News

School Visits

The animals and I visit many schools, covering a diverse range of topics, including:

  • Life Cycles
  • Classification
  • Mini Beasts
  • Food Chains/Webs
  • Conservation
  • Evolution
  • Predators
  • South America
  • Africa
  • Australia

Presentations are tailored to key stage and always include lots of hands-on animal interaction.

Here’s just a few of the Preschools, Schools/Colleges and SEND settings we’ve visited:

We are going to the Devon County Show!

Come and meet us in the County Life area. 
There will be a range of animals to handle and learn about and a competition that any visitor to our stand can enter! 
Hope to see you there!

Animal Encounter Birthday Parties

An educational and entertaining experience for anyone that loves animals!

I can bring a diverse selection to your home or hired venue including: Snakes, Lizards, Tortoises, Exotic Mammals, Owls and Creepy Crawlies!

I ask for a maximum of fifteen children, but larger groups can be split into multiple sessions if we have a separate room.

Take a look at the brilliant reviews on our Facebook page “Animal Encounters with Chris Johnson”.

Experiences can be for one hour, one and a half hours or two hours.

More time, more animals!

A one hour experience includes: A Tortoise, Two Snakes, Two Lizards, and Creepy Crawlies (No Spiders).

Nnety minutes adds an Owl and a Madagascan Hedgehog (Tenrec).

Two hours adds a Chameleon and another animal of your choice, either a Boa (much larger snake) or Sugar Gliders.

New for 2022! Add an Armadillo experience to any package for £60 (Subject to availability).

More pictures of the animals here.

Fully licensed and insured, all staff hold an Enhanced D.B.S Certificate along with a subscription to the update service.

Travel will be charged outside of the Torquay area.

Bookings can be made using the Contact page or email swanimalservices@gmail.com
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Please Note:

Bookings are on a first come first served basis and only secured on receipt of deposit.

A cancellation fee of 50% total booking value will be charged for cancellations of less than one month prior to booking date.

End of summer and moving indoors. 

It has been a brilliant first summer season showing and educating people about my fantastic animals, and I wanted to thank everyone who booked us.  I am already thinking about next season and how I might improve our public displays so stay tuned!

Moving into the colder months means that we can no longer offer outdoor events. Animals from tropical climates really don’t appreciate our winters, I must admit that I would like a year round summer! 

However, indoor events are fine in the winter and we are getting booked for a variety of events, so keep us in mind.

We might see you soon! 

Chris and the zoo!

Paignton Regatta

What a busy weekend at the Paignton Regatta!

On Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of August the animals and I have been on Paignton green for their regatta. Our animal encounters have been really popular, with many people handling and learning about the animals on display. 

The animals are now back in their enclosures for a well earned rest, but we will be back at the Regatta again on Thursday 11th. Weather permitting! 

Hope to see you there! 

Reptile Consultancy 

Since starting the Reptile Consultancy service it has been brilliant to help a variety of reptiles with a range of issues. 

If you own a reptile that you would like some advice on, or simply would like it’s environment and husbandry checked by a professional, use the Contact Form to book an appointment.  

I would be glad to help. 

Chris

Totnes Show

This Sunday the 31st of July, we will be providing Animal Encounters at the Totnes Show. 

Come and meet the animals including Snakes, Lizards, Exotic Mammals and Giant Insects! 

More information on the Totnes Show can be found here,

http://www.totnesshow.com

We hope to see you there! 

Busy Busy Busy

With the summer upon us, well sort of. The animals and I have been busy doing many Animal Encounters, at various summer fayres, village shows and private bookings.  Suffice to say I am thrilled by it’s popularity and I am pleased to say that many more are happening over the coming weeks! 

On the 31st of July we will be attending the Totnes Show. Which I think will be the largest so far, if you are going come and meet some of the animals.

 I am looking forward to it and all the others!

Bye for now. 

Dunsford Show 

Today I took some animals along to the Dunsford Show. I must admit that I haven’t been to Dunsford, in the Teign Valley before.  The whole area is absolutely beautiful, the show is in the valley with trees and sea of green towering above you. 

The show had a brilliant atmosphere and was very well supported. I could only catch glimpses of the events in the main arena, but a number looked very interesting. 

My animals were not the only animals at the show, many dogs took part in a fun dog show and a horse show was on at the other end of the field.  Being a rider myself I would have liked to seen a lot more of the horses, I suppose that is a downside of working at these events. 

I had a brilliant time though and was delighted to be a part of the show.  Many people enjoyed seeing the animals, and thank you to everyone who supported my stall. 

See you next year!

Furzeham Primary School Summer Fayre 

Today I attended the Furzeham Primary School Summer Fayre for an Animal Encounters display. 

Again I had concerns about the weather and my fears were realised upon arrival at  Furzeham Green. The wind was near gale force and it started to rain. The staff were brilliant and quickly sorted an indoor area.  

Luckily for everyone outside the rain cleared, and everyone who came into see and handle the animals enjoyed the experience. 

I am so pleased the weather didn’t get the better of us and I hope to be back next year.