Paignton Zoo

Infobox zoo
zoo_name=Paignton Zoo Environmental Park
logo=Paignton-zoo-logo.jpg
logo_width=128
logo_caption=Paignton Zoo logo
date_opened=1923
location=Paignton, Devon, England
area=80 acres (0.324 km²)
coordinates=coord|50|25|44|N|3|35|4|W|type:landmark_region:GB
num_species=>250
num_animals=>2000
exhibits = Monkey Heights, Reptile Tropics
website=http://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is situated on the outskirts of the town of Paignton in Devon, England. It is owned and run by Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust who also operate two other wildlife attractions in south-west England: Living Coasts in neighbouring Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall.

Paignton Zoo is divided into 6 zones, 'Primley', savannah, forest, wetland, tropical forest and desert. These zones are home to more than 250 exotic species of animals, 70 of which are threatened with extinction.

Animals

Animals at Paignton Zoo as of October 2007 are;

Agouti, Lowland Anoa, Armadillos, A large group of Hamadryas Baboon, Plenty of Bats, American Bison, Eastern Bongo, Capybara, Southern Cassowary, Four Cheetahs, Ducks, 1 African Elephant and 1 Asian Elephant; Dutchess and Gay sharing an enclosure, Chilean Flamingo, Gibbons, Rothschild Giraffe, Goats, Geese, Red River Hog, Hornbills, Western Grey Kangaroo, Lechwe, Lemurs, Asiatic Lions, Macaques, Macaws, Mandrill, Marmoset, Meerkat, A wide range of Monkey, Malayan Mouse Deer, Bornean Orangutan, Ostrich, Owls, Red Panda, Chilean Pudu, Black Rhino, Tamarins, Brazilian Tapir, Sumatran Tiger, Tortoises, Turtles, Water Vole, Maned Wolf and Hartmann Mountain Zebra

History

The Zoo was opened in 1923, by Herbert Whitley, who had been collecting animals since childhood.

Giraffe House Fire

In early 2006 the zoo suffered a terrible tragedy when the Elephant and Giraffe house suddenly caught fire. The two Elephants (Duchess and Gay) survived but the mother (Kizi) and recently born young Giraffe died. A few weeks later, the father (Paddy) died due to smoke inhalation. Later on in the year a new male Giraffe named Yoda arrived with females soon set to arrive to join him.

Rhino Birth

On the 5th of March 2007, Sita a Black Rhino gave birth to a baby girl called Zuri. The whole of the birth was recorded by cameras set up by the BBC natural history unit. This was the first black rhino birth ever recorded on film and also the first rhino birth at the zoo.

Crocodile Swamp

The new Crocodile Swamp exhibit opened on the 3rd of March 2008. It currently houses 3 species of crocodile and 3 species of snake, the house it designed to match with the reptiles natural habitat and climate.

External links

* [http://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/ Paignton Zoo]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/4727274.stm/ BBC News Item]
* [http://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/croc-swamp.php/ Croodile Swamp]