Discover Animals | Your online guide to visiting the world of wildlife

Halloween must-haves from the Natural History Museum

With Halloween just around the corner, the Discover Animals team has entered the spirit of things and chosen their favourite spooky selections from the Natural History Museum collection. From creepy gifts to frightful toys, we hope you enjoy our pick! Crow…

17 October 2019

Birdsong campaign to be heard by millions around the UK

The sound of birdsong will play in over 5,000 unexpected locations this Thursday 17th October as the RSPB launch a new campaign urging politicians to act on climate change and the environment. The wildlife charity expects around five-million people to…

16 October 2019

Hope for wild koalas following scientific breakthrough at Longleat

Koala numbers are decreasing at an alarming rate in the wild due to habitat loss and disease, with estimates at less than 100,000 remaining in their native Australia. However, scientists working with a group of koalas at Longleat have discovered…

15 October 2019

Marwell Zoo welcome critically endangered mountain bongo

Keepers at Marwell Zoo are celebrating the arrival of a critically endangered mountain bongo, which is a species of African antelope. The female calf was born to first-time parents Kailina and Ituri on the 29th September and has been named…

11 October 2019

16 October 2019

Birdsong campaign to be heard by millions around the UK

The sound of birdsong will play in over 5,000 unexpected locations this Thursday 17th October as the RSPB launch a…

by Simone Brookes

15 October 2019

Hope for wild koalas following scientific breakthrough at Longleat

Koala numbers are decreasing at an alarming rate in the wild due to habitat loss and disease, with estimates at…

by Simone Brookes

11 October 2019

Marwell Zoo welcome critically endangered mountain bongo

Keepers at Marwell Zoo are celebrating the arrival of a critically endangered mountain bongo, which is a species of African…

by Simone Brookes

9 October 2019

Give our bats a boost by adding a place to roost

Bats are often portrayed as vampire-like creatures and something to fear, especially at this time of year. However, many UK…

by Simone Brookes

Dartmoor Zoo

Dartmoor Zoo is set within 33 acres of beautiful parkland just 20 mins from Plymouth, with an impressive collection of big cats, bear, wolves, meerkats, tapir and much more. The Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Mee wrote a book about buying the zoo called, We Bought a Zoo, which later became the subject of a major Hollywood […]

The Donkey Sanctuary

Set along the historic Jurassic Coast and nestled in the tranquil East Devon countryside, The Donkey Sanctuary is an award-winning visitor attraction home to hundreds of friendly rescue donkeys just waiting to meet you – completely free of charge. Since 1969, the world has been a better place for donkeys, proclaimed Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE, […]

Longleat

In 1966, Longleat became the first location outside Africa to open a drive-through Safari. Over 50 years on, Longleat remains one of the UK’s leading tourist attractions. Boasting animals, Elizabethan architecture, 900 acres of parkland, and easy access from the A350, A36 and A361 Longleat truly is the perfect choice for a day out. A trip to Longleat affords you the chance to […]

Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre

Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre Monkey World, the internationally-acclaimed ape rescue centre, is home to over 250 rescued and endangered monkeys and apes. Opened in 1987 to provide abused Spanish beach chimpanzees with a permanent home, 30 years on the site is now a sanctuary for primates from all over the world including the […]

Stump Tailed Macaque

There are 10 stump-tailed macaques (Macca arctoides) at Monkey World, who came from two different British laboratories. The first group we rescued in 2000 had been kept in small individual indoor cages and were used in asthma research. The second group came to the park in 2010 and while they had never been outdoors in their lives […]

Cotton Top Tamarin

Uncas, the cotton-top tamarin, and his mate, Alice were confiscated from the UK pet trade as they did not have any licences to confirm they were captive bred. Uncas arrived at Monkey World on 26/02/09 and was in poor condition with a lack of muscle tone, limp fur, and dental problems. Alice was put to […]

Capuchin Monkey

There are 79 capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) at Monkey World. Most came from a Chilean laboratory in 2008 but several were rescued from the UK pet trade. They now live in 4 separate groups at the park.

Patas Monkey

Mica is a female patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas). Mica (pronounced “Meetza” arrived at Monkey World on 01/09/11 and it is estimated that she was born around 1992. She was smuggled from the wild for the illegal pet trade in Slovenia and ended up living with a family for 18-19 years. Mica had the companionship of another […]

Tawny Owl

It is the tawny owl which hoots and our most common owl in Britain. It is totally nocturnal, roosting by day in a hollow tree or thick bush, often holly. Its habitat is very different to the barn owl, being mainly woodland areas and its diet of small mammals and birds will also consist of […]

Bali Starling

Medium-sized, stocky myna, almost wholly white with a long, drooping crest, and black tips on the wings and tail. Restricted to the Indonesian island of Bali.

Tufted Puffin

A medium-sized seabird recognised for its thick red bill and yellow turfs, is found throughout the North Pacific Ocean. It is one of three species of puffin that make up the Fratercula genus.

Inca Tern

A seabird in the Sternidae family, and only member of the genus Larosterna. It is identified by its dark grey body, white moustache and red-orange beak and feet, and breeds on the coasts of Peru and Chile.

Side-Neck Turtle

A hard one to spot, this turtle is quite the elusive character. Spending much of the day basking on his island, he occasionally takes a dip within the waters of the Amazon Flooded Forest. So named for turning their head sideways before withdrawing into their shell. Adult length up to 40cm and 2kg in weight. […]

White-Spotted Jellyfish

White-spotted jellyfish feed primarily on zooplankton and can reach up to 50 centimetres in size. It is native to the West Pacific from Australia to Japan, but has been introduced widely elsewhere. Photo credit: The Deep, Hull

Banggai Cardinalfish

The Banggai cardinalfish is a small tropical cardinalfish family Apogonidae. It is among the relatively few marine fish to have been bred regularly in captivity, but significant numbers are still captured in the wild and it is now an endangered species.

Whitetip Reef Shark

The whitetip reef shark is a small shark and it is easily recognisable by its slender body and short but broad head, as well as tubular skin flaps beside the nostrils. It is one of the most common sharks found on Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Photo credit: The Deep, Hull