Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo news 2024

Hoatzin said:
It's funny you mentioned "halt species extinction" as it's a bit baffling that last year the Wild Planet Trust (charity which runs both Paignton and Newquay Zoo) pulled out from financing five in-situ projects. Just go to Past Projects - Wild Planet Trust and you'll see what I am talking about: Ader's duiker, pink pigeon, Owston civet, Sulawesi crested macaques, and Vietnamese pheasant.
The fact that they pulled out of the Sulawesi crested macaques project is very depressing considering the Zoo runs the EEP for this species and the Trust fuonded Selamatkan Yaki (the in-situ NGO which deals with macaques conservation) in the first place back in 2007. Luckily Dublin Zoo picked up the funding of that NGO. It's also sad the Trust does not support anymore the Owston civet in-situ project anymore as they were imported in the UK in Newquay Zoo in 2004 and the zoo had run the EEP studbook for years (although the species has proved to be somewhat difficult to breed in captivity).
I don't know why the management team decided to get rid of these projects. They surely know it better than us and I hope that the money which was spent for supporting those projects will be diverted to make the zoo flourish again. But to me it looks like a waste of legacy, especially if "Helping to halt species decline" is your motto also in light of One Plan approach to conservation now followed by zoos (zoos should do both in situ and ex situ conservation) and the evergreen anti-zoo criticism that zoos do not anything or enough to prevent species extinction in their natural habitat.
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Thanks for this. So now the Trust supports local sea grass beds and the long running Omo Forest projects, both worthwhile campaigns, but a limited outreach scope as you say?
The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust used to publish all of its animal births, deaths and imports/exports etc. they (WPT) don’t appear to be as transparent.
 
TriUK said:
The current management blame the previous management team (bit like Westminster), who apparently left them with a long list of ‘to do’ infrastructure jobs.
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The current management team are mostly made up from the previous management team, with many reincarnations / made up job titles down the line, so they’re basically blaming themselves and not doing anything!
 
Couple of updates from a visit yesterday;
- a small group of Macacque individuals will move out of the main Monkey Heights group into a re-furbed parrot aviary (x2 cages together) to allow new females to be added.
- the Oriental Stork has moved back to the aviary opposite the spider monkeys - not sure where the red crowned cranes are?
- new doors have been added to the desert cacti house ready for the (porcupines?) new animals.
- one of the tiger sisters will move shortly to allow a breeding male to come in.
 
Not to interrupt the doom and gloom ....
but next Tuesday I will be visiting for an animal experience.
I was wondering if you had recommendations as to what would there be good to see?
 
dillotest0 said:
Not to interrupt the doom and gloom ....
but next Tuesday I will be visiting for an animal experience.
I was wondering if you had recommendations as to what would there be good to see?
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There are still many beautiful sections of the original botanical gardens to enjoy and some lovely sections of nature trail woodland.
Seeing the Orangs on the new Island structure is good, the amphibian house and bug houses are quality. The 2 best exhibits (Pileated gibbon & takin) are currently empty.
 
TriUK said:
….Oriental stork, Echidna, King Colobus & Diana Monkeys & Antillian Iguana.
Enjoy your visit.
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I saw all but the first.
The day was enjoyed.
Though I do find the area of ostriches, giraffes etc a bit unloved somehow?
And some species felt a bit misplaced... Ouessant sheep in middle of aforementioned bit and apparently Pied Tamarins are nocturnal.
Anyways .......
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full
 
dillotest0 said:
I saw all but the first.
The day was enjoyed.
Though I do find the area of ostriches, giraffes etc a bit unloved somehow?
And some species felt a bit misplaced... Ouessant sheep in middle of aforementioned bit and apparently Pied Tamarins are nocturnal.
Anyways .......
....
....
....
....
full
Click to expand...
didn't see the echidna either... but did 7 years ago xP
 
Glad you enjoyed your visit.

Unfortunately , most of the reviews on Tripadvisor & Google are getting worse & worse, except the ones where people are reviewing animal experiences which all get extremely positive feedback.

The Giraffe situation and the area surrounding the large mammal house is a mess.

The Takin quarry is closed as they await new residents and the Pallas’s Cat & Red Panda enclosures earmarked for that area have not yet started work.

The old Camel house and adjoining stables and paddocks have been left derelict. It looks awful, especially as the visitors eye is drawn in that direction as it’s a great sea view vista.

There is no reasonable signage explaining to guests why they may not see a giraffe or why they can’t enter the house and what is happening in that area in the future.

The new Baboon enclosure which should have been opening for the summer has stalled and is a huge area to be left as a building site.

The Savannah kiosks are closed.

There is no signage explaining that the Capybara/Tapir exhibit is under construction to house Pelicans.

The Echidna & Potoroo are normally always indoors in the now closed Nocturnal House, but the Mongoose ‘save the day’ here and make an excellent exhibit.

The lone Red Necked Ostrich needs, IMO, to be moved on or joined by a male.

Yes, I agree, the Savannah area is very much ‘unloved’, or rather, completely and embarrassingly mis-managed!!

However, the islands, new playground and Orang area are all looking good.

The zoo is on its knees at the moment. I give what I can, when I can, but something drastic needs to happen quickly to turn things around.
 
TriUK said:
Glad you enjoyed your visit.

Unfortunately , most of the reviews on Tripadvisor & Google are getting worse & worse, except the ones where people are reviewing animal experiences which all get extremely positive feedback.

The Giraffe situation and the area surrounding the large mammal house is a mess.

The Takin quarry is closed as they await new residents and the Pallas’s Cat & Red Panda enclosures earmarked for that area have not yet started work.

The old Camel house and adjoining stables and paddocks have been left derelict. It looks awful, especially as the visitors eye is drawn in that direction as it’s a great sea view vista.

There is no reasonable signage explaining to guests why they may not see a giraffe or why they can’t enter the house and what is happening in that area in the future.

The new Baboon enclosure which should have been opening for the summer has stalled and is a huge area to be left as a building site.

The Savannah kiosks are closed.

There is no signage explaining that the Capybara/Tapir exhibit is under construction to house Pelicans.

The Echidna & Potoroo are normally always indoors in the now closed Nocturnal House, but the Mongoose ‘save the day’ here and make an excellent exhibit.

The lone Red Necked Ostrich needs, IMO, to be moved on or joined by a male.

Yes, I agree, the Savannah area is very much ‘unloved’, or rather, completely and embarrassingly mis-managed!!

However, the islands, new playground and Orang area are all looking good.

The zoo is on its knees at the moment. I give what I can, when I can, but something drastic needs to happen quickly to turn things around.
Click to expand...
It is sad to think that Paignton is in a Dark Stage at the moment but all being good, the team and public should hoist Paignton back into the spot light. Paignton has been a long time favourite for me and to see it in this state does make me feel saddened. Before the pandemic, the site was always enjoyable (and still is to the average Zoo ‘Nerd’) and its sister zoo Living Coasts was amazing. Since then, the zoo just hasn’t been able to cope with rising inflation e.t.c.
 
TriUK said:
Glad you enjoyed your visit.

Unfortunately , most of the reviews on Tripadvisor & Google are getting worse & worse, except the ones where people are reviewing animal experiences which all get extremely positive feedback.

The Giraffe situation and the area surrounding the large mammal house is a mess.

The Takin quarry is closed as they await new residents and the Pallas’s Cat & Red Panda enclosures earmarked for that area have not yet started work.

The old Camel house and adjoining stables and paddocks have been left derelict. It looks awful, especially as the visitors eye is drawn in that direction as it’s a great sea view vista.

There is no reasonable signage explaining to guests why they may not see a giraffe or why they can’t enter the house and what is happening in that area in the future.

The new Baboon enclosure which should have been opening for the summer has stalled and is a huge area to be left as a building site.

The Savannah kiosks are closed.

There is no signage explaining that the Capybara/Tapir exhibit is under construction to house Pelicans.

The Echidna & Potoroo are normally always indoors in the now closed Nocturnal House, but the Mongoose ‘save the day’ here and make an excellent exhibit.

The lone Red Necked Ostrich needs, IMO, to be moved on or joined by a male.

Yes, I agree, the Savannah area is very much ‘unloved’, or rather, completely and embarrassingly mis-managed!!

However, the islands, new playground and Orang area are all looking good.

The zoo is on its knees at the moment. I give what I can, when I can, but something drastic needs to happen quickly to turn things around.
Click to expand...

Dr. Loxodonta said:
It is sad to think that Paignton is in a Dark Stage at the moment but all being good, the team and public should hoist Paignton back into the spot light.
Click to expand...
I will say two things.
Paignton is not a zoo I regularly [read: roughly annually] visit; and my visit was one off.
So my thoughts would naturally not be those of one who regularly visits the zoo.
Saying that I will say that there were areas of the zoo which I felt were unloved; Savannah as above, and also Desert House. Much as I love a good cactus!
And also in many trips of mine to whichever zoo I usually don't do the whole thing. Oftentimes when there is a target species, I will base my route around that unless the rest of the zoo is similarly dense. Sometimes it doesn't work that well; in Tierpark Berlin this led to me missing harpy eagle and co; but for Paignton it works.
 
Dr. Loxodonta said:
It is sad to think that Paignton is in a Dark Stage at the moment but all being good, the team and public should hoist Paignton back into the spot light. Paignton has been a long time favourite for me and to see it in this state does make me feel saddened. Before the pandemic, the site was always enjoyable (and still is to the average Zoo ‘Nerd’) and its sister zoo Living Coasts was amazing. Since then, the zoo just hasn’t been able to cope with rising inflation e.t.c.
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I agree, and hope beyond hope that things improve - fingers crossed!
 
TriUK said:
Glad you enjoyed your visit.

Unfortunately , most of the reviews on Tripadvisor & Google are getting worse & worse, except the ones where people are reviewing animal experiences which all get extremely positive feedback.

The Giraffe situation and the area surrounding the large mammal house is a mess.

The Takin quarry is closed as they await new residents and the Pallas’s Cat & Red Panda enclosures earmarked for that area have not yet started work.

The old Camel house and adjoining stables and paddocks have been left derelict. It looks awful, especially as the visitors eye is drawn in that direction as it’s a great sea view vista.

There is no reasonable signage explaining to guests why they may not see a giraffe or why they can’t enter the house and what is happening in that area in the future.

The new Baboon enclosure which should have been opening for the summer has stalled and is a huge area to be left as a building site.

The Savannah kiosks are closed.

There is no signage explaining that the Capybara/Tapir exhibit is under construction to house Pelicans.

The Echidna & Potoroo are normally always indoors in the now closed Nocturnal House, but the Mongoose ‘save the day’ here and make an excellent exhibit.

The lone Red Necked Ostrich needs, IMO, to be moved on or joined by a male.

Yes, I agree, the Savannah area is very much ‘unloved’, or rather, completely and embarrassingly mis-managed!!

However, the islands, new playground and Orang area are all looking good.

The zoo is on its knees at the moment. I give what I can, when I can, but something drastic needs to happen quickly to turn things around.
Click to expand...
Could some sort of crowdfunding or fundraiser be a potential solution? Not a be-all and end-all by any means, but something along those lines could help pull the zoo out of the mud and allow them to get back on their feet. It's very obvious from the last couple of years that they're trying everything they can with what little money they have available to try and bring things back up, and with how much so many people care about Paignton Zoo (people leaving negative TripAdvisor reviews aside), there could well be some scope in this. I'm sure there'll be a host of reasons why this won't work as well as we might hope, but hey, it's something.
 
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