Originally a children's zoo, started by Ken and Trudi Smith in the 60’s, the site was taken over in 1979 by Stewart Muir and his then partner.

"I started my first job at the tender age of 15 in the Bird house at the London zoo. I then had several other animal-related jobs including Harrod's pet department when they still had what they termed 'the zoo' and Sheikhs could order anything from an ostrich to an elephant. Frustrated at not being able to find a zoo-related job I started to look around without much success for a piece of ground to start a small bird garden. When I'd just about given up on the idea, by chance I found an advert on the back of the Dalton's Weekly saying "Small Children's Zoo For Sale... includes all animals plus one truculent billy goat", and so I became the owner of Shaldon Zoo".

The zoo was formed into a Charitable Trust for the conservation of smaller endangered species in 1985 and since then, despite its small size, has built up a considerable reputation within the zoo community.

Stewart was Director at Shaldon for 25 years until 2003 when he became Director of Newquay Zoo. Stewart is still closely involved with the Trust and is Honorary Director. Tracey Moore, who has worked with the Trust for many years, took over as Director in 2003 and runs the zoo with Head Keeper Rachel Baker, keeper Jane Bunclark, Education and Research Officer Julie Matthews and a team of over 40 volunteers and students.

The Trust prides itself on the number of rare and critically endangered species which have bred here over the years including: Golden lion tamarins, Yellow-breasted capuchins, Ruffed, ring-tailed and Fat-tailed dwarf lemurs, Madagascan giant jumping rats, Pied tamarins, Azara’s agoutis and many more.

Over the years we have gained a great deal of expertise of small mammals and have been an active participant in the management of breeding programmes and husbandry forums throughout the UK and Europe. We are recognised as one of the top zoos in the U.K for the conservation of critically endangered primates. It is a great credit to our staff and volunteers over the years that the Trust is held in high regard within the zoo community and that despite our small size we have been a leader in shaping the role of zoos in the UK.