Situated amidst the picturesque landscapes of South Devon, near Plymouth, Dartmoor Zoo is home to a diverse array of animal species. From majestic big cats to playful primates, the dedicated team at Dartmoor Zoo works tirelessly to provide exceptional care, conservation efforts, and educational experiences for visitors.
In this Q&A, we discuss their mission, the animals they protect and more. Enjoy fascinating insights and knowledge from the heart of Dartmoor Zoo.
Can you provide an overview of Dartmoor Zoo and its mission?
“Our vision is to protect threatened species and enable people to help wildlife thrive.
Our mission is to conserve wildlife, promote wellbeing and educate future generations by inspiring people to be more engaged with nature.
In 2014, the Mee family kindly donated Dartmoor Zoological Park to ‘Dartmoor Zoological Society’ – a charity specially created for the purpose. Dartmoor Zoo is responsible for the care of the animal collection as well as our numerous conservation, breeding and research projects.
What makes Dartmoor Zoo unique compared to other zoos in the UK?
“1) Our origin story began with a Hollywood Blockbuster – ‘We Bought a Zoo’.
2) We have the biggest cat collection in the South West!
3) Many of our enclosures have fence free viewing spaces, meaning a lot of the park has an unobstructed view of our wonderful animals.
4) We want to provide a home for as many species as possible and have a highly biodiverse site. We purposely leave some areas of our zoo to grow naturally, as this provides the perfect habitat for many species to live in.”
What types of animal species can visitors expect to see at Dartmoor Zoo.
“From zebras and cheetahs to macaws and capybaras, we have a wide range of mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates. We’re so proud of all our animals, and you can view them all on our website here… meerkats and all!”
How does Dartmoor Zoo contribute to wildlife conservation and preservation efforts?
“We have a pair of Golden mantella frogs that are part of an international breeding programme. Named as critically endangered, there is only a tiny colony left in a small fragment of forest (less than 4 square miles) which is constantly under agricultural, fire or human threat. The conservation and breeding work we are a part of, is vital to this species and their survival.
We have the ‘Prickly Hedge Lodge‘, a hedgehog rehabilitation hospital on site for up to 20 hedgehogs at a time! Sadly, hedgehogs are now classed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with over a third of hedgehogs being lost since the millennium. Prickly Hedge Lodge costs on average £1300 every month.
We have a breeding family of Asian short-clawed otters on site. Short-clawed otters are found in southern India, southern China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines, now marked as vulnerable in the wild. Population numbers are rapidly decreasing due to pollution, causing a huge decline in the number of fish species available for food. Simply raising awareness about this species can contribute to its overall protection.”
What steps does Dartmoor Zoo take to promote sustainable practices and environmental conservation?
What educational programs or initiatives does Dartmoor Zoo offer for visitors?
“We have engaged with over 100,000 learners both in the UK and beyond. From nursery to university education, encompassing both formal and informal learning, the team create and deliver unique experiences for learners and our daily visitors, encouraging excitement and exploration through interactive learning programmes and interpretation.
We have a variety of workshops for all age groups, which you can find on the education section of our website.
We offer outreach where we will visit schools and offer further workshops, as well as virtual learning for schools further away. Education practitioners can fill out an enquiry form on our website on the ‘book a school visit‘ section of our website. We also offer conservation academy courses for children aged from 6 to 12, simply click here to find out all about it.”
Are there any specific projects or campaigns that DartmoorZoo is currently involved in?
“We are supporting the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), who are dedicated to saving the Cheetah in the wild. A portion of every Dartmoor Zoo ticket sale goes towards their conservation efforts. With less than 7500 in the wild, the cheetah is Africa’s most endangered big cat.”
Are there any upcoming events or developments at Dartmoor Zoo that visitors should know about?
“Yes, we have lots of exciting events in the near future including:
- Roar n’ Snore – Stay overnight at the zoo
- Summer holidays event – Sparky’s Woodland Adventure
- October – Charity Ball
- October – Boo at the Zoo
- December – Zooluminate
- Arrival (date TBC) of the Amur Leopard. Critically endangered with around 90 left in the wild, this is a conservation effort we are all incredibly proud of and excited for!”
Visit the Dartmoor Zoo events page for more information.
Can you provide information about the visitor experience at Dartmoor Zoo, including any interactive or hands-on activities?
“We have daily talks to keep everyone informed and educated about our wonderful animals. There are also QR codes around site for further virtual talks if people wish to know more, or have missed that animal talk. Our staff are dementia, mental health and visual impairment trained to help as many people navigate our site as comfortably as possible.”
Are there any specific challenges or issues that Dartmoor Zoo faces, and how are they being supported?
“With cost of living increasing, this impacts us exponentially with the cost of food, enrichment and even electricity on site skyrocketing.”
How can visitors support Dartmoor Zoo, its conservation efforts and initiatives?
“Our charity is completely reliant on ticket income, donations and purchases to keep our vital work going. There are many ways to support us including sponsorship and adoption gift packages, volunteering, becoming a member and more. To find out how you can support Dartmoor Zoo, click here.”
Can you share any interesting facts or stories about the animals at Dartmoor Zoo?
“Chincha our Jaguar came from France, so he actually understands the French language. Benjamin Mee, to this day, still speaks to him in French and he responds really positively!”
What are some of the long-term goals or future plans for Dartmoor Zoo?
“Continuing to improve our site, with the intent of being able to house, protect and conserve more species.”
From learning about Dartmoor Zoo’s dedication to conservation and education, to gaining insights into the meticulous care provided to each animal resident, it is evident that Dartmoor Zoo stands as a beacon of hope for wildlife preservation. If you’re planning a visit, or to adopt an animal as a unique gift for a loved one, or even get hands-on volunteering at the zoo, we hope you enjoy embracing the opportunity to connect with nature, embarking on an adventure, and supporting the incredible work being done.
For more inspiration of things to do in and around Dartmoor, read our articles on:
Holiday near Dartmoor Zoo
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