TheZooUK
Active Member
Axe Valley Wildlife Park
Exmoor Zoo
Hemsley Conservation Centre
All Things Wild
Hamerton Zoo
Exmoor Zoo
Hemsley Conservation Centre
All Things Wild
Hamerton Zoo
Best UK Tayra Enclosure
- Thread starter TheZooUK
- Start date
Thanks, that explains why I didn't see them, I was there in October! I didn't mean that other Axe Valley enclosures were unimpressive though, I was referring to all the other 4 Tayra ones at the other zoos! I haven't seen a really good one anywhere!
Really?! Why is that a contender?
felis silvestris
Well-Known Member
Interesting, I have not actually seen any of them but Exmoor looks the best, so it gets my vote. This would be my list:
1. Exmoor
2. Hamerton
3. Hemsley
4. Axe valley
N/A all things wild
1. Exmoor
2. Hamerton
3. Hemsley
4. Axe valley
N/A all things wild
I agree exmoor looks the best, but is definitely the smallest by some distance I suspect. Hemsley is the worst for me, it looks like something myself and another unskilled volunteer could knock up in a couple of hours! Note - I like Hemsley and visit fairly regularly, but for the species, certainly not its exhibits which won't win any awards soon!!
Also, I think All things Wild could challenge as best of a bad lot!!
Ax Valley probably would be number 1 if it wasn’t so bear, it could do with some planting
I have only visited Hamerton out of these zoos but I am due to visit Exmoor in the next couple of weeks. Based on the photos I would choose Exmoor because of the the foliage... although it’s scale is hard to gauge in this photo.
Definitely agree that Tayra in the UK don’t seem to get the best enclosures, but it also makes me realise that none of the more wealthy zoos in the country keep them.
Definitely agree that Tayra in the UK don’t seem to get the best enclosures, but it also makes me realise that none of the more wealthy zoos in the country keep them.
Firstly, the exhibit shown for Exmoor currently holds Yellow Throated Marten, not Tayra. The Tayra are held next to the Sand Cats, and opposite the Binturong (I'll try and find a photo somewhere after posting this).
Keeping everything in mind, here's how I'd rank the exhibits - Exmoor and Hamerton probably tie for the top spot.
1/2. Exmoor - a great all rounder. Good viewing, lots of foliage and climbing opportunities, but not the largest.
1/2. Hamerton - likely the largest exhibit, with lots of climbing opportunities, but a little bare in terms of plant life. A very commendable breeding record too.
3. All Things Wild - A decent all rounder again. With multiple exhibits, and a large on show indoor section. Since the photos shown here were taken, more climbing structures and plants have been added. However, it doesn't provide much height, like Exmoor or Hamerton do.
4. Axe Valley - relatively new and built "in house", but good quality. Lots of branches for climbing, and larger than the photos make it out to be (but it's still not large). The clear pannels also make viewing better than some other exhibits. However, it's lacking any greenery, is fairly low, and only their indoor exhibit offers restbite from the public.
5. Hemsley Conservation Centre - Whilst I've not seen this exhibit in person like I have the others, from photos I've seen and from speaking to those that have visited, the build quality is very poor. The space doesn't seem to have been utilised as well as the other exhibits, but can be commended for featuring some plant life.
Keeping everything in mind, here's how I'd rank the exhibits - Exmoor and Hamerton probably tie for the top spot.
1/2. Exmoor - a great all rounder. Good viewing, lots of foliage and climbing opportunities, but not the largest.
1/2. Hamerton - likely the largest exhibit, with lots of climbing opportunities, but a little bare in terms of plant life. A very commendable breeding record too.
3. All Things Wild - A decent all rounder again. With multiple exhibits, and a large on show indoor section. Since the photos shown here were taken, more climbing structures and plants have been added. However, it doesn't provide much height, like Exmoor or Hamerton do.
4. Axe Valley - relatively new and built "in house", but good quality. Lots of branches for climbing, and larger than the photos make it out to be (but it's still not large). The clear pannels also make viewing better than some other exhibits. However, it's lacking any greenery, is fairly low, and only their indoor exhibit offers restbite from the public.
5. Hemsley Conservation Centre - Whilst I've not seen this exhibit in person like I have the others, from photos I've seen and from speaking to those that have visited, the build quality is very poor. The space doesn't seem to have been utilised as well as the other exhibits, but can be commended for featuring some plant life.
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Think the Hemsley exhibit is getting a pretty rough time of it in comparison to the axe valley exhibit so wanted to put forward a different view.
Size wise they are pretty similar, one has grass the other wood chip substrate, similar climbing opportunities, both wood and wire construction.
Personally I would struggle to differentiate the two however on my only prior visit the Tayra's at Hemsley were very active, leaping in and out of a paddling pool, enjoying chasing a hose a keeper was spraying for them and climbing the fence in the foreground.
The paddling pool was the sandbox plastic blue type and not natural in appearance which is not my normal preference but it led to some seemingly very happy inhabitants (as far as anyone could tell)
Conversely the Tayra at axe valley had wedged themselves in the little gap you see above the Perspex windows at the top of the cage when I visited and didn't shift and was anything but
Very much a snap shot in time I am aware. But definitely an engaging display at Hemsley when I was there.
Comes back to "best" being very subjective
Size wise they are pretty similar, one has grass the other wood chip substrate, similar climbing opportunities, both wood and wire construction.
Personally I would struggle to differentiate the two however on my only prior visit the Tayra's at Hemsley were very active, leaping in and out of a paddling pool, enjoying chasing a hose a keeper was spraying for them and climbing the fence in the foreground.
The paddling pool was the sandbox plastic blue type and not natural in appearance which is not my normal preference but it led to some seemingly very happy inhabitants (as far as anyone could tell)
Conversely the Tayra at axe valley had wedged themselves in the little gap you see above the Perspex windows at the top of the cage when I visited and didn't shift and was anything but
Very much a snap shot in time I am aware. But definitely an engaging display at Hemsley when I was there.
Comes back to "best" being very subjective
I love Axe, but I'd have to disagree here. It *is* small, and isn't the tallest.
In which case I may re-evaluate, it’s hard to judge scale from the images provided, and the only one of these facilities I’ve been to is Exmoor (and even then missed the Tayra on both visits), so the pictures are really the only point of reference.
That is a curious point, with 5 smaller-scale facilities currently housing then you’d think it would be easier for one of the big names to acquire them, and put them in a suitably large exhibit, however my guess is that the larger spaces in high-profile zoos seem to be reserved for the more famous animals, and given that there are larger and better-known mustelids such as wolverines, ratels and otters, the general public would likely question why such focus was given to such an ‘obscure’ animal. Please bear in mind that is only a hypothesis based largely around the big names in the UK that most ordinary people might be able to name, and the fact that a lot of people aren’t aware of the facilities that currently house Tayra.
Jacob Blackwood
Well-Known Member
I like Exmoor's enclosure