Exmoor Zoo What did you think of it?

H

HuxleyPig

Well-Known Member
Ive noticed there are no threads on Exmoor Zoo and was wondering what other people thought of it. I did a couple of weeks of work experience there and its a nice little place. Their main animals are the Cheetahs, Black Leopard and Maned Wolves but they've got loads of plans for the future. :)
 
I've been there a few times and feel that it's a really nice little place. the exhibits are all well done and good for the animals and the keepers are all very knowledgeable and friendly. Overall I would say that it's one of the best small zoos that I've been to and does a lot with the land it has.
 
I've been to Exmoor a couple of times, but not for many years - in fact, they didn't have any of the animals you mentioned on my last visit! I thought it was a really lovely little place though, they had a very nice bird collection, the lake is lovely, and some really good enclosures. The Arctic Foxes were my highlight, they're adorable! :) I also remember one of the Penguins trying to escape through a gate!

Out of interest, do you know if they still have Bush Dogs, as I suspect the Black Leopard may be where they used to be? And could you possibly shed any light on these big plans you mentioned?
 
@Sandcat: They don't still have bush dogs.

The black leopards are in a new enclosure based around the dartmoor beast (although I haven't been since they arrived)

And, I know that they were raising money for an african plains type exhibit which was going to feature zebra and other african species.
 
The arcitc foxes have gone. There are bat eared foxes there now. The penguins were probably trying to escape cause they used to be free ranging. Unfortunatly they'd used to get injured by the public. They would be rounded up by guests and put on the trampoline and then bounced :( Some used to eat food left by the public and the littlest penguin used to go and stand in the mens toilets and watch the urinals being used.

Yep, there are plans for zebra. I believe theyre going to be where the kids park is. I hope people will know where I'm talking about when I describe it, but here goes:

The Muntjac enclosure is being emptied (theres only one) and the maned wolves are moving in, some new hyenas are going to go where the maned wolves currently are, the field behind the wallaby enclosure, currently empty, is going to be for camels, I cant remember which though.

When I left my work experience, the binterong enclosure was being started, I'd assume its been done now.

The male Cheetah, Dave, is on loan to Belfast Zoo soon, I believe, because he's been given the green light to breed, even though he is infact inbred himself from another zoo. I dont know if I'll get anybody in trouble by telling the story of this so I wont.

The marmosets are going to move onto the island in the penguin lake and more penguins are going to be brought in. Thats all I can remember for now. If anymore comes back to me I'll update
 
Oh and two new viewing towers are being constructed, one for the cheetah and one for the sitatunga and capybara. Construction was going on the Gibbon enclosure too. I think they were creating another enclosure right next to it but I dont know what for, I'm afraid
 
HuxleyPig said:
The penguins were probably trying to escape cause they used to be free ranging. Unfortunatly they'd used to get injured by the public. They would be rounded up by guests and put on the trampoline and then bounced
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Your average zoo-goers are all ******. That's why only Zoochat members should be allowed entry to zoos :)
 
HuxleyPig said:
The penguins were probably trying to escape cause they used to be free ranging. Unfortunatly they'd used to get injured by the public. They would be rounded up by guests and put on the trampoline and then bounced :( Some used to eat food left by the public and the littlest penguin used to go and stand in the mens toilets and watch the urinals being used.

:eek:And the award for the most incredible post ever made on zoochat goes to Huxleypig for this incredible account of the life of free roaming penguins at Exmoor!, the penguin wasn't called George Michael was it?:rolleyes:)

I cannot believe the stupidity of the management at this park to allow the animals to be placed in such a situation and at such risk, the downside of allowing animals to roam free in a zoo setting, good to hear they are being confined (never thought i would hear myself say that!)
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Chlidonias said:
Your average zoo-goers are all ******. That's why only Zoochat members should be allowed entry to zoos :)
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Totally.
Haha

Its a shame, but the keepers did the right then and blocked them off. Theyre really sweet. When your feeding them during the talk your stood next to the waters edge and they crowd around you. Occasionally they'll peck at your knees if they havent had a fish in a while.

The lemurs though. My god, theyre brilliant. When they take a grape from you they do it with souch grace. Theyre so gentle. They all sit on you and crowd around whilst your sat on this log and try and steal your grape bag. Its amazing :D
 
Hmm, I dont think it was stupid, really. It worked for quite a while and after these habits started popping up they acted.
 
It's a shame that the public didn't know how to treat the penguins, they probably got loads of enrichment from free ranging.
Quite disgusting actually that they would do that to them.
But lemur's are great, so docile compared to other primates that will try and dominate you and be aggressive.
 
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I hope i haven't offended you Huxley, i have not stopped laughing here, just at the thought of some guy having a pee, and turning round to be faced by a 2 foot high penguin staring up at him, with those inquisitive eyes, brilliant!
 
Nah, I'm not offended haha. I may be biased to it since I've done a work placement there but I think its a really nice place.
 
^ I think the collection is pretty good, there alot of room for improvement.

The most suprising thing was the keeper said the penguins are the only freshwater penguins in the u.k, is this true?
 
The black leopard - 'The Exmoor Beast ' - was bred at the private Santango collection .
 
Tigerlemurguy said:
^ I think the collection is pretty good, there alot of room for improvement.

The most suprising thing was the keeper said the penguins are the only freshwater penguins in the u.k, is this true?
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You could say that about alot of places including a certain place very near to Bristol Zoo,but Exmoor does have alot of nice species some of which are not very common in U.K Zoo`s or Zoo`s full stop.

Quite possible trying to think of another collection that keeps them in fresh water in the U.K but can`t.
 
^ The tamarin and marmoset collection was my favourite, very well housed and a good breeding programme going.
 
Are freshwater penguins a species then, or do they just keep them in freshwater?
 
ashley-h said:
Are freshwater penguins a species then, or do they just keep them in freshwater?
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I recall when I visited Rode Tropical Bird Gardens in Somerset (closed in 2001), the penguins were in the freshwater lake. But, I can't remember which species it was.
 
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