British seahorses at Living Coasts

These shy creatures are found round the coast of Torbay, living in and around the eel grass beds. They are seldom seen, even by divers, and yet have the same unusual biology as their tropical counterparts. Few aquariums focus on the native seahorses, preferring instead to keep the larger, tropical species. Thus most people are completely unaware that there are seahorses around our shores.

We would like to build a permanent exhibit for native seahorses at Living Coasts. This would explain to visitors the uniqueness of seahorses, raise awareness of their presence here in Torbay and inform visitors as to how they can assist in their conservation.

Living Coasts is uniquely placed as there is a large eel grass bed just 100 yards offshore from here and we are already working in partnership with the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust to raise awareness of the importance of this rare marine habitat.

Estimated project cost: £60,000

Baboon Rock

Baboon Rock at Paignton opened in July 1973 and it is now showing its age both aesthetically and in design principle. The exhibit is crumbling superficially in several places, the offshow house requires ongoing annual maintenance and the deep moat does not make for easy visitor viewing. Renovating the exhibit would be logistically difficult and not cost-effective so it is therefore intended that a replacement exhibit for Baboon Rock be constructed elsewhere on the site.

It is planned for the new exhibit to include a more realistic rock-work backdrop with kopje-style hills, water features, different natural substrates, an unimpaired view of the animals and associated offshow areas to facilitate the management of the group for daily cleaning and veterinary purposes. The existing exhibit will be demolished to make way for the next stage in the Zoo’s Masterplan, a Himalayan Glade featuring animals and plants from Nepal and neighboring countries.

Estimated project cost: £700,000 - £1,000,000

Living Coasts’ Coast Club

The Coast Club for children is a fantastic way to help young people understand the importance of the marine and coastal environment. Through Coast Club many children get the opportunity to see and do things that would not otherwise be possible. These amateur junior naturalists are the David Attenborough’s of the future.

Coast Club has a very limited budget and this restricts the number of children and young people that we are able to work with. Furthermore we have no transport and this limits the range of activities.

We are therefore seeking funds for a bio diesel driven vehicle that would enable us to reach more children and young people and to take them further afield to broaden their knowledge and develop their interest in a wide range of coastal issues.

Funds are also sought to assist with enhancing the range of activities and events we can offer and to provide equipment.

Estimated project cost: £40,000