Dartmoor Zoo welcomes new curator

Family attraction, Dartmoor Zoo, has welcomed new curator, Tom Lowry, to lead the future development of the charity's conservation activity and animal collection with the creation of a strategy to guide Dartmoor Zoo's animal antics, known as a collection plan.

As Tom puts the new collection plan into action in the coming months and years, visitors can expect to see changes across the Zoo as new animal species are introduced; enclosures are revamped; and areas of the park are made more accessible to the public.

Commenting on his plans for Dartmoor Zoo, Tom said: "As curator, my job is to make sure that our keepers have everything they need to deliver the best possible care to the animals at Dartmoor Zoo, as well as supporting the charity's conservation and education goals. Dartmoor Zoo is much more than a visitor attraction, it is a wonderful resource for the public to learn about animal behaviour and the value of conservation in the modern world. The Zoo has also developed a brilliant education programme that offers hands-on training for students while inspiring the next generation of school learners.

"The next step in Dartmoor Zoo's evolution is to take our conservation work up a gear, including participating in international breeding programmes. As a conservation charity, our responsibility is to concentrate on the species that most need our help, and those which support people to learn - either through direct contact or behavioural research. In the long-term, we are aiming to be involved in the breeding programme for critically endangered Amur leopards and to create a broader picture of the global diversity of animal life in our big geopraphical exhibits. The team at Dartmoor Zoo is incredibly passionate about what they do and the creatures in their care - from the largest mammals down to the tiniest creepy crawlies - and I'm thrilled to be working with them to deliver some great changes."

A native Bristolian, Tom began his conservation career with Chester Zoo, spending several years at Flamingo Land and ZSL London Zoo, before joining Dartmoor Zoo from Golders Hill Park Zoo. Tom brings with him a wealth of experience in animal behaviour, management and collection planning that will underpin Dartmoor Zoo's development.

Dartmoor Zoo was established in 2007 when Benjamin Mee and his family bought an ailing zoo. Since then Ben, his family and team have built the Zoo into the popular tourist attraction it is today. Ben wrote a book about his experience and in 2011 it was made into the Hollywood Film 'We Bought a Zoo' starring Matt Damon. In 2014 the Zoo became a charity, of which Ben is CEO. Today the Zoo is heavily involved in research, conservation and education projects to promote the welfare of animals and to enrich both the lives of humans and animals.