Exmoor Zoo Exmoor Zoo News 2025

Visited today.
I love being at Exmoor and seeing interesting animals from all angles at every turn.
Abou the Shoebill is a standout draw and I feel privileged she’s in Devon.
Had great views of otter, Margay, Ground Hornbill, Sand Cat, Fanaloka, Caracal and many others.
I felt that the macaw aviary was too small, as is the footprint of the new snow leopard enclosure. Also, the new Hyena complex location seems ‘odd’, as it’s next to the kids playground and animal encounters area - unless the master plan means this area is evolving?
We had a great morning. The staff are wonderful and we loved the Sitatunga and pelican areas in particular.
 
TriUK said:
Visited today.
I love being at Exmoor and seeing interesting animals from all angles at every turn.
Abou the Shoebill is a standout draw and I feel privileged she’s in Devon.
Had great views of otter, Margay, Ground Hornbill, Sand Cat, Fanaloka, Caracal and many others.
I felt that the macaw aviary was too small, as is the footprint of the new snow leopard enclosure. Also, the new Hyena complex location seems ‘odd’, as it’s next to the kids playground and animal encounters area - unless the master plan means this area is evolving?
We had a great morning. The staff are wonderful and we loved the Sitatunga and pelican areas in particular.
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Glad you had a nice time. I'm visiting on Tuesday for my birthday.

The sitatunga enclosure really is fantastic and their choice to net over the pelican lake was spot on.
 
Apologies if this comes across as insensitive or speculative, but has there been any reason given as to why the Snow Leopards' arrival (which was scheduled for November 2024) has been pushed back even further? If I am not mistaken this is the second time which the cats' arrival date was delayed, and I find it strange that, given how much excitement there must have been amongst locals about the arrival of such a high-profile species, they haven't posted anything online about why this has happened.

@TriUK , may I ask if the Snow Leopard enclosure looked finished on your visit yesterday? If not, then hopefully construction delays are the only reason as to why they are yet to arrive. I hope all is well and that illness, or heaven forbid death, of the animals they intended to acquire isn't a factor.
 
Kalaw said:
Apologies if this comes across as insensitive or speculative, but has there been any reason given as to why the Snow Leopards' arrival (which was scheduled for November 2024) has been pushed back even further? If I am not mistaken this is the second time which the cats' arrival date was delayed, and I find it strange that, given how much excitement there must have been amongst locals about the arrival of such a high-profile species, they haven't posted anything online about why this has happened.

@TriUK , may I ask if the Snow Leopard enclosure looked finished on your visit yesterday? If not, then hopefully construction delays are the only reason as to why they are yet to arrive. I hope all is well and that illness, or heaven forbid death, of the animals they intended to acquire isn't a factor.
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Given the huge issues Brexit and Covid produced, and the fact that animal movements now cost around ten times as much as they did before these life-changers, plus the fact that many airlines (including BA) now refuse to fly non domestic species, and the huge and costly increases in paperwork - it is surprising that any zoo would now announce the arrival of any species before it is actually on-site. There is so much that can delay or scupper any plans, be they formal collection plans or something more tenuous.
 
Other Late 2024 / Early 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On October 28th, the zoo announced that 3 sun conures hatched 3 weeks prior.

Exmoor Zoo

On December 5th, it was mentioned that the zoo acquired (0.2) common squirrel monkeys from Colchester Zoo in Essex on July 23rd*.

On December 7th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) black lemur named Digit to Drusillas Park in East Sussex 2 weeks prior.

Drusillas Park

On February 2nd, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (1.0) prehensile-tailed skink to Battersea Park Children's Zoo in London.

Battersea Park Children's Zoo

* Information provided by @DesertRhino150 in the Colchester Zoo News 2024 thread (Page 11 Post #203).

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On March 27th, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) dingo named Bernie which is now on exhibit.

Exmoor Zoo
 
Hi people
Just had a look at ZTL and it says Exmoor has white-tailed antsangy, if they do where in the zoo are they housed?
TIA
 
Will be going tomorrow. Saw some interesting animals listed on ZTL but couldn't find them on the map. Was hoping someone or another could elucidate to me as to where in the zoo these animals are.
FENNEC FOX
GOLD-HANDED TAMARIN
GREY HANDED NIGHT MONKEY
HLEMETED GUINEAFOWL
JAGUARUNDI
MARGAY
PUNA IBIS
RED-BILLED CHOUGH
REEVES' MUNTJAC
REINDEER [not so much inclined to see them, but rather they are on ZTL but not the map?]
RINGTAIL
SOUTH AMERICAN COATI
SPOTTED FANALOKA
THICK-BILLED PARROT
VIOLET TURACO
VULTURINE GUINEAFOWL
WHITE-CHEEKED TURACO
WHITE-CRESTED TURACO
WHITE-TAILED ANTSANGY
Thank you.
 
dillotest0 said:
Will be going tomorrow. Saw some interesting animals listed on ZTL but couldn't find them on the map. Was hoping someone or another could elucidate to me as to where in the zoo these animals are.
FENNEC FOX
GOLD-HANDED TAMARIN
GREY HANDED NIGHT MONKEY
HLEMETED GUINEAFOWL
JAGUARUNDI
MARGAY
PUNA IBIS
RED-BILLED CHOUGH
REEVES' MUNTJAC
REINDEER [not so much inclined to see them, but rather they are on ZTL but not the map?]
RINGTAIL
SOUTH AMERICAN COATI
SPOTTED FANALOKA
THICK-BILLED PARROT
VIOLET TURACO
VULTURINE GUINEAFOWL
WHITE-CHEEKED TURACO
WHITE-CRESTED TURACO
WHITE-TAILED ANTSANGY
Thank you.
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Fennec Fox: opposite the potoroos (46 on the map)
Gold-handed Tamarin: not sure, but the Marmoset House (18) would be a good bet.
Grey-handed Night Monkey: Marmoset House (18)
Helmeted Guineafowl: not sure, but 'Roul-roul and Guineafowl' (15a) seems likely.
Jaguarundi: behind the scenes.
Margay: they are on the map, but with no label strangely (the cat-like creature near the hunting dogs)
Puna Ibis: one of the new wetlands aviaries near the café and potoroos (46).
Red-billed Chough: the spoonbill half of the lake, which is now an enclosed aviary.
Reeve's Muntjac: not sure, I didn't even know Exmoor kept the species. Maybe new or offshow.
Reindeer: their enclosure is now marked as the future hyena space (49), not sure if they're still there.
Ringtail: in the building opposite the squirrel monkeys (1) and Yellow-throated Martens (2) that is only marked as toilets on the map.
South American Coati: again, no memory of Exmoor keeping the species, so new, offshow, or an error by ZTL.
Spotted Fanaloka: somewhere in that run of enclosures from the gibbons (44) to the potoroos (46), can't remember the exact order.
Thick-billed Parrot: can't quite remember, but in one of the big central blocks of aviaries; I think it's the one labelled as Amazon parrots (10), but it might be the soft-billed birds (21).
Violet Turaco: In the 'Ibis & Waterfowl' Aviary (23).
Vulturine Guineafowl: In the 'Roul-roul and Guineafowl' aviaries (15a).
White-cheeked Turaco: not sure, sorry.
White-crested Turaco: not sure, sorry.
White-taled Antsangy: behind the scenes (more specifically, as springbok says, in the Education Office).

One species that I would like to add to your list, as it is not labelled on the map, and is probably not in the place where I would expect it to be either (the tropical/reptile house) is the Bluestripe Garter Snake, which per ZTL are the only ones onshow in Europe. They are kept in the 'Encounter Zone,' in a little vivarium at the front, near the stage where keepers and animals perform. Luckily, during non-encounter times, you can still go into the building, but just about nobody else does. Some invertebrates, Cane Toads, and maybe a few other small animals I am forgetting can also be found there.

Hope this helps, and please correct this information if it turns out to be out-of-date on your visit.
 
Kalaw said:
Reindeer: their enclosure is now marked as the future hyena space (49), not sure if they're still there.
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From what I see the sign marked for reindeer on maps ~2021 and older is now signed for Alpacas. The alpacas have been moved from what will be the hyaena enclosure.

And I don't assume the reindeer [if still there] and alpacas would be together ...
 
The visit today was enjoyed very much.
It is a small zoo in size, but packs a lot into that size.
Many new niceties for the photographic collection.
I will say I was able to join at the end of a talk about the 'Exmoor Beast'... a talk whose educational value I found a bit... questionable... but then I suppose it's for the tourists, and they have to be excited somehow.
It was a rather rainy day at the zoo, but as enjoyable as a rainy day at the zoo could possibly be. I was able to see the majority of what I wished to see. Even the fanalokas... who were rightfully asleep. But of course as for glass fronted enclosures.... it inevitably made things difficult.
Regarding the reindeer, I did go up to the area at the end of the day and indeed found nothing.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for........................
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The one........
the only one in the UK.........
with a bill the shape of a clog........
the beautiful...........
upload_2025-5-27_21-39-6.png
Boat billed heron. :p
[Hey, it's been a year since the kiwi thing... thought I would take the opportunity!]

full

Yes, of course I saw the shoebill!
 

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On April 26th, the zoo announced that a white-faced saki monkey was born which is on exhibit.

Exmoor Zoo

On May 12th, it was announced that the zoo acquired a (0.1) Eurasian wolf named Mel from The Scottish Deer Centre in Scotland.

The Scottish Deer Centre & Wildlife Park Featuring: Muddy Boots

On May 25th, the zoo announced that a red-necked wallaby and a parma wallaby were born which are now on exhibit*.

Also on May 25th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) Himalayan red panda to Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens in Norfolk.

Exmoor Zoo
20K views · 350 reactions | Say hello to Pumpkin! | We’re thrilled to welcome a very special new arrival to Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens. Meet Pumpkin, a young female red panda who has just joined us from... | By Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens | Facebook

* The zoo also mentioned that a long-nosed potoroo was born, but I am unsure if it's a new joey or the same one that was announced back in September 2024.
 
Smaggledagle said:
On April 26th, the zoo announced that a white-faced saki monkey was born which is on exhibit.

Exmoor Zoo

On May 12th, it was announced that the zoo acquired a (0.1) Eurasian wolf named Mel from The Scottish Deer Centre in Scotland.

The Scottish Deer Centre & Wildlife Park Featuring: Muddy Boots

On May 25th, the zoo announced that a red-necked wallaby and a parma wallaby were born which are now on exhibit*.

Also on May 25th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) Himalayan red panda to Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens in Norfolk.

Exmoor Zoo
20K views · 350 reactions | Say hello to Pumpkin! | We’re thrilled to welcome a very special new arrival to Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens. Meet Pumpkin, a young female red panda who has just joined us from... | By Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens | Facebook

* The zoo also mentioned that a long-nosed potoroo was born, but I am unsure if it's a new joey or the same one that was announced back in September 2024.
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Nice to hear about a new wolf after the unexpected passing of one of their previous pair.

Not all too sure about how wolf introductions tend to play out in zoos. @dillotest0 , did you happen to notice whether or not there were two wolves in the same space or if one was separate (presumably in the very small holding pen where I believe they used to receive their food)?
 
Kalaw said:
Nice to hear about a new wolf after the unexpected passing of one of their previous pair.

Not all too sure about how wolf introductions tend to play out in zoos. @dillotest0 , did you happen to notice whether or not there were two wolves in the same space or if one was separate (presumably in the very small holding pen where I believe they used to receive their food)?
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I certainly recall that there was at least one wolf on its own... I recall seeing a wolf on its own, and another wolf... somehow don't recall seeing more than one in the same enclosure. And certainly all the wolf pictures I took only show a single wolf... never more than one

I do recall that most of the dogs [that is, canids] made a good show this day - and even the maned wolves who are hiding completely, one of them made itself visible in the den-cave-sorta thing. But alas the glass was wet and no good for photography. Even the dingos were out on the rainy day... I know that they are in essence feral dogs but not sure how common that is for an animal of a dry climate. The only dogs which were completely invisible were the painted dogs and the fennec foxes. Most of the cats were seen as well in some capacity, with the exception of the serval, cheetah [somehow never got to the cheetah area] and rusty-spotted cat [is it even still there? The enclosure seemed 'under construction' and the area was labelled as 'fishing cat expected Autumn 2025'. Margay I saw but was asleep... but most of the carnivores I saw were awake.
 
dillotest0 said:
I certainly recall that there was at least one wolf on its own... I recall seeing a wolf on its own, and another wolf... somehow don't recall seeing more than one in the same enclosure. And certainly all the wolf pictures I took only show a single wolf... never more than one

I do recall that most of the dogs [that is, canids] made a good show this day - and even the maned wolves who are hiding completely, one of them made itself visible in the den-cave-sorta thing. But alas the glass was wet and no good for photography. Even the dingos were out on the rainy day... I know that they are in essence feral dogs but not sure how common that is for an animal of a dry climate. The only dogs which were completely invisible were the painted dogs and the fennec foxes. Most of the cats were seen as well in some capacity, with the exception of the serval, cheetah [somehow never got to the cheetah area] and rusty-spotted cat [is it even still there? The enclosure seemed 'under construction' and the area was labelled as 'fishing cat expected Autumn 2025'. Margay I saw but was asleep... but most of the carnivores I saw were awake.
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Dingoes are not 'just feral dogs'. Anyone who has had any experience with manging them will confirm that they are different in so many ways, that they should be classified on their own as Canis dingo with potentially two subspecies.
 
ZooNews2024 said:
Dingoes are not 'just feral dogs'. Anyone who has had any experience with manging them will confirm that they are different in so many ways, that they should be classified on their own as Canis dingo with potentially two subspecies.
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Indeed; from memory, the latest genetic and morphological evidence suggests that Canis dingo derives from a now-extinct group of wolves found in mainland East Asia (and which was *also* the ancestor of the extinct Japanese Wolf) whilst the domestic dog derives from multiple domestication events in the Middle East and Caucasus involving an extinct group of wolves which were genetically close to the modern Indian Wolf and Himalayan Wolf.
 
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