The dream

Starting back in his childhood, the zoo's founding father and owner Shaun Foggett had a dream to open a crocodile zoo.

Private collection

Shaun's private collection began at an early age after he built his first-ever crocodilian enclosure and acquired a Cuvier's dwarf caiman. By summer 2009, his collection had grown to 24 animals, all housed in a purpose-built enclosure at the semi-detached Oxfordshire home he shared with fiancée Lisa and his young family.

Media appeal

Shaun's story was of great interest locally and attracted national media attention. He began an appeal with many appearances on daytime television to raise the required funds for the crocodile zoo but unfortunately this did not materialise.

After several months, it finally became clear that if Shaun wanted to open the UK's first crocodile zoo, he would have to fund it himself.

The long path

With the help and support of his wife Lisa, the first phase of acquiring a zoo license and finding a suitable premises began in the spring of 2010.

Little did Shaun know the adventure on which he was about to embark, a project that would take more than 12 months and would require a lot of sacrifice on his part, not least giving up his job in the family business and selling his house.

Support and backing

But with the support of his family and friends, the invaluable time and effort supplied by a number of volunteers - many of them from the local area - and a burning desire to achieve his objective, Shaun had everything he needed to succeed.

Fast foward to spring 2011 and a life's ambition was achieved as Crocodiles of the World was founded.