Herbert Whitley
(1886-1955)

Died aged c. 69

Herbert Whitley (1886 - September 15, 1955) was a millionaire and animal breeder who established Paignton Zoo zoological garden on his estate at , Paignton, in Devon in the 1920s. Paignton Zoo was founded initially as his private collection. Whitley was an early conservationist and a contemporary of people such as Sir Peter Scott and Jean Delacour, the famous French ornithologist. Paignton Zoo first opened to the public in 1923. It was one of the earliest combined zoological and botanical gardens in Britain and the first that was opened with education as its mission. When Herbert Whitley died in 1955, the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT) was set up to continue his work. Since 2003, WWCT has owned and operated Newquay Zoo and Living Coasts. His estates also included the site of several local nature reserves in Devon, including Slapton Ley, now also run by the WWCT.

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