| Living Coasts is Eden for marine life | |
|  | | The new Living Coasts attraction occupies a stunning position on Torquay's harbourside |
| | A unique wildlife centre in South Devon features a range of fascinating creatures from wading birds and penguins to fur seals.
The Living Coasts attraction in Torquay has cost £7m to create and has been modelled on Cornwall's Eden project. |
| | | It's big and and it's bold with the sea as a dramatic backdrop - Torbay's newest attraction has finally opened its doors to the public.
Living Coasts is a unique wildlife attraction on Torquay harbourside created by Paignton Zoo.
 | December 2003 and the first penguin chicks to be hatched at Living Coasts have made their public debut.
Paignton Zoo’s African penguins moved to the new marine aviary in June. They settled in so well that they started laying eggs sooner than their keepers predicted.
Now the first young have emerged from their burrows.
One youngster has already been named Popsicle by his keepers – because he is the offspring of a pair known as Mr. and Mrs. Pops. |
The inhabitants of Living Coasts live in reconstructed habitats including beaches, cliff-faces and an estuary.
A huge meshed aviary has been erected above the harbour to allow birds to fly free over the heads of visitors.
The aviary is home to wading birds, terns, sea ducks, auks, penguins, fur seals and black rats.
African penguins are among 400 birds at the centre. It's hoped they will soon be rearing their young in special burrows.
Moving in has been a busy time for the penguins and the 24 other species that have made their homes there.
The centre uses sea water from Torbay to create the various habitats. It's filtered and then returned to the sea, cleaner than when it came in.
Wading birds have their own estuary. The sandy shores providing the bed and breakfast for the pied avocet.
As with the Eden Project in Cornwall, this new attraction will be a key educational resource.
Viewing panels and tunnels will give visitors a unique insight into how the creatures behave in their natural underwater habitat.
"Living Coasts is about life on the edge – it’s about that fragile margin where land meets sea and how the animals that live there – including us – survive," said Paignton Zoo’s Executive Director Simon Tonge.
 | | South American fur seal |
"The site is beautifully situated, easy to walk around but featuring spacious and naturalistic exhibits where visitors can immerse themselves in the subject."
The construction of the new attraction brings to an end a long period of uncertainty for the Beacon Quay site.
It has been derelict since the demise of the Coral Island complex, a concrete eyesore which was finally demolished in 1997.
The opening of Living Coasts completes the final piece in the regeneration of this part of the Torquay's harbourside.
The whole experience is aimed at bringing the natural environment closer to people.
Living Coasts opened to the public on Monday 14th July, 2003. It's open 10am to 6pm daily.
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