Newquay Zoo

Newquay Zoo is a zoo in Newquay, England, operated by Dutch leisure company Libéma since January 2026. The zoo is the largest in Cornwall, housing approximately 993 animals representing 36 species across its 13‑acre site. The grounds include diverse planted landscapes, which received a Britain in Bloom Gold award for the first time in 2025. The zoo is located within Trenance Leisure Park in Newquay and was first opened by the local council (Newquay Urban District Council, later Restormel District Council) on Whit Monday, 26 May 1969. The collection was originally established in the 1950s as Newquay Children's Zoo in the 1950s, located within the rose garden area of Trenance Gardens, before relocating to its present site. It remained a council‑run attraction until 1994, when it was purchased by Mike Thomas and Roger Martin. During this period, the zoo partnered with St Austell College to establish an educational facility adjacent to the site, now operated by Cornwall College. In 2003, Newquay Zoo became part of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (later the Wild Planet Trust), joining Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts. In Easter 2009, the site expanded by a further 3.5 acres (14,000 m2) with the opening of an African Savannah area, followed by the development of a central Philippines zone housing endangered species including the fishing cat, Visayan warty pig, and Philippine spotted deer. Newquay Zoo is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In October 2025, the zoo was put up for sale alongside Paignton Zoo, and in December 2025 both sites were purchased by Libéma, which announced plans to invest £10 million over the following two years.