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Despite his incredible success, Kyle still finds it hard to believe how far he’s come. “I just started doing it for fun, and for the first year, I didn’t even show my animals,” Kyle tells Principle. “I was just trying sweets from different countries, and I gained around 6 million followers from that. I remember being at an open day at school, volunteering. I checked TikTok and found that I had 5,000 followers after just two days of posting. It was from some random trend video, and it just took off from there. It all happened really quickly. It’s hard to process how many people are watching. It all happened so fast, and I just enjoy speaking to people from all over the world.”

In 2023, Kyle made an ambitious attempt to open an animal sanctuary on land he had purchased in Northern Ireland, documenting the journey online. However, things didn’t go as smoothly as planned, and he was eventually forced to scrap the project. 

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“A lot changed,” Kyle admits. “It was mostly down to time, but we also had difficult neighbours at the original site. It was tough to build there due to permissions. The neighbours didn’t like the idea of having so many animals near their house, even though it was a large plot of land. In the end, it didn’t feel like the best place for my animals anymore.”

However, a new opportunity arose when Kyle met Phil Hughes, who shared his passion for animals. “Phil wanted to help, and we ended up teaming up. Now, we’re focused on exotic animal rescue,” Kyle explains.

And that’s where they are now. In the new upcoming BBC3 documentary, We Built A Zoo, viewers can follow Kyle and Phil as they embark on the exciting journey of opening the animal sanctuary. 

Principle jetted out to Kyle Thomas’s home in the Lisburn area of Northern Ireland, just a day before his 20th birthday, for an exclusive photoshoot and a chat about life in the spotlight. Here, Kyle opens up about how things are going with his wildlife park, the challenges of caring for exotic animals, the backlash he faced during the process, and how he’s bounced back stronger than ever.

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You’ve swapped YouTube for TV. How did the documentary come about? 

I was approached. I think they saw what I was already doing and thought, “Oh, actually, this would make for a brilliant documentary and a great story to follow.” So, yeah, they reached out, heard what I was trying to do, and then followed the story. It all happened pretty naturally. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity, especially considering that it’s always been a dream of mine to do more TV-related stuff. So, yeah, it’s been really exciting, and I’ve loved stepping into the world of TV. Hopefully, I’ll get to do more of it in the future.  

The biggest lesson I learned from that situation was that the exotic animal pet trade can be a really dark and nasty place. Rather than just showcasing my animals, I realised I could actually make a difference by educating people about them. That’s one of the biggest missions now—raising awareness and helping people understand the exotic pet trade better.

With such a big following, it must be hard to make mistakes in public. But, then, it’s important with such a profile, to show that you can grow from them. How do you feel about that journey?

I’ve learned so much in the last year, and I’m taking the audience along with me on this journey. I’ve met so many experts in the animal world, and I’m just absorbing all that knowledge. Now I can use that knowledge to make a difference and help animals. I’ve learned a lot about the exotic pet trade and I’d rather be part of the solution by spreading awareness than be part of the problem. I’ve also learned a lot about conservation—how to protect animals in the wild. One big takeaway is how the animals we have in our care can act as ambassadors for their native cousins. We can spread awareness about conservation through them. And, of course, I’ve learned more technical and biological things, like working in clinics in Costa Rica and South Africa, giving rabies shots, and that sort of thing.

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For anyone who might not understand, could you explain why the exotic animal pet trade isn’t good for animals?

It’s because exotic animals aren’t native to countries like the UK, and their needs aren’t being met when they’re kept as pets. No matter how cute or cuddly an animal seems, it’s still a wild animal with instincts that can’t be taken away. Even my animals can be affectionate, but I always make sure they get to go back into their enclosure and behave naturally. When people keep exotic animals in their homes, those animals often don’t get the chance to express their natural behaviours, and that can be really tough for them.

That makes a lot of sense. So, where did this crazy love for animals come from?  

I was always interested in science and the natural world when I was younger. I had all sorts of little creepy crawlies—like stick insects, sea monkeys, and other weird creatures. I also watched a lot of animal programs and visited wildlife parks and sanctuaries, which really fuelled my passion. I’ve always felt drawn to animals. My first exotic pets were bearded dragons Millie and Mike when I was really young, around six years old. 

Losing a pet can be devastating. How was it for you when you lost your first pet?

I remember being really devastated when my bunny, Murphy, passed away when I was younger. That was a really difficult experience for me to comprehend at the time.

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You have documented your life with your animals and have become a huge online success.  Did you ever think social media would become a career for you? 

I always wanted to work with animals, so it was never about making money or having a career in social media. It’s always been about the experience and getting to do all these amazing things. I’m really lucky to have travelled and worked with animals, and that’s what motivates me more than anything. I’ve been to Costa Rica, South Africa, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, and more. Every time I travel, I try to incorporate animals by visiting wildlife or volunteering at sanctuaries. It’s given me experiences that some people might never get, and I’m really grateful for that.

You’re only 20 and already you’ve made it onto the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. How does that feel?

It’s really strange! I didn’t even know what Forbes 30 Under 30 meant at first, but then people—like my nan’s 70-year-old friend—started messaging me congratulations. But I still feel like me, you know? It’s just a weird thing to navigate, especially at a young age when adults are like, “Wow, you did this!”

Do you think that kind of recognition gives you more confidence? 

It’s definitely been a confidence boost, but it also comes with a sense of responsibility. I’m very careful with money and how I spend my time. I don’t like wasting money, which is why I invested in the land for the wildlife park. I still just feel like myself, though, and it’s important to stay grounded.

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It sounds like you’re very level-headed about it all. Have you ever felt pressured to maintain your success and thought, “Oh my god, I need to keep this up”?

Definitely, especially at the beginning. I got a bit fixated on social media and was really invested in posting regularly. But I quickly realized I needed balance and that I couldn’t get too wrapped up in it. Social media is great, but you have to live in the real world too.

Did that mean you were posting constantly and not enjoying real life as much?

I was posting a lot, going live often, and probably not seeing my friends as much as I should have.

Do your fans ever cross the line and think they have a closer relationship with you than they really do?   

I’ve definitely had followers who feel entitled to know more about me than I want to share, which can get intense. People make assumptions or start rumours, and those things spread quickly, whether they’re true or not. 

That must be an added pressure for you, knowing that so many people follow your every move. It must make you think twice about how you behave in public.

Definitely. Growing up, my friends would go out and party, and I always had to be more careful about who was there or what might happen. Even now, I have to be cautious. But you get used to it—it’s just part of the life.

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Do you still get to see your friends and go out socially?  Or do you have to be good because of your modelling work?

Yeah, I still see my friends and go out, but I do have to be careful. I enjoy a party here and there, but I always have to be aware of who’s watching me when I’m out. I don’t want someone taking videos of me on the dance floor, just having fun.

Have you managed to maintain your friendships through all of this success?

Yes, for sure. I still have the same close friends as before, and they’re definitely my closest. It’s great because they don’t want anything from me—they just know me as I was before all this happened.

That’s lovely. And what about your followers? You must get a lot of people who follow you for different reasons.

It’s a real mix! There are people who follow me for animal-related content, and others for completely different reasons. My goal now is to turn as many of those followers as possible into people who care about animals and want to make a difference.

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You’ve got such a strong voice on social media, but there’s always criticism about how young people use it. Do you think platforms should be more regulated for safety, like magazines or TV?

Social media companies should definitely be doing more to protect young people and raise awareness about the dangers online. The generation we live in now is different, and parents didn’t always know how to navigate social media when it first became popular. There’s still a lot of work to do in terms of educating and protecting people, especially children.

Social media can be brilliant in some ways but also incredibly dangerous. Some people believe everything they see on platforms like TikTok without doing any research. Do you think that’s an issue as well?

Definitely. It’s important for everyone to take everything they see with a pinch of salt and be careful about what they’re listening to. Just because something is said on social media doesn’t mean it’s true.

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Away from your online life, what do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have hobbies outside of your online world?

Honestly, most of my spare time is spent with the animals. But I also love watching movies and relaxing. The animals take up a lot of time, but I enjoy it. When I do have free time, I like to be around them.

You also model too? How did you get involved in that?

My first modelling gig was with Dsquared2 in 2023. I was actually just supposed to go and watch the show, but I went in to meet the team to get an outfit, and things progressed from there. It all happened really last minute, and I ended up walking for them in Milan. Since then, I’ve done more modelling work, and I signed with Select modelling agency. It’s completely different from the animal work I do, but I really enjoy it.

That’s amazing! Had you ever considered modelling before that opportunity came up?

I had thought about it when I was younger, but I never really pursued it. Now that I’ve had the opportunity, it’s been great to explore a different avenue and experience something new.

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Do you still get to see your friends and go out socially? Or do you have to be good because of your modelling work?

Yeah, I still see my friends and go out, but I do have to be careful. I enjoy a party here and there, but I always have to be aware of who’s watching me when I’m out. I don’t want someone taking videos of me on the dance floor, just having fun.

That must be an added pressure for you, knowing that so many people follow your every move. It must make you think twice about how you behave in public.

Definitely. Growing up, my friends would go out and party, and I always had to be more careful about who was there or what might happen. Even now, I have to be cautious. But you get used to it—it’s just part of the life.

Do your fans ever cross the line and think they have a closer relationship with you than they really do?   

I’ve definitely had followers who feel entitled to know more about me than I want to share, which can get intense. People make assumptions or start rumours, and those things spread quickly, whether they’re true or not.

That must be tough. People can say whatever they want online, and it spreads so quickly.  

It can be a lot of pressure, but you learn to shut it off and deal with it over time.

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As well as a TikTok superstar, you’re a model and as we can see from our pics, a very good one! Growing up in the public eye, did you ever have any insecurities about your appearance growing up? 

Yeah, I definitely wasn’t always confident. I remember the first time someone took a picture of me that wasn’t a selfie in the mirror, I freaked out. I thought my face was so asymmetrical, and it really bothered me. But over time, with all the pictures I take for work, I’ve gotten used to it. Now I’m more confident, and that naturally makes me feel better about the way I look.

Did you spend a lot of time practicing your poses in the mirror when you first started modelling?  

One hundred percent! I still do it sometimes. When I first started, I definitely spent a lot of time posing in the mirror, imagining I was on a shoot. I remember being so nervous at my first shoot, but now I’m a lot more relaxed.

That’s great to hear! Going back to the wildlife park, is everything complete now, or is there still a long way to go?  

There’s still a lot to do. Right now, our main focus is improving the lives of the animals we have and always going above and beyond for them. From there, we want to get more involved in conservation work and protect animals in the wild. I’m really proud of the show and the opportunity to document everything we’re doing. I’d love to do more of that and maybe step further into wildlife presenting.

We Built A Zoo is now streaming on BBC iPlayer.

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