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Ongoing updates and improvements

Ongoing Improvements

Yellow-banded poison dart frog at Paignton Zoo

Keep up to date with everything zoo-related here!

As a 80 acre site, there is always lots going on at Paignton Zoo. Here is where you can find out about all of the latest updates prior to your visit. Whether it be maintenance work, an exhibit closure or an animal off-show, we aim to keep you informed so that you have a great experience with us.


CHANGES TO HOW WE LOOK AFTER OUR BIRDS

Last year, we announced that 2024 would mark the beginning of a period of redevelopment for the zoo.

Included in this, were plans to limit the threat posed by Avian Influenza (bird flu) by reducing the number of bird species that live here. The birds that lived in Arid Lands have already been relocated elsewhere in the zoo or rehomed to other zoos, in order to prepare the exhibit for a different species to live there.

We have also built a refuge for our flamingos where they can be relocated to in the event of another outbreak.


BABY DIK-DIK

A Kirk’s dik-dik calf was born on New Year’s Day. We highly recommend visiting the little one and their adorable family of four, located next to Baboon Rock.


PILEATED GIBBONS TEMPORARILY OFF SHOW

Our pileated gibbons are not currently on show. Their neighbours, the lar gibbons and howler monkeys remain on show as usual. Thank you for your understanding.


CONSTRUCTION WORK AROUND SITE

Some of your little ones might be excited to see some diggers around on site! There’s a handful of separate construction projects ongoing at the moment, including tree work around the lake near the zoo entrance and landscaping to make way for our new baboon enclosure. We are very excited to be starting work on these new projects, and hope you will be too!


PLAY AREA CLOSED

Our play area at Hangout has been demolished and the work has started on the exciting replacement.


WHICH EXHIBITS ARE CLOSED AND WHICH ANIMALS ARE OFF SHOW?

  • We currently have a few empty enclosures whilst we await new animals and also make some updates and improvements around the zoo. Download our App to see the up to date information regarding exhibit closures
  • Crocodile Swamp is permanently closed

There may be times when some of our animals may not be viewable at the exact time that you visit an exhibit as we not do not ‘force’ them to be ‘on-show’. If an animal is not immediately visible, they could be resting in their off-show area or somewhere out of view in their naturalistic exhibit, so please make time to pop back later in the day – it will be worth the wait!


FOOD & DRINK

We are serving a full food and drink menu every day at Paignton Zoo.

The Island Restaurant is open daily from 10am until half an hour before the zoo closes and other catering cabins around the site are also open (opening times do vary).

Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available in all of our food outlets, with plenty of outdoor seating and picnic areas for guests to use.


If you have a query that is not answered here, please email us at  [email protected] and we will aim to get back to you as quickly as possible. 

And to further keep up-to-date with everything Paignton Zoo related, please make sure you follow our social media channels too!