Axe Valley Wildlife Park Axe Valley Wildlife Park, good?

ZooAtHome

Well-Known Member
Hi there, first post for me. I am a big zoo fan, been to lots over the UK and EU. I particularly like seeing and knowing the zoos unique species.

Looking for thoughts on Axe Valley Wildlife park in Axminster, is it any good? Looking at zootierlist it does have a lot of weird species, but it is quite a long drive for me (2 hours 20mins) so I just want to check if it is worth it. I looked at the pics section and it does have a DIY feel to the enclosures.

Please post your thoughts.

Thanks in advance
 
Welcome:)
I’ve been there twice, I think it is amazing personally. There are lots of exhibits that are adequate for the species in such a small space, and furthermore a lot of those species are quite rare. However, it is quite small and probably doesn’t warrant a full day visit, but I do highly recommend it so perhaps if you decided you were to visit then there is Lyme Regis marine aquarium nearby (also very small but quite nice), and there is a very nice fossil museum in Lyme Regis if you’re interested in that kind of stuff:)
 
Looking for thoughts on Axe Valley Wildlife park in Axminster, is it any good? Looking at zootierlist it does have a lot of weird species, but it is quite a long drive for me (2 hours 20mins) so I just want to check if it is worth it. I looked at the pics section and it does have a DIY feel to the enclosures.
I think you have the right general impression about Axe Valley: there are some interesting and unusual smaller mammals, although you may need to be patient to see some of them - I think I was very lucky to see and photograph the potto earlier this year. A word of warning, Zootierliste may be rather out of date since lockdown - send me PM if you want to ask about any particular species. As you say, the enclosures are rather a mixed collection, although most of the newer ones are pretty good, and there is not a wide range of birds or reptiles.
 
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Thanks for all your replies guys/gals. I visited Hamerton for the first time last year and I get the impression this is very similar to that.

I think I will combine it with a weekend trip down to Devon later in the year, possibly to go back to Paignton as I have not been there for 5 years or so.

Do they still have all the odd squirrel species (finlaysons, hokaido, japanese, pevosts and swinhoes)? the egyptian mongooses? cape and common genet? the african and palm civet?
 
I visited in mid June on a week day and it was dead quiet, very nice visit.

Finlayson's Squirrels and Prevost's squirrels both signed but not seen. Did not see either of the Japanese squirrel species.

Lots of mongoose species including Egyptian (pair seen) still. Not very photo friendly enclosures but good viewing.

No genets seen or signed.

African civet pair there still.

Palm civet not seen or signed.
 
The Palm Civet is in the enclosure formerly inhabited by the male fishing cat, which can be viewed via a window in the education hall, through the hyrax exhibit.

Japanese Squirrel has passed away.
 
I don't know whether this is true or not but do they have any Tapirs at the collection? I've seen a photo on one on their Facebook page but not much else....
 
I don't know whether this is true or not but do they have any Tapirs at the collection? I've seen a photo on one on their Facebook page but not much else....
They have a male Brazilian Tapir. Also recently acquired Maned Wolves, Red-crested Touracos and Australian Water Rats/Rakali
 
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