Dartmoor Zoo welcomes new arrival

Dartmoor Zoo has proudly opened its gates to a new and unique addition: a squadron of seven White-Lipped Peccaries (Tayassu pecari), marking the first time this species has ever been accommodated at the zoo, or anywhere in the UK.

Arriving from Dudley Zoo and Castle, this group of seven, comprising three males and four females, finds a new home in a specially refurbished enclosure next to the zoo’s Turkey Oak. This addition provides a new experience for visitors and a chance for the zoo's Pygmy Goats to transition to an on-show only enclosure.

White-Lipped Peccaries, with an estimated global population of 5,000, are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List.

Populations in Mesoamerica are in critical decline, mainly due to agricultural expansion, deforestation, and hunting. 

The latest IUCN assessment indicates a worrying decrease of nearly 30 percent over the past three generations.

Dartmoor Zoo’s CEO, David Gibson, said: “The arrival at Dartmoor Zoo of the UK’s only collection of White-Lipped Peccary is a major milestone for the zoo. It is the first time in the long history of the Zoo that we have included Peccaries, or indeed any pig-like species, in the collection. This symbolises our desire to focus on conservation dependent species and their arrival will be the first of many such developments over the coming years.”

Dudley Zoo and Castle’s Curator, Richard Brown, shared his excitement about the move:

“We feel very fortunate to have been able to house White-Lipped Peccary for the past 15 years at Dudley Zoo and Castle, but we’re delighted they’re heading to Dartmoor, where a new audience will be able to discover more about this fascinating species – the only of their kind in the UK. We look forward to following their future progress in their new home.”

As the new peccaries settle in, Dartmoor Zoo requests visitors to be considerate of their adjustment period. 

Senior Keeper Ashley Matthews said: “We’re all incredibly excited to welcome a new species we’ve never accommodated before here at Dartmoor Zoo. We’ll be monitoring their welfare upon their arrival to ensure they are settling into their new habitat nicely and can’t wait to start working with and learning more about these interesting animals!”

The White-Lipped Peccaries are already on display, and the zoo invites guests to observe these remarkable creatures, adding another layer of diversity and education to the Dartmoor Zoo experience.