Paignton Zoo

We're looking for a confident and outgoing person to drive our train. If you are someone who can engage with our guests and show a genuine passion for the Zoo, and the service we offer, then we want to hear from you! Find out more at www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

It's a miserable, rainy morning out there, so this toco toucan close up is sure to brighten up your day AND your news feed! 🌈

👉Do you like a good competition with an awesome prize? Of course you do! ✔️ 👉Head over to our website to see how you can enter to win the first prize in our #FestiveGiftGiveaway this Christmas time- an orang-utan adoption pack! 🐵 👉https://bit.ly/2rau8fX

📣IMPORTANT FROG NEWS!📣 We've become the only UK institution to keep the rare harlequin toad, after adding more individuals from Manchester Museum to our existing group. This conservation partnership paves the way to jointly develop and share key amphibian husbandry practices to ensure the survival of this species. 🐸 www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/…/det…/rare-to ads-arrive-at-devon-zoo

After being a success earlier this year, join us after-hours for our exclusive Reptile Ramble event in March 2019!
Experience a guided tour of our Reptile Tropics and Crocodile Swamp exhibits, watch the crocodiles enjoy feeding time, see our beautiful Komodo dragon, Khaleesi, and much more! 🐊🦎🐍
During the evening you will also get the chance to meet our LVI team and enjoy an informative talk. Refreshments are included.... Tickets: £25.00 per person. Spaces are limited and BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL - snap up your tickets on our website in time for Christmas!
Please note: The event will begin at 6.30pm and end at 8.30pm. All proceeds raised from this event will be used to support the conservation charity work at Paignton Zoo. A minimum age of 8 years applies to this event.
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Another big birthday today you say..? Oh yes, happy 16th birthday to Kivu! 🎉 Kivu is the second youngest of our Western lowland gorilla boys and joined us back in 2006. You may recognise this handsome chap as "Geoffrey" from CBBC show 'The Zoo'.🦍
📷: Brian Lilly

You better be-leaf it, it's Lucifer's birthday! 🦁🍂 The head of our Asiatic lion pride turns 16 today. Join us in wishing this beautiful big cat a very happy birthday! 🎉

Our animal experiences are fantastic gift ideas for wildlife lovers this Christmas! Go behind the scenes and feed some of your animal favourites, such as rhinos, giraffes and giant tortoises. 🦏🦒🐢 Our NEW Komodo dragon experience is also now available. 🐲 🌟Book your date now or choose to purchase an experience voucher that is valid for 12 months.🌟
See what we have on offer: https://bit.ly/2zikbll 🎁

Many of you will have recently seen the extensive news and social media coverage regarding palm oil. We're home to Bornean orang-utans, one of the species affected by the growth of unsustainable palm oil plantations in the wild. 🌱 We thought this would be a good opportunity to highlight our position on sustainable palm oil in our latest blog: www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/…/blog/detail/th e-tragedy-of-palm-oil

Forget #BlackFriday just for a moment, as this lady turned six today... 🐲 Happy birthday to our Komodo dragon, Khaleesi! 🎉

When you're getting all grown up but mother still likes to make a fuss of you. 👇🐵
📷: Sheila Fisher

Lucu really is such a handsome lad. 🐯🍂
📷: Kate Boyce-Miles

Introducing acrobatic pro, Tatau. 🤸‍♀️🐵
We don't know about you, but we could watch our orang-utans play all day... 💭

Sunday plans that involve food. 👍🦍
📷 Brian Lilly

Christmas is just 37. days. away. 🤯🎄✨
Know someone who loves the Zoo? An Annual Pass membership means they can enjoy unlimited entry and the many benefits that come with being part of our Zoo family. It's an ideal gift idea for the big day! http://bit.ly/2DHdbCi 🎁

There's some new residents in Reptile Tropics... 🦎 Introducing Bob and Marley, our pair of Lesser Antillean iguanas! 👋
Classified as Critically Endangered, these iguanas are only found in the wild on a select few Caribbean islands. Our male and female are part of the European Endangered Species breeding programme (EEP), to hopefully contribute towards tackling the decreasing population trend.

Dear everyone, We wish to submit Rowan for the award of cutest face. 🙉
Also, can you believe this little chap turns one next month?!
... 📷 Miriam Haas
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We're getting autumnal vibes from our fluffy red-ruffed lemurs! 🍁
👉One of the biggest primates found on the island of Madagascar, this Critically Endangered lemur gets its name from the long, thick chestnut fur around their ears and neck. #WednesdayWisdom

✨Bookings for our Christmas event are filling up FAST, with Christmas Eve already FULLY BOOKED.
🎅We have limited availability remaining on the other dates, so don't miss out! Book below: www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/…/events/detail/ christmas-at-paignto…

What an amazing day out yesterday with the family my grandchildren absolutely loved it and it’s been my husband wish to visit for many years and it didn’t disappoint so many animals and things to do will definitely visit again :-)

We spent 5 hours here and never got to see all of it or take part in any activities, play area or anything but we gotbthe annual pass so we can come back as many times as we want, we worth the cost, next time we can listen to some talks use the play area's etc as well as see the bits we missed and with planning your routr from the map you can walk around easily with out covering ground to many times �

Visited the zoo after 17 years on 3rd july18 lots has changed. Very clean zoo animal enclosures spotless and always plenty of bedding. I had the giraffe experience as a gift to myself for my 50th birthday. Mark the keeper was lovely and told us lots about the giraffes. It was an absolutely amazing thing to do. I fell in love with giraffes even more than I was. Yoda was such a beautiful gentle boy. I even got to meet beautiful duchess the elephant and roll her a cabbage. If you get chance to do it highly recommend it. Looking forward to visiting again the future and seeing what's changed. A beautiful well kept zoo and very friendly staff. Ate lunch in the restaurant which we felt was reasonably priced for 2 people was less than £15 For meal and drinks.

This zoo is amazing, apart from the excellent welfare for all the animals, the park is well-maintained, accessible for all, and I know every penny above costs, is ploughed back into the running and maintenance of the zoo.

Returned to the zoo for our annual trip. Some animals were hiding in the shade which made it more fun trying to spot them. The talks were very informative and the staff were happy to help and answer any questions. Plenty of places to snack or just rest. Walked around for 4 and half hours and saw everything we wanted to. Would visit more often but live in Cornwall so find it too much to visit in a day. We always tag it on to a theatre trip in Plymouth. See you next year.

My husband has literally just spent this morning with you being a Zoo Keeper. He had an absolutely fantastic time. Every Keeper that we met was so knowable & answered all questions that he asked. One thing we did comment on was how much each & every one of them love the job they do. Not one of them had a bad thing to say. Thank you for making his experience a memorable one.

Lovely zoo best we've seen yet :D we visited yesterday (weds 13th) as we are having our honeymoon in Torquay we been doing some sightseeing and the zoo being one of them :) .. Would recommend one not to be mist :D xx we was there about 5hrs so definitely worth the money

Loved it here! Seen a lot of unusual animals. Have a huge variety of animals too from little exotic birds to giraffes and elephants. Reasonable prices and park is very clean. Really enjoyed it and is worth visiting ☺

Had the most awesome day at Paignton Zoo today... we went for the Giant Tortoise Experience and can’t recommend it enough! We learnt so much from the keeper, Lauren, who spent ages with us answering questions while we met and fed the amazing giant tortoises. They’re such incredible animals and having a truly up-close encounter to see all their different personalities was such a treat.

Fantastic zoo, been to loads around the UK and this is the best so far. Great selection of animals to see with good enclosures, and the whole park is set like you're in the jungle with wild and exotic plants everywhere and elevation changes. Such a lovely place to visit and you need a full day to see it all... 5*

Excellent day out. So much to see and do. The animals all seem so happy and have lots of things to keep them occupied. Lots of viewing points so can see animals from different angles or if they are hiding. We arrived at 10am and left at 4.30 (and could have stayed longer) so enough to fill your whole day.

Brilliant day, after coming across your leaflet at our holiday park we thought we would try. One of, if not the best zoo I have visited. Usually find that a lot of enclosures are empty when I have visited other zoos this one only had two empty and that was due to refurbishment. Very reasonable prices, we chose the ticket that would allow us to visit the aquarium (within the next 6 months, we will use on our next break to Devon).

Thank you for a great day!

Always a fantastic, full day out. Went there as a child, with my children and now with my grandson. Lovely to see how the zoo has grown over the years. Huge range animals to see, just miss the penguins but know they now live at Living Coasts�. We will always come back as it is a day out for all ages that we all look forward to���������

One of the best zoo’s I have visited.

Very clean, both the animals and humans.



No structure to the walk through which makes it a bit difficult to follow where you are on the handheld map, even for a map reader.

Large variety of animals, perfect for the little ones. Giraffes, lions and orangatang's where our highlight.��� Would be nice to see another elephant to keep the other one company. Didn't get to see the gorillas or cheetas not sure where they where hiding � Worth the price and worth a visit �

I love Paignton zoo and return every year with my toddler. The only thing I can complain about is the seagulls. I get that there will be some there, they’re everywhere! But they are out in full force. Especially yesterday. 3 times I got attacked by them. Firstly while under cover in the restaurant, secondly literally seconds after buying my little girl an ice cream, it got taken out of my hands so had to buy another. The staff couldn’t really care less either. Then again as I went to put rubbish in the bin.

I really think something needs to be done to reduce the number of them hanging around. I know it happens and I fully appreciate that but the amount yesterday was crazy.

I will be returning again, however we will

Probably not eat until we’re elsewhere which will cut our visit short.

Always a great day out at the zoo with lots of different animals to see. I feel a few of the enclosures are on the small side though like the lions and tigers compared to the zebra which have a lovely big field. The only thing I don't like is the amount of seagulls which are always near by where ever you are in the zoo! I know it can't be helped as they fly in but I do think having net up over outside picnic areas like the one opposite the giant tortoises would be a good idea. The only seagull prevention I've seen is directly outside the cafe where there is wire up to stop them coming to the outside tables. Today myself, my friend and our toddlers sat down on the grass picnic area (opposite the giant tortoises) to have our lunch and immediately seagulls were hovering above us and then flew down next to us ready to snatch the food. It made us very uncomfortable and on edge so we decided to go to the cafe to sit indoors so we wouldn't get attacked. A lady sat on a picnic bench on the same bit of grass had her sandwich stolen. I also had an ice cream snatched out of my hand as I was walking through the zoo. Apart from the seagull drama we enjoyed our day �

I have been to this zoo quite a few times but I have to admit I was a little disappointed this time around! The big cats were all off viewing and the train wasn't working. We were looking forward to a train ride as we missed it last time! A lot of the enclosures seemed to be under maintenance and so empty! Highlight was the orangutans and the keeper there was amazing and very informative! Just a shame that in high season in school hols things are not put right or at least a discount offered when zoo is not at 100%.

One elephant which had a dried up pool , hot day could not bath freely, maybe staff could of implemented something due to her failing eye sight apparently . small enclosure , giraffes feeding were standing on lose tarmac , again not natural husbandry, the poor rhino again alone , dried up pool, very small enclosure not natural at all, felt sorry for rhino very small enclosure compared to many zoos , primates enclosures very strong smell of ammonia, couldn’t stay in there too long , baboons had a giant piece of concrete, no natural grasses, bushes, trees, very small enclosure and very man made , the zoo seems to have invested in the different species of birds more than any other animal ,however they will argue this but if they researched other zoos they would find the rhino enclosure and baboon enclosure are very small and basic , please invest in these enclosures , shame there’s a lot of wasted spaces , making an enclosure look attractive and putting several electric fences around them is not investing in these animals but restricting them from the space they deserve ,