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Dartmoor Zoological Park facts for kids

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Dartmoor Zoo Park
DZP.jpg
Date opened 1968 (1968)
Location Dartmoor, England
Land area 33 acres (13 ha)
Coordinates 50°24′25″N 3°59′49″W / 50.407°N 3.997°W / 50.407; -3.997
Annual visitors 80,000 (2016)
Memberships BIAZA

Dartmoor Zoological Park is a cool place to visit. It's a 30-acre (12 ha) zoo located near Sparkwell village. You can find it on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, England.

The zoo first opened its doors in 1968. It was called Dartmoor Wildlife Park back then. Later, in 2006, a new family bought the zoo. They worked hard to reopen it in 2007. Their amazing story even inspired a book and a movie called We Bought a Zoo.

The Zoo's Story: From Past to Present

The zoo has a long and interesting history. It all started in 1968 when Ellis Daw opened it. He built many of the animal homes himself. Over the years, he brought in many different animals. These included big cats like lions, tigers, and jaguars.

Challenges and Changes

In 2001, some people raised concerns about the animals' living conditions. They worried about the safety of the enclosures. Ellis Daw said the zoo had been safe for 33 years. Still, he faced some issues. He was found to have bred Siberian tigers without permission. He also kept them in poor conditions. The tigers were then moved to a wildlife center in the Netherlands.

House at Dartmoor Zoological Park
Goodamoor House, part of the zoo grounds.

The zoo closed to visitors in April 2006. But its story wasn't over! In August 2006, the Mee family bought the park. Benjamin Mee, his mother, wife, and two children, Milo and Ella, moved in. Just four days later, a jaguar escaped! Luckily, it was safely captured.

The family worked hard to fix up the zoo. They raised a lot of money for improvements. In July 2007, the park reopened with a new name: Dartmoor Zoological Park.

Becoming a Charity and New Adventures

Since 2011, the zoo has been part of BIAZA. This group helps zoos work together. It allows Dartmoor Zoo to get animals from other zoos. They can also send animals to other places for special breeding programs.

In 2014, the zoo became a charity. This meant they could get donations to help care for the animals. In 2016, a lynx escaped from the zoo. It was free for over three weeks in the countryside. But don't worry, it was safely caught and returned!

We Bought A Zoo: The Book and The Movie

The story of Benjamin Mee and his family at Dartmoor Zoo became very famous.

The TV Show and Book

In 2006, a TV show called Ben's Zoo was made. It showed Benjamin and his team working to rebuild the park. Then, in 2008, Benjamin Mee wrote a book. It was called We Bought a Zoo. The book shared his family's amazing experiences at the zoo.

The Hollywood Film

The book was later made into a Hollywood movie in 2011. It was also called We Bought a Zoo. The film starred famous actors like Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson.

The movie changed some parts of the real story. In the film, the zoo is in the United States. Also, the main character buys the zoo after his wife passes away. In real life, Benjamin's wife passed away a few months after they bought the zoo. Benjamin Mee and his children even had small roles in the movie!

Meet the Animals!

Dartmoor Zoological Park is home to over 70 different kinds of animals. Some of these animals are endangered. This means they are at risk of disappearing forever. The zoo helps protect them through special breeding programs. They have successful programs for animals like common marmosets and tapirs.

TEBG
A Tanzanian Electric Blue Gecko at Dartmoor Zoo

Here are some of the amazing animals you might see:

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Invertebrates
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