Shaldon Wildlife Trust

Shaldon Wildlife Trust Shaldon Wildlife Trust is truly unique. A charity dedicated to the conservation of smaller endangered species.
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Shaldon Zoo is set in a woodland garden above the attractive coastal village of Shaldon. See our marmosets and tamarins from South America, lemurs from Madagascar, yellow-breasted capuchins and squirrel monkeys. Plus more unusual species such as Owstons civets, margay, slow loris and more! We are open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Star pupil alert! Meet Chili the conure, absolutely acing his positive reinforcement training! 🌟Our keepers have been wo...
13/09/2026

Star pupil alert! Meet Chili the conure, absolutely acing his positive reinforcement training! 🌟

Our keepers have been working target training with our conure flock to make health checks and routine moves a stress-free experience for everyone involved. While his sisters are still a bit unsure and preferring to supervise safely from a distance, Chili has taken to it amazingly well!

He happily steps right up onto his training stick in exchange for his favorite treats, showing off just how smart these colorful parrots really are.

So many of you have been asking how our new arrival, Xiorra, is getting on! 🌿She is still taking things nice and slow, r...
11/09/2026

So many of you have been asking how our new arrival, Xiorra, is getting on! 🌿

She is still taking things nice and slow, remaining quite shy as she adjusts to her new home here at the zoo. Being naturally nocturnal, she loves to spend most of her day curled up out of sight for a well-deserved nap!

💡 Visitor Insider Tip: If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of those famous quills or that incredible prehensile tail, the absolute best time to see her active is around 4pm, when she wakes up for her afternoon feed! 🍌🥗 Or if you're lucky you can spy her through the hatch way between the cotton top tamarin bedroom.

They say never work with children or animals and taking photos of a baby squirrel monkey proves why! 📸😅It took four sepa...
09/09/2026

They say never work with children or animals and taking photos of a baby squirrel monkey proves why! 📸😅

It took four separate attempts to capture this picture-perfect shot. In the first three, our little mischief-maker was either pulling a ridiculous face, looking completely the wrong way, or actively whacking a relative who dared to get too close! 🐒💥

Beneath all the cheekiness, this little one is growing bigger and bolder every day and exploring the quiet September treetops.

It is with heavy hearts that we share some sad news with our Shaldon family. We have recently had to say goodbye to Con ...
07/09/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we share some sad news with our Shaldon family. We have recently had to say goodbye to Con Trai, our beloved male Owston’s civet, pictured here alongside his long-time companion, Lien. 🌿

Con Trai was a vital ambassador for one of the world’s most vulnerable and elusive carnivores.

For over 20 years, Shaldon Wildlife Trust has been deeply committed to protecting Owston’s civets through Save Vietnam's Wildlife and now The Civet Project. We coordinate the EAZA European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for the species and help steer their global conservation plan to secure a future for these rare Southeast Asian mammals.

Con Trai’s legacy will continue to make a lasting difference for his species. The insights gained from his life and care will contribute to vital conservation research, helping to advance global veterinary knowledge and health strategies to protect both wild and rescued civets for generations to come. 🧬📚

Our keeping team, who cared for him daily, will miss him dearly. Please join us in sending love to Lien and our dedicated staff.

05/09/2026

THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED! Meet Xiorra, our brand-new resident at Shaldon Wildlife Trust!

A huge congratulations to everyone who guessed correctly Xiorra is a Brazilian porcupine aka a Prehensile tailed porcupine, and she is the very first of her species to ever call Shaldon her home.

Traveling to us from Papiliorama in Switzerland, Xiorra has been settling into her new habitat. Here are a few reasons why she’s so incredible:

🌿 That Special Tail: That tail is fully prehensile! She uses it just like a fifth limb to wrap securely around branches while navigating the treetops.

🐾 Arboreal Experts: Unlike ground-dwelling porcupines, these South American native mammals spend almost their entire lives high up in the canopy.

🍌 Leaf & Vegetable Lovers: Despite those impressive quills, she’s a peaceful herbivore who loves foliage, bark, vegetables and fruits.

👀 Visitor Tip: Being a naturally nocturnal species, Xiorra is still a little shy while adjusting to her new surroundings. She spends most of the daytime tucked up high in a cozy spot sleeping, so spotting her might be a bit difficult whilst she settles in🔍💤

OVER 25,000 of you saw yesterday’s post, and your guesses have been great and some no so great.From sloths, lemurs, and ...
04/09/2026

OVER 25,000 of you saw yesterday’s post, and your guesses have been great and some no so great.

From sloths, lemurs, and anteaters to pangolins, civets, and racoons, we’ve loved reading every single guess! (And a huge nod to the few sharp-eyed nature lovers who might actually be onto something… 👀)

To narrow it down or send you right back to the drawing board here is a sneak peak at our newest resident, Xiorra.

Does that photo confirm your original guess, or has it completely changed your mind? Drop your updated theories below before the big reveal! 👇👇

03/09/2026

Something very special has arrived at Shaldon… 📦

Say hello to Xiorra! She’s made the journey all the way from Papiliorama in Switzerland to join our zoo.

Xiorra is a brand-new species for us here at the Trust, and we can’t wait for you all to meet her. We’re keeping her exact species under wraps for just a little longer while she settles into her new home… but here’s a tiny sneak peek! 🔍

Can you guess what kind of animal Xiorra is? Drop your best guesses in the comments below! 👇👇

MILESTONE MOMENT: THE QUADS ON THE SCALES! 🎥🦊⚖️Our four red-ruffed lemur quadruplets, Boo, Binks, Wookie, and Wicket, ha...
31/08/2026

MILESTONE MOMENT: THE QUADS ON THE SCALES! 🎥🦊⚖️

Our four red-ruffed lemur quadruplets, Boo, Binks, Wookie, and Wicket, had a big milestone day this week: their very first official weigh-in training! 🩺✨

Routine weighing is a vital part of preventative healthcare for our animals. Tracking their weight lets our keepers ensure these fast-growing babies are hitting all their healthy growth targets. Using positive reinforcement (and a few delicious fruit rewards!), Head Keeper Lia and the team guided each cheeky quad onto the scales voluntarily, no fuss, no handling, just fun and snacks! 🍌

🎒 LAST CHANCE FOR SUMMER HOLIDAY ADVENTURES! 🎒

The final countdown to the back-to-school rush is officially on! End the summer holidays on a high with an up-close wildlife encounter under our breezy woodland canopy. Come spot Boo, Binks, Wookie, Wicket, and all our summer arrivals while they're still tiny! 🎟️✨

29/08/2026

WHY SIT NEXT TO THE FOOD BOWL WHEN YOU CAN SIT IN IT? 🎥🐒🥣

When you're the smallest one at the dinner table, you’ve got to secure the best spot!

Our little squirrel monkey baby has officially unlocked the ultimate dining strategy: climb straight into the serving bowl so no one else can steal the freshest snacks! 🍇

Watching this tiny explorer gain confidence, try new solid foods, and show off their cheeky personality has been one of the highlights of our summer.

☀️ FINAL SUMMER HOLIDAY WEEKEND! ☀️

There is not long left before the school bell rings again! Beat the beach crowds, enjoy a cool, tree-shaded walk, and come see how much our summer babies have grown before the holidays wrap up! 🎟️🌲

MEET CHILLI, GINGER & JUNIPER! 🦜✨Remember our 3 clever blue-throated conure chicks who were recently spotted "helping" d...
27/08/2026

MEET CHILLI, GINGER & JUNIPER! 🦜✨

Remember our 3 clever blue-throated conure chicks who were recently spotted "helping" dad Paul with his target training? They officially have names!

Say hello to Chilli, Ginger, and Juniper! 🌶️

Our keeping team chose this spicy, botanical trio of names to match their feisty personalities, vibrant feathers and the colour of their newly fitted identification rings. These three fledglings are full of energy, super curious, and spend their days practicing their flying skills and exploring every inch of their canopy home.

Address

Ness Drive, Shaldon
Teignmouth
TQ140HP

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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