Hundreds of animals need new homes after zoo closes due to lack of funds

Trust says falling number of visitors and lockdown caused permanent closure

A diver cleans a tank at the Living Coasts zoo in Torquay, Devon, in 2017. (Ben Birchall/PA Archive/PA Image)

Hundreds of animals need new homes after a zoo in Devon closed because of a lack of funds, the trust which runs the attraction has said.

Wild Planet Trust, which also owns Paignton and Newquay zoos, announced that its Living Coasts site in Torquay, Devon, was shutting.

The trust blamed a fall in the number of visitors and the economic downturn caused by Covid-19 for the attraction’s closure.

In a message on its website, the charity wrote: "After nearly 20 years of operation the site also needed substantial maintenance that the Trust is no longer in a position to afford.”

"Living Coasts is confident that good new homes for the animals will be found, but at present it is unclear how long this process may take," it added.

The trust is approaching other zoos and aquariums to help find homes for the animals, which are mostly marine species which require specialist facilities.

The statement added that all 44 staff at the zoo are now at risk of redundancy.

In response to the closure, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) said: “ This is a huge blow to the conservation community and another devastating impact of the coronavirus."

“BIAZA’s thoughts are with everyone at Living Coasts and the Wild Planet Trust at this challenging time,” it added.

However, Sam Threadgill, the director of campaigning charity Freedom for Animals, took a contrasting view to BIAZA.

Mr Threadgill said in a statement: “Let us hope that the closure of Living Coasts is the first step towards a complete phasing out of zoos and a transition to a society where animals are not ‘exhibits’ to be held captive and gawped at, but fellow inhabitants of the earth who are respected and conserved in their natural habitats.”

Many zoos have struggled with the loss of income caused by months of lockdown. Last month, the conservation charity which runs London Zoo said its future was in doubt as it was struggling to gain financial support.

As part of the government’s easing of coronavirus restrictions, zoos and safari parks were allowed to reopen from Monday.

Additional reporting from PA