Paignton Zoo

Boots on the ground: conservation in action

A South West charity is marking World Ranger Day on Wednesday 31st July by highlighting the work of its conservation patrols – and by paying tribute to a ranger recently killed in the line of duty.

Wild Planet Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, helps fund forest patrols in the highlands of Tanzania and in the Omo Forest...

Baby is not a howler yet

It’s summer on the English Riviera, the weather is gorgeous – and the baby is asleep… Life is good. The new baby black howler monkey at Paignton Zoo is unnamed and the sex is unknown – keepers are just letting mum Bonita get on with it. The early days and weeks of an animal’s life are always perilous, but she’s an experienced mum and the weather is good, which will help. The photo shows Bonita...

Zoo's UK climate change first

A Devon educator has become the first accredited UN climate change teacher in a UK zoo.

Steve Nash, Head of Education for Wild Planet Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, has become a UN Accredited Climate Change teacher.

“The modules are based on the most recent evidence regarding climate change science and its...

Charity beer hits the spot

Bays Brewery’s special orangutan-themed beer has raised nearly two thousand pounds for a local conservation charity.

The guest beer, called Orangutan Ale, sold out, raising £1,393 for Paignton Zoo. Along with collecting tins and other fundraising activities, the grand total donated is £1,881,94.

Orangutan Ale, a handsome tawny colour to match its name and the species, was...

Setting higher standards in zoo retail

Local zoos are setting high environmental and ethical standards for their suppliers to ensure the quality of products in their shops. Questionnaires were sent to some 70 different suppliers asking about the environmental, ethical and recycling components of their businesses. The initiative was launched by South West Zoo Enterprises, the retail arm of Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts, Torquay’s...

Devon mourns Duchess

The matriarch of Paignton Zoo has died. Female African elephant Duchess collapsed in her house early on Sunday morning. Despite a determined and extended response from her keepers, the in-house vet team and other staff and volunteers, the difficult decision to euthaniase her was taken at lunch-time.

Simon Tonge, Executive Director of Paignton Zoo, was present throughout: “Duchess was...

Hatching chicks (nearly) as easy as ABC

This Vietnam pheasant chick – and others like it hatched recently at Paignton Zoo – could be the future of its species. Bird keepers at the charity zoo are based in the Avian Breeding Centre, commonly known as the ABC. The chick is being cared for here; while it’s preferable for chicks to be parent reared, keepers will step in to give nature a helping hand when needed. Another six (unrelated)...

Zoo's TB restrictions lifted

The TB restrictions at Paignton Zoo have been lifted. The conservation charity has been constrained since August 2017, when a single case of TB was discovered.

A crucial final test has come back all clear. Head of Veterinary Services Ghislaine Sayers said: “We’ve been through a lot. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to care for animals during this difficult time and to help...

Are these the sweetest babies in the world?

There are baby red ruffed lemurs at Paignton Zoo – and just look at them! The charity zoo is a professional science and conservation body working internationally to help save these Critically Endangered primates – but sometimes all the serious stuff is pushed to one side by incredibly cute baby animals.

Head Keeper of Mammals Owen Taylor said: “When we were sure she was close to giving...

Zoo staff save sick orang utan

Animal experts at Paignton Zoo have been battling around the clock to save a sick primate.

Keepers, vets and vet nurses responded swiftly when female orang utan Gambira was taken ill suddenly and sat with her long into the night after emergency surgery.

They found she had an infection of her air sac (a large pouch in the throat, thought to be used for vocalisation and connected...

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