Wildheart(Isle of Wight) are trying to raise £225,000 to rehome a pair of bears from Azerbaijan & Big Cat Sanctuary are trying to raise £500,000 to rehome 5 lions. Albeit so far BCS are very close to their target & Wildheart have raised over £150,000.
Now obviously anyone that is connected to Paignton(via jobs, family member working there, locals etc) will choose them, however that does mean there are 3 big fundraising campaigns ongoing. Hopefully Paignton will hit their tagert soon and all will be good
RESCUE/FUND-RAISING ANIMAL RELOCATION
The money raised by these institutions would be far better spent on in situ wildlife and nature conservation than in rescue of individueel animals long distance! Remember that this 875,000GBP would make a huge difference in situ compared to what it does in the UK.
These initiatives do nothing to resolve local conditions for wildlife, zoo animals nor public awareness and concern among the general public that there are more cost effective methods, tools and facilities to accomplish this. Finally, I remain strongly convinced zoos should focus primarily on ex situ conservation, public awareness and managing sustainably zoo populations of both exhibit and threatened animal species.
To me, those GBP's would best serve establishing long term sustainable bear conservation and rehabilitation programmes in situ. This both designed to re-establish Syrian / Caucasus bears to their natural range as well as support zoos and other ex situ (rehabilitation) facilities in-country to provide a refuge for dancing bears or those kept inadequately in peoples' homes.
For the zoo part and animals from sub-par facilities the focus should be on the existing EAZA working group to assist, support and improve sub-standard zoos in central, southern and eastern Europe and Eurasia and assist in the creation of more and modern purposed zoo facilities with adequate financial support and funding to do so.
PAIGNTON ZOO ON-TOPIC:
If this were so Paignton Zoo - which is probably the largest ex situ conservation oriented zoo facility locally with an pre-existing conservation body for in situ - would have a much fairer ground to seek the investment and funding it requires to improve and build upon the present-day zoo.
I agree with
@TriUK ... that the new CEO (and his current team) are doing exactly what the last - underperforming - team and those before "them" to make any past Masterplan more of a reality. I am glad the CEO recognises that popular exhibits like giraffe or crocodile will go along way to regain visitor numbers, populatiry and ascendency for the zoo to make PZ even better than it once was!!!!!!
