Paignton Zoo Paignton News 2020
- Thread starter Brum
- Start date
I noticed today that the Male Roadrunner is in the now ex Blue Throated Macaw aviary. A female will hopefully be arriving soon. Some Ruff have moved over from Living Coasts. The Guillemots were being rounded up today & are going to Belgium or the Netherlands (?). Back at the zoo there is lots of work going into the presentation platforms for the Lego animals. The tropical house will be getting a new roof and will hopefully be open by September/October. The bird collection is looking great & the Bird Dept team are doing an incredible job! There was a Facebook post saying the 3 Maned Wolves will be going back on-show soon.
Sounds promising, I still miss those Grey Gulls though.
It’s been opened up and landscaped. It now includes the previously off-show area between the mandrills & the wolves. Timber & mud open fronted dens have been added.
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The Tropical & Desert house is closed as it is awaiting the construction of a new roof, not because of COVID restrictions.
In recent days I have overheard many a visitor, namely tourists, commenting about the number of empty enclosures & low numbers of animals. I hope they can afford and are able to re-stock soon or reviews & return visits will be negative!
In recent days I have overheard many a visitor, namely tourists, commenting about the number of empty enclosures & low numbers of animals. I hope they can afford and are able to re-stock soon or reviews & return visits will be negative!
I’d have thought the feathers were a giveaway. That and the number of legs. And the wings. And the pink.
I wonder what will replace them - Agouti or Meerkats / or will they surprise us with some Marsupials from Shaldon or Hamerton?
If they do not make any modifications to the enclosure that used to hold the kusimanses, it will have to be a species that is small enough and good enough at climbing to get into the den, but not able to climb or jump into the public pathway. I think that they may well make some modifications.
It’s another species lost from the collection. They have to start re-populating the Mammal species soon. Camels, Colobus (off show), Pudu, Bongo (one left), Lechwe, Tur, Barbary sheep (all TB), Anoa, Elephant - all gone. New additions include Brazilian Cavy, Aloatran Lemur, Armadillo, Takin. Not sure on timelines, but the Lego will only fill the gaps for so long!
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Can armadillos live outside in the UK? If I hadn't been lucky enough to be at the zoo on the day the three-banded armadillo went into her Monkey Heights enclosure and was exploring, I wouldn't believe she existed. A no-show for most visitors, I think, whereas if she was asleep in the cusimanse den at least she'd be visible.
Good shout - could be? The larger species live outside at Newquay!
Six-banded and Three-banded were kept outside at Exotic Zoo Telford last winter. Shouldn't be much of a problem at Paignton I imagine.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Last winter was very mild, if very wet.Six-banded and Three-banded were kept outside at Exotic Zoo Telford last winter. Shouldn't be much of a problem at Paignton I imagine.
We had no real frosts, when normally we get temperatures down to -5 to -10 c.
The Paignton area is probably the 'kindest' part of the UK mainland in this respect.
I noted a couple of things on my visit today:
• The kangaroo are down to 2 individuals (both male I think?).
• The Great Grey & Malay owls have gone (off show)?
• The big cats were no shows but the male lion could be seen over the fence to the off show area.
• Black Crowned cranes are now in the nursery aviary next to the Kiwi TV.
• New signage has replaced the pre-lockdown communication that the ex Takin area is being re-developed.
Still huge areas of the zoo unpopulated by actual animals.
• The kangaroo are down to 2 individuals (both male I think?).
• The Great Grey & Malay owls have gone (off show)?
• The big cats were no shows but the male lion could be seen over the fence to the off show area.
• Black Crowned cranes are now in the nursery aviary next to the Kiwi TV.
• New signage has replaced the pre-lockdown communication that the ex Takin area is being re-developed.
Still huge areas of the zoo unpopulated by actual animals.