Paignton Zoo sits on 80 acres of parkland in Paignton, Devon, and has been caring for animals on the site since 1923, when it began as Primley Zoological Gardens, the private collection of naturalist Herbert Whitley. After his death in 1955, the collection passed to a charitable trust that grew it into one of the South West of England’s leading wildlife attractions, later managed by the Wild Planet Trust.
Today the zoo houses more than 1,800 animals, including Sumatran tigers, western lowland gorillas, and Rothschild’s giraffes, alongside an extensive botanical collection of roughly 1,600 plant species. In January 2026, ownership passed from the Wild Planet Trust to Libéma, a Dutch leisure operator with decades of experience running European zoos, which has pledged new habitats including a savannah exhibit and the return of rhinos to the park.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Paignton, Devon, England
- Opened: 1923
- Size: 80 acres (32 ha)
- Animal count: About 1,800+ animals
- Operator: Libéma (since January 2026; formerly Wild Planet Trust)
- Famous for: Century-old conservation park with Sumatran tigers and lowland gorillas
A Century of Conservation
What began as Herbert Whitley’s private menagerie at his Primley House estate grew, over decades, into a serious conservation institution. The zoo weathered financial and legal disputes in its early years and even sheltered animals evacuated from Chessington Zoo during the Second World War before passing into charitable trust ownership after Whitley’s death in 1955.
Under trust management, Paignton Zoo built out exhibits like Tropical Trails, Arid Lands, and one of the UK’s larger crocodile habitats, while running breeding programs for threatened species. Recent years have brought notable wins, including a hand-reared pink pigeon chick and the zoo’s first successful cassowary breeding since 2004.
A New Era Under Libéma
Facing financial pressure, the Wild Planet Trust struck a deal handing Paignton Zoo and sister site Newquay Zoo to Libéma, a Dutch company that already operates Safaripark Beekse Bergen and several other European zoos. The transition, completed in January 2026, kept the zoo open to the public while promising investment in reworked theme areas.
Libéma’s stated plans include a new savannah zone with giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest, the reintroduction of rhinoceroses, and refreshed enclosures for camels and baboons, alongside continued support for international conservation projects.
Explore more: More Zoos & Aquariums.
Paignton Zoo FAQs
When did Paignton Zoo open?
It opened in 1923 as Primley Zoological Gardens, the private animal collection of Herbert Whitley.
How big is Paignton Zoo?
The zoo covers about 80 acres (32 hectares) in Paignton, Devon.
Who runs Paignton Zoo now?
Since January 2026, Paignton Zoo has been operated by Libéma, a Dutch leisure company, after the Wild Planet Trust transferred ownership.
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Photo: Wpt-zoo / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.