It’s an expensive time of year for birthday presents among the kittiwakes at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo. The five adult birds all have birthdays between July 17th and August 7th. And now a chick has hatched on its mother’s birthday.
The kittiwake also hatched in the same nest and to the same parents as last year, when Living Coasts recorded its first ever breeding of this...
Living Coasts has announced a new conservation project linking Torquay with a group of islands half a world away.
Torquay’s coastal zoo’s latest project is based on the Falkland Islands – an archipelago of over 750 islands, home to roughly 3,000 people, 500,000 sheep - and one million penguins. Yes, this is a UK territory with penguins. The islands are home to some of the most...
Swimming trunks, a fishing rod and part of a car exhaust system were among the surprising items found on the latest beach clean organised by staff at Living Coasts.
The charity zoo’s Events Coordinator Hayley Gibson said: “We had 72 volunteers on the day, which was fantastic, and we collected 4 large bin bags full of litter. Goodrington is a fairly well-kept beach, but if you look...
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,...
A stunning state-of-the-art lighting system has been installed at Living Coasts – for the fish.
The sophisticated new system in the aquarium of Torquay’s coastal zoo means that fish can experience natural dawns and dusks. Staff hope this will lead to more of what comes naturally…
One of the zoo’s aquarists, Sam Worthington, explained: “Now, each tank can have its own settings....
Fish at Living Coasts in Torquay have been observed performing a mating behaviour that zookeepers think has never before been recorded. Animal experts filmed female four-eyed fish (Anableps anableps) rocking from side-to-side; this appeared to attract the male to come and mate. Sharp-eyed aquarists Tom Fielding and Sam Worthington noted and eventually videoed the curious behaviour. Clare Rugg...
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...
Conservationists in Torquay have turned marine waste into thought-provoking art.
A new installation at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium, combines education, plastic waste and inspirational creativity. And for zoo artist Jackie Kidd, the task has turned into an obsession - and a new hobby.
Jackie collected rubbish on beaches for 6 weeks to make the work. And she...
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...
Unassuming in the winter, male ruffs transform in the Spring with eye-catching plumage - and it's all for the benefit of the females...
Keepers at Torquay’s coastal zoo are preparing the ground for some fierce competition. They are cutting the grass and clearing undergrowth so that one species of bird can indulge in its extraordinary mating ritual.
