Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2022

I had a short visit today. It was very busy and the overflow parking nr Morrisons was being used. Great for zoo finances. The new path from the entrance to the tropical house is taking shape & it will be good when finished.
The fencing around the outside house of the coati exhibit has been removed? I always thought it would make a great Binturong exhibit, but wondered if Khaleesi the Komodo needed a new exhibit now?
The Newquay Lions have not arrived yet?
The path between the Mandrills & Rhinos is closed off but the new Mandrill fencing and logged tree is almost complete. It is very muddy though. The poor mandrills must be desperate to get out!
The blossom looks great around the zoo.
 
TriUK said:
The fencing around the outside house of the coati exhibit has been removed? I always thought it would make a great Binturong exhibit, but wondered if Khaleesi the Komodo needed a new exhibit now?
The Newquay Lions have not arrived yet.
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I assume the coati have all passed away - they were old when I was last in the area, and that was 2 years ago. Binturong would be a nice (re-)addition to PZ, though that enclosure definitely needs work, whatever its intended inhabitants. I assume this is why the fence has gone, as portions of it were rotting.

The current exhibit should be fine long-term for a single Komodo dragon, and I doubt the forested area of PZ would be chosen if she was given outdoor access. The tree cover and general ‘dampness’ of that side of the zoo wouldn’t lend themselves to tropical reptile husbandry.

The Newquay lions will presumably not move until Yali’s transfer is complete, as there simply isn’t the off-show space to house both at once.
 
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I made a trip to Paignton Zoo today (first time in a few years for me). Must say I was a little disappointed. A fair few exhibits looked empty and the map they gave you seemed to have a lot of land, but not much in the way of animals. Ended up driving home at 2.30pm, as had walked around twice and the whole right hand side of the Zoo Map appeared to just be land and no animals. I don't know if they have new animals coming or anything but everything just seemed closed or empty. There was a lot of Primates but it felt like that was it.
I was looking online and thought they had an Echidna but I don't know where it was, but no sign of it. I enjoyed the tropical house, I like how it kept turning and there was something new. That was my highlight of the day as you leave the tropical house it takes you into a building next to it, it was a Desert type building, is there anything in there except birds? I couldn't see anything, it just seemed a rather large building just to have birds in.
The last time I visited they had an Elephant as well, but I noticed that this was no longer there and the house it used to be in, is just Giraffes now.
Also when I looked on their website I saw that they had a Kiwi, I found this exciting and couldn't wait to see it. Well when I did find its enclosure I was surprised to find it was just a TV showing a box and no Kiwi. I wondered if it was even worth them saying they had one, if you can't see it. Has anyone on here seen it?

Kind of wish I went somewhere different today now. The whole day felt like people pestering me in yellow and blue t-shirts to donate for Ukrainian Zoos, I half felt like saying, rather than worrying about other zoos perhaps focus on your own. The last time I went to Paignton was in 2017 and I enjoyed it back then, I didn't enjoy it today. I didn't see much and the things I went to see I didn't see. It also felt like a lot of things were shut (Lemur wood, no lemurs were outside, just in their houses with poor visibility), plus one thing that disappointed me was at some exhibits, it said we are no longer holding the keeper talks, but if you go on our website/app you can download keeper talks to find out more about this animal. I've always liked talks Zoos give, as you can have a conversation with staff and ask about animals and ask questions. With them on an app or a website, its just a generic talk.

I can't say I'll be rushing back to Paignton anytime soon.
 
Everyonelovesatapir said:
I made a trip to Paignton Zoo today (first time in a few years for me). Must say I was a little disappointed. A fair few exhibits looked empty and the map they gave you seemed to have a lot of land, but not much in the way of animals. Ended up driving home at 2.30pm, as had walked around twice and the whole right hand side of the Zoo Map appeared to just be land and no animals. I don't know if they have new animals coming or anything but everything just seemed closed or empty. There was a lot of Primates but it felt like that was it.
I was looking online and thought they had an Echidna but I don't know where it was, but no sign of it. I enjoyed the tropical house, I like how it kept turning and there was something new. That was my highlight of the day as you leave the tropical house it takes you into a building next to it, it was a Desert type building, is there anything in there except birds? I couldn't see anything, it just seemed a rather large building just to have birds in.
The last time I visited they had an Elephant as well, but I noticed that this was no longer there and the house it used to be in, is just Giraffes now.
Also when I looked on their website I saw that they had a Kiwi, I found this exciting and couldn't wait to see it. Well when I did find its enclosure I was surprised to find it was just a TV showing a box and no Kiwi. I wondered if it was even worth them saying they had one, if you can't see it. Has anyone on here seen it?

Kind of wish I went somewhere different today now. The whole day felt like people pestering me in yellow and blue t-shirts to donate for Ukrainian Zoos, I half felt like saying, rather than worrying about other zoos perhaps focus on your own. The last time I went to Paignton was in 2017 and I enjoyed it back then, I didn't enjoy it today. I didn't see much and the things I went to see I didn't see. It also felt like a lot of things were shut (Lemur wood, no lemurs were outside, just in their houses with poor visibility), plus one thing that disappointed me was at some exhibits, it said we are no longer holding the keeper talks, but if you go on our website/app you can download keeper talks to find out more about this animal. I've always liked talks Zoos give, as you can have a conversation with staff and ask about animals and ask questions. With them on an app or a website, its just a generic talk.

I can't say I'll be rushing back to Paignton anytime soon.
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A few regulars have been saying all this for a while. Now validated by someone with ‘neutral eyes’.
I truly hope you return in the medium term future when, fingers crossed, the zoo is back on its feet.
 
Everyonelovesatapir said:
The whole day felt like people pestering me in yellow and blue t-shirts to donate for Ukrainian Zoos, I half felt like saying, rather than worrying about other zoos perhaps focus on your own.
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And just think how much more of a horrible mess the world would be if *everyone* was as selfish as you want Paignton to be :p at the end of the day, events over there are significantly worse than you having a disappointing day.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
And just think how much more of a horrible mess the world would be if *everyone* was as selfish as you want Paignton to be :p at the end of the day, events over there are significantly worse than you having a disappointing day.
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Not to mention those seeking donations were likely volunteers, who have no say on the future direction of PZ anyway.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
And just think how much more of a horrible mess the world would be if *everyone* was as selfish as you want Paignton to be :p at the end of the day, events over there are significantly worse than you having a disappointing day.
Click to expand...

That's a fair point, but before you start trying to build someone else's house, its better to have your own in order first.
 
Everyonelovesatapir said:
I made a trip to Paignton Zoo today (first time in a few years for me). Must say I was a little disappointed. A fair few exhibits looked empty and the map they gave you seemed to have a lot of land, but not much in the way of animals. Ended up driving home at 2.30pm, as had walked around twice and the whole right hand side of the Zoo Map appeared to just be land and no animals. I don't know if they have new animals coming or anything but everything just seemed closed or empty. There was a lot of Primates but it felt like that was it.
I was looking online and thought they had an Echidna but I don't know where it was, but no sign of it. I enjoyed the tropical house, I like how it kept turning and there was something new. That was my highlight of the day as you leave the tropical house it takes you into a building next to it, it was a Desert type building, is there anything in there except birds? I couldn't see anything, it just seemed a rather large building just to have birds in.
The last time I visited they had an Elephant as well, but I noticed that this was no longer there and the house it used to be in, is just Giraffes now.
Also when I looked on their website I saw that they had a Kiwi, I found this exciting and couldn't wait to see it. Well when I did find its enclosure I was surprised to find it was just a TV showing a box and no Kiwi. I wondered if it was even worth them saying they had one, if you can't see it. Has anyone on here seen it?

Kind of wish I went somewhere different today now. The whole day felt like people pestering me in yellow and blue t-shirts to donate for Ukrainian Zoos, I half felt like saying, rather than worrying about other zoos perhaps focus on your own. The last time I went to Paignton was in 2017 and I enjoyed it back then, I didn't enjoy it today. I didn't see much and the things I went to see I didn't see. It also felt like a lot of things were shut (Lemur wood, no lemurs were outside, just in their houses with poor visibility), plus one thing that disappointed me was at some exhibits, it said we are no longer holding the keeper talks, but if you go on our website/app you can download keeper talks to find out more about this animal. I've always liked talks Zoos give, as you can have a conversation with staff and ask about animals and ask questions. With them on an app or a website, its just a generic talk.

I can't say I'll be rushing back to Paignton anytime soon.
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I’m surprised the tropical house (now tropical trails) was open, following the damage from storm Eustice?
Re. The Kiwi - yes, it’s both an immense source of pride & privilege to have him at Paignton and great for the bird dept., but also a little frustrating not to see him.
The desert house is for birds (a great mix and it’s brilliant when the parakeets are all flying together) but there’s also wild Guinea pigs (Brazilian).
I hope they raised good awareness of the Ukraine zoos and their staff. I see the Gorilla & Rhino models were painted in blue & yellow with sunflowers.
 
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When I was younger I remember a Gila monster in the desert house, in around 2007. Am I misremembering?
 
I think, sensibly, they no longer keep any reptiles in the desert house due to the difficulty in maintaining the correct temperature. Ironic, being a desert house and all, but done for the wellbeing of the animals themselves :)
 
Everyonelovesatapir said:
I was looking online and thought they had an Echidna but I don't know where it was, but no sign of it.

...

The last time I visited they had an Elephant as well, but I noticed that this was no longer there and the house it used to be in, is just Giraffes now.
Click to expand...

Bruce the Echidna is in the Nocturnal House, but has outside access too

Duchess the African Elephant died in 2019.
 
Crowthorne said:
Bruce the Echidna is in the Nocturnal House, but has outside access too

Duchess the African Elephant died in 2019.
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The nocturnal house which is closed, along with many other exhibits or sections of exhibits.
 
TriUK said:
The nocturnal house which is closed, along with many other exhibits or sections of exhibits.
Click to expand...

That explains that then. Yes a lot seemed closed. Who knows maybe they will open more by Easter or the summer. I may go again later in the year, but will wait to read on here that more has opened up. The 2 hour drive there was enjoyable, the 2 hour drive back felt a bit deflating.
 
They have, ridiculously, chosen to keep the nocturnal house shut with no future opening date. I missed the Echidna last November and probably won’t get another chance.
 
Crowthorne said:
Bruce the Echidna is in the Nocturnal House, but has outside access too.
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Bruce is not easy to see outside these days. He is quite old now and not as active as he used to be. You might be lucky at feeding time on a warm sunny day. I took this photo the last time I saw him.
Bruce at lunch

Bruce at lunch

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Enclosure next to Nocturnal House, Paignton, 25th October 2021.
 
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