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Paignton Zoo P
aignton Zoo is one of South Devon’s premier attractions and its extensive 80
acre site is home to some 250 different species of animals of all shapes and sizes. The conservation charity attracts thousands of visitors each year and with 300 staff on board during the peak season, it’s one of Torbay’s biggest employers. It is both a zoological and botanical garden, featuring beautiful exotic trees and plants from around the world plus indigenous woodland areas that help provide habitats for native wildlife. Millionaire animal breeder
Herbert Whitley established the zoo on his estate at Primley in Paignton in the 1920s and the Wild Planet Trust (formerly Whitely Wildlife Conservation Trust) was set up to run it after his death in 1955. Today, the charity also owns
Newquay Zoo and Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve, along with the nearby Primley Park and 60-acre Clennon Gorge Local Nature Reserve. It also co-ordinates wildlife
conservation projects both in UK
“The fact we are now open, people are coming in every day and we are
able to move forward with plans for the future is great.”
and overseas and runs research projects in topics such as animal behaviour and ecology. As a registered charity, all profit
generated by the zoo is used to care for its animals and fund these projects, which include conserving and protecting elephants in Nigeria and rare seagrass beds in Torbay. A trip to Paignton Zoo can easily last a whole day as visitors amble around the verdant grounds marvelling at the agile antics of the pileated gibbon or admiring the
By Ginny Farrell
stealthy-eyed Sumatran tiger. Enjoying a lovely day out with the animals is just one of many reasons to visit, says Steve Nash, the zoo’s Head of Campaigns and Programmes. “It’s a wonderful place in a beautiful setting where you can see some incredible animals doing amazing things.
“But this is not just a zoo, we are
a charity whose reason for being is to protect wildlife. If you come here you are making a very definite tangible difference to that work. “As well as having a nice day
out, you can leave knowing you have done something really positive for animals around the world, as a portion of our income goes towards supporting our conservation projects.” When the Covid pandemic
struck, the zoo was plunged into the unknown. “All of our income comes from admission and sales from the shop and restaurant, plus donations and legacies so, like everywhere that had to close, we found ourselves in a very vulnerable position,” said Steve. “It was a huge challenge. Our
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