Exmoor Zoo Exmoor Zoo News 2025

[aquilla1]

Quick visit on Saturday, the Honey Badger cub is almost indistinguishable from its mother, they seemed very happy playing together, then came outside later foraging, they looked fantastic, what an achievement for the Exmoor guys!
Saw the Wolverines being fed by the owner later on, they were fascinating! The place was looking great and just about saw everything, looking forward to hyaena arriving soon!
A lot of White Storks, wondering if they’re waiting for a nod to be able to release some!
Hadn’t been for a couple of years but never ceases to amaze me how fantastic the collection is here, satisfies my bird fixation with unusual and rarely seen small carnivores, the highlights being the honey badgers, wolverines, the new pelican and spoonbill aviaries, white crested turacos, the shoebill as ever, a very active little green monitor!!

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Can anyone tell me how long the White Crested Touracos have been in the collection, please

 

[KevinB]

Two boat-billed herons hatched.

Exmoor Zoo on Instagram: "Get ready for more cuteness and surprises Our Boat Billed Herons laid some eggs and 2 chicks hatched….. A bit late in the season, but here you can see the two youngsters a few hatch days apart and incredibly vocal #boatbilledheronchicks #boatbilledherons #boatbilledheronsofinstagram #babybirds #hatched #babybird #boatymcboatface #exmoorzoo #animals #birdsarecool #northdevon #visitdevon"

 

[Pertinax]

Have they received any Hyaenas, or has that plan not come to fruition, or not yet?

 

[FBBird]

Have they received any Hyaenas, or has that plan not come to fruition, or not yet?

None there when I visited two weeks ago. I think that, like the Snow Leopards, they’re on hold. Zoo looking great though

 

[Kalaw]

Have they received any Hyaenas, or has that plan not come to fruition, or not yet?

As of July, hyenas are still expected, but not until summer 2026 sadly. Not sure why it's been delayed so much and hopefully it isn't postponed any further...

 

[Pertinax]

Had a couple of hours here the other day. Though around half an hour of that overall was lost to three heavy rainstorms but in between virtually everything was active, though I didn't see the Honey badgers and the Wolverine was asleep out in the rain. My first visit here for about four or even five years. Main changes were the netted over Lake area and the Shoebill which was very photogenic.
A few other notes;

I saw around 6 Sitatunga but no male was visible.

The wolves were very active but I agree with comments on here that the enclosure is rather on the small side for them.

I thought the lake area works well as a covered aviary and the choughs make a nice addition.

Was pleased to see Orinoco Geese back again. My last visit I was told they had none though they were still featured on their website. Now there is a pair plus a single in another pen.

Is the Great Grey owl a leucistic one? It is a pretty fawn colour, not the usual grey.

I watched the Capybara-is there only one?- swimming and submerging in its pond during the pouring rain, never seen this in a zoo before and now see Capys for the first time in a new light perhaps!

Do hope they can somehow obtain a male Shoebill but it seems a next-to impossible task to me.
Very interesting collection, the variety of birds, canids, smaller mammals etc.

I was pleased to return, despite the poor weather day .

 

[Smaggledagle]

Other Summer / Early Autumn 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On June 7th, the zoo announced that a group of Eurasian spoonbills hatched, which are on exhibit. On July 2nd, the zoo announced that 3 more Eurasian spoonbills hatched.

6.1K views · 195 reactions | What a better way to start the weekend than to watch our new baby spoonbills aka TEASPOONS Why not come up this weekend and see them for yourself? #cuteness #babyanimal #babybird #babybirds #hatchlings #hatchlingsofinstagram #exmoorzoo #barnstaple #weekend #familytrip #dayout #dayoutwiththekids #cutenessoverload | Exmoor Zoo
3.8K views · 123 reactions | More hatchlings and it’s a trio of baby spoonbills! More teaspoons This year has been the most successful for our group of spoonbills…. Do you know what a group of spoonbills is called Have a guess below and later we’ll let you know #didyouknow #funfact #funfactsoftheday #spoonbill #spoonbillchicks #babybirds #cuteness #cutenessoverload #exmoorzoo #northdevon #barnstaple #devon #visitdevon #familyfun #familydayout #dayout #birdsarecool | Exmoor Zoo

On June 28th, the zoo mentioned that 2+? black-crowned night herons hatched.

9.8K views · 336 reactions | Baby Potoroo alert! Look who jumped out the pouch and is now bouncing and digging out and about in their enclosure Why not come up and see our little joey, just one of the babies born this year alongside our spoonbill chicks, saki monkey baby, night heron chicks and white stork babies to name a few…. #babyanimal #babyanimals #potoroo #potoroojoey #cutenessalert #cutenessoverload #animals #exmoorzoo #barnstaple #northdevon #devon #weekendfamilyfun #weekendplans #dayoutatthezoo #daysoutwithkids #daysoutwithkidsuk | Exmoor Zoo

In the café itself, there was some construction work on the wall nearest to the Tropical House which looked very much like a vivarium (covered in mock rock with a well for a potential pool in the middle). Potentially a new reptile species, or an extension of the existing caiman enclosure?

On July 13th, the zoo announced they started construction on expanding the pool inside the Cuvier's dwarf caiman exhibit, which was completed in early October.

Exmoor Zoo

Honey badger birth:

The cub is a female:

Exmoor Zoo welcomes first honey badger born in the UK for 20 years - and only the second ever

I see Howletts had a birth in 2016, so this is actually the first (successful) breeding of this species in the UK in nine years. Very exciting either way!

On July 22nd, the zoo announced they named the badger Freya.

Exmoor Zoo

On August 12th, the zoo announced they moved their male (1.0) Arabian rock hyrax to the exhibit next to the bat-eared foxes and sand cat.

Exmoor Zoo

On August 23rd, the zoo announced that 4 grey-headed swamphens hatched, which are on exhibit.

4.3K views · 127 reactions | Baby alert… Not 1 Not 2 Not 3 But 4 swamp hen chicks have hatched on the lake (swamp hen no.4 didn’t want to be in the film but was hiding next to its sibling on the first rock) These little pom poms are best seen from the island opposite the bird hide! Why not come up this bank holiday weekend and see what else you can spot? #bankholiday #bankholidayweekend #summerholiday #swamphen #swamphenchick #babybird #chicks #animals #cutenessoverloaded | Exmoor Zoo

On August 27th, the zoo announced that a great grey owl hatched, which is on exhibit.

Exmoor Zoo

On September 7th, the zoo announced that an Azara's agouti was born.

Exmoor Zoo

On September 27th, the zoo announced that 2 pink-backed pelicans hatched.

10K views · 275 reactions | The Incubation Centre at the zoo has had some baby birds hatch a little late in the season…. It’s a set of Russian dolls with our baby Boat Billed Herons in all their varying sizes. Then two monstrous looking baby Pink Backed Pelicans! #babybird #babybirdalert #hatchlings #smallmediumlarge #babyboatbillheron #babypelican #pelican #boatbillheron | Exmoor Zoo