Staff and volunteers at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park have been left shocked by the sudden death of male giraffe Yoda. The 14-year-old northern giraffe was found collapsed in the giraffe house early this morning.
Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “This has come as a huge shock. He was a noble animal, one of the best-known and best-loved characters in the Zoo. There was no warning. People are in tears.
“It’s a big blow, but when you work with animals you have to deal with the low points as well as the highs.” A post-mortem examination will be carried out by the Zoo’s...
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 since 2008.
The Paignton micro-brewery is a long-time supporter of Paignton Zoo and its conservation projects. Pete Salmon, from Bays, said: “Since 2013, our partnership with Paignton Zoo has...
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 the world’s smallest tortoises – and one of the rarest. A burrowing species, it’s found around the south western coast of Madagascar. The adults are only around 6 inches long. Their popular name...
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. Events and activities will focus on native species and share ideas on how people can help wildlife at home.
The three zoos are run by the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust. Spokesperson Phil...
Most people visit Paignton Zoo to see rare and unusual animals - species they may never have seen before from exotic habitats around the world. So it comes as a surprise to discover that the star of Paignton Zoo’s new guest encounter is also the world’s most popular pet bird – the budgie.
The Australian budgerigar may seem like an odd choice for a Zoo talk. Group Education Manager Steve Nash explains why sometimes it’s the familiar species that can reveal the biggest surprises:
“The new encounter has been put together to try and encourage guests to see that every species...
Paignton Zoo has just bred a rare and unusual lizard for the very first time.
The Solomon Islands skink is also known as the prehensile-tailed skink, or the monkey-tailed skink… or the giant skink… or the monkey skink… or even the zebra skink Whatever you call it, this is one extraordinary creature.
For a start, it’s the world’s largest skink. A skink is a type of lizard – the word is from the Greek and referred originally to lizards in that part of the world. It’s one of the few reptiles known to live in a social group (called a circulus). It gives birth rather than lays...
Zoo keepers are dedicated, passionate – even obsessed. They are devoted to the animals with which they work...
For one keeper at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon, each conservation success means so much to her that she gets a permanent reminder. Dr Katy Upton marks her team’s first successful breeding of each rare frog species with an anatomically correct frog tattoo. Katy explained: “I’m very proud of the work we do with these species and I love tattoos of the animals I work with. So far I’ve got two on my right forearm - Raniotmeya summersii - Summers' poison frog - and...
A local business is boosting the cause of conservation by doing what it does best – selling great beer. Bays Brewery has launched a special beer – Trunk Ale - on behalf of wildlife charity Paignton Zoo Environmental Park.
Trunk Ale has been brewed using traditional methods but with exciting new hops, resulting in a well-balanced deep amber ale of 4.5%.
Paignton Zoo supports environmental education in the forests of south-western Nigeria, where the elusive forest elephant still survives. The Zoo has been funding work in the Omo Forest since 2008.
The charity that runs Paignton Zoo is marking the special day of a special species.
The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts and Newquay Zoo, is celebrating International Macaque Day on Friday 16th March. Sulawesi crested black macaques (Macaca nigra) can be seen at both Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo. The charity supports a successful project in Indonesia called Selamatkan Yaki, which works with the species in the wild. Paignton Zoo staff will give talks with special environmental enrichment at 11.00am and 3.00pm from the boardwalk...
March is over-60s month at two top Devon zoos. The charity attractions are holding special days for older people. At Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo, the day of the week to make a note of is Wednesday. At Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, the special day is Thursday. Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts are both part of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, the charity which also runs Newquay Zoo in Cornwall. Spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “There are so many older people who are interested in zoos and conservation. This is an incentive to prompt a few more to come in and see our...
