Exmoor Zoo 4.17

Exmoor Zoo is a conservation centre in Exmoor, North Devon, England. The zoo developed from Exmoor Bird Gardens, opened on the site of a farm in 1982. The current owners took over in 1993, and have enlarged and developed the zoo, now specialising in the conservation of smaller animals. The zoo has been a member of BIAZA, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, since 1995.HistoryExmoor Bird Gardens opened on the site of a 7acre farm in 1982, expanding to 12acre in 1985. Financial difficulties led to a change of ownership in 1993, and the new (and still current) owners started refurbishing the run-down bird gardens, also adding a number of animal species to the attractions. The 1995 name change to Exmoor Animal & Bird Gardens coincided with the joining of BIAZA. A further name change, to "Exmoor Zoological Park", took place in 1997, although this has since been shortened to just "Exmoor Zoo". Since then the zoo has expanded and developed further, and the focus has started shifting towards exhibiting larger animals then previously. They are no longer listed as a BIAZA memberAnimal overviewExmoor Zoo cares for 200 species of animals, birds and reptiles.MammalsAmong the larger residents are cheetahs, maned wolves, otters and bat-eared foxes. The zoo is home to one of the largest collections of tamarins and marmosets, and also includes howler monkeys, gibbons and Diana monkeys.