Exmoor Zoo facts for kids
| Date opened | 1982 |
|---|---|
| Location | Exmoor, North Devon, England |
| Coordinates | 51°08′53″N 3°55′26″W / 51.148°N 3.924°W |
| Memberships | BIAZA |
| Website | www.exmoorzoo.co.uk |
Exmoor Zoo is a special place in Exmoor, North Devon, England. It's a conservation centre, which means it works to protect animals and their natural homes. The zoo first opened in 1982 as Exmoor Bird Gardens.
New owners took over in 1993 and have made the zoo much bigger and better. They now focus on helping smaller animals. Exmoor Zoo has been part of BIAZA (the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) since 1995. In 2018, it also joined EAZA (the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums).
Contents
The Story of Exmoor Zoo
Exmoor Zoo started as Exmoor Bird Gardens in 1982. It was built on a farm that was about 7 acres big. By 1985, it had grown to 12 acres!
In 1993, new owners took over. They worked hard to fix up the bird gardens. They also brought in many new types of animals. In 1995, the name changed to Exmoor Animal & Bird Gardens. This was also when they joined BIAZA.
The zoo changed its name again in 1997 to "Exmoor Zoological Park." Now, it's simply called "Exmoor Zoo." Over the years, the zoo has kept growing. It has also started to care for some larger animals than before.
Meet the Animals at Exmoor Zoo
Exmoor Zoo is home to 175 different kinds of animals. These include mammals, birds, and reptiles. You can see some very rare animals here. Some examples are singing dogs, fanaloka, rusty spotted cats, and yellow-throated martens.
Mammals: Big and Small Creatures
The zoo has many interesting mammals. Some of the larger ones include cheetahs, maned wolves, tapirs, and bat-eared foxes. You can also find howler monkeys and gibbons. The zoo has one of the biggest collections of ibis. It also cares for many types of smaller meat-eating animals.
One of the zoo's most famous animals is Ebony. She is a black leopard. Her special enclosure was finished in 2007. Ebony is one of only two black leopards in the British Isles that can be part of a breeding program. In 2009, a male black leopard named Zoysa came to the zoo. He came from Linton Zoo to be a possible mate for Ebony.
Other mammals you might see are reindeer, lemurs, porcupines, and meerkats.
Birds: Feathery Friends
The zoo has a large lake where you can see pelicans, waterfowl (like ducks and geese), and terrapins.
There are also special bird enclosures called aviaries. These are home to colorful South American parrots, storks, ibis, and impressive great grey owls.
Helping Animals: Conservation Work
Exmoor Zoo plays an important role in helping animals survive. It takes part in special breeding programs with other zoos around the world. These programs help to make sure that endangered animals can have babies and grow their populations. The zoo works with zoos in Europe and other countries to exchange animals. This helps keep the animal groups healthy and strong.
The zoo is known for its work with tamarins and marmosets. More recently, it has also focused on helping long-nosed potoroos and smaller carnivores.
Zoo News and Events
In September 2006, the zoo got two howler monkeys named Greeb and Wing. Howler monkeys are very loud! The zookeepers hoped their loud calls would help scare away any unwanted visitors.
In June 2006, something special happened. A family of blackbirds built their nest in a fake tree inside the zoo's education center. Many visiting families enjoyed watching the baby birds. In 2012, two rare albino skunks were born at the zoo.
