Shaldon Wildlife Trust

What Shaldon Wildlife Trust does

Shaldon Wildlife Trust is a UK-registered charity (number 291232) operating a 1-acre zoo on the Ness headland above the coastal village of Shaldon, Devon. It is the smallest member of both BIAZA and EAZA and participates in European Endangered Species Programmes (EEPs/ESBs) for rare species. The Trust supports 8 conservation projects globally across Madagascar, Java, Vietnam, Colombia, and Brazil, and has demonstrated end-to-end conservation capability including the breeding and repatriation of Owston's palm civet to Vietnam. Operations are sustained by 5 paid staff (only 3 full-time) and a volunteer base of over 40.

The Trust's commercial activity centres on a direct-to-consumer attraction. Core revenue is generated by visitor admissions (adult £12.95, child £10.95 with voluntary 10% donation; approximately 90% of operating costs are funded this way) and is supplemented by annual memberships, animal adoption packages, premium keeper experiences (£125 for Keeper for the Day and Junior Keeper), animal encounters (Meet the Meerkats, Lemur Liaison), school group visits (£5/child), corporate team-building days, and donations/legacies. Distribution is primarily through on-site sales and the Digitickets online ticketing platform, with passive donation channels including Easyfundraising, Give as You Live, an Amazon Wishlist, and the Teignbridge Lottery for Communities. Pricing includes Gift Aid eligibility for UK taxpayers.

Underlying technology is minimal: the Trust operates traditional animal husbandry and conservation infrastructure rather than a technology platform. Recent strategic initiatives include a 5-Year Conservation Strategy (2025–2030), a Decarbonisation Plan, the Zoo Food on-site allotment project (2025) reducing food transport costs, and successful breeding of Critically Endangered Red-Ruffed Lemurs in May 2026. The Trust also runs education outreach ("Zoo To You"), work experience placements, and a Voluntary Student Work Experience Placement (VSWEP) internship programme with local colleges.

Name

Shaldon Wildlife Trust

Legal name

Shaldon Wildlife Trust

Website

https://shaldonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shaldon Wildlife Trust is a UK-registered charity operating a 1-acre zoo in Shaldon, Devon — the smallest member of BIAZA and EAZA — running conservation breeding programmes for endangered species, supporting 8 global conservation projects, and generating revenue through admissions, memberships, animal adoptions, keeper experiences, and education programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation & Zoo Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

Keywords

• Zoo admission services
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Animal keeper experiences
• Environmental education services
• Endangered species breeding

Headquarters

HQ city

Teignmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Visitor Admissions: Nearly 90% of the zoo's annual operating costs come from visitor admissions. Standard admission tickets, group rates, and special event tickets are sold both online via Digitickets platform and on-site at the entrance.
2. Membership Scheme: Annual membership provides free unlimited entry, special event invites, and newsletters. Members receive benefits year-round during normal opening hours.
3. Animal Adoptions: Annual adoption fees for specific animals, including a day ticket, fact sheet, photograph, certificate, and souvenirs. Adoption funds both animal upkeep and wild conservation projects.
4. Keeper Experiences: Hands-on keeper experiences and animal encounters sold at premium pricing. Includes Keeper for the Day (£125), Junior Keeper (£125), Meerkat encounters, and Lemur Liaison experiences.
5. Education Programs: School group visits priced at £5 per child, outreach programs to educational establishments, work experience placements, and corporate team-building days with donations requested for materials.
6. Zoo Food Donations: Online shopping donations through Easyfundraising app, sponsored events like wheelchair pushes, and local business food donations support animal feeding costs.
7. Legacies and Charitable Giving: The Trust accepts legacy gifts and participates in the Teignbridge Lottery for Communities where 50p per £1 ticket nominates the Trust as beneficiary.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Shaldon Wildlife Trust operates a 1-acre zoo and registered charity in Shaldon, Devon, focused on the care and conservation breeding of rare and endangered species. It sells general admission tickets, premium keeper experiences and animal encounters, annual memberships, animal adoption packages, school group visits, education outreach, and corporate team-building days, with nearly 90% of its £250,000+ annual animal care costs funded by visitor admissions.

Product overview

Shaldon Wildlife Trust operates as a small zoo (approximately 1 acre) focused on conservation of endangered animals. The organization offers a unified visitor experience combining general zoo admission with paid animal experiences. The core product is zoo admission, supplemented by add-on modules including Keeper for the Day and Junior Keeper programmes, animal encounters (Meet the Meerkats, Lemur Liaison), educational school visits and outreach, team building days, and animal adoption packages. Additional offerings include membership, work experience/internship placements, and the Zoo Food sustainability initiative. A 360 VR Tour provides virtual access to the zoo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Admission Tickets

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 90% of operating costs (£250,000+ annually) funded through visitor admissions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Teignbridge Lottery for CommunitiesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 202250p per £1 ticket nominates Shaldon Wildlife Trust as beneficiary when supporters purchase lottery tickets. Weekly Saturday draws.
• BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive membership in BIAZA ensures high standards of practice within the zoo, coordinates breeding programmes, and aids in maximizing conservation involvement. Shaldon is the smallest member of BIAZA.
• EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive membership coordinates endangered species breeding programmes (EEPs and ESBs) across Europe. The Trust participates in European-coordinated breeding programmes for rare and endangered species.
• AccessAbleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide full accessibility guides to the Trust's site for visitors with disabilities, supporting inclusive access.
• Give as You LiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline shopping fundraising platform where supporters shop with partner retailers and donations are made to the Trust at no extra cost to shoppers.
• Amazon WishlistminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Wishlist allows supporters to purchase animal food, tools, toys, and supplies directly from an Amazon wishlist that are shipped to the zoo.
• My Story AppminorGTM or Marketing Partner10% of each yearly My Story App subscription goes directly to Shaldon Wildlife Trust conservation efforts.
• Madagascar Conservation ProjectscoreOthersThe Trust supports conservation efforts in Madagascar, including work through lemur adoption programmes that fund conservation projects in the wild.
• Vietnam Conservation ProjectscoreOthersSent Owston's civet to Vietnam for potential release into protected forest. Supports conservation efforts in Vietnam through various projects.
• Java Conservation ProjectscoreOthersActive conservation support for Java, one of five global project regions supported by the Trust.
• Colombia Conservation ProjectscoreOthersActive conservation support for Colombia as part of the Trust's 8 global conservation projects.
• Brazil Conservation ProjectscoreOthersActive conservation support for Brazil, one of the five key conservation project regions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Marwell Zoo: Hampshire-based BIAZA/EAZA conservation zoo with a comparable mix of admission revenue, education programs, and rare-species breeding. Similar charity-style operating model.
• Folly Farm Zoo: Wales-based family attraction with a zoological collection, education programming, and admission-driven revenue. Comparable in size and visitor demographic.
• Twycross Zoo: East Midlands conservation zoo (BIAZA/EAZA member) with a comparable endangered-species focus, education programs, and family admission model. Similar size and visitor demographic.
• Paradise Wildlife Park: Hertfordshire-based conservation zoo with keeper experiences, education, and adoption programs. Closely comparable business model and premium-experience positioning.
• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust: Jersey-based conservation charity running a zoological park focused on endangered species breeding, education, and global field projects. Directly comparable mission and revenue mix.
• Highland Wildlife Park (Royal Zoological Society of Scotland): Scotland-based conservation wildlife park operated by a charitable zoo society, with rare-species breeding and education programming. Similar mission and BIAZA-style accreditation.
• Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (Paignton Zoo): The largest Devon-based conservation zoo and BIAZA member, operating a similar endangered-species breeding and education mission. Most directly comparable given shared geography, scale ambition, and conservation positioning.
• Cotswold Wildlife Park: UK mid-sized zoological park with a strong conservation and education focus, mix of admission revenue, keeper experiences, and school programming — closely aligned to Shaldon's business model.
• Zoological Society of East Anglia (Banham Zoo & Africa Alive): Conservation-focused charity operating two small-to-mid UK zoos with similar admission, education, and adoption revenue models. Closely comparable in scale and program mix.

Broad incumbents

• The Wildlife Trusts: UK-wide umbrella of 46 local wildlife trusts operating nature reserves and conservation education. Wider in scope than Shaldon, but overlapping on wildlife conservation, education outreach, and charitable revenue model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShaldonZoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shaldon-wildlife-trust-limited

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shaldon Wildlife Trust