Living Coasts (Closed) Living Coasts closed permanently
- Thread starter Jennings
- Start date
Thanks AdrianW; I had appreciated that as I had reponded to the same comment you refer to, but it seems my reply got attached to your post instead.
These are awfully sad news to hear from a zoo I didn't have the pleasure of visiting, but I would have loved to do so someday. Sadly, I can't now. 
Does anyone know what will happen with the animals?
Does anyone know what will happen with the animals?
These are awfully sad news to hear from a zoo I didn't have the pleasure of visiting, but I would have loved to do so someday. Sadly, I can't now.
Does anyone know what will happen with the animals?
They say they will be relocated to new homes, but it isn't clear where exactly yet. I assume other specialist collections like Nausicaa and a few of the Sealifes.
Makes sense... let's see how this all turns out.
Some of those animals are going to be pretty hard to place... Living Coast has the only colony of Tufted Puffins in Europe, as well as the only kittiwakes and Bank Cormorants. Not to mention all of their species which are present but not popular in European zoos such as their guillemots, eiders, Macaroni Penguins, and even their fur seals. Not to mention whichever shorebird species they still keep.
It's going to be very interesting to see where all these animals end up...
~Thylo
It's going to be very interesting to see where all these animals end up...
~Thylo
They'll get snapped up quickly I'd imagine.
I wonder whether the animals are more likely to go to larger and in some cases closer institutions in Northern France with the same focus as Living Coasts than for example SeaLife centres, or a few of the larger aquarium-like institutions further up North.
The only red legged kittiwakes! There’s plenty of black legged kittiwakes at zoos in europe.
My guesses are Blijdorp will snatch up the kittiwakes (even the red leggeds) and the guillemots. Maybe WWT centres for the eiders. The puffins and cormorants I’m not sure on, but plenty of options (ranging as far north as Copenhagen and Den Bla Planet to as far south as Lisbon Oceanario and Loro Parque).
I’ll be curious to see if the penguins are relocated in the UK - Folly Farm or London..?
@Nisha said it best for the fur seals in a private convo - there’s a studbook for them so they will find homes, even if it means they’re split up.
Blijdorp are the only other zoo listed on ZTL with the kittiwakes, but they have a good number of them right? Makes sense that they'd take the kittiwakes. Tbh, as I mentioned earlier in private, as much as I don't want you to lose a puffin species, it might make more sense for the colony to join the US breeding program as oppose to remaining the only colony in Europe.
~Thylo
Yeah they have around 20 of them - breeding fairly regularly too.
I wouldn’t want them to go but yeah it might be for the best
Still devastated by this news. Loved the whole zoo, but especially the wader aviary, something about it was just so perfectly done. Very sad to hear about the falling visitor numbers, but how much of a tourist destination is Torquay? And any building, especially one with such a lot of water/filtration systems etc as held here, will require inordinate amounts of upkeep and expensive maintenance and overhauling just to keep it workable and safe for both staff and visitors.
I wish all the teams at Wild Planet Trust well in this difficult time.
I wish all the teams at Wild Planet Trust well in this difficult time.
Torquay is pretty popular with tourists. The issue is Living Coasts being as small as it is means it’s not much of a day out for the price. Paignton is very nearby so is probably far more popular of an idea as an animal day out....
Had a thought - what do people reckon the chances are of Merlin buying Living Coasts and finally getting a Sea Life in Devon...?
Had a thought - what do people reckon the chances are of Merlin buying Living Coasts and finally getting a Sea Life in Devon...?
When did you visit?
2014 (October half-term holidays).
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
ShonenJake13 I was thinking the exact same thing. Purchasing Living Coast's would benefit Merlin Entertainments finances immensely. My reasons for saying this is as follows.
1. There are no Merlin attractions in Devon
2. Torquay is a massive tourist destination and with this comes the paying public
3.Living Coast's has a fairly big car park adjacent to it
4.Living Coast's is a brilliant day out in all weather's due to having exhibits and attractions inside and outside.
5. Lastly Living Coast's is the only place in the whole of Devon where you can see Penguins and Seals.
If you count Combe Martin with their Sea Lions, then you have that too.
I can't recall how much it cost on my visit (April 2016), although I had a combined ticket with Paignton. For a lot of general visitors though, I guess for what amounted to penguins, "sea lions", "some birds" and "some fish", it probably may have felt expensive for what it was. Very much a shame though, because it really did feel unique and special, doing something that nowhere else has done. Seal and Penguin Coast at Bristol is about the closest comparison I can think of, but Living Coasts had the fantastic sea views as the perfect backdrop
I’m gutted. LC has been a big part of my life since it’s inception. I felt it was coming and predicted as much recently. I think that some of the waders could be moved back to P Zoo (cottage aviary amongst others). The puffins deserve a purpose built enclosure and I agree should be sent back to N America but the individuals may be past breeding age? The 2 Bank Cormorants should go back to S Africa, maybe the SANCCOB organisation they worked with (rescue charity)? There are a LOT of Inca terms though! Money will be a huge issue, of course right now, wouldn’t it be terrific if the penguins could relocate to the zoo!
Staff past & present have done so much valuable conservation, education and research work at LC. Thank you to them all. I feel for all involved and hope there are some positive outcomes.
Staff past & present have done so much valuable conservation, education and research work at LC. Thank you to them all. I feel for all involved and hope there are some positive outcomes.
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
ThomasnotTom Californian Sea Lions are a different species to Fur Seals. I accept that Seals especially the Fur Seals look like Californian Sea Lions. Counting the two species as one is essentially saying that all of us Zoochatters are Gorilla's or Chimpanzee's because we look like them!I
I'm sorry if I sound rude but I have always thought of Californian Sea Lions and Fur Seals being two separate species
The reason I know that Fur Seals and Californian Sea Lions are two different species is because when I was on the Safari Boats at Longleat Safari Parkthe person doing the talk explained that Sea Lions have external ears whereas Seals just have holes as ears.
If I'm wrong please feel free to enlighten me to the correct information as I have always wondered what the differences are between Fur Seals and Californian Sea Lions.
I'm sorry if I sound rude but I have always thought of Californian Sea Lions and Fur Seals being two separate species
The reason I know that Fur Seals and Californian Sea Lions are two different species is because when I was on the Safari Boats at Longleat Safari Parkthe person doing the talk explained that Sea Lions have external ears whereas Seals just have holes as ears.
If I'm wrong please feel free to enlighten me to the correct information as I have always wondered what the differences are between Fur Seals and Californian Sea Lions.