Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust
Encyclopedia
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Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT) is a registered charity, set up to run Paignton Zoo
after the death of its founder, Herbert Whitley
, who established the zoo
on his estate at Primley, Torquay
in Devon
in the 1920s.
WWCT also owns runs several local nature reserves in Devon, including Slapton Ley
. Since 2003 it has owned and operated Newquay Zoo
and Living Coasts
.
Whitley Trust zoos have been recognised for sustainable tourism
and was one of the first groups of British zoos to gain an ISO 14001 certificate for its environmental management systems. along with a recent Gold award for GTBS Green Tourism Business Scheme for Newquay Zoo.
All three of the Trust zoos works within the BIAZA and EAZA zoo networks in Britain and Europe but has other ex-situ conservation
links overseas.
The WWCT Mission Statement, environmental and other policies are shared between all three sites and some can be viwed on the zoo websites. Recent WWCT Annual Reviews are also available online.
and Living Coasts
.
Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT) is a registered charity, set up to run Paignton Zoo
Paignton Zoo
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, is a zoo in Paignton, Devon, England. The zoo is part of South West Environmental Parks Ltd which is owned by the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust . It is a combined zoo and botanic garden that welcomes over half a million visitors a year. WWCT also runs Living...
after the death of its founder, Herbert Whitley
Herbert Whitley
Herbert Whitley was a millionaire and animal breeder who established Paignton Zoo zoological garden on his estate at Primley, Torquay in Devon in the 1920s....
, who established the zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
on his estate at Primley, Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
in the 1920s.
WWCT also owns runs several local nature reserves in Devon, including Slapton Ley
Slapton Ley
Slapton Ley is a lagoon on the south coast of Devon, England, separated from Start Bay by a shingle beach, known as Slapton Sands.It is the largest natural freshwater lake in South West England....
. Since 2003 it has owned and operated Newquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo is a zoological garden located in Newquay, England. The zoo was opened in Cornwall on Whit Monday May 26, 1969 by the local council , it was privately owned by Mike Thomas and Roger Martin from 1993 until 2003...
and Living Coasts
Living Coasts
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 sea birds and other coastal wildlife...
.
Whitley Trust zoos have been recognised for sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is tourism attempting to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate future employment for local people. The aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and the...
and was one of the first groups of British zoos to gain an ISO 14001 certificate for its environmental management systems. along with a recent Gold award for GTBS Green Tourism Business Scheme for Newquay Zoo.
All three of the Trust zoos works within the BIAZA and EAZA zoo networks in Britain and Europe but has other ex-situ conservation
Ex-situ conservation
Ex-situ conservation means literally, "off-site conservation". It is the process of protecting an endangered species of plant or animal outside of its natural habitat; for example, by removing part of the population from a threatened habitat and placing it in a new location, which may be a wild...
links overseas.
The WWCT Mission Statement, environmental and other policies are shared between all three sites and some can be viwed on the zoo websites. Recent WWCT Annual Reviews are also available online.
Animals
Details of individual animals and overseas conservation projects can be found on each of the zoo websites.Timeline
2003 - August 14, Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust purchased Newquay Zoo to operate this as part of the charitable trust with Paignton ZooPaignton Zoo
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, is a zoo in Paignton, Devon, England. The zoo is part of South West Environmental Parks Ltd which is owned by the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust . It is a combined zoo and botanic garden that welcomes over half a million visitors a year. WWCT also runs Living...
and Living Coasts
Living Coasts
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 sea birds and other coastal wildlife...
.