Devon zoo announces closure with 'heavy heart'

A FAMILY-RUN zoo in the South West has announced its closure after 17 years of operation, saying it has become 'financially unviable to continue'.

- ABIGAIL NEEP

> A laughing kookaburra at the Axe Valley Wildlife Park, Axminster, and (below) ring-tailed lemurs

(Tina Burke)

Axe Valley Wildlife Park in Axminster, East Devon, shared the news in a Facebook post that they will close at the end of this week, on Friday, October 10.

The statement, which has been shared over 240 times by fans of the zoo, read: “It is with a heavy heart that we share some sad news. Our much-loved family zoo will be closing on Friday, 10th October 2025.

“As many of you may have heard in the news, we are not the only business facing these difficult times. Unfortunately, it has become financially unviable for us to continue operating.