Zoo in Devon is to close permanently because of lockdown putting 44 jobs at risk and forcing it to rehome all its animals
- The Living Coasts attraction in Torquay, Devon, announced it will not reopen
- Blamed falling visitor numbers and forced closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic
- All 44 members of staff at risk of redundancy and animals need to be rehomed
- If they cannot find suitable homes for animals they may have to euthanise them
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A zoo has announced it is to close for good blaming falling visitor numbers and the forced closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision to close Living Coasts attraction in Torquay, Devon has placed 44 members of staff at risk of redundancy and all the animals will need to be rehomed.
Wild Planet Trust, which also owns Paignton and Newquay zoos, said: ‘Falling visitor numbers and the forced closure of all its zoos due to Covid-19 has meant that it has had to look at its cost base and make efficiencies.
Living Coasts attraction announced it will not be reopening after suffering from falling visitor numbers and the forced closure due to coronavirus
‘After nearly 20 years of operation the site also needed substantial maintenance that the Trust is no longer in a position to afford.’
Since 2003 Living Coasts, which focuses on conservation of marine species, has been owned by Wild Planet Trust.
The trust said that most of its animals were marine species that would require specialist facilities but was working with other zoos and aquariums to find new homes.
‘Living Coast is confident that good new homes for the animals will be found but at present it is unclear how long this process may take,’ the trust said.
If they are unable to find housing that suits the animals’ needs they may need to make the difficult decision to euthanise but said they ‘do not anticipate’ that happening.
It may also be possible to release some locally occurring species back into the wild.
Wild Planet Trust said: ‘Subject to appropriate veterinary checks, and in accordance with the guidelines from the IUCN Reintroduction Specialist Group, it may be possible.
The trust is hoping to find all the animals a new home but it may be forced to euthanise them if they cannot find anywhere suitable
‘For most livestock this will not be possible because most of them were born/hatched at Living Coasts, do not naturally occur locally and would not be able to cope with life in the wild without an unprecedented and substantial period of re-training.’
Speaking about the threat of redundancies, the trust added: ‘This will be considered within the context of the wider restructuring of the trust’s zoos, and potential redundancies at their other sites.
In the past 17 years the site has hosted more than 6,500 school visitors a year, teaching them about life on the coastlines and encouraging them to help in its protection.
The trust said: ‘Conservation is fundamentally about people and the value that we all place on nature and the world around us.
‘We hope that many of these initiatives may be continued in the future from our other sites.
‘The issues we have attempted to tackle have not gone away, and the need to inspire and involve people from all walks of life with their solutions, has never been greater.
‘From sustainable fishing to climate change there are things we can all do that make a difference, and we believe that Living Coasts has played a vital role in bringing these issues to people’s attention.’