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GloWild – our biggest ever festive event!
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.


MONDAY 4TH DECEMBER

Due to heavy rain and flooding on site, there will be a delay in opening the zoo today.

We will provide updates as soon as possible. Please check back before travelling to visit us.


PILEATED GIBBONS TEMPORARILY OFF SHOW

Our pileated gibbons are not currently on show, due to essential dredging work being carried out in close proximity to their island. Their neighbours, the lar gibbons and howler monkeys remain on show as usual. Thank you for your understanding.


OUR SLOTH IS NOW ON SHOW

We are delighted to announce that our new sloth Mo has been released from his quarantine and can now be see out and about in his enclosure. Don’t forget to look up!


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 dredging of the lake near the zoo entrance, landscaping to make way for our new baboon enclosure, and installation work for our upcoming GloWild winter lights event. We are very excited to be starting work on these new projects, and hope you will be too!


PLAY AREAS PARTIALLY CLOSED

We are pleased to announce that we have re-opened our play areas at Jungle Fun, Baboon Rock and Meerkats.

Our play area at Hangout has been demolished in preparation for a new structure being put in place within the new year.

Thank you for your understanding.


CROCODILE SWAMP PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Crocodile Swamp has been closed for repairs since December 2022 as we have had to tackle a number of challenges – some of which have revolved around storm damage and others have concerned the infrastructure of the building itself. Following a full assessment of the cost to undertake essential repairs, we have reached the conclusion that Crocodile Swamp will not re-open. The exhibit requires a significant sum of money to undertake the necessary repairs, and this investment will unfortunately not overcome the fundamental infrastructure issues of the building.


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
  • Crocodile Swamp is 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 (serving times do vary). Hangout and Great Griller food and drink kiosks are open to 3pm.

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!