Paignton Zoo Paignton News 2020

The Hedgehog said:
I personally think that the whole Ape house should be dedicated to Western Lowland Gorillas. Following this I think a brand new Sumatran Orangutan exhibit should be constructed. I think that the new enclosure should be built on the site of the original Paignton Orangutan house that was demolished about 7 years ago. I feel like Paignton are wasting a large plot of land by having this vacant land as a kids play area and picnic area,it’s even more ludicrous seeming that there are two other large Play and Picnic areas located within the Zoo. Firstly there is the large Play area that was rebuilt and is located near the Toucan enclosure and secondly there is the Play and Picnic area that is adjacent to the refreshments kiosk and opposite the Train track that curves around the lake.
@Pertinax and @Gigit the Paignton Zoo ape experts can you please give me your verdicts?
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The original Orang (later Mandrill) house was a cell block that in modern times would be suitable for pheasant or conures. I have 2 kids and currently, if there were no play areas at Paignton it would be hard to justify a family visit given how many enclosures are empty & how low their stock is - and I’m their biggest fan (well I think I am)! That particular area is too important for families. I agree the M le F Ape house would be great as a single ape species exhibit eventually, but any new build is years & years away and they may even have to sell off some more land eventually to fund it. Hedgehog - your ideas & intentions are well meant & positively lofty, but we would be dreaming if we thought anything like major construction were possible in the short term. The staff are shaking collection tins for spare change and local kids are bag packing at Sainsbury’s currently!!
 
TriUK said:
The original Orang (later Mandrill) house was a cell block that in modern times would be suitable for pheasant or conures. I have 2 kids and currently, if there were no play areas at Paignton it would be hard to justify a family visit given how many enclosures are empty & how low their stock is - and I’m their biggest fan (well I think I am)! That particular area is too important for families. I agree the M le F Ape house would be great as a single ape species exhibit eventually, but any new build is years & years away and they may even have to sell off some more land eventually to fund it. Hedgehog - your ideas & intentions are well meant & positively lofty, but we would be dreaming if we thought anything like major construction were possible in the short term. The staff are shaking collection tins for spare change and local kids are bag packing at Sainsbury’s currently!!
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@TriUK do you know when the former Orangutan enclosure or the “cell block “ as you called stopped being home to the Orangutans and Mandrills respectfully? I have been a visitor at Paignton Zoo since 2008 and neaver recall seeing a small inoproprate Orangutan or Mandrill enclosure! As I have not visited Paignton for at least 2 years what is the new look restraunt like?
 
The Hedgehog said:
@TriUK do you know when the former Orangutan enclosure or the “cell block “ as you called stopped being home to the Orangutans and Mandrills respectfully?
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This cage was used temporarily for the Orangutans when they first arrived from London Zoo and before the current house was built. It was never the intention to keep them in there permanently. As to the date, it stopped being their temporary home whenever the Le Fevre building was finished- I cannot remember the date. Nor can I remember when the Mandrills left that cage.
 
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Sausagefingers said:
I agree it's not ideal currently. Personally I'd like to see both islands become the gorilla complex and expand the work they are doing.
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I would like to see that too. The indoor house is far more suited to Gorillas than it is Orangutan, unfortunately when built ,the 'twin' style of the indoor areas did not reflect the different requirements of the two species. If the whole area was able to be used for gorillas then they could certainly hold a male/female group alongside the current males as well. All that might be needed might be some redesigning/reshaping of the outdoor areas to reduce lines of sight/contact perhaps. But unfortunately the current arrangement is likely to stay just as it is longterm- as we all know, the zoo is facing much bigger issues at present.
 
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Pertinax said:
I would like to see that too. The indoor house is far more suited to Gorillas than it is Orangutan, unfortunately when built ,the 'twin' style of the indoor areas did not reflect the different requirements of the two species. If the whole area was able to be used for gorillas then they could certainly hold a male/female group alongside the current males as well. All that might be needed might be some redesigning/reshaping of the outdoor areas to reduce lines of sight/contact perhaps. But unfortunately the current arrangement is likely to stay just as it is longterm- as we all know, the zoo is facing much bigger issues at present.
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@Pertinax in the long term do you think that Paignton will become a breeding facility for Gorillas? Incidentally could one of the bachelor’s move to London Zoo to be their new Silverback. I think sending one of these Gorillas to London would be far safer than sending,a big Silverback who was parent reared and not brought up around baby and juvenile Gorillas.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Pertinax in the long term do you think that Paignton will become a breeding facility for Gorillas? Incidentally could one of the bachelor’s move to London Zoo to be their new Silverback. I think sending one of these Gorillas to London would be far safer than sending,a big Silverback who was parent reared and not brought up around baby and juvenile Gorillas.
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It is very, very unlikely that Paignton’s current male gorillas will ever be used for breeding.
 
TriUK said:
Before they bring in any more Orangs, they really should add some climbing structures on the islands to replace the trees that had to be felled or were storm damaged. It’s gone from being a brilliant exhibit to one that resembles their natural de-forested jungle home!
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The Hedgehog said:
I personally think that the whole Ape house should be dedicated to Western Lowland Gorillas. Following this I think a brand new Sumatran Orangutan exhibit should be constructed. I think that the new enclosure should be built on the site of the original Paignton Orangutan house that was demolished about 7 years ago. I feel like Paignton are wasting a large plot of land by having this vacant land as a kids play area and picnic area,it’s even more ludicrous seeming that there are two other large Play and Picnic areas located within the Zoo. Firstly there is the large Play area that was rebuilt and is located near the Toucan enclosure and secondly there is the Play and Picnic area that is adjacent to the refreshments kiosk and opposite the Train track that curves around the lake.
@Pertinax and @Gigit the Paignton Zoo ape experts can you please give me your verdicts?
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You have asked for my opinion on a couple of points but I haven't had access to my computer for the last 24 hours. Your ideas are perhaps more suited to the Fantasy Zoo threads. As others have intimated, the stark reality is that the zoo is struggling to survive. Visitor numbers have had to be limited, staff are being made redundant, animal collections are being reduced. Remember, Covid-19 has come on top of all the consequences of the TB outbreak. New ape houses are out of the question so it's not worth wasting time considering where they might be built or who would live in them. Next time you have the opportunity, have a really good look round the zoo and imagine what it would be like running it - it takes more than shuffling lists of animals around.
 
Gigit said:
You have asked for my opinion on a couple of points but I haven't had access to my computer for the last 24 hours. Your ideas are perhaps more suited to the Fantasy Zoo threads. As others have intimated, the stark reality is that the zoo is struggling to survive. Visitor numbers have had to be limited, staff are being made redundant, animal collections are being reduced. Remember, Covid-19 has come on top of all the consequences of the TB outbreak. New ape houses are out of the question so it's not worth wasting time considering where they might be built or who would live in them. Next time you have the opportunity, have a really good look round the zoo and imagine what it would be like running it - it takes more than shuffling lists of animals around.
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Well said. I suspect there are well meaning people in this site who have little idea of the sheer scariness of trying to pay staff and feed animals in normal times, never mind the current crisis.
I find it hard enough to fund a small private bird collection, and am currently thankful I’m not responsible for people’s livelihoods and the continued existence of a lot of big animals.
 
Pertinax said:
This cage was used temporarily for the Orangutans when they first arrived from London Zoo and before the current house was built. It was never the intention to keep them in there permanently. As to the date, it stopped being their temporary home whenever the Le Fevre building was finished- I cannot remember the date. Nor can I remember when the Mandrills left that cage.
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As you know, the house used by the orangs when they arrived from ZSL in 1992 was the Small Mammal House! They moved to the current Ape House in 1997, just after Gambira was born. The Mandrill House opened in 2002.
 
@Gigit is there anything that we as Zoochatter’s can do to help Paignton Zoo financially? Do you think that Paignton will ever house Camels,Elephants,a breeding pair of Asiatic Lions and finally a breeding pair of Sumatran Tigers again? @TriUK,@Pertinax could you also please aid @Gigit to answer my question.
 
Gigit said:
As you know, the house used by the orangs when they arrived from ZSL in 1992 was the Small Mammal House! They moved to the current Ape House in 1997, just after Gambira was born. The Mandrill House opened in 2002.
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@Gigit is Chinta the Mum of Nataliya still at Paignton Zoo? I read something the other day that stated that Mali was the second eldest Orangutan. This worried me as the eldest to youngest went Chinta,Gambira,Mali,Wouson,Tatu and then Natalia. If Mali is the second eldest like the article stated this means that Chinta has moved to another Zoo or has sadly passed away.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Gigit is Chinta the Mum of Nataliya still at Paignton Zoo? I read something the other day that stated that Mali was the second eldest Orangutan. This worried me as the eldest to youngest went Chinta,Gambira,Mali,Wouson,Tatu and then Natalia. If Mali is the second eldest like the article stated this means that Chinta has moved to another Zoo or has sadly passed away.
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Gambira is younger than the other two adult female orangs.
 
Quincey said:
Male Sumatran tiger, Fabi, was PTS yesterday:

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Is Fabi's elderly mate Shakira still alive and residing at Paington Zoo? Also are there any arrivals or departures planned for the Sumatran Tigers and the Asiatic Lions? Surely Luchu the Sumatran Tiger and Yali and Arya the Asiatic Lions are of the age when they should more on to breed or have a mate brought in for them.
 
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