Paignton Zoo, is a zoo in Paignton, Devon, England. The zoo is part of South West Environmental Parks Ltd which is owned by Wild Planet Trust, formerly known as the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT). It is a combined zoo and botanical garden that welcomes thousands of visitors every year. Wild Planet Trust also runs Living Coasts in Torquay, Devon and Newquay Zoo in Newquay, Cornwall. All three are registered charities.
Paignton Zoo has a collection of about 2,000 animals representing nearly 300 species. It also cultivates about 1,600 different species of plant. It currently employs over 100 permanent staff and an additional 120 seasonally. A registered educational and scientific charity, Paignton Zoo is committed to the highest standards of animal husbandry and welfare, to scientific research, education and the breeding and conservation of rare and endangered animal and plant species.
Paignton Zoo has a large collection of animals (mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) across many different, naturally-themed exhibits.
Some of the most notable species include: Western lowland gorillas, Bornean orang-utans, Asiatic lions, Northern giraffes, Sumatran tigers, Cuban crocodiles, red pandas, black rhinos, Hartmann’s mountain zebras, maned wolves, cheetahs, Sulawesi crested macaques, Chilean flamingos, red-ruffed lemurs and the South West’s only Komodo dragon.
The zoo is also home to the UK’s only short-beaked echidna and Northern brown kiwi.