Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2021

Paleoarchontas said:
By the way, does anyone have any info on the Savannah redevelopment? I couldn't find any information on the website posted within the last couple of years, just out of curiosity.
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I think it was shelved - all the problems caused by the TB outbreak, and then Covid of course. I believe there are plans to move the zebras into the giraffe enclosure and the giraffes into the ex-elephant enclosure but that may be all.
 
Gigit said:
I think it was shelved - all the problems caused by the TB outbreak, and then Covid of course. I believe there are plans to move the zebras into the giraffe enclosure and the giraffes into the ex-elephant enclosure but that may be all.
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That makes sense, I can see how things like TB and the many problems associated with covid, as well as the original plans including Dutchess in them, so even if they did manage to rebuild their available money and resources they’d essentially have to go back to square 1
 
Paleoarchontas said:
That makes sense, I can see how things like TB and the many problems associated with covid, as well as the original plans including Dutchess in them, so even if they did manage to rebuild their available money and resources they’d essentially have to go back to square 1
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@Paleoarchontas if the Savannah project did go ahead I hope African Elephants would be reintroduced to Paignton. I know this is very unlikely,but if Paignton merged the former Elephant and Rothschild Giraffe enclosure into one and redeveloped the neighbouring empty enclosure,It would be feasible to reintroduce Elephants. Seeing African Elephants,Rothschild Giraffe,Heartmans Mountain Zebra and Ostrich in one exhibit would be brilliant.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Paleoarchontas if the Savannah project did go ahead I hope African Elephants would be reintroduced to Paignton. I know this is very unlikely,but if Paignton merged the former Elephant and Rothschild Giraffe enclosure into one and redeveloped the neighbouring empty enclosure,It would be feasible to reintroduce Elephants. Seeing African Elephants,Rothschild Giraffe,Heartmans Mountain Zebra and Ostrich in one exhibit would be brilliant.
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It's not unlikely, it's never going to happen. Paignton will, unequivocally, not get future elephants. The idea of those species sharing a mixed exhibit would not, IMO, end well.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Paleoarchontas if the Savannah project did go ahead I hope African Elephants would be reintroduced to Paignton. I know this is very unlikely,but if Paignton merged the former Elephant and Rothschild Giraffe enclosure into one and redeveloped the neighbouring empty enclosure,It would be feasible to reintroduce Elephants. Seeing African Elephants,Rothschild Giraffe,Heartmans Mountain Zebra and Ostrich in one exhibit would be brilliant.
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Agreed. Paignton is a great zoo, but during my last visit a few years ago I got the sense that the Savannah area was a bit worn down in comparison, which is why the revamp is or was such an exciting prospect. Also, if they mixed the elephants with giraffe, ostrich and zebra then i believe it would be the only mixed elephant exhibit in the uk (unless you count Longleat’s single elephant living with Nubian goats). Unfortunately, as you said, it is quite unlikely, the trend with elephants in the uk over the last few years is either phasing them out or spending millions on new facilities, which I’m not sure Paignton has the money to do at the moment. Still, one can dream.
 
Mattaki said:
I think there is a very good reason elephants aren't usually in mixed exhibits...
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Bachelor herds of elephants do surprisingly well in mixed enclosures, as evidenced in Birmingham (USA) and in several German zoos (Heidelberg for Asian elephants, Magdeburg for African for instance). Usually if an animal is small enough or flighty enough they're perfect in a mixed environment with some bachelor boys. I can also name a certain Swedish zoo and a certain American zoo that have successfully mixed family groups of elephants in with other hoofstock...
 
Wyman said:
Bachelor herds of elephants do surprisingly well in mixed enclosures, as evidenced in Birmingham (USA) and in several German zoos (Heidelberg for Asian elephants, Magdeburg for African for instance). Usually if an animal is small enough or flighty enough they're perfect in a mixed environment with some bachelor boys. I can also name a certain Swedish zoo and a certain American zoo that have successfully mixed family groups of elephants in with other hoofstock...
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Key word, I said usually :p Of course it can work sometimes but it is something to be very cautious about!
 
A few notes from my visit:
* The Speckled Pigeons - most have been removed from the Brookside aviary. Some are now in a parrot row aviary.
* The Snowy Owls have left for Newquay - enclosure is still empty & the Spectacled Owls have been split.
* No sign of the Hyacinths or Blue Throated Macaws.
* One of the Spider Monkeys has a significant ‘hole’ in his face/neck - bite mark?
* No sign of the Wallaby or Kangaroo (for which there is still signage) - probably due to shyness on first day of reopening?
* A keeper told me the camel housing needs to be demolished by aspestos specialists and work cannot be carried out internally.
* Mandrill group seemed smaller - any news on moves/deaths here?
* There are now no inhabitants in any of the netted aviaries by the Cassowary.
* There has been lots of tree surgery and felling around the site - opening up some new areas.
* The former Cusimanse, Lechwe, echidna (top of zoo), Swamp Monkey, Pudu and Tortoise Lawn (nr parrots) areas are still empty.
 
TriUK said:
A few notes from my visit:
* The Speckled Pigeons - most have been removed from the Brookside aviary. Some are now in a parrot row aviary.
* The Snowy Owls have left for Newquay - enclosure is still empty & the Spectacled Owls have been split.
* No sign of the Hyacinths or Blue Throated Macaws.
* One of the Spider Monkeys has a significant ‘hole’ in his face/neck - bite mark?
* No sign of the Wallaby or Kangaroo (for which there is still signage) - probably due to shyness on first day of reopening?
* A keeper told me the camel housing needs to be demolished by aspestos specialists and work cannot be carried out internally.
* Mandrill group seemed smaller - any news on moves/deaths here?
* There are now no inhabitants in any of the netted aviaries by the Cassowary.
* There has been lots of tree surgery and felling around the site - opening up some new areas.
* The former Cusimanse, Lechwe, echidna (top of zoo), Swamp Monkey, Pudu and Tortoise Lawn (nr parrots) areas are still empty.
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No sign of the kangaroos and wallabies again today - but they can hide quite easily. No sign either of Jumanji, the mandrill patriarch. The other 6 mandrills were outside and the house was closed. A friend managed to spot the maned wolf.
I have to admit that I've found our return to the zoo rather underwhelming with little to see as a result of closed houses, apparently empty aviaries, Monkey Heights off limits, and the inevitable new catering staff who seem to have to learn how to make coffee as they go along. Here's hoping for better things on 17 May.
 
Gigit said:
No sign of the kangaroos and wallabies again today - but they can hide quite easily. No sign either of Jumanji, the mandrill patriarch. The other 6 mandrills were outside and the house was closed. A friend managed to spot the maned wolf.
I have to admit that I've found our return to the zoo rather underwhelming with little to see as a result of closed houses, apparently empty aviaries, Monkey Heights off limits, and the inevitable new catering staff who seem to have to learn how to make coffee as they go along. Here's hoping for better things on 17 May.
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Jumanji was on show today, ignoring his son who was mating with all and sundry.
No sign of the kangaroos and wallabies.
Monkey Heights has reopened so I managed to get a look at the Goeldi's monkey baby born on 23 January - time flies, quite a shock to see how 'big' it is and how independent. I haven't been able to work out whether Newquay's 1.2 macaques are in with the group.
There seemed to be only 1.1 spider monkeys - there were 1.2 pre-lockdown.
The lone female hyacinth macaw has moved to the next door aviary (if it is indeed her).
 
Also, the roseate spoonbills have moved to the large aviary between the maned wolf and tapirs.
 
Gigit said:
Jumanji was on show today, ignoring his son who was mating with all and sundry.
No sign of the kangaroos and wallabies.
Monkey Heights has reopened so I managed to get a look at the Goeldi's monkey baby born on 23 January - time flies, quite a shock to see how 'big' it is and how independent. I haven't been able to work out whether Newquay's 1.2 macaques are in with the group.
There seemed to be only 1.1 spider monkeys - there were 1.2 pre-lockdown.
The lone female hyacinth macaw has moved to the next door aviary (if it is indeed her).
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I saw at least one macaque in the quarantine/vet area last week.
 
Gigit said:
Jumanji was on show today, ignoring his son who was mating with all and sundry.
No sign of the kangaroos and wallabies.
Monkey Heights has reopened so I managed to get a look at the Goeldi's monkey baby born on 23 January - time flies, quite a shock to see how 'big' it is and how independent. I haven't been able to work out whether Newquay's 1.2 macaques are in with the group.
There seemed to be only 1.1 spider monkeys - there were 1.2 pre-lockdown.
The lone female hyacinth macaw has moved to the next door aviary (if it is indeed her).
Click to expand...
Does anyone know how many red necked Ostrich are left (only seen one female)? Be a shame if the breeding programme has faltered here? I hope the others are off show behind the zebra?
 
TriUK said:
Does anyone know how many red necked Ostrich are left (only seen one female)? Be a shame if the breeding programme has faltered here? I hope the others are off show behind the zebra?
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Gigit's photo and comment states there is only the single female (Maisy). A Big Breakfast? April 2021 - ZooChat

*unless I am misreading that, and Maisy is the only *female* and male ostrich Dom is still present.
 
Further to comments above, I saw 2 kangaroos today and a brief glimpse of the maned wolf. There is one Soay sheep in with the Ouessants. For the second visit running, I saw just one secretary bird.
 
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