Paignton Zoo Paignton News 2020

A terrific insult to what has been a major bird collection across what we’re three sites.
The dispersal of a lot of the bird collection, and its keepers, is disappointing. I hope that when the Tropical House finally reopens we will still have the pleasure of seeing and hearing some free flying birds in there.
 
Shakira Paignton Zoo’s elderly Female Tiger has passed away. Here is Paignton’s Facebook post explaining Shakira’s death and the plans for the future!

We are sad to share the news that female Sumatran tiger Shakira has passed away. At over 18 years of age, Shakira was very elderly for a big cat. As her age started to catch up with her in the past few weeks, she was on a lot of medication for deteriorating health and the difficult but kindest decision was made by our animal care teams to put her to sleep.

Born at Berlin Tierpark in July 2002, Shakira arrived at Paignton in 2014 to be paired with late male Fabi, as part of the breeding programme for this Critically Endangered species. As she was hand-reared, Shakira was a very lively, people-orientated tiger and was easy to spot with her wide-eyed, beautiful face. She will be greatly missed.

We are aware that Shakira’s passing means that we currently do not have any tigers at the zoo, as young tiger Lucu moved to Edinburgh Zoo last month as part of the European Endangered Species breeding programme. The positive news is that we can confirm that we will continue to house Sumatran tigers, as two young female tigers will be joining us – please keep an eye on our social media channels for updates coming soon!
We can also share that there will be some changes with our resident lions, siblings Arya and Yali; we will update you when we have confirmed more of our plans.

Thank you for your ongoing support and we really appreciate your patience and understanding at this time.
 
Shakira Paignton Zoo’s elderly Female Tiger has passed away. Here is Paignton’s Facebook post explaining Shakira’s death and the plans for the future!
We are sad to share the news that female Sumatran tiger Shakira has passed away. At over 18 years of age, Shakira was very elderly for a big cat. As her age started to catch up with her in the past few weeks, she was on a lot of medication for deteriorating health and the difficult but kindest decision was made by our animal care teams to put her to sleep.

Born at Berlin Tierpark in July 2002, Shakira arrived at Paignton in 2014 to be paired with late male Fabi, as part of the breeding programme for this Critically Endangered species. As she was hand-reared, Shakira was a very lively, people-orientated tiger and was easy to spot with her wide-eyed, beautiful face. She will be greatly missed.

We are aware that Shakira’s passing means that we currently do not have any tigers at the zoo, as young tiger Lucu moved to Edinburgh Zoo last month as part of the European Endangered Species breeding programme. The positive news is that we can confirm that we will continue to house Sumatran tigers, as two young female tigers will be joining us – please keep an eye on our social media channels for updates coming soon!
We can also share that there will be some changes with our resident lions, siblings Arya and Yali; we will update you when we have confirmed more of our plans.

Thank you for your ongoing support and we really appreciate your patience and understanding at this time.
They could temporarily move the Maned Wolves there until their enclosure is finished perhaps? Or, see if a change of scene & more room to move could spark the cheetah pair to breed in the lion set-up?
 
They could temporarily move the Maned Wolves there until their enclosure is finished perhaps? Or, see if a change of scene & more room to move could spark the cheetah pair to breed in the lion set-up?
Cheetahs are very nervous of Lions in the wild. In zoos the further away from them they are, the better.
 
The new Sumatran Tiger's are most likely to be from either NaturZoo Rheine or Ree Park. Both had litters of 1.2 in January 2019

@Nisha what are the names of the Tigers in the litters that you are talking about? @Nisha do you think a male Sumatran Tiger will come at a later date to breed with the 2 females that will be arriving?

Additionally @Nisha I have sent you a message.
 
Last edited:
@Nisha what are the names of the Tigers in the litters that you are talking about? @Nisha do you think a male Sumatran Tiger will come at a later date to breed with the 2 females that will be arriving?

Additionally @Nisha I have sent you a message.

NaturZoo Rheine - Zuma and Tipah

Ree Park - Carrie and Padme

For pairing them up and with males - it's too early to say at the moment. Carrie and Padme have siblings elsewhere in Europe and are not likely to be needed in the immediate future.

Zuma and Tipah are the first litter from their parents. But both parents are related and from well represented European bloodlines.
 
@Nisha can you please predict what will happen with the Asiatic Lions at Paignton Zoo? Someone wrote in the comments section below the announcement of Shakira’s death. Paignton Zoo replied with the following,It hopefully won't be long until the new tigers arrive - animal moves regarding big cats are incredibly complex and we will share more updates when we can. In the meantime, our male lion Yali will be on-show soon when we've completed some essential work in the exhibit. Best wishes, PZ. this reply leads me to believe that Yali will remain at Paignton and a Lioness will be brought in as his mate. @Nisha could you please tell me which Lioness will become Yali’s mate?

Kind regards @The Hedgehog
 
NaturZoo Rheine - Zuma and Tipah

Ree Park - Carrie and Padme

For pairing them up and with males - it's too early to say at the moment. Carrie and Padme have siblings elsewhere in Europe and are not likely to be needed in the immediate future.

Zuma and Tipah are the first litter from their parents. But both parents are related and from well represented European bloodlines.

@Nisha could a male Sumatran Tiger join both females at Paignton Zoo,or would a female have to leave if a male moved in? I say this as normally I would have said a female would have to move on however a couple of years ago Paignton Zoo had two Asiatic Lionesses living harmoniously with a male.
 
@Nisha could a male Sumatran Tiger join both females at Paignton Zoo,or would a female have to leave if a male moved in? I say this as normally I would have said a female would have to move on however a couple of years ago Paignton Zoo had two Asiatic Lionesses living harmoniously with a male.

They would have to move one. I don't think they have space for 1.2 plus any future cubs.

Tiger's are solitary in the wild and wouldn't naturally live in pair's or small groups (unlike Lions) apart from female's with cubs
 
An interesting and eagerly awaited visit this morning, although I didn't manage to see everything. The pygmy marmoset enclosure near the zoo entrance has been demolished and the marmosets are now in Monkey Heights with the Goeldi's and the armadillo; Sulawesi crested macaque, Anneke is carrying a new baby; the roof of the maned wolves' house looks as though it might be finished; the broken gorilla window is still boarded over; the long-empty enclosure in Monkey Heights appeared to be having some work done so maybe new tenants are due.
 
An interesting and eagerly awaited visit this morning, although I didn't manage to see everything. The pygmy marmoset enclosure near the zoo entrance has been demolished and the marmosets are now in Monkey Heights with the Goeldi's and the armadillo; Sulawesi crested macaque, Anneke is carrying a new baby; the roof of the maned wolves' house looks as though it might be finished; the broken gorilla window is still boarded over; the long-empty enclosure in Monkey Heights appeared to be having some work done so maybe new tenants are due.
The Spider Monkeys hopefully or work to prevent the Colobus escaping....? Shame about the Pygmy Marmosets as that was a real good place for families to meet & greet (non COVID times).
 
An interesting and eagerly awaited visit this morning, although I didn't manage to see everything. The pygmy marmoset enclosure near the zoo entrance has been demolished and the marmosets are now in Monkey Heights with the Goeldi's and the armadillo; Sulawesi crested macaque, Anneke is carrying a new baby; the roof of the maned wolves' house looks as though it might be finished; the broken gorilla window is still boarded over; the long-empty enclosure in Monkey Heights appeared to be having some work done so maybe new tenants are due.


The Sulawesi crested macaque baby - a male - was born Nov. 17 :) .
 
Quick visit today in the winter sun. Glorious. Male Bongo looks strong & very confident. The trees in the tiger enclosure are being boarded up & hot wired and a sign saying that Yali the male lion will soon move in. Perhaps the new tigers will be off show quarantining for a while? A Ventura wildlife park van was there - hopefully a delivery rather than pick-up!
 
The Mangabeys have moved into the long-empty enclosure in Monkey Heights. It was once their home. It looked as though they'd only just moved and were enjoying exploring it all. I remember ThomasNotTom being partly responsible for its refurbishment with branches, soil and plants. The Mangabeys were chewing bark, breaking off twigs and testing the suppleness of branches so may reduce the improvements to a pile of dead leaves ;)

As TriUK said, the trees in the tiger enclosure are being boarded up - very substantially. Much more so than those in the lion enclosure. I'll put a photo in the gallery. The lioness was up a tree next door possibly watching what was going on.

We were all given a map outlining the measures being taken to combat Covid19 and Avian Flu - some of the birds have been moved, areas closed and extra hygiene measures are in place.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TNT
Back
Top