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Ongoing updates and improvements

Community effort brings back Paignton Zoo’s Crocodile Swamp

Paignton Zoo is set to re-open its iconic Crocodile Swamp exhibit at 11am on Saturday 18 January, an optimistic milestone after a period of financial hardship. The re-opening is a testament to the zoo’s resilience and the support from the local community.

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Zoo supporters in the community were overwhelmingly in favour of reopening the much-loved Crocodile Swamp exhibit.

Last year, the zoo announced it was facing financial difficulties which led to a number of unavoidable redundancies as well as a change in leadership. In spite of the challenges, the zoo was determined to regain its footing and reached out to the community for feedback and how they should move forward.

In response to this feedback, the zoo sought to prioritise the reopening of the Crocodile Swamp exhibit, alongside the giraffe house, which re-opened in October. The community also expressed a desire to bring back the beloved train, which unfortunately proved too costly. Instead, a miniature train from Plym Valley Railway was brought in for October half term, proving a huge hit with visitors.

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Paignton Zoo’s Giraffe House was reopened on 26 October 2024.

The funds raised from the miniature train and a Murder Mystery evening event, part of the Agatha Christie festival, were directed towards the “Bring Back the Swamp” fundraising campaign. The campaign’s success, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals, allowed the zoo to raise the necessary funds for the renovation.

Stephen Kings, Interim Chief Executive Officer for Wild Planet Trust, commented:

“We are incredibly excited to welcome visitors back to Crocodile Swamp. The support we’ve received from the community has been overwhelming, both from our supporters who donated towards the fundraiser, as well as local businesses Westcountry Fabrications and Dyson Construction, who provided significant discounts on construction services. We are immensely grateful to everyone who contributed to this effort, and look forward to sharing this special moment with you all.”

To celebrate the reopening, Paignton Zoo will host a re-opening ceremony on Saturday morning. The lucky winner of a recent charity prize draw will have the honour of cutting the ribbon and will be treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes crocodile feeding experience.

The zoo encourages any visitors wishing to attend this historic moment to book tickets online in advance. For more information and to book tickets, please visit the Paignton Zoo website: https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/

For more information on this story, or to arrange an interview, please contact [email protected]

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