Great Gorillas Project

Syd wins chocolate gorilla at the last minute!

Syd Jefferies has won a big chocolate gorilla - after buying a raffle ticket at the very last minute.

He is now the proud owner of Chico, a 30 inch high model primate smothered in the finest Belgian chocolate. Chico was raffled in aid of Paignton Zoo’s Great Gorillas Project.

Mr Jefferies, of Torquay, visited Paignton Zoo to see the Good Bye Gorillas event on Sunday 20th, and...

Great Gorillas auction raises incredible sum

The Paignton Zoo Great Gorillas Project auction has raised £100,000.

A total of £99,800 was bid on the night - a secret donation of £200 made the sum up to six figures.

The project, celebrating Paignton Zoo’s 90th birthday, is supporting gorilla conservation and Children’s Hospice South West.

Life-size model gorillas, sponsored by businesses and community groups,...

Gorilla in a coat of many colours

A piece of art that spent the summer in Exeter is expected to be one of the stars of a charity auction on Wednesday 6 November.

The life-size three-dimensional silverback gorilla is painted in the colours and patterns of a range of other animals.

The gorilla, named Miss Prints, has bird wings down the shoulders and forearms, one back leg seems to have come from a zebra while...

Kirstie Allsopp’s gorilla up for grabs

A unique piece of art by TV favourite Kirstie Allsopp is a star lot in a charity auction that’s raising money for gorilla conservation.

The presenter, interior designer, crafts and property expert designed a gorilla as part of Paignton Zoo’s Great Gorillas Project.

The project, celebrating Paignton Zoo’s 90th birthday, put 30 life-size model gorillas around Exeter and the...

Why Great Gorillas make great art

Paignton Zoo’s Great Gorillas Project reaches its climax on 6th November with an exclusive charity auction.

It’s a chance for collectors, art lovers and people in search of a truly unique conversation piece to get their hands on a real one-off.

Paignton Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “We’ve seen the Great Gorillas as a big, free, fun public event for the summer. But now...

George the royal gorilla

As the royal family gets ready to baptise Prince George, children at a hospice in Devon are celebrating the link between the royal baby and a hand-painted model gorilla.

The gorilla, part of Paignton Zoo’s Great Gorillas Project, was created by children at Children’s Hospice South West and named George.

Naomi Dymond, from Children’s Hospice South West, said: “Kate has an...

Make a bid for a Great Gorilla

The Great Gorillas Project reaches its climax on 6th November, when a troop of large gorilla sculptures will be sold for charity.

The project, celebrating Paignton Zoo’s 90th birthday, is raising funds for gorilla conservation and for Children’s Hospice South West.

Life-size model gorillas, sponsored by businesses and community groups, painted in original designs by specially-...

Poirot’s Great Gorilla mystery

There’s increasing interest in the fate of a life-size gorilla painted to look like Agatha Christie famous detective, Hercule Poirot.

He is one of the star lots in a grand charity auction that takes place on Wednesday 6 November.

Poirot was created as part of 'The Great Gorillas Project', marking Paignton Zoo’s 90th birthday. Paignton Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling...

Gorilla in the garage

For Exeter-based artist and former national school-boy sportsman Stuart Wright, gorillas loom large. A plush gorilla toy has travelled everywhere with him since he was two years old. And now he has painted a three-dimensional life-size gorilla – in his garage.

The huge gorilla sculpture is part of The Great Gorillas Project, celebrating Paignton Zoo’s 90th birthday, which comes to a...