Crocodiles of the World explained

Zoo Name:Crocodiles of the World
Date Opened:2011
Location:Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, England
Coordinates:51.7772°N -1.5847°W
Num Species:Over 30
Website:https://www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk/
Logo Caption:Crocodiles of the World logo

Crocodiles of the World is a zoo in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom specialising in crocodilia.[1]

History

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

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

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

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Visit England. Discover the UK's only crocodile zoo.
  2. News: Oxford Mail. Crocodiles of the World celebrates 10-year anniversary. Rice. Liam.
  3. News: Newbury Today. Gardner. Geraldine. 19 July 2018. Crocodiles Rock.
  4. Web site: Channel 5. Croc Man.
  5. Web site: IMDb. Croc Man.
  6. News: The Telegraph. Could British zoos become extinct?. Garlick. Hattie. 10 April 2021.
  7. News: BBC Newsround. Ricky visits a crocodile zoo. 2 July 2011.
  8. News: South Gloucestershire. 10 unique family experiences in the Cotswolds.
  9. News: BBC News. Crocodile rescued from greenhouse find new home. 25 February 2014.
  10. News: Witney Gazette. Croc Man takes in a new visitor from Sweden. 26 February 2014.
  11. News: The Herald. New crocodilians hatched at Brize Norton's Crocodiles of the World are first of their kind in UK. Rust. Stuart. 29 July 2017.
  12. Web site: TripAdvisor. Crocodiles of the World.
  13. Web site: Experience Oxfordshire. Crocodiles of the World.
  14. Web site: Crocodiles of the World. BIAZA.
  15. News: Worthy winners of West Oxfordshire Business Awards. Oxford Mail. 14 March 2013. Smith. Andrew.
  16. Web site: West Oxfordshire Business Awards. Oxford products storm the WOBAs as winners are revealed. 31 March 2015.
  17. News: The Guardian. 2020 BIAZA photography competition: winning images from zoos and aquariums – in pictures. 23 July 2020. Hilaire. Eric.