Paignton Zoo Has A Frog That Eats Coins and Paper Money

By Philip Knowling

Visitors to two local conservation charities have helped raise hundreds of pounds to help endangered frogs.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and Living Coasts in Torquay have held a programme of events in support of amphibian conservation around the world.

Staff and volunteers have been raising money for frog conservation by holding froggy themed activities. During the May half-term holiday there was a lily pad leap, where both adults and children could leap along a line of lily pads. Visitors were able to make a variety of froggy arts and crafts items. Children from the Gibbon Club – junior zoo members - took part in a sponsored leap that raised over £170.

Paignton Zoo educator Ruth Young said: “We’ve been raising money and raising smiles. Our giant frog money box proved very popular - visitors love feeding him!”

Ruth visited Malborough with South Huish Primary School near Kingsbridge to talk to the children about the frog campaign. “The school raised over £270 during their Eco-week, which was brilliant! Thank you to everyone at the school!”

Wild Week at Paignton Zoo – the new name for the popular August summer school –
devoted a whole day each week to froggy things, including leaping (children managed over 800 leaps in 5 minutes and raised over £40 in donations from friends and family). They also went on a froggy picnic with edible frogspawn and decorated frog biscuits and played froggy games.

The EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) Amphibian Alarm campaign is raising awareness of the plight of frog species around the world. Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts, both registered charities, pledged £3,000 towards the campaign.

Paignton Zoo aims to make room for extra captive breeding of endangered amphibians. Director of Operations and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “We will be drawing up plans to re-vamp the Ark, one of our older exhibits, into an amphibian facility.”

For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring (01803) 697500.

PHOTO: Paignton Zoo educator Ruth Young with the frog money box.