Zoo Memories Trail: Echidna • Paignton Zoo

Penguins and performers

If you look in Bruce the echidna’s enclosure you can still see the rockwork from when the area housed our penguins. Up until 1953, this area was also the location of the Paignton Zoo circus – an attraction that first appeared during the Second World War, when Paignton provided a temporary home for staff and animals from Chessington Zoo in London.

1970s penguin pool — ^{The original penguin pool was named after its sponsor, Brooke Bond tea company.}

penguins 1 — ^{Beside the penguin pool stood aviaries where our tapir now live.}

penguin pool — ^{This original rockwork is still in place in our echidna enclosure.}

History Old penguin pool — ^{In this aerial view of the penguin pool you can also see the Nocturnal House.}

devons zoo circus cover cropped — ^{Before becoming the penguin pool, this area was home to Devon’s Zoo and Circus.}

12 circus advert — ^{Advert for Devon’s Zoo and Circus}

circus strongman edited scaled — ^{The Amazing Samson: World’s Strongest Man}