Dartmoor Zoological Society

Dartmoor Zoological Society We're just 15 minutes from Plymouth City Centre. A unique zoo set in 33 acres of beautiful parkland just 20 mins from Plymouth.
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We have a fantastic collection which includes an impressive selection of big cats, wolves, zebra, meerkats, tapir and much much more. Our restaurant serves hot and cold, drinks and meals and we can cater for all kinds of events, including weddings. The Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Mee wrote a book about buying the zoo called, We Bought a Zoo. This later became the subject of a major Hollywood

movie of the same name starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johannson.

10 years on the zoo has been through a roller coaster journey but the conversion to charity in 2014 has strengthened it's future and opened up new and exciting opportunities.

03/09/2026

Follow along with Keeper Abbie for part 2 of a day in the life of a reptile and bug keeper! 🪲🦎

🎤 Keeper Abbie
📽 Marketing Kira

❤️

Teachers Go FREE for World Teacher Day on Saturday 10th October! 🐾We loved opening the doors to the teaching community, ...
02/09/2026

Teachers Go FREE for World Teacher Day on Saturday 10th October! 🐾

We loved opening the doors to the teaching community, so have decided to do it all over again, this time in celebration of World Teacher Day (Monday 5th October). To showcase what Dartmoor Zoo has to offer your school and your pupils, teachers and teaching support staff will get free entry into the Zoo when they present their school IDs. We will have our classroom space open for you to explore and drop in sessions running to meet the Education team and get a taster of our workshop offerings. 🦦

Conservation education is at the core of Dartmoor Zoo's mission. Our educational offering currently reaches around 5500 students each year and we would love to grow this by welcoming more schools on site. We have developed our workshops with clear curriculum links, alongside our biggest assets…our animals! 🐅

What to expect on the day:

Free entry for teachers to explore the zoo
Pod classroom – 11.30am to 3.00pm – explore our main classroom space with our amazing selection of bio-artefacts that we use to bring topics to life
Goodamoor House – meet our education team to find out more about our schools programme
Animal talks – take a look at our talk board at the top of the hill for what we have on each day

Please note: This offer is for teachers and teaching support staff only because of its specific focus on promoting our schools programme. We are also very aware of the dedication and hard work of a range of staff in educational settings, not just teachers, and would like you to know that we do offer year-round, 20% discount to school staff via Blue Light Card.

Find out more today: https://www.dartmoorzoo.org.uk/events/teachers-go-free/ 👈

Midweek highlight on Churchill 🐾📷 Keeper Megan
02/09/2026

Midweek highlight on Churchill 🐾

📷 Keeper Megan

🐒 Happy International Primate Day! 🌿To celebrate, we're shining a spotlight on the three amazing primate species that ca...
01/09/2026

🐒 Happy International Primate Day! 🌿

To celebrate, we're shining a spotlight on the three amazing primate species that call Dartmoor Zoo home: Geladas, Black-Tailed Marmosets and Emperor Tamarins! 🧡

Geladas are the last surviving species of grass-eating primate! Native to the highlands of Ethiopia, they spend much of their time grazing on grass and communicating with a fascinating range of vocalisations.
Black-Tailed Marmosets have distinctive black tails and claws instead of nails on most of their fingers and toes, helping them climb and cling to tree trunks.
Emperor Tamarins get their name from their impressive long, white moustaches, which are said to resemble the famous facial hair of German Emperor Wilhelm II!

Which of our three primate species is your favourite? 🐒

It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Totem our Great Horned Owl.With an average life expectancy ...
31/08/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Totem our Great Horned Owl.

With an average life expectancy of 13-15 in the wild, or 28 in captivity, for Totem to reach the exceptional age of 32 years old is a testament to a life, very well lived and fantastic care received during his time with us here at Dartmoor Zoo.

Arriving in 1994 as a 4-month-old juvenile, Totem has spent almost the entirety of his life with us. It is a blessing and an honour to have been given so much time with Totem, but that of course makes his passing that much harder, as he is truly a familiar presence that will be missed by staff and guests alike.

A conversationalist at heart, Totem or 'Totes' as he was affectionately called, would always happily hoot back to whoever was up for a chat! That is unless he was playing a game of hide and seek, then you wouldn't hear a sound until you found him peeping from behind one of his shelters!

Totem was also an incredibly quirky character. He loved being in the rain and stretching his wings out so as much of him was covered by drops as possible, but the second the rain stopped, he was moody that he was soggy and would sulk for the rest of the afternoon!

A true advocate for his species, he may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.

RIP 🧡

Join us on September 14th for our next Tumble's Toddlers adventure! 🐯Our next session is all about peacocks! Together we...
31/08/2026

Join us on September 14th for our next Tumble's Toddlers adventure! 🐯

Our next session is all about peacocks! Together we will be creating our own handprint peacocks as well as paying a visit to some of our wonderful residents. 🦚

Tumble's Toddlers is a fun, social, and educational group for 2-4 year olds to explore their wild side. The sessions help your little ones to grow in an encouraging and playful setting. We would love to see you there!

Book now: https://www.dartmoorzoo.org.uk/events/tumbles-toddlers/ 👈

30/08/2026

We invite you to slow down, stretch deeply, reconnect with nature and reconnect with yourself. 🧡

On Sunday September 6th, start your morning in the most extraordinary way, surrounded by fresh air and the gentle sounds of Dartmoor Zoo's residents as they wake up. Join our Qualified Instructor Abi from for a calming, one‑hour outdoor* yoga session designed to help you unwind, breathe deeply, and feel grounded in the natural world. 🌿

Your ticket gets you exclusive access to the Zoo from 8:30am where you can make your way to our Central Lawns, before your session begins at 8:45am.

All experience levels are welcome and please remember to bring your own mat! 🧘‍♂️

Spaces are limited so we strongly suggest booking in advance, via the link in our bio or https://www.dartmoorzoo.org.uk/events/yoga-at-dartmoor-zoo/ 👈



*Indoor space available for weather accommodation.

When you've finally found a quiet moment to open your snack, thinking you're alone… and suddenly 👀"Whatcha got there?" 🐒...
29/08/2026

When you've finally found a quiet moment to open your snack, thinking you're alone… and suddenly 👀

"Whatcha got there?" 🐒😂

📷 Keeper Callum

29/08/2026

Highlight on the handsome Napo! 🐾

🎤 Head Keeper Jenna
📽 Marketing Kira

Start your weekend off right by seeing the cutest little tapir toes 🥹📷 Keeper Abbie
28/08/2026

Start your weekend off right by seeing the cutest little tapir toes 🥹

📷 Keeper Abbie

Address

Dartmoor Zoo
Plymouth
PL75DG

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441752837645

Website

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