughing, hyenas are the African carnivores we think of first… But here’s one cheetah who seems to be in on the joke…

South American fur seal Grace has given birth at Living Coasts. She surprised animal staff by going into labour in the middle of the day on Thursday 25th May.

For Father’s Day, here’s a story about a dad who goes the extra mile… Let’s hear it for the male blessed poison frog.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – so perhaps this photo of a gorilla at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon says it all.

Bays Brewery is introducing another animal-themed ale for the summer in aid of Paignton Zoo Environmental Park.

A giraffe has been born at Paignton Zoo – and the crucial moment was captured on video by staff. The as yet unsexed calf was born to mother Sangha on the morning of Wednesday 19th April. The Zoo’s giraffe house is likely to be closed for a few days while mother and calf bond. It’s hoped that visitors may be able to see the calf from this coming weekend. The rest of the Zoo’s herd will be out and about. Since the tragic fire in early 2006, which claimed the lives of three giraffes, animal experts have patiently rebuilt the Paignton Zoo herd. A male, Yoda, came from Givskud Zoo, Denmark in September 2006. Two females, Sangha and Janica, came to Paignton Zoo from the Czech Republic.

Paignton Zoo’s South American maned wolves are rearing a litter of three adorable pups. This is the first litter from this pair; male Tolock arrived at Paignton Zoo in September 2016 from Katowice Zoo in Poland, where he was born in 2015. Female Milla was born in December 2012 and came to the UK a year later from Nordens Ark Zoo in Sweden. It is seven years since Paignton Zoo has bred maned wolves. They are part of the carefully managed European Endangered species Programme.

Paignton Zoo is opening a chain of hotels – for bees… A student studying artificial nest-sites for bees has put up ten “bee hotels” in the Zoo’s 80 acres of grounds. Emily Tyack, a third year Environmental Biology student at the University of Nottingham, is on a year-long placement with the Field Conservation & Research Department of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall. The bees that Emily is researching are not the sort that help put honey on our breakfast tables: “Most people are familiar with the honey bee. There are also 25 species of bumble bee that buzz around our gardens on a sunny day. But there are also about 250 species of solitary bee in the UK.

As Valentine’s Day looms, ants at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon are busy showing humans the way when it comes to grand romantic gestures. These industrious insects have been carrying enormous hearts back to their nests.

The Great Big Rhino Project at Paignton Zoo has made crucial donations of cash to wildlife conservation on two continents! The Project is going to give a whopping £60,000 to support work in Africa and South East Asia!

Taking a two-year-old to the dentist is tricky at the best of times – but what if she weighs 30 kilos and has teeth like a large dog? Things can get... interesting A South American fur seal pup at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo, is having a tooth removed. She’s in good hands; top London dentist Peter Kertesz is also an expert in animal dentistry. The last time he was at Paignton Zoo, in December 2015, his patient was a gorilla; before that, a tiger.Jo Reynard, from the Paignton Zoo vet team, explains: “Gemini is having a canine removed because of an abscess found during a previous investigation. South American fur seals have long canines and a slender lower jaw. A canine is always a challenge as it is a big tooth set well in to the bone. If this tooth is not removed, the abscess may eventually effect the structure of the jaw. This could well be life-threatening.” Gemini (also known both by her rather impersonal collection number 9925 and her keeper pet name of Klara) is just over two years old and around 30 kilos in weight. She was born at Living Coasts in June 2014. When her mother was unable to produce milk, zoo keepers stepped in to feed her creamy fish milkshakes around the clock. They also taught her to swim. In preparation for the op, she has been trained to go into a special travel crate; on the day she obliges and is driven to the Zoo by her keeper, Libor Mach.

Babbacombe Model Village is the only place to be for rhinos this half term.

The Great Big Rhino Project, in Exeter, is bringing out the artistic talent of local people. Rhino designs have been created by nurseries, junior schools, secondary schools, Scout groups, charities, young farmers, rest homes and drop-in centres.

A striking hi-tech peice of artwork has been created by an extraordinary collaboration between Devon-based scientists, designers and conservationists, highlighting the plight of one of the most endangered large mammals in the world.

Honey from special bees at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has won an award and been proven to have antibacterial properties. Now, it’s to be sold in the Zoo shop.

The Great Big Rhino Project is spreading online. Artists, sponsors and fans are all engaging on social media – and so are the rhinos themselves.

Paignton Zoo’s rare Sumatran tiger Shakira is learning to be a mother the hard way, giving birth to three cubs on 31st May. Sadly, one died on day 9 or 10 and at about 4.15am on day 24, as she inadvertently slept on top of one of the remaining cubs. She was seen on CCTV licking both when she awoke at around 6.30am, but regrettably only one was alive.

A Rothschild’s giraffe has been born at Paignton Zoo. On the morning of Thursday 19th May, the male calf was born to mother Janica. Due to him being sadly rejected by his mother, zoo keepers have stepped in to bottle feed him.

Cats like to play – and big cats like to play hard… Photographs taken at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon reveal the power, grace and supreme hunting skills of an adult male tiger.

Animal experts from all over the world are gathering together to discuss nutrition, at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park. Over 50 delegates are attending from across the UK and Europe as well as Israel, Russia and Taipei.

Peering out from a hessian sack, at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon, is Tatau the Bornean orang utan.

The people and rainforests of West Africa are being spoken out for, by West Country wildlife conservationists. Staff at the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT), based at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, are calling on the authorities in Nigeria to stop the construction of a road through vital rainforest habitat.

A friendly rivalry between Zoo colleagues, preparing for the Virgin Money London Marathon, has been struck up - although they are based 80 miles apart.

Whether they are for children...or gorillas, play areas need to be built to last. Three of the play areas at Paignton Zoo are being improved for children – and at the same time, keepers have been rebuilding a climbing frame for even more demanding creatures – gorillas!

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has added to its green credentials. Pete Morgan, Environmental Officer for the charity, has become the first person working in a UK zoo to qualify as a Chartered Environmentalist.

A key local charity has been celebrating the achievements of its volunteers. The dedicated band clocked up the equivalent of 3,000 working days during 2015.

A new female cheetah has arrived at Paignton Zoo. Jahzara has come from Beekse Bergen Safari Park, in the Netherlands, where she was born on 7th December 2013.

One of the region’s key conservation charities is looking forward to a busy and successful 2016.

Tis the season to be woolly… Why can't rhinos love Christmas Jumpers, as much as people do? Volunteers at Paignton Zoo in Devon have knitted an over-sized pullover for a life-sized rhino sculpture.

Paignton Zoo is sending rhinos to all corners of the UK. As part of The Great Big Rhino Project, the full-size sculptures are on their way to artists across the country thanks to Torbay Clearance Services.

A black crowned crane, caught in an inquisitive moment by volunteer photographer Ray Wiltshire, at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon.

Despite the dire threats to his species, this little chap keeps on smiling….

Paignton Zoo’s Great Big Rhino Project has reached a major milestone, with sponsors choosing the designs of their rhinos. Guests, including representatives of two dozen local business sponsors, attended an evening reception at the Zoo to view submissions and make their choices.

Baboons have learnt to floss, at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon. A female hamadryas baboon was seen using a bristle from an old broom to clean her teeth. 

Animal care staff, at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has treated an endangered monkey with a rare medical condition.

Three mountains in three countries in 24 hours – that’s the challenge facing animal staff from two local zoos. 

A long line of colourful ants is marching through Paignton Zoo. 

A Rothschild’s giraffe has been born at Paignton Zoo. 

The Paignton Zoo Great Gorillas Project auction has raised £100,000.

Children at a hospice in Devon are proud that their hand-painted gorilla shares his name with the royal baby.

Iconic Star Wars villain Darth Vader has been reborn - as a life-size gorilla.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has teamed up with a major local horticultural company as they take to the international stage.

A life-size, 3-D, x-ray gorilla is the latest amazing creation of a major local project linking public art and conservation.