Linton Zoo

Linton Zoo has evolved out of the Simmons Family's love, interest and concern for the wildlife of the world. In 1972 they moved to Linton to establish this centre for breeding wildlife. It has always been the family's aim to create a place where creatures threatened with extinction could be brought to live safely and peacefully and where they could be happy, contented and breed.

There is now a large collection of wildlife at Linton ranging from Mexican Red-Kneed tarantulas, bearded dragons and snakes through giant tortoises, hornbills, toucans, parrots, owls and lemurs to beautiful snow leopards, magnificent tigers, african lions, zebra and Brazilian tapir. Each year new species are brought in, many of them being part of an International captive breeding programme, so the collection is constantly on the increase.

Linton Zoo is noted for its beautiful gardens. Thousands of bedding plants are put in every year and there are some unusual trees and shrubs too. Look out for the fan palms and Tasmanian giant tree ferns planted in the aviaries and shrubberies. The Chinese trumpet vine (or Campsis) which grows over the patio area of the cafeteria is an eye-catcher - from Mid August it is covered in 3" trumpet-shaped flowers which are salmon-red in colour. During the summer thousands of butterflies visit the gardens and breed on the wild plants which are left especially for them.

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