I'm just going off what I've seen on social media and it did state in "captivity" so maybe there's no exact figures for the wild population, I'm only hazarding a guess
Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2022
- Thread starter Gigit
- Start date
I'm just going off what I've seen on social media and it did state in "captivity" so maybe there's no exact figures for the wild population, I'm only hazarding a guess
In the wild, yes, they wouldn’t be classed as vulnerable by IUCN if there were only <60 left in the whole world.
They’re just going off records for every collection holding them.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Signs in the zoo:
On the former owl aviaries behind the big cats: 'This aviary is awaiting removal. We are working on plans for this area of the zoo but we do not intend to put animals back into this enclosure.'
On the decking area overlooking the lake where the pelicans used to be fed (it was all demolished): 'This area is still under development. We're finalising the details for new railings and a new deck for our pelicans to be fed from. Thank you for your patience as we transform our zoo, we hope you'll come back soon to se how things have changed.'
On the former owl aviaries behind the big cats: 'This aviary is awaiting removal. We are working on plans for this area of the zoo but we do not intend to put animals back into this enclosure.'
On the decking area overlooking the lake where the pelicans used to be fed (it was all demolished): 'This area is still under development. We're finalising the details for new railings and a new deck for our pelicans to be fed from. Thank you for your patience as we transform our zoo, we hope you'll come back soon to se how things have changed.'
Gigit
Well-Known Member
The Tropical House has finally reopened. There are a couple of empty exhibits with signs promising a Cuban croc and skinks. I didn't see a single bird, although there's a sign for Vietnamese Pheasant. I hope I was just unlucky as the birds used to be the best bit for me. Walking on through to the Desert House, I felt there were fewer birds there? The Avian Flu 'foot baths' are still at the doorways.
Thanks Gigit - it did take quite sometime for them to re-stock the tropical house last time. I hope they have placed mesh on the underside of the glass panels to prevent further escapes if & when a future storm causes damage. I assume then that the huge monitor lizard is making way for the juvenile croc in the croc house (where it was before)? It’s poor that there are empty exhibits at re-opening. Im embarrassed for the zoo to be honest! But hey - there’s a new path, a flag pole and some empty zebra stables we should be thankful for! Meanwhile, Exmoor & Shaldon continue to get better & better. There is a really good new childrens farm at Occombe in Paignton, it’s also staffed mainly by ex Paignton Zoo employees who needed a break from really poor management. Onwards & upwards - I can’t wait to visit Slimbridge, YWP, Chester & Watatunga later in the summer…
I was lucky enough to visit Paignton last week, and thought the changes and developments were fantastic.
The new paths to the back of the primate islands and in front of the big cats are great, it makes the zoo feel a whole lot bigger with a bonus of improved big cat viewing.
Smaller developments including the new pig pen, dwarf mongoose, and other various infrastructure changes were nice to see - looks like school groups will have a lovely time in the old polytunnel outside of the education/research building which has had a big ol' spruce up!
Lots of work seems to be going on with currently empty exhibits, including the old coati area and some of the parrot aviaries, indicating some exciting new arrivals and/or off show species could be on display in the coming months. I'd imagine some of the recent swaps/move arounds could also indicate the arrival of new species in the more medium to long term future... But we shall see!
Zebra house looks fantastic, and it will be great to see the shift around of the zebra and giraffe into their new paddocks... Fingers crossed the zoo have something exciting in store for the zebra hill.
In regard to one of the comments above:
I don't quite understand the dismay at a stable being empty when the area is still under construction? You wouldn't move into a house if it wasn't completed or safe, so why would the zoo move the zebra into the stables now?
The new paths to the back of the primate islands and in front of the big cats are great, it makes the zoo feel a whole lot bigger with a bonus of improved big cat viewing.
Smaller developments including the new pig pen, dwarf mongoose, and other various infrastructure changes were nice to see - looks like school groups will have a lovely time in the old polytunnel outside of the education/research building which has had a big ol' spruce up!
Lots of work seems to be going on with currently empty exhibits, including the old coati area and some of the parrot aviaries, indicating some exciting new arrivals and/or off show species could be on display in the coming months. I'd imagine some of the recent swaps/move arounds could also indicate the arrival of new species in the more medium to long term future... But we shall see!
Zebra house looks fantastic, and it will be great to see the shift around of the zebra and giraffe into their new paddocks... Fingers crossed the zoo have something exciting in store for the zebra hill.
In regard to one of the comments above:
I don't quite understand the dismay at a stable being empty when the area is still under construction? You wouldn't move into a house if it wasn't completed or safe, so why would the zoo move the zebra into the stables now?
I agree. That was wrong and a little childish of me. I went to the zoo today and left again feeling saddened by its decline. I’m actually an optimist, though you’d never know it by my negative & fairly sarcastic post! Re. The Zebra stables - yeah, I suppose I’m just impatient because as loyal supporters of our local zoo it’s been a decade or more since the Savannah project was supposed to be done? Re. Staff moving on - it’s rubbish that so many are leaving. Really good honest people too! Re. the new path - I agree that it’s good, but the signage is so poor that now guests will miss out on key areas of the zoo. It does offer good views and it’s nice. But it is just a well planted path. Some things need calling out & highlighting - especially when it’s o the back of good peoples hard earned holiday budgets and in the name of charity!
I visited today for the first time since January, so I was glad to have an opportunity to see the new developments. The zoo was busy and I didn't manage to see everything, but in general I liked what I saw. The dwarf mongoose family was doing a very good job of entertaining the visitors. Of course there is still a lot to do around the zoo, for example with the new zebra paddock, and there was work in progress in the old coati exhibit: I did overhear a conversation between some of the workers - I won't repeat the name of the new species, but the first syllable was bin and the last was ong 
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
I visited today for the first time since January, so I was glad to have an opportunity to see the new developments. The zoo was busy and I didn't manage to see everything, but in general I liked what I saw. The dwarf mongoose family was doing a very good job of entertaining the visitors. Of course there is still a lot to do around the zoo, for example with the new zebra paddock, and there was work in progress in the old coati exhibit: I did overhear a conversation between some of the workers - I won't repeat the name of the new species, but the first syllable was bin and the last was ong
@gentle lemur are you being serious Paignton Zoo are getting Bintarong’s (Bearcats) I love them!!! I’ve only ever seen them at Chessington. Is there any news on the new Zebra and Giraffe House? I cannot wait for the renovations to be complete and the public aloud back in. I used to enjoy viewing the Giraffes from inside. It’s now been posted on Facebook that Yali has departed Paignton. This means the enclosure will now be prepared for the new African Lions from Newquay Zoo.
felis silvestris
Well-Known Member
Binturongs sound like they’d be a great new addition to the zoo.
This is good news. Binturong were housed in the old monkey house and the ‘popcorn’ odour is etched on my senses. The species was always destined for a return to the collection and the Coati exhibit is perfect for them. There is an off-show area which has housed tamarins for some time, but would be needed if a non-established breeding pair are imported.I visited today for the first time since January, so I was glad to have an opportunity to see the new developments. The zoo was busy and I didn't manage to see everything, but in general I liked what I saw. The dwarf mongoose family was doing a very good job of entertaining the visitors. Of course there is still a lot to do around the zoo, for example with the new zebra paddock, and there was work in progress in the old coati exhibit: I did overhear a conversation between some of the workers - I won't repeat the name of the new species, but the first syllable was bin and the last was ong
With the exception of the new entrance and lakeside paths, what other developments were you impressed with @gentle lemur ?
Glad you enjoyed it.
The new zebra stables look good, although of course there is still a lot of work to do with their paddock, which I presume can only happen when the giraffes are using the old elephant paddock. It was also nice to get better views of the Baer's pochards and other delicate waterfowl in the aviary adjoining the lakes. I am not as sure as you are about binturong going into the old coati enclosure: the workers were boarding up the side of the outdoor paddock to about a metre above the ground, I guess that this will support hotwires as there is no roof to the paddock, but I wondered how much the trees will need to be cut back to prevent escapes.
A Diana monkey was born this morning (9/8/2022) at Paignton Zoo. It is the first time this species has bred at the zoo in over ten years.
More information can be found in the link below:
Endangered Diana Monkey Baby Surprises Keepers At Paignton Zoo • Paignton Zoo
More information can be found in the link below:
Endangered Diana Monkey Baby Surprises Keepers At Paignton Zoo • Paignton Zoo
Brilliant & very welcome news. Well done to all there!
I'd begun to think they would never manage to breed with this trio, having split up the previously successful regular breeding pair and sent the male away to Parken in Sweden. The result of that has been a long hiatus with no breeding from the new male and the original Paignton female or her daughter. But its a welcome event nevertheless, and Paignton again joins Twycross as being the only two zoos in the UK (afaik) currently breeding this species.(YWP have Roloway's guenon, Edinburgh (?) and London don't breed nowadays) Sadly the Twycross young have all been males to date, while probably the Paignton mother may be past breeding age.
Last edited:
I am told this is so. I saw them yesterday: the new mother and baby were both fast asleep in the morning, but I saw her grooming the baby nicely in the afternoon with the new grandmother paying close attention.
Even the new mother is middle-aged now- if born in 2006 she is already 16. But one of the two females at Twycross - they were both unbred previously and of similar age to this or even slightly older when they arrived- has had several babies(4 at least) though the other(afaik) has not bred. I suspect the upper limit for female Guenons breeding age to be somewhere between 25-30. But I'm hopeful now breeding has resumed that the new mother can produce a few more over time to consolidate this group. Incidentally her older brother is the breeding male in the Twycross group.
Last edited:
Off topic for Paignton but do you happen to know how many Diana monkeys are currently at Twycross and their approximate ages?
I believe it is six;
Adult male(born Paignton) 2 adult females (sisters born at Newquay), 3 male offspring from one female. A fourth male offspring born to the same female dns.
I can't remember their ages offhand but the females are not young.