How do you learn how to be a good gorilla? You go to gorilla school, of course.
And 12-year-old Kivu is earning top marks when it comes to sitting in a barrel.
He was photographed at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon by Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment.
“I’m not sure if he was being Father Christmas coming down the chimney, but he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself,” said Neil.
Top zoos provide animals with what is known as environmental enrichment, scientifically designed to help keep them stimulated mentally and physically. Enrichment can range...
Top South West zoos are marking the anniversary of a key global conservation tool. Staff and volunteers at Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall are celebrating 50 years of the Red List.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species is the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species and their links to livelihoods.
Simon Tonge, the Executive Director of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, the charity that runs the three zoos, said...
Scientists will be practising an unlikely conservation technique in a Paignton wood - hitting trees with big sticks!
The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, based at Paignton Zoo, is holding a free BioBlitz – a community nature hunt – in Primley Park, Paignton, on Saturday 20th September, and tree-bashing is on the agenda.
The Trust’s UK Conservation Officer and BioBlitz organiser Tracey Hamston explained: “You bash the vegetation and catch what falls out! The idea is to shake the branches to dislodge invertebrates. A good sharp rap catches them out and they fall off the...
As part of the Summerdine restaurant promotion, Princesshay, Exeter is giving away days out to national and local leisure attractions.
Days out up for grabs nationally include Legoland, Thorpe Park, Flamingo Land, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Sea Life, Drayton Manor, Chessington World of Adventures, Oakwood Home Park and Harry Potter.
Local days out feature Woodland Leisure Park, Exmoor Zoo, Watermouth Castle, Paignton Zoo, Devon's Crealy Great Adventure Park, Plymouth Aquarium and Coombe Martin Wildlife Dinosaur Park.
Paignton Zoo keepers Dave Rich and Lorraine Miller are going to New Zealand to start a new life together – along with a zoo full of animals.
The couple will be taking their experience and training to New Zealand, where they have both been offered jobs at Orana Wildlife Park, near Christchurch. And their experience of working with gorillas means that they could be part of an historic move to bring these charismatic great apes to New Zealand for the first time.
How has this come about? Dave: “We’ve learned a lot and done a lot at Paignton Zoo and both reached senior keeper...
It’s all about the birds and the bees at Paignton Zoo right now.
Three Ural owl chicks can be seen in the Forest area of the Zoo. And a colony of Cornish black bees has been installed in a new public viewing hive.
The bee hive is part of a Heritage Lottery Fund project run by B4 - Bringing Back Black Bees, a Cornish conservation organisation working to promote the qualities of the native black honey bee Apis mellifera mellifera.
Philip Knowling, spokesperson for the Zoo, said: “The aim is to reach people who don’t keep bees. Bees are fascinating and amazing and...
Paignton Zoo is looking for a new gorilla – because their old one has been worn out by too much cuddling!
The large plush toy gorilla in the charity’s entrance hall has become the Zoo’s unofficial mascot, greeting visitors with her laid back attitude and laconic smile. Over the years, thousands of children and grown-ups have had their photo taken with her and her orang utan friend.
Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “She’s worn out from too much love. All those children have knocked the stuffing out of her! Members and regular visitors are asking after her, but she is...
One talented local youngster became a VIP for the day at Paignton Zoo.
Four year old Aaliyah Brown from Chudleigh officially opened the Zoo’s new Investigate exhibit. The opportunity was her prize after winning an art competition to design a super bug.
Katherine Sobey from Paignton Zoo said: “There were three categories - 6 and under, 7 to 12 years and 13 to 16 years. Finalists were selected from each category - they won a family ticket to Paignton Zoo and were invited to the official opening. On the day we awarded first prize and the honour of opening Investigate – and...
The orang utans at Paignton Zoo have got themselves a TV.
The 47 inch flat screen telly was donated by Richards TV and Electrical of Babbacombe.
However, it’s not for the endangered South East Asian primates to watch soaps and wildlife documentaries, but for visitors to view clips of them.
The TV will play recorded videos and stills images of the Zoo’s Bornean orang utans, including babies Tatau and Natalia.
The video clips, some of which have been taken in off-show areas, were shot by Senior Head Keeper of Mammals Matthew Webb. The stills are by regular...
A wildlife charity has invested in new equipment to help its vet team treat animals more efficiently.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has purchased an x-ray digital scanner which has the potential to speed up animal care, reduce costs and make the work greener.
The AGFA CR30XM x-ray digital scanner has been supplied by Celtic SMR.
Ghislaine Sayers, Head of Veterinary Services for Paignton Zoo, explained: “It is better than our old style x-ray system in a number of ways. Running costs are minimal, as we don’t need to buy film or the chemicals required to develop it,...
