Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2023

I went today and got my timing spot on, as the 3 Lions had just been let out to explore the main paddock. I was surprised how ‘relaxed’ they appeared. I’m sure their fitness will improve.
There has been no more visible progress on the zebra/giraffe paddocks.
There are now Ural Owls back opposite the Cassowary. The Red Crowned Crane is back on the lake under the Pileated Gibbons & I wondered if this may be a sign that some of the AI restrictions are easing?
The Pied Tamarin enclosure is still empty.
It's good to know that the lions settled in well to their new home after their trip from Newquay Zoo
 
Does anyone know how many cherry crowned mangabey there are? And follow up question how many male female and juvenile ones there are
 
Does anyone know how many cherry crowned mangabey there are? And follow up question how many male female and juvenile ones there are
One adult breeding pair, plus two juveniles. I do not know sex of juveniles. This pair has bred well at Monkey Heights. With a more dynamic & forward thinking mammal curatorship, it would be good to luck at the feasibility of mixing them with the Gorilla, at least to share their island on rotation as it’s so underused.
 
One adult breeding pair, plus two juveniles. I do not know sex of juveniles. This pair has bred well at Monkey Heights.

I believe the younger ones are male and female. This pair have produced other young which for various reasons didn't survive to adulthood. Gigit may have their full breeding record.

Some time ago there was a plan to split the father and his(then) two sons from the others and create a bachelor group on the Gorilla island. A new unrelated male was brought in but things didn't work out so I believe the current pair were reunited and have since continued breeding. The male is either the father or son (can never remember which) of the one at Colchester. The original trio, which came to Paignton from Newquay were (afaik) this pair plus the mother of the female( long dead now). Corrections to this welcomed...
 
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I believe the younger ones are male and female. This pair have produced other young which for various reasons didn't survive to adulthood. Gigit may have their full breeding record.

Some time ago there was a plan to split the father and his(then) two sons from the others and create a bachelor group on the Gorilla island. A new unrelated male was brought in but things didn't work out so I believe the current pair were reunited and have since continued breeding. The male is either the father or son (can never remember which) of the one at Colchester. The original trio, which came to Paignton from Newquay were (afaik) this pair plus the mother of the female( long dead now). Corrections to this welcomed...

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin:

The breeding pair are Yengo and Kibibi, the offspring are female Kalia, born 6 September 2017, and maleTafari, born 6 September 2019.

The history: female Marlene, born in Hannover, her daughter Kibibi, born in Munster, and her son (no details) moved to Newquay in January 2007. The son died in October 2008.
Marlene's grandson, Yengo, born in Hannover in 2003 (Sputnik x Michelle) and his sister, Katya, born in 2004 in Colchester, moved from Colchester to Newquay in May 2009.
Yengo, Marlene, Kibibi and Katya moved from Newquay to Paignton in July 2009.
On 2 July 2010, a female born to Yengo x Marlene was born and died. A female, Ekuku, was born to Yengo x Kibibi and eventually moved in 2015, with Katya.
Kumba, male, born 20 October 2011. Died May 2016
Gimbia, female, born 26 March 2013. Died 8 February 2014 at the hands of Gerd (Herr Mangaby)
Marlene was PTS in March 2013 (diabetes)
Gerd, male, born 30 January 2004 Berlin, arrived from Munich in February 2014 and was a disaster, killing Gimbia and injuring Kibibi and Katya. He was PTS in June 2014
A female born on 26 September 2014 died on 18 October 2014
Yankari, male, born on 10 May 2015. He was PTS In September 2019 due to illness
And so we get to Kalia and Tafari.
 
The Red Crowned Crane pair have moved into the netted aviary between the parrots and the pandas (the old Oriental stork exhibit).
There are poles being erected for netting over the lower part of the Wattled Crane paddock.
There were (members) visitors from Colchester zoo today & I overheard them complaining & commenting on the ‘lack of animals’ and empty/closed off enclosures.
The zoo have erected QR code signage with links to old photographs & stories linked to the centenary & zoos history. They are pretty good.
I learned that the giraffe will continue to use their current side of the house and will have separate access to the new paddock - I.e. it will be fenced off from the zebra.
 
A female, Ekuku, was born to Yengo x Kibibi and eventually moved in 2015, with Katya.
This was the point at which the Red-capped Mangabey group could have potentially increased a lot faster than it has done over the years -if these additional two females- sister and daughter of Yengo,had stayed in the group. But the failure of that new male Gerd prevented it. Trying another new male after him might have been an option but it must have been a traumatic period while making up fresh pairings with primates can sometimes prove very difficult. So instead the group went back to the original 'safe' option of single breeding pair + offspring.
 
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There were (members) visitors from Colchester zoo today & I overheard them complaining & commenting on the ‘lack of animals’ and empty/closed off enclosures.
.

I'm not surprised. I always allow 2 days for a visit to Colchester to make sure I see everything properly.
 
Does anyone know the answers to the following:

- which species is moving into the Monkey Heights Pied Tamarin enclosure?

- whether the Cotton Top Tamarins are going to be given access to their island?

- What the new circular/arced fence is for, that stretches up the grass meadow between the giraffe/elephant paddock and the newly planted queens canopy area?

- why/how a Sarus Crane has been released onto the lake, but the pelican/flamingo ‘can’t’?

- why the young Cuban Croc hasn’t moved into the Tropical House yet?

- Why the Ring Tailed Lemurs are no longer allowed to free range - they haven’t been ‘out’ in over a year?

I have tried asking front of house staff but it draws a blank and either I don’t see keepers or the timing always seems inappropriate as they always appear Uber-busy. Thanks.
 
Well, Colchester *is* one of the only zoos I've gotten completely turned-around in :p
 
She was, however, one of the very few pure examples of Eulemur rufus remaining in Europe - most Red-fronted Lemurs in captivity seem to be hybrids or Eulemur rufifrons. A pity that places never really got to grips with keeping the two species distinct, as they are rather attractive animals and (more importantly) not even sister taxa despite their similar appearance.
 
There has been a press release today - see link below - stating that Croc Swamp is closing and the Baboons are moving from the rock, amongst other developments.
One moment, please...

Very sad. I remember the fanfare when the croc exhibit opened, and yet another part of my childhood memories of Paignton have now died with the closure of the rock.:( Does it have Listed status?
 
Sad news about Croc Swamp. Presumably the building will be demolished, but then what will replace it?

The baboons getting a new exhibit is really positive news. Does anyone have any guesses where in the zoo they might move to? Presumably their current exhibit will be demolished as well.
 
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