Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2023

They can take a while to show but it can be worth it... When I went to Berlin I waited for a solid ten minutes to see the kiwi (my dad was particularly adamant about seeing one :p) and managed to see two of them in the end. :)

I haven't been to Paignton (a bit far for me) but you would think having the only kiwi in the UK would be quite a draw and having it visible would be priority... Then again I am a Chester local and they took the tuatara off show so what do I know. ;):p
 
Fallax said:
They can take a while to show but it can be worth it... When I went to Berlin I waited for a solid ten minutes to see the kiwi (my dad was particularly adamant about seeing one :p) and managed to see two of them in the end. :)

I haven't been to Paignton (a bit far for me) but you would think having the only kiwi in the UK would be quite a draw and having it visible would be priority... Then again I am a Chester local and they took the tuatara off show so what do I know. ;):p
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10 mins would definitely be ok I’ve waited a couple of hours or more at a single enclosure for things to show or wake up before! I am quite tempted to visit to see it (well to try, I never set my heart on one thing as it’s not the best way to have an enjoyable day).
 
Lafone said:
10 mins would definitely be ok I’ve waited a couple of hours or more at a single enclosure for things to show or wake up before! I am quite tempted to visit to see it (well to try, I never set my heart on one thing as it’s not the best way to have an enjoyable day).
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If I'm at a zoo on my own, ten minutes is nothing but being with family it was unprecedented for me. ;)
 
Rajang21 said:
Why should the aim be to breed? I don't know how well-represented his genes are in the population, but zoo animals don't exist just to be bred.
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Goes against the way zoos are meant to be run now, if not to be supplementing endangered species and looking to have reserves that could go back to the wild. Conservation should be the most important message, granted not everything should be just there to breed, but with zoos keen to bang the conservation drum, having singular non breeding animals, is just fuel for antis.
 
Alwaysevergreen said:
Goes against the way zoos are meant to be run now, if not to be supplementing endangered species and looking to have reserves that could go back to the wild. Conservation should be the most important message, granted not everything should be just there to breed, but with zoos keen to bang the conservation drum, having singular non breeding animals, is just fuel for antis.
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It does not go against how zoos are meant to be run - zoos have a much wider purpose than just breeding, and their conservation work is not based solely on breeding.
 
Fallax said:
They can take a while to show but it can be worth it... When I went to Berlin I waited for a solid ten minutes to see the kiwi (my dad was particularly adamant about seeing one :p) and managed to see two of them in the end.
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I was popping in and out for damn near an hour, doing the rest of the bird house in between to keep the girlfriend entertained. Didn't see them once, which was a real disappointment - although I did get a good view of the morepork.

...And it was only then I was told they weren't on show that day. Probably should have asked about that earlier.

The experience price does seem excessive but I don't doubt people will pay it. But given I've budgeted another Berlin trip for not too much more, I think I'll try my chances there again
 
Rajang21 said:
It does not go against how zoos are meant to be run - zoos have a much wider purpose than just breeding, and their conservation work is not based solely on breeding.
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In this case, of Paigntons Kiwi, many of us find it extremely frustrating that he’s not on display. I would understand if he was off show to breed, but he’s not.
Up until very recently, Paignton had representative birds of all species of Ratite. This was an educational opportunity that few zoos have the luxury of using.
If he’s surplus to breeding programme requirements, the zoo should say so and explain the benefits of keeping him at Paignton, as I’m sure there are plenty.
 
Does the kiwi still have access to the aviary during opening hours? I appreciate he will not come outside in daylight but he was technically never off-show while I was at Paignton regularly.
 
Rajang21 said:
Does the kiwi still have access to the aviary during opening hours? I appreciate he will not come outside in daylight but he was technically never off-show while I was at Paignton regularly.
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I believe outside access has always been blocked during opening hours, despite the fact the outside exhibit was signposted for the species.
 
Rajang21 said:
Does the kiwi still have access to the aviary during opening hours? I appreciate he will not come outside in daylight but he was technically never off-show while I was at Paignton regularly.
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The hatch from the house is opened, usually just before closing time and he is then allowed access all night. It has never been open at 10 am, through to closing on any of the (many - once a week at least) visits I’ve made. I’ve also asked staff. He usually has access to at least one of the adjoining aviaries (Toco’s) which makes it a sizeable and functional space.
 
He has a wooden box he sleeps in during the day (with a lid that comes off for feeding/cleaning). From what I can remember when I saw him he could come out of his box into the inside sheltered area but the bottom door was closed so he couldn’t access outside during the day but has access after hours. He was sharing an aviary with some parrots (I want to say Kakariki but my mind is very fuzzy and this was back in 2019).
 
ISOE said:
He has a wooden box he sleeps in during the day (with a lid that comes off for feeding/cleaning). From what I can remember when I saw him he could come out of his box into the inside sheltered area but the bottom door was closed so he couldn’t access outside during the day but has access after hours. He was sharing an aviary with some parrots (I want to say Kakariki but my mind is very fuzzy and this was back in 2019).
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Thanks. Correct on the Kakariki, although the flock is now fewer in number.
 
It’s been fun watching the pups at Shepreth and with Zorro now in his new home at Hamerton, if this is the same Lua then another successful move for the pups is great to see.
 
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