Now that the Bison have/will be gone, will the Tapirs get the field the Bison have at the moment? Don't like seeing them in that tiny yard they're in now
... "where we all hope he will have a happy and prosperous life"...
I'm sorry Paignton won't keep Bison anymore- I always enjoyed seeing them in their little paddock and a very 'educational' species given the story of how they were nearly exterminated. I've nothing against Anoa but in my book they aren't such a good exhibit
Bison need to live in larger groups and have more space than Paignton could provide. The Anoa don't attract people like the Bison did - I've heard passers-by calling them baby bison and goats (as they walk past the information sign, of course!).
A very small group would be okay in one of their hillside paddocks but they've gone now and won't be back...
Whipsnade got rid of their American bison but six years later reinstated a pair (they now have 3 i Think) But the reason was not their popularity with zoo visitors, it was because the local residents claimed they missed the Bison on the landmark 'Bison Hill'- a windswept hillside on the edge of the zoo which is visible from miles around. So they had a 'Bring Back the Bison' campaign and won. I'm glad they are back there too.
