We're all going to the zoo (Paignton Zoo)

Name: wishywalshy

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Product:	Paignton Zoo
Date:	01/03/01 (284 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful surroundings, relatively close to my home

Disadvantages: Expensive, long walk from the carpark, lack of first aid centres

Botanical and zoological gardens situated on the English Riviera.
Catering from the youngest child to the most senior citizen, Paignton Zoo, which is set 100 acres promises a fun filled educational day for all of the family.

Recently completely refurbished several hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent on revamping all the facilities.

How do we get there?
It is really quite easy, it is 1 mile from Paignton town centre follow either the A385 if coming from Cornwall or the A380 if travelling down the country.
On the A38 there are very large brown tourist information signs giving directions.
The zoo is easily found, situated on the Tones Road

How much does it cost to visit?
In the winter months the charges are as follows

29th October-31st March
Adults £6.00
Children aged 3-15 £4.30
Students and senior citizens £4.70

Group rates for 15 people and over
Adults £4.80
Children£3.15
Students and senior citizens £3.50

Family tickets for 2 adults and 2 children £18.00

Summer rates
April 1st-October 28th

Adults £7.70
Children 3-15 £5.50
Students and senior citizens £6.20

Group bookings 15 people or more
Adults £6.20
Children £4.50
Students and senior citizens £5.00

Family tickets £23.70

When is it open?

Winter time hours 10am-5pm
Summer time hours 10am-6pm.

Everyday of the year except Christmas day (In normal circumstances, currently closed until the Foot and Mouth crisis is over)

Can I park my car there?
Of course in a very large quite secure Free car park with adequate disabled bays.
There is also an overflow car park.
It is quite a walk to the zoo itself, but the wonders that await you easily compensate for that.

What about public transport?
There are several buses that regularly pass by the entrances and some specifically commence and terminate
their journeys there.

Who owns the Zoo?
Founded by Herbert Whitley, a shy but eccentric millionaire, he bought the zoo area and opened it to the public in 1923 where there was a minimal amount of animals and creatures on show.
Admission at that time cost 1 shilling.
After his death in 1955 a registered charity was founded in order to continue his good work.
The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust now owns all of the Zoo and surrounding acreage, The Slapton Ley Nature reserve which was also bought by Whitley in 1917 to prevent development of the 211 hectares and to conserve the rare wetland habitat.(Large freshwater lake with associated marshes and redbuds)

What is there to see?
There are 6 specific habitats all designed to show both animals and plant life in as near to their natural environment as possible.
Along with 74 endangered species.

The Wetlands Habitat
Incorporating water, pond life, marshes etc it is inhabited by swimmers and waders, and birds and wildlife who had adapted to wetland life.
Here you can see the Flamingo lagoon, occupied by, you guessed it, Flamingos.
The Brook side aviary, a very large and enclosed walk through aviary with more than adequate space for flight and territory establishing, this is where visitors can get really close to the birds and examine them in as near a natural environment as is possible. Birds such as the golden pheasants, little egrets and hamercarps frequent this beautiful environment.
The Lakes are home to a varied assortment of animals, birds and mammals, and islands that are situated within the lakes incorporate primates and pelican roosts.
Here the birds that frequent the lake range from pelicans to storks, and from swans to geese.
The penguin pool is definitely one of my favourite places, where the jackass penguin is a familiar sight following oil spillages on the coast of South Africa in the sixties and seventies and whose numbers dwindled
drastically. here are many other birds and mammals that inhabit the wetland area ranging from wader birds to fish eating mammals, and from and from a wide range of water fowl to swimming reptiles.

Forest Habitat
As half of the entire world used by forested, there is a huge assortment of wildlife and tree and plant life on show.
Following the destruction and desecration of their own homes, many endangered species have been brought into the sanctuary the specific zoo can and does provide.
The forest habitat contains animals and birds ranging from Owls to Marmosets and another favourite of mine, the big cats to Orang-utans.
There has been ongoing research done in the most humane of ways by the installation of closed circuit television, allowing outsiders o view the natural behaviours of the apes with as little interruptions and intrusions as possible.

The Savannah Habitat.
Another firm favourite of mine.
The word Savannah means tropical grassland, many of which have been over grazed and ploughed up allowing only 10%of the original Savannahs to exist.
Here you can see wolves, bison’s, Elephants, Giraffes, Zebra, Rhinoceros, antelope, and Ostrich, to name a few.

Tropical Forest Habitat
The zoo has created a steamy jungle environment in which birds fly free(almost) and where reptiles and forest insects thrive.
Here you can visit the insect houses and the reptile houses.
This is where the Alligators and lizards live, along with the snakes and turtles.

Desert Habitat
This is where the animals and mammals that thrive in hot arid dry environments thrive.
The zoo has constructed a massive greenhouse which incorporate the following environments. rocky ravine, dry plain and oasis.
Here you can see a variety of animas and wildlife including lizards, termite mounds and the ship of the desert camels, as well as an array of bird life.

Devon Woodland
Is an opportunity see th
e native plants and wildlife that live in and around the Devon countryside including badgers, foxes and buzzards, and trees that are native to Britain including oak ah and alder.

In front of every enclosure is a detailed information slip, which gives all relevant information about the animals/birds inside the enclosures and includes their diets native habitats, behaviour and breeding habits.

Do they have any environmental and sustainable policies in place to enable the future of the zoo to be secure?
The zoo tries to buy their produce from local ethical companies and ensure that whenever possible recycling and reusing some materials is done.
Also the zoo have implemented energy saving ideas to allow the to support the principals of sustainable development.
They even sell Zoopoo, which is a the name states, poo from the zoo, not warm and steaming but composted and organic in origin, is an excellent fertilizer and soil conditioner.
When you consider that the animals produce over 20 truckloads of poo in a year, the size of the compost heaps would be massive.

There is actually another part of the zoo which members of the public are not officially allowed access to.
It includes animal treatment areas, kitchen, quarantine enclosures and greenhouses.
It is the oldest part of the Zoo and was named after the Primly estate in which Herbert Whitley lived.
It accommodates animals plants and animals from many different habitats, and include Red Pandas, peacocks and a whole assortment of other primates.
There are also endangered birds and animals from Australia.

What do you think of the care of the animals?
From what I can see, the animals are extremely well treated and cared for.
The keepers try to follow a natural feeding schedule and mimic food and feeding habits.
They seem to keep the animals entertained by ingenious means and seems to keep the occupied and content.

What about vet nary tr
eatment of sick and injured animals.?
The lady vet has over a thousand animals in her care at one time and is on call for all emergencies and routine health checks.

Are there any educational facilities in place for school visits?
Yes, but they are not just for schools and colleges
A new education facility has been recently built, The Philip Mitchelmore educational facility has segmented rooms for focusing on different aspects of conservations, biodiversity and sustainability.
There is also a discovery centre with fascinating hands on experiments and interactive activities which students are actively encouraged to participate in.

There are worksheets and quality resources available as well as qualified experienced staff who are trained to follow the criteria of the National Curriculum.

What about places to eat.?
There is a choice of 3, whether seeking snacks or full meals, the Zoo can cater for your requirements.

Toilets?
Facilities are good, and when we visited, scrupulously clean, they incorporate disabled facilities and baby change areas

Picnic areas?
There are 3designated areas

Other activities for the children?
There are 2 outdoor play areas, and one undercover play area, all fitted out with well maintained quality equipment
A miniature jungle railway(seasonal additional cost), and a land train which apparently covers the majority of the gardens( again seasonal and at an additional charge)
There is also a nature trail to follow.

For the adults?
Ha, glad you asked that...... a bar.

Gift shops?
Of course, there are 2, one at the main entrance and one next to the island restaurant

From what I saw the Zoo caters well for the disabled with almost no steps and gentle slopes and tarmac walks around most of the zoo.

The gardens and woodlands are beautifully maintained and looked after with great care and attention, creating a botanica
l wonderland.

There are a couple of downsides to the Zoo, there is only one marked First aid post, somewhat of a disappointment really. It is a really expensive day out during the summer and only slightly cheaper in the winter months.
Fortunately my youngest are currently admitted free, but I still feel that it is an expensive option.
It is the only Zoo local to the West country, so is packed in the summer.

Any tips that you can add to ensure a great day out?
If you have a younger member of the family, consider taking a buggy, there is a lot to see, and acres to walk around. Most buggies cope with the terrain well, but a tired child can upset the day for everyone.
Take your own food, unless you fancy a long wait in the peak season.
A camera is a vital piece of equipment; it may be the only opportunity that you have to keep those precious memories, oh and lots of film too.
Sun cream if you are visiting in the summer, and plenty of warm clothes for winter visits.
During the busy summer season, it is wise to label your child with your car registration number, and if possible a mobile phone number.

If you like what you have seen, then get a Devon's Natural World passport, a brochure which needs to be stamped on leaving the Zoo, and which is free that will enable you to come back the next time for half price(Subject to terms and conditions)
The passport also allows up to 4 persons to visit The National Marine aquarium and Pennywell farm and leisure centre, paying full price for the first visit and half price on the second.

All in all a terrific educational if not a little expensive family day out.

We'll be back(Using our Passport of course)

If you need any further details the staff are friendly and can be contacted on 01803 697500
Their address is Tonnes Road Paignton ,Devon
The Zoo has a comprehensive website with far more information than I have written here. The addre
ss is www.paignonzoo.org.uk
They can be emailed at info@paigntonzoo.org.uk

I am in general not a real fan of any animal being incarcerated, but with the decreasing natural habitats, many of these animals will surely be extinct before too long, and in all fairness, as a member of the public who is a bit of a nosy sod, I have not seen any untoward behaviour toward the animals.
They appear to be content and well fed, and all have large enclosures or pens,

As long as there are animals in the Zoo, people will come to visit, and as long as they are treated well and kept in as near to native environment as possible, maybe it could only be for the best.

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