Welsh Mountain Zoo Memories Of Other UK Zoos

johnstoni said:
....the small mammal house with Quokka, ground or possibly even spotted Cuscus, and North American porcupines, other marsupials I can't remember, quite possibly tree kangaroos. Twycross and blackpool seemed to aqcuire an amazing range of unusual marsupials at one point together, which gradually died out over the decades. The ground cuscus and the odd wallaroo seem to be the remnants of this.
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in the book "Chimps With Everything: the story of Twycross Zoo" by Molly Badham (1979) it says (on page 130) that they were contacted by a woman called Anne Ulrich who had been doing work in New Guinea and had amassed a large collection of wildlife which she wanted to bring out of the country and donate to Twycross (I guess things like that were easier in those days!!). Amongst the animals were three spotted cuscus and fourteen tree kangaroos (apparently of various species?), as well as wallabies (unspecified) and a fruit bat. The quarantine was divided between Twycross and Blackpool, so presumably animals went to both zoos once quarantine was over.
 
Sable Antelopes at Paignton

Paignton's Annual Report for 1999/2000 says that 'our remaining Sable Antelope' went to Chester Zoo. Their house was demolished to make way for Monkey Heights.
 
Paradoxurus said:
During its time, Southampton exhibited many very unusual species: Elephant Seals (Chipperfields imported half a dozen or more at one time), King Penguins, Northern White Rhino, Black Rhino, Giant Pangolin, Bongo and Forest Elephant.
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They also had a young pair of Gorillas for a while in the late 60's. The male 'Jay Jay' died and the female 'Caroline' was bought by Bristol Zoo where she became the first gorilla to breed(baby died at 10 days) in the UK.

The female black rhino 'Thelma' was also sent from Southampton to Bristol Zoo.
 
Chlidonias said:
it says (on page 130) that they were contacted by a woman called Anne Ulrich who had been doing work in New Guinea and had amassed a large collection of wildlife which she wanted to bring out of the country and donate to Twycross among the animals were three spotted cuscus and fourteen tree kangaroos (apparently of various species?), as well as wallabies (unspecified) and a fruit bat. The quarantine was divided between Twycross and Blackpool, so presumably animals went to both zoos once quarantine was over.
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I thought it was strange that a relatively 'simplistic' collection (as Twycross was in those days) should have unusual species like cuscus. Now I understand how they came by them... There's always a reason...;)
 
Paignton memories

Gigit said:
Paignton's Annual Report for 1999/2000 says that 'our remaining Sable Antelope' went to Chester Zoo. Their house was demolished to make way for Monkey Heights.
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I remember the old cattle sheds at Paignton. Chiefly because it was a very long 'L' shaped building with many inside stalls- nearly all of which were empty! I can't actually remember any of the species held in there. Possibly camels and zebra (Grants Zebra were kept prior to the Hartmann's.)

I also remember some very ancient ungulate enclosures and the old Elephant house, both on /near where the Education building is. There was a female Red River Hog (one of only two in UK), and next door an 'equine hybrid' ,(Grevy zebra x Donkey or Horse) Later the black rhino 'Jasper' lived there until being sent to Port Lympne. The old Monkey house contained a wide assortment of Monkeys, plus Binturongs, while the small barred cages in 'Drill Row' had other monkeys including the Mandrills (previously there were Drills also but I never saw those) Further along from these were old regulation barred cages for species such as leopards and Black bears and across from them a small grassy paddock containing a single Cheetah.

You entered the zoo through the original small entrance by the main road, with the lion and tiger enclosures on the hill to your left as you walked down the main path.
 
Gigit said:
Paignton's Annual Report for 1999/2000 says that 'our remaining Sable Antelope' went to Chester Zoo. Their house was demolished to make way for Monkey Heights.
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The last remaining two left Chester in 2004/5, one to Belgium and one to France i think though i may be wrong
 
Plymouth Zoo

Hi
I was interested to see the film,that I posted on my website about Plymouth Zoo, on this site.The film was lent to me by David Marshall and the zoo keeper was Bill Marshall.There are lots of photos of the zoo on my website at:
Plymouth Zoo,Plymouth
I hope they'll bring back many happy memories for people who were visitors and also interest people who never got to see the zoo.
Best wishes,
Derek.
 
Pertinax said:
You entered the zoo through the original small entrance by the main road, with the lion and tiger enclosures on the hill to your left as you walked down the main path.
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The original entrance building is still there, and someone seems to be living in it.
 
I found my way to the Pathe News website via Derektait's post:

"There is a great colour video featuring Bill Marshall and the animals at Plymouth Zoo at the British Pathe News site.

Scroll down to 'Feeding Time'. You may have to register but it's free".

I've never been able to figure out how to view these films for free can anyone help?
 
Paradoxurus said:
Both Southampton and Plymouth were quarantine facilities for Chipperfields. They were perhaps the biggest animal importers of the time and were responsible for establishing many species in UK collections. Plymouth (1962-1977/8) was always better known as a quarantine station and Southampton (1961-1984/5) as a zoo.

During its time, Southampton exhibited many very unusual species: Elephant Seals (Chipperfields imported half a dozen or more at one time), King Penguins, Northern White Rhino, Black Rhino, Giant Pangolin, Bongo and Forest Elephant.

Animals which stocked the safari parks all passed through either of these two collections. A quarantine station was later opened at Salford though this was short-lived.
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Do you have more info on that forest elephant, or others, Paradoxus? Im trying to list the elephants at Elephants at Southampton Zoo in United Kingdom
 
johnstoni said:
The Plymouth Zoo clip is interesting. Wow, that's not a happy elephant. It also reminded me that Paignton kept, and bred sable antelope until a few years ago. What happened to them? Did they die out or were they moved away? Similarly, when I visited Paignton in 1993, there was a group of Red-faced Black Spider monkeys. Noting how long-lived they are, I wonder where they all went? Now only the Welsh Mountain Zoo, Twycross and London hold them in this country. Did Colwyn Bay recieve the Paignton animals at some point?
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i know that smokey was hand reared. not where or when though...
 
Paradoxurus said:
Both Southampton and Plymouth were quarantine facilities for Chipperfields. They were perhaps the biggest animal importers of the time and were responsible for establishing many species in UK collections. Plymouth (1962-1977/8) was always better known as a quarantine station and Southampton (1961-1984/5) as a zoo.

During its time, Southampton exhibited many very unusual species: Elephant Seals (Chipperfields imported half a dozen or more at one time), King Penguins, Northern White Rhino, Black Rhino, Giant Pangolin, Bongo and Forest Elephant.

Animals which stocked the safari parks all passed through either of these two collections. A quarantine station was later opened at Salford though this was short-lived.
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Hallo, Im going through old files, and updates, and noticed that some years ago you mentioned a forest elephant at S zoo at http://www.zoochat.com/38/memories-other-uk-zoos-13994/

Do you know the name of thet one, and more info?

Any other elephants you know by names, or where they came from/went?

I have only managed to list three africans there so far, you mentooned there were plenty?

http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1179&show=6
 
I don't know if this is the place to ask thi but does anyone recall the "Winter zoo" in the old town hall in Newcastle upon Tyne? I remember going as a child it was jus ta row of cages with animals in I think and must have ben about late 1960's I Have a memory of feeding a bear rich tea fingers through a shute but that may be miss remembering things. It could have bben a circus's animals in winter quarters.

Also I recall about the same time my brother who was very small running at Edinburgh zoo and a huge seal rearing up and scaring him to death any Idea if it was abull elephant seal at all? I certainly recall the size, but as I would be about 9 it possibly wasn't as large as i thought. It may even be on one of our home movies somewere in my parents house, the iside of the camel house definately is I remember seeing it.
 
The Newcastle winter zoo was operated by Associated Pleasure Parks. There was also one in Leeds and I think I have read somewhere one in Glasgow too, although I cannot imagine Glasgow Zoo would have been happy about that. There is a film of the Newcastle winter zoo online somewhere.
 
I've just watched it again. It's on YouTube. Not sure how to do a link for it I'm afraid, but it is easy enough to find.
 
Thanks for that lads I will have a look, I'm pleased I hadn't dreamt it up Dean
 
Well!!, i don't recall the elephant, may be they had different species at different times, It really is quite awful when you see it now, but in 1960's newcastle it was all we had. Do you recall the leopard in Robinsons pet shop at all TLD? As I recall it was there quite awhile and I longed for my parents to win the pools and buy it , we had the space but not the money and you didn't need a DWA licence either. I wonder what happened to the poor thing.
 
dean said:
Well!!, i don't recall the elephant, may be they had different species at different times, It really is quite awful when you see it now, but in 1960's newcastle it was all we had. Do you recall the leopard in Robinsons pet shop at all TLD? As I recall it was there quite awhile and I longed for my parents to win the pools and buy it , we had the space but not the money and you didn't need a DWA licence either. I wonder what happened to the poor thing.
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Long, LONG before my time I am afraid! I'm a child of the 1980's :p
 
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