Paignton Zoo Paignton News 2020

The Ranch was open this morning and was slightly scary covid-wise with people close together trying to avoid having their belongings nibbled by goats. I only go in to stroke Link, the Ouessant ram (he expects it), and washed and sanitised my hands well after doing so :eek: Most people elsewhere were keeping to the distance rules.
 
Visited paignton zoo to all I could hear was very loud lion roars. Is there a new or other male???
 
The Lego animals will be on display from 5 August until 3 January 2021. Bookings from 5 August will be available online from 11am tomorrow, 22 July.
Facemasks will have to be worn in the shop area from Friday 25 July.
A Titan Arum is due to flower this week in Croc Swamp.
 
After a visit last Tuesday, which I unfortunately had to cut short, I booked another visit this afternoon to see the parts of the zoo I had missed. It was quite busy, but social distancing and one way observance were pretty good.
I noticed quite a few birds with chicks which haven't been mentioned here before. The crested screamers have 3 chicks and the scarlet ibis have several - they have bred regularly at Paignton for a few years now. There was a young wrinkled hornbill with its mother (I hope the male has only been removed temporarily). I think the spectacled owls are a new pairing and they have two wonderfully fluffy owlets. Nearby the red-billed blue magpies have fledged 2 chicks. Of course we don't know what has been happening since lockdown in Reptile Tropics, the Desert House or the little lobby between them, as they are still closed. There may been other chicks hand-reared off-show too. I did count 7 emerald starlings in the first aviary uphill from the gorillas. I couldn't see well enough to tell whether they were all young birds from Reptile Tropics, or adults with young. Best of all in the same aviary there were 2 young Rothschild's peacock pheasants with the hen (I think).
 
Ah shoot I’m booked to visit Paignton tomorrow (for the first time) but I didn’t even think about how Reptile Tropics and the Desert House would be closer. Am I missing much interesting stuff In there and what other areas of the zoo are closed? Crocodile Swamp? I’m quite looking forward to seeing the komodos (if I’m right in thinking that’s where they are). Though honestly as long as I see the echidna I’ll be fine, any tips for him?
 
Scottish Wildcat said:
Ah shoot I’m booked to visit Paignton tomorrow (for the first time) but I didn’t even think about how Reptile Tropics and the Desert House would be closer. Am I missing much interesting stuff In there and what other areas of the zoo are closed? Crocodile Swamp? I’m quite looking forward to seeing the komodos (if I’m right in thinking that’s where they are). Though honestly as long as I see the echidna I’ll be fine, any tips for him?
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I have not found the time to visit yet but I believe Crocodile Swamp is open, and yes that is where you will see the Komodo Dragon.
 
Scottish Wildcat said:
Ah shoot I’m booked to visit Paignton tomorrow (for the first time) but I didn’t even think about how Reptile Tropics and the Desert House would be closer. Am I missing much interesting stuff In there and what other areas of the zoo are closed? Crocodile Swamp? I’m quite looking forward to seeing the komodos (if I’m right in thinking that’s where they are). Though honestly as long as I see the echidna I’ll be fine, any tips for him?
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Even if the echidna (Bruce) isn't active he should most likely be visible under his light:)
 
Simon Tonge has written an article in the local Herald Express. I can't find a link, so have taken a photo of it:
Article by Simon Tonge in the local paper, 22 July 2020 - ZooChat

To summarise: reopening the zoo is a poisoned chalice; under current guidelines the number of visitors allowed on site is not economically viable in the long term; they still hope to be able to celebrate their centenary in 2023; they need people to visit the zoo and buy stuff when they do.

He quotes Herbert Whitley's aim of providing 'facilities for recreation and other leisure-time occupation for the public generally and inhabitants of Paignton in particular in the interests of social welfare with a view to improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities are provided'.
 
Scottish Wildcat said:
Ah shoot I’m booked to visit Paignton tomorrow (for the first time) but I didn’t even think about how Reptile Tropics and the Desert House would be closer. Am I missing much interesting stuff In there and what other areas of the zoo are closed? Crocodile Swamp? I’m quite looking forward to seeing the komodos (if I’m right in thinking that’s where they are). Though honestly as long as I see the echidna I’ll be fine, any tips for him?
Click to expand...
Also closed are the Ape House (but you'll probably see apes outside), giant tortoise house (ditto), reptile nursery, nocturnal house (so you won't be able to see Bruce inside).
 
Gigit said:
Also closed are the Ape House (but you'll probably see apes outside), giant tortoise house (ditto), reptile nursery, nocturnal house (so you won't be able to see Bruce inside).
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@Gigit Is the Rothschild Giraffe house currently closed. I'm asking this as the indoor Giraffe enclosure is always full of zoo visitors. If the Giraffe's indoor enclosure is temporarily closed hopefully it will enable the Zookeeper's \builders to convert it into the Heartman's Mountain Zebras new home. While the Zoo has less visitors than normal it would be the perfect opportunity to relocate the Giraffe's accessories into Duchess's former enclosure.Moving the Giraffe's and Zebra's imminently will allow both species to settle into their new abode's without the public gourping at them.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Gigit Is the Rothschild Giraffe house currently closed. I'm asking this as the indoor Giraffe enclosure is always full of zoo visitors. If the Giraffe's indoor enclosure is temporarily closed hopefully it will enable the Zookeeper's \builders to convert it into the Heartman's Mountain Zebras new home. While the Zoo has less visitors than normal it would be the perfect opportunity to relocate the Giraffe's accessories into Duchess's former enclosure.Moving the Giraffe's and Zebra's imminently will allow both species to settle into their new abode's without the public gourping at them.
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The giraffe house is open.
 
Gigit said:
Simon Tonge has written an article in the local Herald Express. I can't find a link, so have taken a photo of it:
Article by Simon Tonge in the local paper, 22 July 2020 - ZooChat

To summarise: reopening the zoo is a poisoned chalice; under current guidelines the number of visitors allowed on site is not economically viable in the long term; they still hope to be able to celebrate their centenary in 2023; they need people to visit the zoo and buy stuff when they do.

He quotes Herbert Whitley's aim of providing 'facilities for recreation and other leisure-time occupation for the public generally and inhabitants of Paignton in particular in the interests of social welfare with a view to improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities are provided'.
Click to expand...
I noticed yesterday that the African Penguin colony have now gone from Living Coasts. It looked very strange not seeing them!
 
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