Interesting photos. You don't have any of the old Elephant exhibit do you? Actually any older photos of the zoo would be most welcome. I visited as a small child in 1966 (I remember only the Lions, Elephant exhibit and the free-ranging Peafowl) and then not again until 1998 so I missed much of the older accommodation.
In the old Elephant enclosure, there was a place where Duchess could reach over the wall with her trunk and more or less give you a cuddle.
The old Tropical House was lovely, with that big pond. Any pictures of the 'old' Paignton Zoo would be welcome.
I'll go back to the loft for another look. I surprised myself with the zoo photos I found while searching for something else.
I remember Duchess and Gaye almost helping themselves to people's belongings! When I took this photo, Nakal had been stretching an arm out through the bars to reach a bit of cardboard and was easily within touching distance.
And there's a photo at Windsor Safari Park in 1977 of a family member on one side of a metal fence with a rhino right next to him on the other
