Date opened 14 July 2003 No. of species Over 50 Memberships BIAZA, EAZA, WAZA Phone +44 1803 202470 | No. of animals Over 600 Annual visitors 100,000+ Opened 14 July 2003 | |
 | ||
Location Torquay, Devon, England Address Torquay Harbourside, Beacon Hill, Torquay TQ1 2BG, UK Hours Open today · 10AM–4PMThursday10AM–4PMFriday10AM–4PMSaturday10AM–4PMSunday10AM–4PMMonday10AM–4PMTuesday10AM–4PMWednesday10AM–4PMSuggest an edit Similar Kents Cavern, Babbacombe Model Village, Babbacombe, Paignton Zoo, Cockington Court Profiles | ||
Living coasts torquay s coastal zoo
Living Coasts is a coastal zoo owned by Paignton Zoo as part of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, which includes Newquay Zoo. It is a registered charity, and is based around seabirds and other coastal wildlife. The site is covered by a giant aviary which includes several animal enclosures and habitats including an artificial tidal estuary, a penguin beach, a tropical mangrove swamp, and underwater viewing areas.
Contents
- Living coasts torquay s coastal zoo
- Macaroni penguins head to their breeding area living coasts torquay devon
- History
- Aviary
- Other exhibits
- Programs
- Facilities
- References
Living Coasts is Britain's only coastal zoo. It is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
Macaroni penguins head to their breeding area living coasts torquay devon
History
Living Coasts opened to the public on 14 July 2003, and is now visited by over 100,000 visitors a year.
Aviary
The aviary, which cost £7 million to build, is 19 metres (62 ft) at its highest point and has a total volume of 1.8 million cubic feet (51,000 m3). This free flying enclosure is home to mammals and birds including South American fur seals, African penguins, macaroni penguins, sea ducks, pied avocet, redshanks, black-necked stilts, ruffs, and terns.
The aviary was the first open-air auk exhibit in the world, and has won a design award.It was also the first place in the U.K to breed pigeon guillemots, common guillemots and tufted puffins. Also found in the auk enclosure are red legged kittiwakes and red billed choughs.
Other exhibits
Aquarium tanks inside the aviary have a total capacity of 1,214 cubic metres (321,000 US gal).
Programs
Special shows, extended talks and hands-on events are available throughout the site each day. Other programs let visitors be keeper or junior keeper for the day, take part in one of the penguin feeds, or (for certified SCUBA divers) take a 45-minute swim with the penguins.
Facilities
Living Coasts has a cafe that overlooks Torbay and the Tradewinds gift shop, themed on a colonial harbour. Both facilities are open to visitors and non-visitors.