{"id":4383,"date":"2023-06-28T09:53:29","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T08:53:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/?p=4383"},"modified":"2023-10-09T09:52:56","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T08:52:56","slug":"discover-dartmoor-zoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/discover-dartmoor-zoo\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover Dartmoor Zoo: A Captivating Q&A Session"},"content":{"rendered":"

Situated amidst the picturesque landscapes of South Devon, near Plymouth, Dartmoor Zoo<\/a> 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.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dartmoor<\/p>\n

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Can you provide an overview of\u00a0Dartmoor\u00a0Zoo\u00a0and its mission?<\/h2>\n

“Our vision is to protect threatened species and enable people to help wildlife thrive.<\/p>\n

Our mission is to conserve wildlife, promote wellbeing and educate future generations by inspiring people to be more engaged with nature.<\/p>\n

In 2014, the Mee family kindly donated Dartmoor Zoological Park to \u2018Dartmoor Zoological Society\u2019 – 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.<\/p>\n

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What makes Dartmoor Zoo unique compared to other zoos in the UK?<\/h2>\n

“1) Our origin story began with a Hollywood Blockbuster \u2013 \u2018We Bought a Zoo\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

2) We have the biggest cat collection in the South West!<\/p>\n

3) Many of our enclosures have fence free viewing spaces, meaning a lot of the park has an unobstructed view of our wonderful animals.<\/p>\n

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.”<\/p>\n

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What types of animal species can visitors expect to see at Dartmoor Zoo.<\/h2>\n

\"Dartmoor<\/p>\n

“From zebras and cheetahs to macaws and capybaras, we have a wide range of mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates. We\u2019re so proud of all our animals, and you can view them all on our website here<\/a>… meerkats and all!”<\/p>\n

How does Dartmoor Zoo contribute to wildlife conservation and preservation efforts?<\/h2>\n

“We have a pair of\u00a0Golden mantella frogs<\/strong>\u00a0that 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.\u00a0The conservation and breeding work we are a part of, is vital to this species and their survival.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We have the ‘Prickly Hedge Lodge<\/strong>‘, a hedgehog rehabilitation hospital on site for up to 20 hedgehogs at a time!\u00a0Sadly, hedgehogs are now classed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with over a third of hedgehogs being lost since the millennium.\u00a0Prickly Hedge Lodge<\/strong>\u00a0costs on average \u00a31300 every month.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0Simply raising awareness about this species can contribute to its overall protection.<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

What steps does\u00a0Dartmoor\u00a0Zoo\u00a0take to promote sustainable practices and environmental conservation?<\/h2>\n