Crocodiles of the World | |
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51°46′38″N 1°35′05″W / 51.77722°N 1.58472°W | |
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]
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]
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 Galapagos 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]
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]
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]