One of the iconic structures of the English Riviera is getting an overhaul. Work is being carried out on the vast aviary net at Living Coasts.
Clare Rugg, Living Coasts Operations Manager, said: “We are starting a rolling programme to replace sections of the net over the next 10 years, until all the panels are done.
“Living Coasts is in a great spot right beside the sea, but it does mean we have to face storms head on! The net has stood up well to the elements - not just the rain, wind and cold but also the unseen threat of ultra violet rays from the sun which can weaken...
Volunteers at two zoos on the English Riviera have wrapped a tree in coloured wool and decorated it with scores of knitted sea creatures.
The tree, at Living Coasts in Torquay, was swathed in knitting and crochet-work along its trunk and branches and hung with hand-made animals including penguins, Inca terns, whales, dolphins, sharks, octopus and fish.
The 10 year old rowan tree stands on Penguin Beach and was duly inspected by the Zoo’s resident African and macaroni penguins.
Neil Thomas-Childs, Volunteer Co-ordinator for Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts, said: “A...
The Exeter Chiefs visited Paignton Zoo recently and came up against some real heavyweights.
Players and staff encountered elephants, giraffes and giant tortoises – and even scrummed down with a gorilla!
Female African elephant Duchess impressed many. Mark Twiggs, Head of Strength & Conditioning, said: “Duchess weighs around 4,000 kilos, which equates to nearly the whole squad!”
“It’s interesting to compare stats,” said Paignton Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling. “Exeter’s young Academy lock Will Carrick-Smith is 6 feet 11 inches – 2.1 metres. He’s one of the...
The business heavyweights at Francis Clark were joined by another type of heavyweight when a life-sized model gorilla turned up at the accountancy firm’s Torquay offices.
The startling sight of managing partner Les Burnett and Head of Tax Steve Collins with the unique piece of three-dimensional public art can be explained by Francis Clark becoming Gold Sponsors of Paignton Zoo’s Great Gorilla Project.
The project is celebrating the 90th birthday of the region’s largest and best-known zoo, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, which is a registered charity. It is also raising...
Volunteers at a Devon charity clocked up a thousand days of help during 2012.
People who gave their time to Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and Living Coasts in Torquay helped raise over £72,000 and gave more than 24,000 hours - equivalent to 2.75 years, 143 weeks or over 1,000 full days.
For the year ending in October 2012 volunteers gave 24,142 hours - 2,677 more than in 2011. Volunteer Coordinator Neil Thomas-Childs is hugely impressed by these figures:
“It was a terrific year - volunteers have continued to support us in all weathers. By the middle of the season...
Zoo keepers are taking on the mammoth task of counting each and every animal in their collections for a New Year stock-take.
Collections keep detailed records of every animal birth, death, arrival and departure. The annual headcount is completed each January as a requirement of zoo licencing.
Staff at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon have nearly 2,000 heads to count, including around 360 mammals of 70 different species, nearly 1,000 birds of around 150 species, 221 reptiles (50 species) and 244 amphibians (30 species).
An Arctic zoo, charity giving and a children’s TV favourite all feature at Living Coasts over the Christmas period.
Santa is bringing his toy zoo to Living Coasts. A special Grotto will be surrounded by snow scenes filled with cuddly Arctic animals, including Arctic fox, reindeer, snowy owl, Arctic hare and polar bear. Eskimos – themselves an endangered species – will also feature.
The Grotto will be open every weekend in December from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm as well as Monday 17th to Friday 21st December. It costs £4.95 for children (this does not include entry to Living...
Two large Christmas trees donated to a local wildlife charity will be given to a troop of monkeys in the New Year. Paignton Zoo has been presented with the pair of 15-foot Norway spruce by Marldon Christmas Tree Farm.
Robyn Lynes, from the farm, said: “We sell fresh, locally-grown trees to the public, but are also aware of our responsibilities to the wider community. We are donating the trees to the Zoo because it is really good for a local business to help a local charity.”
Paignton Zoo Fundraising Manager Jenny Paton said; “It is a wonderful gesture. And after the trees...
Two local girls have had a close encounter with a gorilla named Herbert.
Torbay Carnival Ladies-in-Waiting Natalie Sedgeman and Meesha Ghovanloupoor met the life-size sculpture at Paignton Zoo.
Herbert, who is 140cms (nearly 5 feet) tall, is the special guest at the Zoo’s traditional charity fundraiser, the Mistletoe Ball, which takes place at the Grand Hotel on 1st December. He was painted by Paignton Zoo artist Sue Misselbrook.
The Mistletoe Ball is Paignton Zoo’s traditional Christmas black tie charity dinner and dance. Guests will enjoy a champagne reception,...
Paignton Zoo’s Great Gorillas Project reaches its climax on 6th November with an exclusive charity auction.
It’s a chance for collectors, art lovers and people in search of a truly unique conversation piece to get their hands on a real one-off.
Paignton Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “We’ve seen the Great Gorillas as a big, free, fun public event for the summer. But now it’s time to look at the individual pieces as collectible art.
“They have been created by established professional artists, up and coming new names and undiscovered talent. They are imposing,...
