New era for Torbay’s beloved national gem zoo

2024 was a challenging year for Paignton Zoo and the Wild Planet Trust.

Just like other businesses locally and nationally, the zoo didn’t escape financial pressures as the cost of living crisis bit hard and visitor numbers and revenues were a casualty.

The Trust, also in charge of Newquay Zoo and the Living Costs site whose future is still yet to be decided, even had to take the tough decision to reluctantly make some staff redundant.

But a new era is dawning and 2025 is looking brighter. Interim chief executive Stephen Kings and his board of trustees have been battling behind the scenes to find a new tenant and use for Living Coasts and to secure a new future for Paignton Zoo, one of the English Riviera’s top attractions and a major player in the world of animal conservation.

The zoo’s much-loved Crocodile Swamp is being brought back to life next weekend. It is hoped it will be just the start of a new, successful future for the zoo and Wild Planet Trust

Here, Mr Kings explains how the residents of Torbay can help:

Paignton Zoo is looking forward to 2025 with great excitement.

The reopening of Croc Swamp on Saturday January 18 at 11.00am is just one of many exciting events planned at Paignton Zoo during 2025. Further developments such as the refurbishment of Amphibian Ark in partnership with the University of Plymouth will follow during the year as will the return of the popular Adoption Auction in May.

Paignton Zoo is over 100 years old but its importance within Torbay should not be underestimated. It employs around 200 staff directly and countless more are involved in the operation of this much loved Paignton institution. In terms of education alone over 20,000 local school children visit the zoo each year to learn about the importance of conservation and the preservation of our natural heritage. Wild Planet Trust which is the charity that manages Paignton Zoo sponsors projects throughout the world, such as the highly endangered Omo forest elephants in Nigeria and other vital work in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Closer to home the zoo has been involved in the local sea grass project to protect Torbay’s marine environment and manages nationally important wildlife conservation sites in Primley, Clennon and Slapton. The world class research quietly carried out behind the scenes at Paignton Zoo is fundamental for the future wellbeing of the natural world.

The zoo has created enclosures of a very standard for its thousands of often endangered animals. It follows the highest standards of animal husbandry and works very closely with other large zoos both nationally and internationally. Our magnificent grounds have many wonderful trees, exotic plants and beautiful flowers that are an important environmental collection containing many critically endangered and rare botanic species.

Above all, however, Paignton Zoo is Torbay’s very own national treasure. Residents of south Devon can be very proud of this quite remarkable environmental park right in the heart of the bay. For over 100 years they have been privileged to have this site right on their doorsteps and now the great grandchildren of those early visitors are able to enjoy what Herbert Whitley began in 1923.

Everyone involved with the zoo is working passionately and tirelessly to ensure its future for the next 100 years, but it is now imperative that local residents support their efforts by championing Paignton Zoo. Losing it would be an absolute catastrophe for Torbay as well as for the wider animal kingdom.

Our zoo is a wonderful place to visit and enjoy. Many supporters from our local community and thousands of tourists visit it every year and leave having had a great day out. Membership of the zoo is one of the best value attraction tickets around enabling our members and supporters to visit us multiple times during the year. Special occasions can be celebrated by interacting with some of our most loved animals with our up-close animal experiences being extremely popular and memorable. Lifelong interests in animals and their unique and precious habitats can be nurtured right here on your doorstep.

Please consider starting 2025 with Paignton Zoo first and foremost in mind and visit and support us to help ensure its future. January 18th and the reopening of croc swamp is an important day in the future development of the zoo. Animal welfare has been at the forefront of this project with its new residents being gradually re-introduced to their new home over the next few months and with plans to expand the exhibit already in place. Every pound raised by Paignton Zoo goes towards helping halt species decline and securing the future of one of Torbay’s most important physical assets.

We look forward to meeting you during 2025.

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Image Credits and Reference: https://www.torbayweekly.co.uk/news/home/1702413/new-era-for-torbays-beloved-national-gem-zoo.html