Living Coasts

Penguins behaving badly

Zoo keepers at Living Coasts in Torquay are naming and shaming their naughtiest penguins. They’re writing the names of mischievous birds on a chalkboard for guests to see - and singling out others for their good behaviour.

The 63 African penguins and 12 macaroni penguins at Torquay’s coastal zoo mix freely with guests. But some penguins are better-behaved than others. Zoo spokesperson...

Happy bird-day at Living Coasts…

It’s an expensive time of year for birthday presents among the kittiwakes at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo. The five adult birds all have birthdays between July 17th and August 7th. And now a chick has hatched on its mother’s birthday.

The kittiwake also hatched in the same nest and to the same parents as last year, when Living Coasts recorded its first ever breeding of this...

Devon’s new nature reserve… in the South Atlantic

Living Coasts has announced a new conservation project linking Torquay with a group of islands half a world away.

Torquay’s coastal zoo’s latest project is based on the Falkland Islands – an archipelago of over 750 islands, home to roughly 3,000 people, 500,000 sheep - and one million penguins. Yes, this is a UK territory with penguins. The islands are home to some of the most...

What can you find on a beach…?

Swimming trunks, a fishing rod and part of a car exhaust system were among the surprising items found on the latest beach clean organised by staff at Living Coasts.

The charity zoo’s Events Coordinator Hayley Gibson said: “We had 72 volunteers on the day, which was fantastic, and we collected 4 large bin bags full of litter. Goodrington is a fairly well-kept beach, but if you look...

Wild, wild website

The charity behind the region’s three top zoos has launched a new website with a new look and a radical new approach. Wild Planet Trust is the new name for the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall. The charity’s new website places a strong emphasis on highlighting the conservation and research work of the zoos. Trust spokesperson Phil Knowling...

Dim the lights, I’m feeling fishy…

A stunning state-of-the-art lighting system has been installed at Living Coasts – for the fish.

The sophisticated new system in the aquarium of Torquay’s coastal zoo means that fish can experience natural dawns and dusks. Staff hope this will lead to more of what comes naturally…

One of the zoo’s aquarists, Sam Worthington, explained: “Now, each tank can have its own settings....

Green lighting gets the green light

Pete is the Environmental Officer for the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall. He’s busy overseeing a green revolution to save energy and save money. The charity is installing environmentally-friendly lighting in key buildings, with halogen and compact fluorescent lamps being replaced...

Rock and roll flirting is a fishy first

Fish at Living Coasts in Torquay have been observed performing a mating behaviour that zookeepers think has never before been recorded. Animal experts filmed female four-eyed fish (Anableps anableps) rocking from side-to-side; this appeared to attract the male to come and mate. Sharp-eyed aquarists Tom Fielding and Sam Worthington noted and eventually videoed the curious behaviour. Clare Rugg...

Living Coasts’ global plastics pledge

Torquay’s Living Coasts is part of a new global movement to raise awareness about plastic pollution. The coalition goes under the banner of "World aquariums #ReadyToChange to #BeatPlasticPollution". The aim is to set a good example over the use of plastics and to encourage changes in behaviour. Living Coasts was the first aquarium in the UK to sign up and is one of seven in this...

Draw on the walls at Living Coasts

New technology at Torquay’s coastal zoo means you can colour in a sea creature and see it come to life in front of your eyes. The coastal conservation charity has installed an electronic wall where drawings are turned into animations. It’s the first time tech of this kind has been seen in the UK. Guests can colour one of a range of marine creatures, including tropical fish, seahorses and rays...

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