Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo news 2025

TriUK said:
The cassowaries were due to leave for Chester in a move that had been signed off by the previous regime of Flynn. The keepers had been asking for improvements to the on and off show areas for years. Chester even released a video where their keepers were excitedly explaining how their own pair would retire off show to accommodate Paigntons pair in breeding. For many members at Paignton, this was the ‘final straw’, the reality of another iconic species being lost. The acting CEO and his team correctly overturned this decision (I’m sure with an apology to Chester) and found the resources to correct the fencing, ditches and keepers area to allow breeding. If the Cassowaries had gone, it would have left one pair of Ural Owls in the space between the tiger and lion viewing. The Cassowary at Paignton are a firm favourite with all guests and the woodland paddocks there are good. Fingers crossed for breeding success and thank you to everyone involved in enabling the possibility.
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Thank you, it makes sense now
 
Strathmorezoo said:
The zoos newsletter says that the zoo has welcomed two new residents. A female Red Panda from Les Terres de Natae, France and a female Brown Spider Monkey from Zoo Amiens Metropole. The female Red Panda is visible from 18th of June but, the female Brown Spider Monkey will initially stay offshow.
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Fantastic news, namely that imports from the continent are happening.
 
Re. Spider monkeys at PZ; I’m glad the group appears to be growing, with the Twycross female and now this one from France. What is the ideal troop size for breeding and/or is PZ now a holder of ‘retired’ individuals?
Last year, the current Mangabey enclosure was completely overhauled inside and refurbished with the intention of moving the spider monkeys in, only for it to not happen. I often feel like they’d be better on one of the islands as there isn’t much height in their current exhibit, having been designed initially for Celebes macaques?
 
TriUK said:
Last year, the current Mangabey enclosure was completely overhauled inside and refurbished with the intention of moving the spider monkeys in, only for it to not happen. I often feel like they’d be better on one of the islands as there isn’t much height in their current exhibit, having been designed initially for Celebes macaques?
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The indoors was also improved 5+ years ago but the move never never happened. The spiders would certainly look better up at monkey heights, especially with the height of the house. That said, I would like to see the outdoor improved if that did ever happen (I last saw the mangabey outdoors in Jan, so apologies if it has been improved since).
 
Does the zoo still keep Coconut Crabs in 'Bugs at Home' and any advice for seeing them? Also, after its reopening, what non-crocodilians inhabit 'Crocodile Swamp,' as ZTL seems to suggest there are only Cubans and Tomistomas left at the collection?

EDIT: Another question that I forgot to add as I'm embarassingly not remotely up-to-date on Paignton at the moment: is the plan still to get more takin for the old quarry, is there any idea when they will arrive, and is it at all possible to see the quarry whilst it is empty?
 
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Kalaw said:
Does the zoo still keep Coconut Crabs in 'Bugs at Home' and any advice for seeing them? Also, after its reopening, what non-crocodilians inhabit 'Crocodile Swamp,' as ZTL seems to suggest there are only Cubans and Tomistomas left at the collection?

EDIT: Another question that I forgot to add as I'm embarassingly not remotely up-to-date on Paignton at the moment: is the plan still to get more takin for the old quarry, is there any idea when they will arrive, and is it at all possible to see the quarry whilst it is empty?
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There is one Cuban and one Tomistoma. No other crocodilians are on show.
There is a mangrove monitor lizard, a pair of Caiman lizards and a Reticulated Python in the swamp, plus two yellow spotted turtles.
The quarry currently has two Kune Kune pigs residing there - very underwhelming and embarrassingly, in my opinion, a waste of a truly wonderful exhibit.
The Takin move of males (I believe this to be true) from HWP has been delayed many times. I’m not certain, but hot weather last summer and then some other factors have kept them from arriving. I’m not sure if it’s still ‘on’ or not?
Not sure about the crabs?
 
TriUK said:
The quarry currently has two Kune Kune pigs residing there - very underwhelming and embarrassingly, in my opinion, a waste of a truly wonderful exhibit.
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Geez, really? They seriously couldn't have put some goats in there instead?

I get that Kunekune pigs are cute, and cute species are always crowd pleasers, but surely a domestic species that can actually climb would've made better use of the exhibit during their time there as temporary placeholders.
 
Wisp O' Mist said:
Geez, really? They seriously couldn't have put some goats in there instead?

I get that Kunekune pigs are cute, and cute species are always crowd pleasers, but surely a domestic species that can actually climb would've made better use of the exhibit during their time there as temporary placeholders.
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Yup! Exactly. I think they need an experienced curator - quick!
 
Pertinax said:
What's the situation with the new zebra stables, still empty? And the new baboon enclosure, any developments? And still just the single rhino?
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Zebra area still empty, but, the giraffe herd are using that area again. There is no movement on the baboon enclosure on the hill, but the proposed viewing area is now open - I guess it’s another quiet picnic area to sit in during the summer? There is new off- show caging (looks like squeeze tunnels or outer holding areas, in the back of Baboon Rock.
I think the giraffe house development will take precedent over the baboon hill. The zoo also have planning open & granted for a new lion house viewing area, new flamingo house and lemur wood house.
Manyara is still living alone in the rhino house, but he has both sides. He doesn’t use the upper paddock opposite the mandrills.
Jumamji, the dominant male mandrill died some months ago, but the remaining older male will not develop his dominant colours and muscularity as he was castrated long ago.
It looks like skunk will arrive soon to go into the old Ranch Farm pig paddock opposite the Dik Dik and a new nocturnal animal to replace the recently departed Goeldi monkeys, who didn’t have outdoor access.
 
TriUK said:
Yup! Exactly. I think they need an experienced curator - quick!
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I got the impression from the social media (there was a short reel on the zoo’s Instagram page a couple months back) that the quarry was a temporary summer holding for the pigs, and part of the reason they were there was so it could be grazed and maintained better for the time being. I might be misremembering, but it seems like this is a short-term thing before they’re able to move something more exciting there.
 
pendraig_milnerae said:
I got the impression from the social media (there was a short reel on the zoo’s Instagram page a couple months back) that the quarry was a temporary summer holding for the pigs, and part of the reason they were there was so it could be grazed and maintained better for the time being. I might be misremembering, but it seems like this is a short-term thing before they’re able to move something more exciting there.
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That would be great. Fingers crossed!
 
TriUK said:
Jumamji, the dominant male mandrill died some months ago, but the remaining older male will not develop his dominant colours and muscularity as he was castrated long ago.
.
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I remember Jumanji and sorry to hear he is gone. Perhaps in time they will bring in a new unrelated (and therefore uncastrated) male to breed from again, or will they just leave them as they are? who knows.
 
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