Avian influenza update: 09/09/22

Last week we received positive test results for avian influenza in two of our birds. Since that point, we’ve been working the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) to investigate the infection and implement the necessary biosecurity measures.

Almost all of our birds from the main lake and our peafowl are now in bio secure quarantine facilities around the zoo, although as previously reported a small number of those that evaded capture were humanely culled by a specialist team from APHA. We have completed a deep clean of all required areas as per APHA guidance and have moved our flamingos to a covered aviary elsewhere in the zoo as a precautionary measure. We are now waiting for APHA to assess and approve the measures we have taken, and only after receiving this approval will we be able to reopen to visitors.

All of this means that we will not be opening Paignton Zoo this weekend, but we hope to receive confirmation early next week that we can reopen our gates on Wednesday, 14 September. We will continue to provide updates on our social media and website into next week to confirm this.

Throughout this difficult time our priority has been the health and welfare of our birds, and we have been doing all we can to ensure their safety and the continued provision of their usual excellent care.

We would like to offer our thanks once again to our dedicated staff, who have continually gone above and beyond to keep our animals safe, and to those that have offered their support during this challenging time.