Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2022

The Hedgehog said:
@Pertinax (The Ape Expert) do you think the Giraffe enclosure will reopen,once the Zebras and Giraffes have settled into their new enclosures? I hope it does it’s a brilliant exhibit and a safe haven from the rain. I used to spend ages gazing at the Giraffes and of course the legendary Duchess. Although it’s being converted into a Giraffe House, I hope Duchess’s side features a plaque in her memory. Duchess wasn’t just a popular animal but a icon for Paignton Zoo. Generations grew up visiting her.
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As I understand it, the giraffe house needs some essential work (beyond moving animals) before visitors can enter again.

When Duchess died, the previous administration collected donations from the public for a memorial to her. I think a wooden sculpture was mentioned at one point. I fear it and she have been forgotten and would very much like to be corrected.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Pertinax (The Ape Expert) do you think the Giraffe enclosure will reopen,once the Zebras and Giraffes have settled into their new enclosures? I hope it does it’s a brilliant exhibit and a safe haven from the rain. I used to spend ages gazing at the Giraffes and of course the legendary Duchess. Although it’s being converted into a Giraffe House, I hope Duchess’s side features a plaque in her memory. Duchess wasn’t just a popular animal but a icon for Paignton Zoo. Generations grew up visiting her.
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Can you drop the 'Ape Expert' bit please- its not necessary.

As I haven't visited Paignton Zoo for several years I've no idea or opinion on that.
 
Gigit said:
As I understand it, the giraffe house needs some essential work (beyond moving animals) before visitors can enter again.

When Duchess died, the previous administration collected donations from the public for a memorial to her. I think a wooden sculpture was mentioned at one point. I fear it and she have been forgotten and would very much like to be corrected.
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@Gigit do you think The Giraffe House will reopen to the public this year? What’s the essential maintenance that’s being done. If they retain anything in the current Giraffe side I hope it’s the plaque in memory of Paddy,Kizi and their calf. These Giraffes gave Paignton their first Giraffe Calf. I always looked at the plaque and was humbled that the Zoo honoured these victims of the February 2006 fire.


I cannot wait to renter the building as the new Giraffe and Zebra House. I’ll be spending hours there. Duchess’s former enclosure is more visible than the current Zebra enclosure. This means we’ll be able to see them more. I wonder if a new Bull Giraffe is part of the plan for the new Giraffe and Zebra House. In a couple of years I think Jabali the Zebra stallion should move on. This would allow Paignton to keep Tamali and Lia. This would give Paignton extra breeding Females.

Finally I would like the memorial for Duchess to be large. Maybe the Zoo could put a collage of visitors photos of her on the wall. I for one would give some photos for the college. Duchess was a huge part of my Childhood. I’ve got a photograph of me at about 11 stood in front of the soon to be Giraffe paddock. Duchess is behind me.

If anyone has memories of an specific individual at Paignton Zoo,I’m 99.% sure it will be of Duchess.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Gigit do you think The Giraffe House will reopen to the public this year? What’s the essential maintenance that’s being done.


I cannot wait to renter the building as the new Giraffe and Zebra House. I’ll be spending hours there. Duchess’s former enclosure is more visible than the current Zebra enclosure. This means we’ll be able to see them more. I wonder if a new Bull Giraffe is part of the plan for the new Giraffe and Zebra House..
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I have no idea when /if the house will reopen. I don't think there has been any publicity about work that needs doing in there.

As you will have seen on your recent visit, new zebra stabling is under construction where the peccary enclosure used to be.

As has been stated on Zoochat previously, a bull giraffe is arriving at some point.
 
@Gigit it would make sense that if the Giraffe and former Elephant quarters are being refurbished,the public space will also. On the Paper Map it states that the Giraffe House is currently under refurbishment. The words “currently” and “refurbishment” make me think that the Giraffe House will reopen.
 
@Gigit am I correct in thinking that Mali and Tatau were separated from the other Paignton Orangutans,because Mali and Chinta did not get on? I have heard that this, along with lack of space was the main reason that Mali and Tatau moved to Colchester. Incidentally now Gambira has since passed, Paignton should be able to accommodate one more Orangutan. The plan was to keep Chinta,Gambira,Natalia and Male Wousan. Now the Zoo is down to a couple of Females is it possible that Tatau could return. Not only would Tatau be a playmate for Natalia but she could also breed with Wousan. As explained I was lead to believe the problem was Mali. Finally when Tatau and Natalia were both at Paignton,which would you say was more interested with the public? By the I’m asking what one would interact more and be more visible.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Gigit am I correct in thinking that Mali and Tatau were separated from the other Paignton Orangutans,because Mali and Chinta did not get on? I have heard that this, along with lack of space was the main reason that Mali and Tatau moved to Colchester. Incidentally now Gambira has since passed, Paignton should be able to accommodate one more Orangutan. The plan was to keep Chinta,Gambira,Natalia and Male Wousan. Now the Zoo is down to a couple of Females is it possible that Tatau could return. Not only would Tatau be a playmate for Natalia but she could also breed with Wousan. As explained I was lead to believe the problem was Mali. Finally when Tatau and Natalia were both at Paignton,which would you say was more interested with the public? By the I’m asking what one would interact more and be more visible.
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If you look back, you'll find your questions have been tackled before, probably more than once.
 
@Gigit I spent a while watching the Orangutans on Sunday. Can you please tell me about their characters so next time I visit I can identify them? Also when both Tatau and Natalia were at Paignton which was the most interested in the public?
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Gigit I spent a while watching the Orangutans on Sunday. Can you please tell me about their characters so next time I visit I can identify them? Also when both Tatau and Natalia were at Paignton which was the most interested in the public?
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Perhaps instead of asking numerous questions that have already been answered, we should leave this thread for actual news ;)

I recall reading a response to the second question about which orang was more interested in the public from a while back so it might be a good idea to use the search tool before asking questions that have already been answered.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Gigit I spent a while watching the Orangutans on Sunday. Can you please tell me about their characters so next time I visit I can identify them? Also when both Tatau and Natalia were at Paignton which was the most interested in the public?
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Come on, The Hedgehog! For the last time, there are three orangs - a hulking great male, a stooped adult female and a livelier, slim juvenile female. Even the uninitiated visitor manages 'that's the daddy one, that's the mummy one and that's the baby one' and you do have some knowledge about orangs. If you are still at a loss, study the photos in the Paignton Gallery on here. I could understand if you were having problems IDing the gorillas. As the butt of most of your questions (it seems), I'm beginning to wonder if you're having a laugh.
 
Hi I messaged Paignton Zoo regarding the reopening of the Giraffe House. This is their exact reply.“Hi
The Giraffe house has been condemned, We have been looking at ways we will be able to reopen it to the public , however, this is a working progress and may take some time in afraid.
Best Wishes
The PZ Team”.
 
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Radish, the 11 year old female Red River Hog died on 26 June 2022, leaving female, Winnie, who arrived in September 2021, and male, Humphrey, who arrived in February 2022.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@dillotest0 this will become the new Giraffe House. The new Zebra House will be the current Giraffe Enclosure.
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This isn’t now correct. Please see Gigits updates and photos which describe & show the new Zebra stable block on the site of the old peccary house. It is ‘believed’ that the giraffe herd will move into the former elephant exhibit but there is nothing concrete. The Bays Brewery piece should say it’s a giraffe house upgrade, rather than a new build.
 
News from the zoo's media sites:

There will be an outdoor yoga session at 8.45am on 25 July, price £15.

Sustainable Summer: make a pledge to take one action to be more sustainable; nominate a local individual to be a sustainability hero; help create a piece of art using recycled materials on three dates in July/August.

Three Dwarf Mongoose have been born.
 
0:0:1 Rothschild pheasant chick has hatched. There "less than 60 individuals worldwide" so a great addition to the species & zoo.
 
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