Crocodiles of the World

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

Crocodiles of the World
51°46′38″N 1°35′05″W
Date opened2011
LocationBrize Norton, Oxfordshire, England
No. of speciesOver 30
Websitehttps://www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk/

History

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 television show 'Croc Man,[4] broadcast on Channel 5.[5]

Mr Foggett had to sell his family home to fund the starting of the zoo.[2][6][7]

Animals

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]

Visitor experience

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

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
  1. "Discover the UK's only crocodile zoo". Visit England.
  2. 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". IMDb.
  5. "Croc Man". Channel 5.
  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.
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