Newquay Zoo 2025: Wrapped

2025 has been an incredible year at Newquay Zoo…

From rare animal births to exciting new arrivals and a major announcement about our future, we’re taking a moment to look back at the highlights that made this year so special. Here’s our top 10 moments from 2025:

10.  A Lynx Kitten’s Rewilding Journey (March-June)

In March, Newquay Zoo’s nine-month-old female lynx became the first UK-born, zoo-bred cat under consideration for Europe’s prestigious Linking Lynx rewilding programme.

She entered quarantine in April, and in May our team said a bittersweet farewell as she departed for Zoo Karlsruhe in Germany for behavioural testing. 

After thorough research, the Linking Lynx expert network decided she should remain within the breeding programme, rather than be released into the wild. Although this wasn’t the outcome we’d hoped for, her role in the breeding programme matters enormously and as a result, her future offspring will have better chances for successful release. 

9. Twin Cotton-Top Tamarins Born (April)

First-time parents Febe and Santiago welcomed twin cotton-top tamarins on 3 April. The birth of these critically endangered, palm-sized primates offers a vital glimmer of hope for the species – every birth matters when racing against extinction.

8.  Penguin Eggs Hatched (April)

This year, our Humboldt penguin colony grew with two fluffy arrivals. Long-term pair Ebony and Patch, and first-time parents Oreo and Humbug laid their eggs in March, and they hatched into beautiful chicks just weeks later! 

The 56-year-old colony just keeps growing!

7. Wonders of the Wild Opened (May)

Late spring saw the launch of our brand-new exhibit Wonders of the Wild, which celebrates nature’s real-life superheroes and showcases the incredible adaptations of our planet’s smallest – but mightiest – creatures. 

The star of the show? Rex, our new large hairy armadillo who has been delighting visitors to Cornwall ever since.

6. Parsley the Zebra Arrived (May)

Seven-year-old Chapman’s zebra Parsley arrived from Dartmoor Zoo in May, joining six-year-old Luna on the savannah. And reading between the stripes, love between this delightful pair is looking hopeful…

5. The Three Mus-Cat-Eeers (May)

Our most celebrated family of the year earned a round of ap-paws when proud parents Kicsi and Onyx expanded their family for the second time, welcoming another litter of adorable Carpathian lynx kittens.

These three siblings are growing fast, and can often been snuggling together outside in a bundle of spotty cuteness!

4. Locals Wild Weekend (June)

At the end of June, thousands of Cornish residents joined us for a spectacular Locals Weekend. Over 4,000 of you took advantage of this roaring deal, and enjoyed a fun-filled day of community and conservation… Kernow bys vyken!

3. Brown Hyenas Arrived (July)

Hyena siblings Flo and Quinn joined the Newquay Zoo family at the start of summer, marking the arrival of two of the world’s rarest carnivores to Cornwall. We’re now officially one of two zoos in the UK housing this elusive species, and slowly but surely, they’ve been building up their confidence over the past few months.

Flo and Quinn can now often be spotted by visitors lounging in their rocky outside den.

2. Britain in Bloom Gold Medal (October)

Our debut entry into the prestigious national horticultural competition was a huge success – we struck gold!

This standout achievement celebrates the incredible work of our unsung heroes; the grounds team, and the work they put in every single day to make our little zoo look beautiful around every corner.

1. Newquay Zoo joins Libéma (December)

Less than a month ago, we announced that Dutch company Libéma – which operates four zoos including the Netherlands’ most visited wildlife attraction – are taking over from Wild Planet Trust on 2 January 2026, bringing investment, expertise, and ambitious plans for both Newquay Zoo and Paignton Zoo…