Dartmoor Zoological Park

Visit Dartmoor Zoo, loads of fun and only 15 minutes from Plymouth

Set in 33 acres of beautiful woodland with stunning views of the surrounding countryside and a fantastic collection of animals, you can easily immerse yourself in Dartmoor Zoo. The animals include tigers, lions, lynx, jaguar, wolves, tapirs, capybaras, racoons, meerkats, monkeys, a fantastic collection of bugs and reptiles and plenty of natural open spaces for visitors to simply enjoy the surroundings.

Dartmoor Zoological Park came into being in its current form in 2006 when the Mee family came across Dartmoor Wildlife Park, a dilapidated zoo with a poor reputation and in massive financial difficulty. The family bought the zoo, saved the animals, and fought to re-open a year later – a story well documented in the film 'We Bought A Zoo'.

Following a Crowdfunding campaign in 2014, the zoo has completed its conversion into a charity, giving it security for the future and enabling Ben to realise his dream to transform the zoo into a centre of excellence for research, conservation, and education.

The zoo has established the Dartmoor Institute of Animal Science, partnering with universities including us here in Plymouth, researching areas such as cognition, behaviour, conservation and animal welfare, and social science projects such as visitor attitudes. Dartmoor Zoo’s research department is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and conducting research that helps improve captive animal management.

Benjamin Mee, Director of Dartmoor Zoo

Ben Mee received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Plymouth in 2013, and now conducts inspirational talks and is an ambassador for the charity Brain Tumour Research, an area of expertise in which the University of Plymouth has a world-class reputation.

Student opportunities

Dartmoor Zoo is proud to help train the next generation of scientists. They collaborate with several universities across the country, including Plymouth. Find out more about our students' experience at Dartmoor Zoo below.

Adam Cook, the Dartmoor Institute of Animal Science

"An opportunity at Dartmoor Zoo came up teaching science communication and I was lucky enough to get that. In the four years since then, I became interested in scientific research and in-situ conservation so I slowly began coordinating research at the zoo."

Adam is an BSc (Hons) Environmental Science graduate, and his passion for conservation has taken him to many successes.

Coral Jonas – MSc Zoo Conservation Biology graduate

"What made me apply for the course at Plymouth was the practical aspect of it. The modules were adaptable to my work situation and enhanced my understanding of the job that I was already doing."

Since graduating, Coral now works for Dartmoor Zoo as Head of Discovery and Learning, whilst undertaking an MSc in Zoo Conservation Biology.

Find out more about Coral's story

Coral Jonas, MSc Zoo Conservation Biology graduate has gone on to work for Dartmoor Zoo as Head of Discovery and Learning.

After a talk that Adam Cook gave to the psychology students about placements at Dartmoor Zoo, I knew that I had to be one of their placement students because I was really interested in the freedom the zoo gave the students to research topics that we are interested in. My role was to conduct research with other students, one of our goals being to help contribute to the zoo's knowledge of the animals and help increase their welfare by learning about and understanding their behaviour. One of the projects that I worked on was investigating whether animals could possess a sense of humour.

Katie, Dartmoor Zoological Park placement student
BSc (Hons) Psychology graduate

I would say the most challenging aspect of my placement at Dartmoor Zoo was staying organised as there is a lot to do and you’re more in charge of yourself than you are used to. However my favourite memory was watching the meerkats play with their sand enrichment and coming out looking like they had rolled in fake tan.

Alana, Dartmoor Zoological Park placement student
BSc (Hons) Psychology graduate

Katie Brindle, placement student at Dartmoor Zoo

Katie (right)

Alana Kiss, placement student at Dartmoor Zoo

Alana (left)