Wild Planet trust

Zoo keepers save animals after storm damage

Keepers at Paignton Zoo saved scores of animals after recent storms damaged a key building.

High winds ripped open a 36-metre-long air vent in the roof of Reptile Tropics at around 7.30 one morning, exposing vulnerable animals, plants and electrics. Staff rushed to save lizards, snakes, turtles, iguanas, chameleons and geckos as the temperature in the building dropped. Meanwhile,...

Trust's 2020 vision

Wild Planet Trust is the Devon-based charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, plus several nature reserves in Devon. While 2019 was not a great year for the charity, there are, says Trust boss Simon Tonge, some reasons for optimism:

“Last year was not the best for visitor numbers, though we still saw 700,000 people come to our three zoo...

How to train your…

If animal training makes you think of tricks and shows, think again. Top zoos use training to improve animal welfare, reduce the need for risky general anaesthetics and to keep both animals and people safe.

For example, bird keeper Sam Gray has trained Alfie Junior the Southern cassowary – as tall as a person and part bird, part dinosaur – to follow a target, which means she can get...

Going green is not black and white

Staff at a top regional conservation charity have shared their successes and frustrations as they try to reduce, reuse and recycle consumables in their cafes and restaurants.

Wild Planet Trust is the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall. Staff and volunteers work to reduce the zoos’ impact on the planet in as many ways as they can – but...

Conservation charity helping young people choose All Our Futures

A Devon charity is inspiring young people to change the world – and they’re doing it for free.

Wild Planet Trust is launching new sustainability workshops for schools. The six free workshops – called All Our Futures – aim to empower children and young people to make good choices for the future. Group Education Manager Steve Nash explained:

“As educators, we understand that the...

The vital search for conservation evidence

It sounds like the latest police drama – the Zoo Evidence Officer is on the case, searching for clues, combing through paperwork and tracking down the truth. In fact, the new post, based at Paignton Zoo in Devon, is about detecting science-based evidence for the best ways to care for, manage and breed animals in zoological collections for conservation purposes. Wild Planet Trust, the charity...

Trust announces star patrons

A major South West conservation charity has announced its patrons. Both are star names regionally and nationally.

Naturalist Nick Baker and broadcaster Judi Spiers have been unveiled as patrons of Wild Planet Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall.

These are the first patrons that the Trust, previously known as Whitley...

Boots on the ground: conservation in action

A South West charity is marking World Ranger Day on Wednesday 31st July by highlighting the work of its conservation patrols – and by paying tribute to a ranger recently killed in the line of duty.

Wild Planet Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, helps fund forest patrols in the highlands of Tanzania and in the Omo Forest...

Baby is not a howler yet

It’s summer on the English Riviera, the weather is gorgeous – and the baby is asleep… Life is good. The new baby black howler monkey at Paignton Zoo is unnamed and the sex is unknown – keepers are just letting mum Bonita get on with it. The early days and weeks of an animal’s life are always perilous, but she’s an experienced mum and the weather is good, which will help. The photo shows Bonita...

Zoo's UK climate change first

A Devon educator has become the first accredited UN climate change teacher in a UK zoo.

Steve Nash, Head of Education for Wild Planet Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, has become a UN Accredited Climate Change teacher.

“The modules are based on the most recent evidence regarding climate change science and its...

Pages