It’s less than ideal of course, but far less significant than TB or Avian influenza, and should be resolved much sooner.
Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2022
- Thread starter Gigit
- Start date
Of course it’s not as bad as those things, in isolation, but when combined with all the other issues it really is.
TB-related restrictions on mammal movements were lifted in 2019-20.
It’s the legacy of the financial implications of installing multiple badger proof fencing, essentially wiping out the funds that had been ring fenced for important projects around the zoo. The Avian Flu closure in recent weeks may have been different if the zoos collection had been registered differently with APHA and Defra. A dead pelican was found with Avian influenza. This has happened in other species in other collections without, in most cases, full site closure. A Gibbon escape on top of recent closures, mass staff resignations in key departments, outlet closures due to staff shortages, empty enclosures, unfinished building projects and rising prices for all - it all adds up to a worrying time.
One moment, please...
This posted on their website 30 mins before opening. Let’s hope guests are patient & understanding but also given drinks whilst waiting and small compensatory discounts or a return visit gesture.
This posted on their website 30 mins before opening. Let’s hope guests are patient & understanding but also given drinks whilst waiting and small compensatory discounts or a return visit gesture.
Ahh right thank you, sometimes it's difficult when you don't visit somewhere ever or regularly to understand what the issues are. Hopefully today's issues will be resolved swiftly without hassle and Paignton will get back to a really good place in the future.
Apparently it's a missing Gibbon, they escaped yesterday afternoon, one was returned, bit one still missing.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.de...paignton-zoo-gibbon-still-missing-7587426.amp
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.de...paignton-zoo-gibbon-still-missing-7587426.amp
The zoo posted an update on Facebook at 9.38 this morning. The gibbon has been returned to its enclosure and the zoo has reopened. A photo of a lar gibbon illustrates the post. Apparently the gibbon was 'contained within a secure area by late afternoon' and 'the animals have not strayed more than 50m from their home.'
Great news. Phew!
Without wishing to ignore the other matters - who has gone that is public knowledge?
The vast majority of the front of house team
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Some oddments from yesterday:
A large rainwater tank is being installed next to the new zebra house. It will collect rain from the gutters.
A sign on the giraffe house states 'We are working on plans to redevelop the interior of our Large Mammal House and look forward to sharing them with our visitors very soon. The house is currently closed, but you can usually see our giraffe in their outdoor paddock.'
The male pied tamarins moved from their enclosure in Monkey Heights 'whilst we carry out some work' a while ago. We looked in the pygmy slow loris enclosure on the off chance of seeing a loris and discovered at least one tamarin in there. I don't often look in through the cut-outs in the boarding (went off doing that during Covid) so I don't know if the loris still exist. Likewise the armadillo next door, who I last saw on the day she moved in in February 2020. And the pygmy marmosets have been invisible for my last few visits - although I do know that they can easily disappear at the back of the enclosure.
The restaurant stopped using real crockery and cutlery before the school holidays. They now no longer provide plastic spoons. Your fine dining experience is not really enhanced by stirring your cardboard cup of coffee and scooping up the froth with a plastic knife. Especially when they're charging more than local coffee shops using proper cups and spoons.
Sorry, I'm still not doing rose-tinted reviews unless they are deserved, although I have enjoyed some peaceful, pleasant visits since the schools went back.
A large rainwater tank is being installed next to the new zebra house. It will collect rain from the gutters.
A sign on the giraffe house states 'We are working on plans to redevelop the interior of our Large Mammal House and look forward to sharing them with our visitors very soon. The house is currently closed, but you can usually see our giraffe in their outdoor paddock.'
The male pied tamarins moved from their enclosure in Monkey Heights 'whilst we carry out some work' a while ago. We looked in the pygmy slow loris enclosure on the off chance of seeing a loris and discovered at least one tamarin in there. I don't often look in through the cut-outs in the boarding (went off doing that during Covid) so I don't know if the loris still exist. Likewise the armadillo next door, who I last saw on the day she moved in in February 2020. And the pygmy marmosets have been invisible for my last few visits - although I do know that they can easily disappear at the back of the enclosure.
The restaurant stopped using real crockery and cutlery before the school holidays. They now no longer provide plastic spoons. Your fine dining experience is not really enhanced by stirring your cardboard cup of coffee and scooping up the froth with a plastic knife. Especially when they're charging more than local coffee shops using proper cups and spoons.
Sorry, I'm still not doing rose-tinted reviews unless they are deserved, although I have enjoyed some peaceful, pleasant visits since the schools went back.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Since writing the above post, I've spotted pygmy marmosets, well disguised at the back of the enclosure. On a rare visit to Croc Swamp, I didn't spot the saltwater croc in her usual pool. I've seen only one lar gibbon since the Great Escape. The fence around the former elephant paddock is being taken down, presumably in preparation for the giraffe move.
I visited yesterday. The old saltwater croc showed very well and the dwarf mongooses were a delight, as the second litter of 4 pups were very active, along with their 3 older siblings and their parents. The Desert House/Arid Lands was closed to visitors because of bird flu, but Reptile Tropics/Tropical Trails was open with the door from lobby area open as an exit - I only saw 2 green tauracos in that area.
One develpoment that hasn't been reported here, as far as I know, is that the pair of aviaries adjoining the hornbills etc (between the scarlet ibis and the bongos) has been given a new netting roof. There was a roof when they held great argus and ground horbills, but it was removed a few years ago and pinioned magpie geese and a secretary bird were housed there. The geese are still in one of the units, but the other seemed empty. I wonder if it could be used to provide better protection for some birds, such as the wattled cranes which are still in an open enclosure and so unprotected from contact with wild birds.
One develpoment that hasn't been reported here, as far as I know, is that the pair of aviaries adjoining the hornbills etc (between the scarlet ibis and the bongos) has been given a new netting roof. There was a roof when they held great argus and ground horbills, but it was removed a few years ago and pinioned magpie geese and a secretary bird were housed there. The geese are still in one of the units, but the other seemed empty. I wonder if it could be used to provide better protection for some birds, such as the wattled cranes which are still in an open enclosure and so unprotected from contact with wild birds.
Good question! I’m aware of the difficulties in moving 3 large cats, the Avian Flu context etc etc, but goodness me…., Paignton really drag their feet. Nothing has been done to the outdoor enclosure (as of Sunday). The whole thing is a joke.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
It is interesting when you know a zoo too well to hear what others think of it. Obviously not everyone checks the website before visiting. A family walking down from the car park the other day excitedly told their small child that he'd see flamingos before going into the zoo. Of course, it was not to be and they had a slight disappointment before even crossing the threshold. Visitors gather at the junction in the former Brookside Aviary to look at their maps and I heard someone having to explain to another small child that there were no elephants. There is a sign in Reception about the lack of lions, but some people probably miss that too.
Talking about elephants, I was looking at the zoo's YouTube videos and came across one dated 12 August 2019 about Duchess. The blurb explained that they had launched a public crowdfunding campaign and would commission a permanent memorial artwork to her. I'm hoping something will appear in her old paddock once it's been revamped for the giraffes.
Some work with a digger is going on on the site of the new zebra enclosure.
Talking about elephants, I was looking at the zoo's YouTube videos and came across one dated 12 August 2019 about Duchess. The blurb explained that they had launched a public crowdfunding campaign and would commission a permanent memorial artwork to her. I'm hoping something will appear in her old paddock once it's been revamped for the giraffes.
Some work with a digger is going on on the site of the new zebra enclosure.