More drama at the zoo today!
I arrived rather later than I had hoped at around 12.45 pm and I soon met
@Gigit and her husband who were on their way out. We had not met for a long time, so we had quite a long conversation. Then I went to Tropical Trails, but although there were disinfectant mats inside the doors, with notices about their importance, the doors were locked - presumably to protect the birds in the walk-through of the Desert House.
I went back into the Lakeside Restaurant, but I could not leave because visitors were being asked to stay inside because an animal had escaped. There wasn't a great sense of urgency, but the space slowly filled up. Word went round that it was a gibbon that had escaped, and the gibbons on the islands were calling frequently. After a few mnutes we were told it was safe to leave. I looked into the Ape House, and then went through the Amphibian Ark to Monkey Heights. When I reached the Gouldi's monkeys, a keeper came out of the staff door carrying a rifle and what appeared to be a dart gun. He asked me to turn left and go up the hill towards the Veterinary Centre, which I did. of course. There were other keepers stationed where paths met (without guns), and I asked one if there had been another escape. She replied that there had only been one, and that the animal had been restricted, but then evaded capture, and that all visitors were being asked to leave the zoo. At about 2 pm, I went into the staff area through the gate beside the Crocodile Swamp, then out though the overflow car park. Everyone was calm and orderly, although the main car park was almost full of cars; little groups of people were assembling beside their vehicles and some were starting to leave, so I decided to go too. It had been the shortest zoo visit that I have ever had.
As I write it seems that two gibbons escaped, one was quickly recaptured, but the other remains at large
Paignton Zoo gibbon still missing after two escape The zoo has had trouble enough in the past few years.
