Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2023

[JurassicMax]

Recently 3 Red River hogs (Potamochoerus porcus) were born to first-time parents Winnie and Humphrey. Is this is a zoo first breeding for Paignton?

Source:
Instagram of Paignton Zoo (24/07/2023)

 

[TriUK]

PZ have announced that the new baboon enclosure is under way. I can see that the access road has been laid but there is no sign of anything else, from yesterday’s visit? I cannot see a council planning application either, but I must be doing something wrong on the system? see FB link:
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[Pertinax]

PZ have announced that the new baboon enclosure is under way. I can see that the access road has been laid but there is no sign of anything else, from yesterday’s visit? I cannot see a council planning application either, but I must be doing something wrong on the system? see FB link:
Log into Facebook | Facebook

I appreciate that the Hamadyras Baboons are an integral part of Paignton, though actually listed by IUCN as a species of 'least concern' Do they explain anywhere why they are being moved- is the baboon rock no longer fit for its purpose?

 

[TriUK]

I appreciate that the Hamadyras Baboons are an integral part of Paignton, though actually listed by IUCN as a species of 'least concern' Do they explain anywhere why they are being moved- is the baboon rock no longer fit for its purpose?

Yes, apparently the rock is ‘past its shelf life’, as it were, and the 50 years ‘have taken their toll’ on the structure. It is becoming harder to maintain and clean and the off show area is not up to modern standards.
There are whispers in the community that this area, along with The Ranch and the Croc Swamp areas will be flattened and will become the footprint for a new exhibit, possibly linked to a new catering and entrance area at the top of the zoo?

 

[pipaluk]

Yes, apparently the rock is ‘past its shelf life’, as it were, and the 50 years ‘have taken their toll’ on the structure. It is becoming harder to maintain and clean and the off show area is not up to modern standards.
There are whispers in the community that this area, along with The Ranch and the Croc Swamp areas will be flattened and will become the footprint for a new exhibit, possibly linked to a new catering and entrance area at the top of the zoo?

That is worrying, I think they need to sort out their collection before they waste money on a new entrance or there won't be many visitors to use it!

 

[Rajang21]

PZ have announced that the new baboon enclosure is under way. I can see that the access road has been laid but there is no sign of anything else, from yesterday’s visit? I cannot see a council planning application either, but I must be doing something wrong on the system? see FB link:
Log into Facebook | Facebook

Apparently the former zebra stables have been demolished.

 

[Pertinax]

Yes, apparently the rock is ‘past its shelf life’, as it were, and the 50 years ‘have taken their toll’ on the structure. It is becoming harder to maintain and clean and the off show area is not up to modern standards.
There are whispers in the community that this area, along with The Ranch and the Croc Swamp areas will be flattened and will become the footprint for a new exhibit, possibly linked to a new catering and entrance area at the top of the zoo?

Interesting...I'm presuming the new exhibit will largely be the existing hill field, perhaps with some rocks and big boulders added. A pity that the only classic 'baboon rock' still in use in the UK will be no more, but I understand the need to move them.

 

[gentle lemur]

The plans are on the Torbay planning website now.

 

[Cat-Man]

Interesting...I'm presuming the new exhibit will largely be the existing hill field, perhaps with some rocks and big boulders added. A pity that the only classic 'baboon rock' still in use in the UK will be no more, but I understand the need to move them.

I understand the sentiment but I’m not sure we should mourn the loss of baboon rocks any more than we mourned the loss of bear pits.

 

[walmer88]

I understand the sentiment but I’m not sure we should mourn the loss of baboon rocks any more than we mourned the loss of bear pits.

I think it’s good that according to the plans there will also be a indoor viewing area

 

[TriUK]

Apparently the former zebra stables have been demolished.

The stables have been flattened and it’s possible to see the size of the new area.
The zebra had the whole giraffe paddock to themselves, though I’m not sure if the fences were moved earlier in the day? The giraffe herd had access to the elephant paddock but still haven’t ventured that side.

 

[TriUK]

I had a nice visit over the weekend. The desert house was back to being a bustling & interesting exhibit and the signage has been updated. See pictures.
The turtles have been removed from the tropical house but two of the empty vivariums now have Fijian iguana and Peruvian Bush lizard.
The zebra looked good in the giraffe paddock without all of the fencing.
There were barriers again midway through Monkey Heights without signage on entry to the exhibit which was causing confusion and frustration with many guests.
It is still possible to see the pelicans from the end of the cassowary paddock, off show.
I again heard comments that the Trusts goal is to move the entire bird collection to one area of the zoo, i.e. one corner of the zoo. The idea being that if & when AF strikes again, only one area has to be closed.
There was a lovely young member of staff walking the site recording visible & on show animals with specific timings. I asked what the purpose was and the response was so guests services could respond to the many disappointed guests who demanded a refund. I was shocked.
I stood & watched the Saltwater Croc being rod fed from the exit door - a real privilege.
I’d like to know if the Bongos are attempting to breed as it’s a very long time since the last calf?
The Hyacinth Macaws were not visible and their signs were removed.

 

[walmer88]

I have only visited this zoo once. Are quite a lot of the animals not normally showing it off display ? If a staff member has to walk around and record timings due to refund demands it must be an issue

 

[TriUK]

I have only visited this zoo once. Are quite a lot of the animals not normally showing it off display ? If a staff member has to walk around and record timings due to refund demands it must be an issue

The giraffe are often off show, in their house, at the moment. Most guests don’t see the Maned Wolf, which is in a prominent central enclosure. The singleton Kangaroo and Swamp Wallabies are rarely seen. The Kiwi is off show. The Echidna is rarely seen by paying guests. Many visitors ‘miss’ the rhino house and they rarely used the grassed paddocks. If you combine these regularities with many empty paddocks, houses, aviaries and vivariums, you can see why some people demand refunds?

 

[Cat-Man]

Are they ever going to reopen the nocturnal house? They can't be using the covid excuse anymore, surely?

 

[dillotest0]

Are they ever going to reopen the nocturnal house? They can't be using the covid excuse anymore, surely?

They closed the nocturnal house?

 

[TriUK]

They closed the nocturnal house?

…..a number of years back. It is only small, with two main enclosures that held Sloth, bushbabies, bat, tenrec etc over the years, but it is a loss and right now it would be fairly easy to re-open I’d assume. The only UK kiwi is live on a black & white TV. It says everything!!

 

[dillotest0]

The only UK kiwi is live on a black & white TV. It says everything!!

Any idea why they got the kiwi to begin with? Was it a surplus?

 

[TriUK]

Any idea why they got the kiwi to begin with? Was it a surplus?

I’m not sure on the details, but at the time the bird collection was excellent for a zoo of its size. It’s still good, but reducing in number rather rapidly.

 

[dillotest0]

I’m not sure on the details, but at the time the bird collection was excellent for a zoo of its size. It’s still good, but reducing in number rather rapidly.

I recall in 2017 there were quite an impressive number of birds when I went - coming to mind right now are most of the 'ratites' including both of the rheas, and also the buffy fish-owl. The latter is in hindsight a species I probably won't be seeing again in the near future..
I recall also it was where I first saw the Lady Amherst's and Golden pheasants. The first seems to have moved on, but the latter seems to still be there.
I do find it quite fascinating just how much Paignton has changed since my visit in 2017 with all these things moving on, off the top of my head to name the species - African elephant, lechwe, coatis, swamp monkey, bactrian camels, buffy fish owl, snowy owl [still there?], both rheas, quelea, speckled mousebird, Amherst's pheasant, a good chunk of the bird collection, Parson's chameleon, giant Pacific gecko, beaded lizard... and quite possibly many others I forgot! And the exhibits too even ... the nocturne house was nothing great in my 2017 visit, so I guess now I shall never see its resurgence, though as well as that there is the derelictment of the lechwe pasture [to my best knowledge], the pleasant Brookside aviary, the old takin enclosure, the cottage aviary, the crocodile swamp...and now the baboon rock seems to be next.
I recall around 2017 I was looking forward to the proposed Savannah development which Paignton had in mind .. I fully understand that not all masterplans reach succession, though I do still think that I have been less than overwhelmed with the developments Paignton has made since 2017.