With teeth like that, it’s hard to believe Western lowland gorilla Kiondo is a vegetarian. The 15-year-old, who weighs in at around 186 kilos and lives at Paignton Zoo in Devon, has an impressive set of gnashers. He was spotted displaying to keepers and to his fascinated public by photographer and Zoo regular Miriam Haas. Kiondo enjoys a diet of vegetables, including peppers, sweetcorn,...
This is a vampire crab. With its purple body, orange pincers and piercing pale eyes, it’s a nightmarish vision. And a crab that’s also a vampire? Days out at the beach will never be the same… You may not have heard of a vampire crab, though it’s a species popular with aquarists – in fact, illegal over-collection for the pet trade is a real threat to the species. As alarming as it looks, this...
A tiger at Paignton Zoo in Devon has had a root canal – performed by one very brave veterinary dentist… The patient is Paignton Zoo’s 11-year-old male Sumatran tiger Fabi, who is over 2 metres long and weighs over 100 kilograms. A Sumatran tiger has 30 teeth, including four very long canines. Canine teeth are important for biting, tearing and eating meat, for jaw architecture and display. As...
Torquay’s Living Coasts is part of a new global movement to raise awareness about plastic pollution. The coalition goes under the banner of "World aquariums #ReadyToChange to #BeatPlasticPollution". The aim is to set a good example over the use of plastics and to encourage changes in behaviour. Living Coasts was the first aquarium in the UK to sign up and is one of seven in this...
An African penguin chick has been nursed back to health with fish soup by dedicated zoo keepers. The decision to remove the chick from its parents was taken when keepers saw signs of illness and a lack of appetite.
Since then, staff at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium, have been feeding the chick every 3 hours from 7.30 in the morning to 7.30 at night. The only thing...
A charity beer has raised an elephantine sum for wildlife conservation. Bays Brewery helped generate £3,282 by selling a special beer – Trunk Ale - on behalf of wildlife charity Paignton Zoo Environmental Park.
Paignton Zoo supports environmental education in the Omo Forest of south-western Nigeria, where the elusive forest elephant still survives. The Zoo has been funding work there...
The spider tortoise is one of the world’s smallest tortoises – and one of the rarest. Now, Paignton Zoo has become the first in the UK to breed the species.
Paignton Zoo has become the first zoo in the country to breed a tiny tortoise on the edge of extinction. The secret? A fine blend of driving passion and cool-headed science.
The spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) is one of...
Zoos are all about exotic species – aren’t they? Well, three top local zoos are doing their bit to highlight the importance of native species.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall are aiming to give local wildlife a real boost this year. Native species are the theme for the season at all three zoos, under the banner of Nearby Nature....
Are there any tricks to rearing a penguin? Clare: “Patience, dedication – and not being put off by the smell of fish…!”
A sickly African penguin chick has been nursed back to health with fish soup by dedicated zoo keepers.
Staff at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium, have been feeding the chick every 3 hours from 7.30 in the morning to 7.30 at night. The only...
