2 Zoos to Explore in Devon

Dartmoor Zoo is a beautiful 30-acre zoo just north of the village of Sparkwell. It was opened in 1968 by Ellis Daw who ran it until its licence was revoked and it was forced to close in 2006. It has over 70 different animal species, including some endangered and critically endangered species. The zoo has a breeding program with common marmosets, tapir, slender-tailed meerkats, Kafue lechwe, and wallaby.

Exmoor Zoo is different, neither a wildlife park or a city zoo, but a more friendly and contact orientated zoo that has grown into the North Devon countryside. Exmoor Zoo cares for 175 species of animals, birds and reptiles. Many extremely rare captive species are exhibited such as singing dogs, fanaloka, rusty-spotted cats, and yellow-throated martens.