Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2021
- Thread starter TriUK
- Start date
This would be great. I saw the Director, Simon Tongue, before he left PZ scoping out this whole area with two other staff in suits with clipboards last year. He was looking at the area behind the information boards, to the right as you walk into the Brookside aviary and where the Pygmy Marmosets used to be. It has since been cleared? It is no secret that the Brookside netting is expensive to maintain so I fully expect that to become an open-top walk through - otter would make perfect sense there similar to Newquay’s exhibit.
It is frustrating that this area appears to have become a priority (unless health & safety officers have forced it to be closed off) when so many paddocks around the park require urgent refurbishment & re-stocking. I don’t like the fact that the zoo management are keeping their plans all so secret - successful collections like Wild Place, WWT and Chester seem to share their medium & long term plans with their membership. Dik Diks are a welcome addition and fill that space perfectly. A new RR Hog is also welcome.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
There's even more reason to utilise that whole area if the railway is doomed. But I agree with you about their priorities and the lack of communication. It would be heartening to know that plans are afoot for animals as well as structures and that those who support them year-round rather than just at peak times have something to look forward to.
I agree. Arguably, the Pileated Gibbon island is one of PZ’s best exhibits but so many miss out on the wonderful experience of seeing them brachiate as a group, with Cranes & waterfowl beneath. I’ve often thought that the Brookside could make a nice exhibit for a small flock of Caribbean or common flamingo? If a lakeside trail is introduced it would may prevent the congestion in this entrance/exit area?
It now says in their FAQ's that booking is 'not essential' but 'recommended'... i.e. if they are too full they would turn you away if not booked- but unlikely in November I think.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Well spotted! In that case, as a passholder I will not be booking.It now says in their FAQ's that booking is 'not essential' but 'recommended'... i.e. if they are too full they would turn you away if not booked- but unlikely in November I think.
I went today, spontaneously, without booking. It was a lovely visit.
Looking at some of the other Zoos' websites, it seems like Paignton is one of the few larger UK zoos that is now giving that option. Most of the others still say pre-booking is essential, though with some you can pay for your pre-booked slot at the gate( but it must be pre-booked). But I don't know how up to date these messages are as a lot of them still talk about 'in line with government guidelines' and 'social distancing' etc all of which I thought was (at least currently) a thing of the past. Nearly all the other 'biggies' currently say pre-booking essential though.
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It felt liberating! I mean, I wore a face mask in the foyer but to turn up without the hassle of pre-booking & reference codes & time slots…, it was just nice!
I'd agree.
I'm sure all the other zoos must drop this requirement at some point although they don't appear to as yet, perhaps after October halfterm and November arrives?
Gigit
Well-Known Member
The closed boardwalk - on their website PZ refer to the 'nationwide shortage of building materials' and say they are working with their contractors to start the project asap. One could deduce from this that since the boardwalk is off limits now, rather than when work can start, it needs replacing for safety reasons - and nothing more than that is happening.
Very sad however she does leave behind 3 daughters who will hopefully become breeding females. Feel for all the keepers involved must be devastating.
Sad news indeed. Sangha, along with Yoda and Janica, was instrumental in rebuilding Paignton’s herd after the tragic loss of the family in 2006.
Her calves were:
1.0 Kito (January 2011) Died 2011
0.1 Otilie (September 2012) Still at PZ
0.1 Joanna (January 2014) Still at PZ
1.0 Unnamed (May 2015) Died 2015
0.1 Florrie (April 2017) Still at PZ
It is really sad news. She was a stunning animal. Perhaps the change in herd dynamic will allow the remainder of the herd to finally venture into the adjacent paddock? Thoughts with PZ staff who have worked tirelessly since the TB outbreak before the C19 pandemic.
Forgot about the TB outbreak, the keepers have really had a rough few years. Fingers crossed for a brighter future.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
The zoo has announced nesting activity by their newly formed pair of Hamerkop. They share an aviary with the Scarlet Ibis.
Because we are now forced to enter and exit the zoo via the Brookside Aviary, I have been acquainting myself with the egrets in there. Today there was fairly tuneful twittering coming from, it seemed, some Cattle Egrets at the top of a tree. I'd always imagined they would produce an unattractive guttural sound. A quick Google didn't help. Was it them or was another bird throwing its voice?
If you're in the 'parrot aviaries' area, do try to follow a keeper around. They have seemed like ghost aviaries for some time, giving the impression that they are empty. However today, a couple of keepers walking through resulted in an explosion of bird song (from the Laughing Thrushes), squawking and activity. There are still not a lot of birds up there though.
Because we are now forced to enter and exit the zoo via the Brookside Aviary, I have been acquainting myself with the egrets in there. Today there was fairly tuneful twittering coming from, it seemed, some Cattle Egrets at the top of a tree. I'd always imagined they would produce an unattractive guttural sound. A quick Google didn't help. Was it them or was another bird throwing its voice?
If you're in the 'parrot aviaries' area, do try to follow a keeper around. They have seemed like ghost aviaries for some time, giving the impression that they are empty. However today, a couple of keepers walking through resulted in an explosion of bird song (from the Laughing Thrushes), squawking and activity. There are still not a lot of birds up there though.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
The twittering is definitely coming from the egrets - possibly young ones doing a lot of wing flapping.
Another part of the zoo is blocked off, with no indication until you reach the barriers - slightly irritating when you've got as far as the entrance to the takin, hoping to walk down to the zebras, and have to backtrack to the cheetahs. Anyway, the path alongside the old camel house is closed and something was going on which, by the sound of it, could indicate demolition. It wasn't possible to see anything.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
I investigated further from a public road outside the zoo - the roof of the house is being removed. It was in a poor state.