South West
The zoo that inspired the film "We Bought a Zoo", on the edge of Dartmoor.
Dartmoor Zoo is hosting the 'St Luke's Guiding Lights – Roaming Exhibition' from 17th to 30th August, featuring ten decorated lighthouses. The zoo has sponsored its own lighthouse artwork titled 'Love is the Highlight' by artist Jina Gelder, which features meerkat imagery and will be displayed in the Jaguar Suite.
Dartmoor Zoo is offering five lucky winners an exclusive Tapir Experience, with one winner gaining the chance to name the newborn calf. Participants can enter by donating to the zoo's CrowdFunder, with proceeds supporting the care, research, and conservation of Brazilian Tapirs.
FeaturedBrazilian tapir Chana gave birth to a healthy calf on 5 August, marking a significant conservation milestone for the species. This is only the second Brazilian Tapir calf born in UK zoos in the last 12 months, out of just 15 born worldwide, highlighting the importance of this birth for the vulnerable species.
Dartmoor Zoo has lost one of its two water boreholes and is now operating at 50% capacity due to severe drought conditions affecting the UK. The zoo remains open to visitors but has implemented pre-booked tickets only and closed outdoor toilets to manage water usage while prioritising animal welfare.
A group of Red Junglefowl has arrived at Dartmoor Zoo from Birdworld on 22 July. The birds are now on display in the zoo's Asian Aviary.
FeaturedA trio of male Emperor Tamarins, known for their distinctive moustaches, has arrived at Dartmoor Zoo from Drayton Manor. The tamarins are now housed in the zoo's mixed monkey habitat.
Dartmoor Zoo is offering five exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences with its Brazilian Tapir family through a special crowdfunder campaign. Participants will meet and feed the tapirs in the South America Habitat with keeper guidance, with the grand prize winner also receiving the right to name the expected calf.
FeaturedDartmoor Zoo's Brazilian Tapir Chana is pregnant and expected to give birth soon, with an arrival announcement to follow on social media. The zoo is running a crowdfunder offering five exclusive experiences with the tapir family, with the overall winner gaining the honour of officially naming the calf.
Dartmoor Zoo is marking World Snake Day by highlighting the European adder, the UK's only native venomous snake, and sharing care insights from two young adders born at the zoo in August 2023. The zoo aims to shift public perception of these shy, misunderstood reptiles and inspire conservation efforts to protect declining UK adder populations.
FeaturedErro, a male Brazilian Tapir, arrived at Dartmoor Zoo from Linton Zoo on 4 April 2025 to join the breeding programme with female Chana. The pair bonded quickly and successfully mated within a month of his arrival.
FeaturedChana, a female Brazilian Tapir at Dartmoor Zoo, is expecting a calf fathered by Erro, a male who arrived from Linton Zoo in April 2025. This pregnancy is a significant conservation milestone, as only 15 Brazilian Tapir calves have been born in zoos worldwide in the last 12 months, with just one born in the UK.
FeaturedA leopard cub named Zeya has been born at Dartmoor Zoo and is being observed as part of ongoing research. The cub has grown rapidly and is being studied alongside its mother as part of a placement student research project.
Dartmoor Zoo held its annual Research Rundown conference on June 30th 2026, featuring ten research talks and posters from staff and guest speakers across three zoos. The event showcased collaborative research on animal behaviour, welfare, enrichment, and conservation across species including tigers, rheas, ostriches, tortoises, capuchins, pigs, wolves, wildcats, baboons, and macaques.
FeaturedDartmoor Zoo has become a partner in an ambitious project to reintroduce Black-Veined White Butterflies to the UK, a species that went extinct approximately 100 years ago. The zoo will serve as a safety net site for rearing adult butterflies, with impregnated females arriving on 23rd June and already laying eggs on hawthorn plants within their habitat.
Dartmoor Zoo is highlighting the contributions of its dedicated volunteer team during Volunteers' Week 2026, showcasing stories from volunteers across education, animal care, and maintenance roles. The zoo credits its volunteers with playing a vital role in animal care, visitor engagement, conservation efforts, and day-to-day operations.
The zoo has been selected as a finalist in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2026 in the Best Family Experience category. Voting is open until Tuesday 26th May, and the zoo is encouraging visitors and supporters to cast their votes.
Dartmoor Zoo has improved its VisitEngland Quality Assured Visitor Attraction score to 84%, up from 80% in October 2023. The assessment praised the zoo's varied exhibits, educational programming, keeper talks, and strong conservation messaging.
Chincha, a male jaguar, has left Dartmoor Zoo after 11 years to join Zoo d'Amnéville in France as part of an international breeding programme. The move aims to preserve valuable jaguar genetics and support global conservation efforts for the species.
Dartmoor Zoo has released a new app allowing visitors to pre-register, access animal facts, and navigate the 33-acre site before and during their visit. The app features an interactive map, daily talk schedules, adoption information, and custom photo frames to enhance the visitor experience.
FeaturedDartmoor Zoo has announced the birth of three meerkat pups consisting of two females and one male. The zoo is running a naming competition from 3–19 April, with proceeds supporting Dartmoor Zoological Society.