Crocodiles of the World
| Crocodiles of the World | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| 51°46′38″N 1°35′05″W / 51.77722°N 1.58472°W | |
| Date opened | 2011 |
| Location | Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, England |
| No. of species | Over 30 |
| Website | https://www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk/ |
Crocodiles of the World is a zoo in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom specialising in crocodilia.[1]
History
[edit]Crocodiles of the World was started by Shaun Foggett in 2011 at a site in Crawley Mill, Witney, before moving to Brize Norton, both in Oxfordshire, UK.[2][3] The creation of the original zoo was documented by a film crew for the television show Croc Man, which was broadcast on Channel 5.[4][5]
Foggett had to sell his family home to fund the starting of the zoo.[2][6][7]
Animals
[edit]There are 19 of the 24 crocodile species in the world at the park,[2] along with a range of other retiles, turtles, and tortoises, including a group of Galápagos tortoise.
As well as the reptiles and amphibians, there are some meerkats, tamarins and birds.[8]
The zoo has been involved in rescue rehoming, such as with taking in a crocodile which was kept in a greenhouse in Sweden.[9][10]
A breeding programme has been successful, including being the first UK zoo (and second in Europe) to breed the false gharial (Tomistoma) crocodile with 10 of that species hatched in 2017.[11]
Visitor experience
[edit]The attraction is rated at 4.5 out of 5 on Tripadvisor.[12]
As well as general admission, the zoo offers 'keeper experiences' with the crocodiles, meerkats, or monitor lizards.[13]
Professional membership and recognition
[edit]The zoo is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), which is the main trade organisation for British animal parks.[14]
It was the winner of the Best New Business award at the West Oxfordshire business awards in 2013,[15] and won the Hospitality Award in 2015.[16]
A photo of an American Alligator at the attraction was highly commended in the BIAZA 2020 photography competition.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ "Discover the UK's only crocodile zoo". Visit England.
- ^ a b c Rice, Liam. "Crocodiles of the World celebrates 10-year anniversary". Oxford Mail.
- ^ Gardner, Geraldine (19 July 2018). "Crocodiles Rock". Newbury Today.
- ^ "Croc Man". Channel 5.
- ^ "Croc Man". IMDb.
- ^ Garlick, Hattie (10 April 2021). "Could British zoos become extinct?". The Telegraph.
- ^ "Ricky visits a crocodile zoo". BBC Newsround. 2 July 2011.
- ^ "10 unique family experiences in the Cotswolds". South Gloucestershire.
- ^ "Crocodile rescued from greenhouse find new home". BBC News. 25 February 2014.
- ^ "Croc Man takes in a new visitor from Sweden". Witney Gazette. 26 February 2014.
- ^ Rust, Stuart (29 July 2017). "New crocodilians hatched at Brize Norton's Crocodiles of the World are first of their kind in UK". The Herald.
- ^ "Crocodiles of the World". TripAdvisor.
- ^ "Crocodiles of the World". Experience Oxfordshire.
- ^ "Crocodiles of the World". BIAZA.
- ^ Smith, Andrew (14 March 2013). "Worthy winners of West Oxfordshire Business Awards". Oxford Mail.
- ^ "Oxford products storm the WOBAs as winners are revealed". West Oxfordshire Business Awards. 31 March 2015.
- ^ Hilaire, Eric (23 July 2020). "2020 BIAZA photography competition: winning images from zoos and aquariums – in pictures". The Guardian.