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) Vietnam pheasant chicks are being reared by their parents in an off-show holding area. A video taken by keeping staff offers a rare glimpse into this hidden world.
The charity behind the region’s three top zoos has launched a new website with a new look and a radical new approach. Wild Planet Trust is the new name for the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall.
The charity’s new website places a strong emphasis on highlighting the conservation and research work of the zoos.
Trust spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “Our new website leads on our science and conservation work. This is the most important thing we do, and we wanted to make that clear. The site has a strong look and is easy to get...
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 birth, we put some ropes up at the indoor viewing area to give her some additional privacy and the best opportunity of raising her offspring.”
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 to the respiratory system). The condition is known as air saccultis, and can be fatal. The team gave her a general anaesthetic and operated, making holes in the wall of her throat sac to drain off...
The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, will become Wild Planet Trust.
The name will be officially launched in June, with signage, branding and uniforms changing over the following months.
Director of Marketing and Development Pippa Craddock explained: “We’ve been moving towards this moment since 2012 - we have definitely not rushed into it! We’ve been a name in conservation for over 60 years. While we are proud of our history, and of Herbert Whitley, the man who founded Paignton Zoo...
Staff from a South West conservation charity have been on a 12,000-mile round trip to help secure the future of a strange nocturnal mammal.
Animal experts John Meek (Newquay Zoo Curator) and Owen Taylor (Paignton Zoo Head Keeper of Mammals) and scientist Dr Andrew Bowkett (Wild Planet Trust Field Conservation & Research Programmes Manager) travelled to Vietnam recently on behalf of the Owston’s civet.
The three attended a workshop about this curious carnivore, held meetings with partner organisations and visited wildlife rescue centres. The species is a special focus of...
On Sunday 28 April, the Killerton rangers need your help to count and learn about the creatures that live in Ashclyst Forest.
Come along to Caddihoe Scout Camp and help the team with some hands on bug hunting, flower counting and butterfly spotting at the BioBlitz day. Everything you help us find will be fed into a database to help understand more about which animals are living in the woods.
The day kicks off bright and early with a dawn chorus walk where you can enjoy the early morning bird song. Expert led walks and wildlife survey fun will then continue throughout the...
This is the extraordinary moment the hatching of a rare Mauritius pink pigeon chick was caught on video – and the moment the hard work started in earnest for Paignton Zoo bird keeper Tom Tooley.
Senior Bird Keeper Tom is currently 6,000 miles away on the island of Mauritius. But if you think he’s dodged the English winter to relax on a tropical island, think again.
He’s spending time with local conservationists to help bolster the population of this bird, classed as an Endangered Species. That means hand rearing – and THAT means long days: “The first feed is at 6.00am, then...
Two new areas to protect wildlife on the Exe Estuary are being put in place this week.
Known as wildlife refuges, the areas are marked out with yellow ‘special mark’ buoys which have “WR” in black letters printed on them. People are being asked to avoid the areas, all year round at Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve (NNR) and between15 September to 31 December at Exmouth Local Nature Reserve (LNR).
At Exmouth LNR, the wildlife refuge protects important feeding areas during low season for a short period of time. The Imperial Recreation Ground slipway can still be used to...
A wildlife charity is inviting the local people of Exeter to go wild and celebrate nature at a family fun day in one of Exeter’s best-known Valley Parks: Mincinglake.
The event marks day 16 in Devon Wildlife Trusts’ month long 30 Days Wild challenge; in which members of the public pledge to complete a ‘random act of wildness’ each day, during the month of June.
With guided wildlife walks, wild crafts, bug hunting, and other wild activities on offer, the charity hopes to re-energise participants and inspire more people to take part.
