Paignton

New vet scholarship aids wild orang utans

Two vets from Indonesia are the first to benefit from a unique new scholarship programme run by a Cornish vet charity. OVAID – Orang utan Veterinary Aid – is run by Nigel and Sara Hicks, based in Launceston. They help hard-pressed orang utan rescue centres and sanctuaries with veterinary support and donations of equipment.

The new OVAID Bronwyn Scholarship meant that two South East...

Zoo gorilla plays ball

England’s chances in the Rugby World Cup would be greatly improved if they had this chap in the line-up.

Male Western lowland gorilla Pertinax lives at Paignton Zoo in Devon. He‘s around 6 feet from head to toe – modest for a professional rugby player these days, but he weighs in at a hefty 190 kilos - and it’s pretty much all muscle. At 37 he’s a bit of a senior now, but even the All...

Charity beer hits the spot

Bays Brewery’s special orangutan-themed beer has raised nearly two thousand pounds for a local conservation charity.

The guest beer, called Orangutan Ale, sold out, raising £1,393 for Paignton Zoo. Along with collecting tins and other fundraising activities, the grand total donated is £1,881,94.

Orangutan Ale, a handsome tawny colour to match its name and the species, was...

What can you find on a beach…?

Swimming trunks, a fishing rod and part of a car exhaust system were among the surprising items found on the latest beach clean organised by staff at Living Coasts.

The charity zoo’s Events Coordinator Hayley Gibson said: “We had 72 volunteers on the day, which was fantastic, and we collected 4 large bin bags full of litter. Goodrington is a fairly well-kept beach, but if you look...

Are these the sweetest babies in the world?

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...

Paignton Zoo breeds vampires...

This is a vampire crab. With its purple body, orange pincers and piercing pale eyes, it’s a nightmarish vision. And a crab that’s also a vampire? Days out at the beach will never be the same… You may not have heard of a vampire crab, though it’s a species popular with aquarists – in fact, illegal over-collection for the pet trade is a real threat to the species. As alarming as it looks, this...

Giraffe death shocks zoo

Staff and volunteers at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park have been left shocked by the sudden death of male giraffe Yoda. The 14-year-old northern giraffe was found collapsed in the giraffe house early this morning.

Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “This has come as a huge shock. He was a noble animal, one of the best-known and best-loved characters in the Zoo. There was no warning...

Draw on the walls at Living Coasts

New technology at Torquay’s coastal zoo means you can colour in a sea creature and see it come to life in front of your eyes. The coastal conservation charity has installed an electronic wall where drawings are turned into animations. It’s the first time tech of this kind has been seen in the UK. Guests can colour one of a range of marine creatures, including tropical fish, seahorses and rays...

Trunk in charge!

A charity beer has raised an elephantine sum for wildlife conservation. Bays Brewery helped generate £3,282 by selling a special beer – Trunk Ale - on behalf of wildlife charity Paignton Zoo Environmental Park.

Paignton Zoo supports environmental education in the Omo Forest of south-western Nigeria, where the elusive forest elephant still survives. The Zoo has been funding work there...

Spotting the betcherygarr

Most people visit Paignton Zoo to see rare and unusual animals - species they may never have seen before from exotic habitats around the world. So it comes as a surprise to discover that the star of Paignton Zoo’s new guest encounter is also the world’s most popular pet bird – the budgie.

The Australian budgerigar may seem like an odd choice for a Zoo talk. Group Education Manager...

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