Crocodiles of the World

Zoo in Oxfordshire, England

Crocodiles of the World

51°46′38″N 1°35′05″W﻿ / ﻿51.77722°N 1.58472°W﻿ / 51.77722; -1.58472
Date opened| 2011
Location| Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, England
No. of species| Over 30
Website| https://www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk/

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

## History

[edit]

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

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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

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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

[edit]

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]

## References

[edit]

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

## External links

[edit]

* Crocodiles of the world official website

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Zoological gardens in the United Kingdom

Zoos|

* Africa Alive Zoological Reserve
* Amazon Rainforest Conservation Centre
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* Crocodiles of the World
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Safari parks|

* Blair Drummond Safari Park
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Former|

* Belle Vue Zoological Gardens
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