ZOO bird man Colin Bath has retired after nearly 50 years of working with reptiles and birds.

Colin started work at Paignton Zoo in 1959 as a trainee keeper on the reptile section.

He was later responsible for the chimps for many years, training them and taking them out on visits to local holiday camps.

He worked his way up through the ranks to become curator of birds and reptiles and a highly-respected figure in the conservation world.

Mr Bath represented Paignton Zoo in many specialist roles. He was a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria, parrot taxon advisory group; the association register keeper for the hyacinthine macaw; a member of the its songbirds advisory group; an elected member of the European endangered species programme committees for the Dalmatian pelican, hyacinthine macaw and wrinkled hornbill; coordinator for the red-tailed Amazon; and UK monitor for the orange-headed ground thrush.

In his time with the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust he worked under three executive directors – Philip Michelmore, Peter Stevens and most recently Simon Tonge, who said: "Colin has been Paignton Zoo through and through.

"Other than a few months when he went away to work at Bristol Zoo – he liked the zoo but not the city – he has been at Paignton Zoo all his adult life.

"Fifty years is a tremendous achievement. The ethos of zoos has changed over that time.

"They have gone from being simply collections of animals for the public to look at to crucial centres for conservation, education and research.

"Our founder, Herbert Whitley, was an early conservationist and a lifelong educator and Colin has always had the same outlook.

"Colin is unassuming and does not like people to make a fuss, but his lasting legacy is a highly impressive bird collection, the creation of Living Coasts and Paignton Zoo's new Crocodile Swamp exhibit.

"He was also the most knowledgeable all-round naturalist on the staff and his expertise will be greatly missed."

Colin intends to use his retirement to pursue his passion for bird-watching.

His farewell was a low key affair with a barbecue which was attended by staff, friends, former keepers and bird experts from across the country.

A replacement is not likely to be in post until the end of the year said a zoo spokesman.