Drago
Well-Known Member
I saw her last Sunday and she looked like she'd settled in well. I didn't know then that she'd only been there a few days! The male Kasai? was in the enclosure with her, but they stayed apart.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Can any Paignton regular confirm the arrival of Western Caucasian Tur,as the species is now on zootierlist for Paignton,and I was wondering if somebody has mis-id Barbary Sheep as the Tur!
ZootierlisteHomepage
ZootierlisteHomepage
Looking around, there is a photo on the Paignton Zoo Facebook page from 26 August that shows an animal that looks more like a tur than a Barbary sheep.
Might it be a recommendation on the part of EAZA/EEP with tur as the preferred species?
Sadly, most Barbary sheep in Europe are hybrids and or unknowns. Only very few pure-breds exist - Lybian / West Saharan and both sadly very endangered - and this more or less thanks to Almeria.
I would like to see more of the latter in EAZA collections!
Sadly, most Barbary sheep in Europe are hybrids and or unknowns. Only very few pure-breds exist - Lybian / West Saharan and both sadly very endangered - and this more or less thanks to Almeria.
I would like to see more of the latter in EAZA collections!
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
Sadly, most Barbary sheep in Europe are hybrids and or unknowns. Only very few pure-breds exist - Lybian / West Saharan and both sadly very endangered - and this more or less thanks to Almeria.
I would like to see more of the latter in EAZA collections!
I agree. At the risk of barging London into a Paignton thread, Barbary Sheep were fixtures and fittings at London for so many years - it would be lovely to have a flock back somewhere on the site.
Indeed; even if it does mean another visit to Paignton might be a good idea 
If it is indeed a tur, I'm vaguely surprised it is Paignton that has got one, rather than Highland Wildlife Park.
If it is indeed a tur, I'm vaguely surprised it is Paignton that has got one, rather than Highland Wildlife Park.
Excellent news; what is the gender balance of these individuals?
Excellent; I hope this bodes well for future developments
Jordan-Jaguar97
Well-Known Member
Fantastic news!
this is excellent, by my count that's three caprid species they now hold; takin, Barbary sheep and now the tur as well. Let's hope they can find some more quarry to fence in!
Any idea what demolition work is for? Hopefully a new exhibit of some kind.
No new exhibit, just to get rid of old defunct buildings which have been past their 'sell by date' for a very long time. Area will be grassed over for present time. Meerkat enclosure range will also disappear.
Meerkats and porcupine in Nocturnal House at present.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that Polar Bear I knew if anybody would be able to confirm it you would,excellent news that its true,I think that might bring forward a visit!
Drago
Well-Known Member
On my last visit in Spetember Paignton has indeed got four Causasian turs that arrived in August.
The small mammal house has been locked for ages. The hornbills beside it recently moved to the new aviary down by the maned Wolves. The three enclosures that held the meerkats & crested Porcupine had one section shut off for redeveloment for a while, with no work appearing to be done. The crested Porcupine didn't appear to be in it's enclosre on my previous visit either, though the meerkats still were.
The small mammal house has been locked for ages. The hornbills beside it recently moved to the new aviary down by the maned Wolves. The three enclosures that held the meerkats & crested Porcupine had one section shut off for redeveloment for a while, with no work appearing to be done. The crested Porcupine didn't appear to be in it's enclosre on my previous visit either, though the meerkats still were.
I was very sorry to see the Small Mammal House and surrounding area fenced off for demolition last week - another historic zoo building on the way out. The noise from the contractors' vehicles disturbed the bird show birds too!
I nearly missed the Tur and was quite lucky to see them (well three of them). On the 21st I had nipped to Shaldon in the morning and then back to Paignton. I popped into the Barbary Sheep area around five o'clock and saw the animals confined to the hardstanding and house. I thought they must have been shut in for the night for some reason and as I could see the sheep I did not venture towards the main part of the exhibit. The following day I went to see the sheep a little earlier in the day and again saw the gate to the quarry area closed and the animals around the house- again no need to venture further! On Friday 27th, sticking to my usual routine of ending my holiday with another full day at Paignton having dashed off early in the morning to other collections Monday to Thursday, I once more left it until late in the day to visit the Barbary Sheep - I had just been to say farewell to Duchess and was hastening towards the parrot section. There were the sheep on the hardstanding again with the gate closed, but this time I saw some animals at the front of the main area. I presumed they were more Barbary Sheep, but fortunately I went up for a look - cue great excitement and frantic photography, not to mention cursing myself for having missed the Tur previously.
I nearly missed the Tur and was quite lucky to see them (well three of them). On the 21st I had nipped to Shaldon in the morning and then back to Paignton. I popped into the Barbary Sheep area around five o'clock and saw the animals confined to the hardstanding and house. I thought they must have been shut in for the night for some reason and as I could see the sheep I did not venture towards the main part of the exhibit. The following day I went to see the sheep a little earlier in the day and again saw the gate to the quarry area closed and the animals around the house- again no need to venture further! On Friday 27th, sticking to my usual routine of ending my holiday with another full day at Paignton having dashed off early in the morning to other collections Monday to Thursday, I once more left it until late in the day to visit the Barbary Sheep - I had just been to say farewell to Duchess and was hastening towards the parrot section. There were the sheep on the hardstanding again with the gate closed, but this time I saw some animals at the front of the main area. I presumed they were more Barbary Sheep, but fortunately I went up for a look - cue great excitement and frantic photography, not to mention cursing myself for having missed the Tur previously.
I trust photographs are forthcoming