Paignton Zoo Orangutan Island/Lemur Wood

P

Pertinax

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Gigit. I've scrutinised the map again and I'm still not clear if Lemur Wood has taken some of the original Orangutan Island? The perimeter viewing path looks the same at that end and where it circles round it used to overlook the end of the Orangutan island, where the big tall Alder and willow trees are. Has the Orang's island remained unchanged or have they shortcircuited the moat and cut of this portion or have they changed the perimeter path? ( I don't remember any other trees there to make a lemur wood otherwise).
 
I'm confused now! The lemur wood trees are a lot more substantial than those on the orangutan island. I've had a look throught my collection of Zoo News and see that the orang island was built in 1998 but was revamped in 2002 when the moat was re-lined. The lemurs arrived in 2003 when their house was built. I arrived in 2004, although I'd visited regularly before then, but maybe hadn't studied the layout in great depth.
So you could be right! I'll look more closely at the trees next time I visit.




[photo=14087;613;Paignton_Zoo_Map_002.jpg]Map of Paignton Zoo[/photo]
 
Gigit said:
The lemurs arrived in 2003 when their house was built. I arrived in 2004, although I'd visited regularly before then, but maybe hadn't studied the layout in great depth.
So you could be right! I'll look more closely at the trees next time I visit.
Click to expand...


I was going to ask when you arrived there but as you visited previously, it probably doesn't have any bearing. I last visited (I think) in 2005 and I can't actually remember the Lemur 'wood' then though by your dates it was there. In 2005 I don't remember the Orangutan Island having been altered in size at all.

It really needs a couple of photos to resolve this- any good with a camera? :)
 
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im visiting on the 16th september will be the secound time last time was about 3-4 years ago and i dont remeber to much for some reason
 
I wore my surveyor's hat (helmet?) today and my extremely unprofessional opinion is that the lemurs haven't taken over part of the orangutan island. When you get past the end of the island and the moat, the ground dips away. The U shaped path in lemur wood appears to have been built up above the level of the ground,which is damp and has a stream running through. The two lemur houses are on the edge of the path. The trees in the middle are tall and appear to be ash, alder and willow. There is woodland on the outer edge of the path with the stream flowing away down the valley to the SE.
It's not easy to get a good view but here are some photos. They show the gibbon house and the end of the orangutan island, the red fronted lemur house, and the poles being put up on the end of the orangutan island for the gibbons. Hopefully you can see the trees on the island and in the wood (can't see the wood for the trees?!) and will be able to judge for yourself :)


[photo=14570;613;Picture_0081.jpg]Orangutan Island & Lemur Wood[/photo]
[photo=14569;613;Picture_0031.jpg]Orangutan Island & Lemur Wood[/photo]
[photo=14568;613;Picture_0021.jpg]Orangutan Island & Lemur Wood[/photo]
[photo=14567;613;Picture_0012.jpg]Orangutan Island & Lemur Wood[/photo]
 
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I think the Lemur wood was already there, it just didn't house the Lemurs.
It was a sort of nature walk.
 
I read this with interest, because I got very confused by the geography when I was in this corner of the zoo. The path around the gorilla and orang islands wanders around so much that I found it hard to tell whether the gibbons were going to get access to the same island as the orangs or not. It didn't help that a team was working on the gibbon house and the adjacent entrance to the lemurs.
I think I've got it clear now. Thank you Gigit :)

Alan
 
ashley-h said:
I think the Lemur wood was already there, it just didn't house the Lemurs.
It was a sort of nature walk.
Click to expand...

The nature walk is still there. There's a fence to try and prevent the lemurs crossing over to it, although I have seen them in it in the past. I've also seen them near the rhinos and when lemur wood opened, some went over to the restaurant! I think the zoo has found ways of containing them now.
 
Gigit said:
Hopefully you can see the trees on the island and in the wood (can't see the wood for the trees?!) and will be able to judge for yourself :)
Click to expand...

Well done secret agent Gigit- another mission successfully accomplished.:) It looks to me as if the Orangutan island/moat is unchanged - I reckon I'd have to visit again to understand the layout of Lemur Wood as I don't recollect this area very well. It will be good though to see some Gibbons using those taller trees on the Orangutans' island when they've sorted the teething problems out.
 
gentle lemur said:
the path around the gorilla and orang islands wanders around so much that I found it hard to tell whether the gibbons were going to get access to the same island as the orangs or not.
Click to expand...

Not wishing to be overly critical here but I've always felt the pathways and viewing facilities around the outside Ape Islands at Paignton are badly designed. Apart from along one side of the orangutan island(which is usually deserted anyway), there are very few vantage points where you can see onto the islands. Its particularly difficult to see the Gorillas outdoors, let alone photograph them easily. Cutting back some of the vegetation on the visitors side would help. I know they designed it this way to give a more natural feel but I think it just makes for very poor viewing. They should look at London or Bristol Gorilla outside exhibits, or at Chester's for Orangutans.
 
Pertinax said:
Well done secret agent Gigit- another mission successfully accomplished.:)
Click to expand...

Thankyou, M, or should that be P? Does that mean a pay rise?
I've noticed that since the orangutans have started to go outside again, they (the staff, not the orangtans) have cut back shrubs along the paths, particularly the dead end one, and round the edge of the island. You can still go all the way round and not see them though.
 
worst thing about Paignton.

I'll tell you the worst thing about Paignton Zoo- its not even in the zoo either. Its GETTING THERE! In my opinion Paignton is the worst major zoo in the UK to access by car. Nowadays I've taken to coming from the Totnes direction but even that road can be rather slow and the last bit with all the traffic lights, and turning into the zoo/supermarket area, terrible....unless its been changed recently?

Easiest major Zoo to access(by car)?- Twycross (my favourite ;) )
 
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