Had a delightful visit today in really pleasant weather. The zoo was fairly busy despite it not exactly being peak season (it's summer, but most schoolchildren aren't on holiday yet). It made me realise that I had never actually been to Exmoor in 'peak season' and that the zoo should potentially look into expanding their overflow car park ahead of it.
The first news came via the zoo's map. It seems as though their next project after the completion of the Spotted Hyena and Snow Leopard enclosures will be converting the current Capybara field into a flamingo enclosure. Presumably, this will be a netted over aviary to prevent avian influenza, and given how excellently Exmoor have done with their other recent aviaries for the lake project (both in terms of landscaping them and filling them with intriguing mixed species exhibits), I have high hopes for this. Fingers crossed for some interesting animals to live with the flamingos. It doesn't say what flamingo species, but I'm hoping for Lesser! Also (again judging from the map), this will not be the end of Capybara at Exmoor - they will be going to share with the Brazilian Tapir in the enormous enclosure. The map suggests that this is already the case, but it is rather evidently not as the capys were still in their old home.
It also gives us some new dates. The flamingo aviary is expected to be completed in 2027. The snowies and hyenas (which keep getting pushed back) are now expected for autumn 2025 and summer 2026 respectively. Also in autumn 2025, the zoo will receive new Fishing Cats who will go onshow in the species' former enclosure, which is presently occupied by a single Caracal. Exciting times for the zoo, but let's hope there are no more delays.
I started the day as I always do - with a cappucino in the café that overlooks the aviaries. Last year, I mentioned my fears about the strange invisibility of the European Pond Turtles in the 'Pond Life' aviary. I am pleased to say that my fears were misplaced as they are still there, and I counted at least six. Still no sign of the avocets, though, and a single Red-billed Chough was also present alongside the Garganeys. Not sure why it is on its own, and there are still at least two more in the pelican half of the lake. Also with the pelicans were more unsigned turtles, which I feel fairly confident in identifying as Red-eared Slider. Exmoor has kept this species in the past (they were allegedly onshow in 2018 per ZTL), but I have no memory of ever seeing before, and certainly not in this aviary. Much like the pond turtles, they are an excellent addition that adds a new dimension of activity to the aviary.
In the café itself, there was some construction work on the wall nearest to the Tropical House which looked very much like a vivarium (covered in mock rock with a well for a potential pool in the middle). Potentially a new reptile species, or an extension of the existing caiman enclosure? The departures, arrivals and births boards near the entrance are still the summer 2024 ones, but a different sign underneath may be making a reference to more recent events, although it is hard to say whether 'winter 2024' refers to the end of start of the year.
Assuming it is news, notable mentions include the arrival of a hunting dog from Yorkshire, an Oriental Ibis female from Axe Valley, a new Black Lemur female from Paris to replace an outgoing female to Drusillas, and four choughs (two of each sex) from Paradise Park to replace 4 males all leaving for a reintroduction programme in Kent. The latter is very exciting, but what caught my eye the most is the supposed arrival of 4 African Spoonbills, a species that Exmoor hasn't kept since at the latest 2021, and wasn't onshow today. Maybe they are still offshow, or maybe it was supposed to say Eurasian. I will trust Exmoor not to make such mistakes as that and assume that this is a new (offshow) species.
But the best news of all is this: the zoo want to get a male Shoebill to breed with their current female, Abou. At least according to a staff member who was explaining this to several guests, some of whom were doing a shoebill 'meet and greet.' They are still awaiting a 'green light,' so it may not happen, but it is the long-term goal. The expansion of her aviary is really paying off. I saw her moving around quite a bit, even briefly flying which I have never seen a Shoebill do before, although she does like the top of her aviary the most. I almost wonder if she likes the views of the pelican lake up there the same way that dogs love sitting on windowsills and watching the world go by - I quite like the fact that it makes her visible, just about off in the distance, from several parts of the zoo, such as the café. Also, she was, as usual, attracting an enormous crowd, more so than even the black leopard. Perhaps the zoo should start marketing themselves not only as the 'home of the Exmoor Beast,' but as the 'home of the UK's only Shoebill,' or perhaps even call it a B-rex based on its Latin name to emphasise the dinosaur-like appearance. I'm half-joking, but I really do think that if this bird was better-known, its striking appearance would make it a star attraction.
Some smaller, miscellaneous remarks from throughout the day: the new lizards in the Encounter Zone that I identified as Armadillo Girdled Lizards (the only ones in the UK) are now confirmed to be such by a sign; I sadly had no luck with the baby Honey Badger but could see two adults, unless I am underestimating how much it has grown in six months and that was in fact the baby; the Maned Wolf pups look very mature, but one in particular could still be distinguished from the parents; the two wolves are indeed separated, but not using the small separation yard by the house as I anticipated, but instead by sealing the gate underneath the viewing area that connects the two halves of the paddock.
All in all, an excellent visit. By the by, this is now my sixth time going to Exmoor which means it surpasses Bristol as my third most regularly attended zoo, exceeded only by London and Whipsnade. I've really enjoyed my increasing familiarity with the place over the past few years, and I hope to continue being a regular.
