Paignton Zoo

Paignton Zoo is a zoo in Paignton, Devon, England, operated by Dutch leisure company Libéma since January 2026. The zoo houses a collection of approximately 1,876 animals representing nearly 189 species, and cultivates about 1,600 different species of plant across its 80-acre site. Originally established as a private collection by Herbert Whitley in the grounds of his home Primley House, the zoo opened to the public in 1923 as Primley Zoological Gardens. Following Whitley's death in 1955, the zoo was placed into a charitable trust, which later became the Wild Planet Trust. Paignton Zoo is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria – holding the vice-chair position until 2025 – and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.