Animals

This is a vampire crab. With its purple body, orange pincers and piercing pale eyes, it’s a nightmarish vision. And a crab that’s also a vampire? Days out at the beach will never be the same…

You may not have heard of a vampire crab, though it’s a species popular with aquarists – in fact, illegal over-collection for the pet trade is a real threat to the species.

As alarming as it looks, this amazing photo, taken by Paignton Zoo photographer Eleanor Stobbart, betrays the true size of this tiny crab. It’s found in India, South East Asia and the islands of the Pacific. The...

Most people visit Paignton Zoo to see rare and unusual animals - species they may never have seen before from exotic habitats around the world. So it comes as a surprise to discover that the star of Paignton Zoo’s new guest encounter is also the world’s most popular pet bird – the budgie.

The Australian budgerigar may seem like an odd choice for a Zoo talk. Group Education Manager Steve Nash explains why sometimes it’s the familiar species that can reveal the biggest surprises:

“The new encounter has been put together to try and encourage guests to see that every species...

The charity that runs Paignton Zoo is marking the special day of a special species.

The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts and Newquay Zoo, is celebrating International Macaque Day on Friday 16th March. Sulawesi crested black macaques (Macaca nigra) can be seen at both Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo. The charity supports a successful project in Indonesia called Selamatkan Yaki, which works with the species in the wild. Paignton Zoo staff will give talks with special environmental enrichment at 11.00am and 3.00pm from the boardwalk...

Striking images of a bewhiskered yawning cat and a red and black moth on a white flower caught the judges eyes at the prestigious RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2017.

Youngsters aged under 19 were invited to capture the animal kingdom on camera or mobile device for this year’s competition.

Branscombe 12-year old Marlon Darragh’s photo of his cat ‘Milou’ yawning won the 12-15 mobile phone and devices category.

Marlon said: “I am so proud to be chosen. It’s the first photography competition I have ever entered and it has inspired me to go out and take more photos....

We all know that dogs die in hot cars, but what other precautions must we take to ensure that our pets are looked after during the long, hot days? Most pets have fur, fur is an insulator designed to keep animals warm at night and throughout the winter months to protect their vital organs. When the temperature is soaring and we find ourselves melting every time we step outside, it is easy to forget that our furry friends might also be suffering.

Here is a list of the main things any responsible pet owner must look-out for:

1. Water Replenishment

It sounds basic, but...

Tom Dennis who is set to play the central character ‘Albert Narracott’ in the new 2017 UK tour of the War Horse play, visited War Horse Valley today.

War Horse Valley Country Farm Park is located in a beautiful hidden part of Devon near Hatherleigh in West Devon boasting stunning scenery of rolling hills and valleys with Dartmoor as its magnificent backdrop. The War Horse play is an adaption of Michael Morpurgo’s novel telling the story of a boy and his horse set against the backdrop of the First World War. Tom’s previous starring role was playing Christopher Boone in The Curious...

Local artisans and talented crafts people are coming together to exhibit at the Devon County Show on May 18, 19 and 20 held at Westpoint, Exeter.

A collection of soap makers, leather workers, jewellers, artists, candle makers and many others will be setting up shop in a canvas marquee which would easily cover a premier league football pitch.

The Crafts and Gardens feature is nearly 12,000 square metres and will highlight the popularity of hand-made items, often using centuries-old techniques.

Emma Rhodes of Emma’s Soaps from Strete in South Devon was inspired to...

The RSPCA investigated 27,019 animal cruelty cases in the South West last year - a rise of more than 5% compared to the previous 12 months.

These include the case of Max - an eight-year-old West Highland terrier (pictured) who was left to suffer for more than a year with a tumour so bad it was described as ‘like something out of a horror film’ by an RSPCA inspector.

His owner, from Wiltshire, was disqualified from keeping animals for five years, and Max is now thriving in his loving new home.

The animal welfare charity’s annual figures released today (Wednesday 29...