Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2023

FBBird said:
It’s a high risk animal if you try and grab it, or otherwise piss it off.
Anywhere that keeps Sulawesi Macaques will have the occasional escape, either because of tensions in the group, or just because an animal wants to have some extramural fun. In the latter case they often return of their own volition. I’m not minimising the potential danger from a medium sized primate, just accepting of the fact that this species gets out…..
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They've had at least one other escape from Monkey Heights- a female Diana went awol a few years ago and unfortunately had to be despatched. Category 1 or not, I personally wouldn't be particularly worried by an escape of either species, though I know they have safety protocols in place to be followed in such situations.
 
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Rajang21 said:
All other points aside, a Sulawesi macaque is a Category 1 animal. I’m not sure how you can’t class that as high risk?
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Rajang21 said:
All other points aside, a Sulawesi macaque is a Category 1 animal. I’m not sure how you can’t class that as high risk?
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Great Ape, Big Cat…? On paper, should not all Cat 1 animals be contained safely & securely? My point is, it shouldn’t happen. Paignton does not need health & safety executives or zoo licensing officers on its case right now, they’ve got enough on their plates. The macaque is not as ‘high risk’ as a lion or great ape, but it’s classified as such - so your point is Rajang?
 
TriUK said:
Great Ape, Big Cat…? On paper, should not all Cat 1 animals be contained safely & securely? My point is, it shouldn’t happen. Paignton does not need health & safety executives or zoo licensing officers on its case right now, they’ve got enough on their plates. The macaque is not as ‘high risk’ as a lion or great ape, but it’s classified as such - so your point is Rajang?
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The point surely is, that Sulawesi Macaques are particularly prone to this, to the extent of checking electric fences themselves every morning:)
 
For anyone visiting in the coming weeks; it is still possible, most of the time, to see the female Salty through the exit door of Croc Swamp.
 
Pertinax said:
No very few...I can't think of any zoo that still has them apart from the Scottish Deer Centre which does have them on their map and animals list..

Zootierliste lists just 'West Knoyle' which is the Wiltshire farm, and 'Cupar' which is the SDC. Nowhere else.
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And now the Bison Farm in Wiltshire has announced retirement. Not only sad because these were probably the only wapiti in England; but also the biggest group of American bison in the UK :(
 
dillotest0 said:
And now the Bison Farm in Wiltshire has announced retirement. Not only sad because these were probably the only wapiti in England; but also the biggest group of American bison in the UK :(
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As mentioned in Pertinax's post, there are also Wapiti at the Scottish Deer Centre (EDIT: apologies, I somehow didn't notice that you specified it was England you were referring to!)

Nice to know that the Saltwater Crocodile is still visible, as she was easily the highlight of all my Paignton's visit. Is the plan to find space for the crocodiles elsewhere in the zoo (such as Reptile Tropics), or at other collections. If the latter is the case, I know two zoos rather near to where I live that happen to be opening new reptile houses relatively soon, and could easily be improved by Salties or Tomistoma! ;)
 
Kalaw said:
As mentioned in Pertinax's post, there are also Wapiti at the Scottish Deer Centre.
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In England. Of course the Scotland animals remain; but I'm not sure how many.
Part of the thing is that deer are rather behaviourally boring zoo animals; and for quite a few months of the year when males grow antlers are not even very aesthetically interesting.
And given that Wapiti are a common species which likely elicits same visitor response to that of red deer; most zoo directors wouldn't bother much with it.
Though come to think most UK zoos seriously lack North American fauna; save the prairie dogs, which are rather common.
 
dillotest0 said:
Though come to think most UK zoos seriously lack North American fauna; save the prairie dogs, which are rather common.
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The main reason, I believe, is that most North American animals are very similar to European ones. Most visitors won't care for the subtle differences between an American Bison and a Wisent, a Bobcat and a Eurasian Lynx, a Grizzly Bear and a Eurasian Brown Bear, an Alaskan Moose and a Eurasian Elk, or a White-tailed Deer and a Scottish Red Deer, so it makes the most sense to import the native equivalents that are easier to acquire. There are, of course, many exceptions to this, especially once you broaden the focus and look at birds and ectotherms as well, but these are often equally scarce in North American zoos, making them difficult to import, and/or rather difficult to breed. Prairie dogs aren't too difficult to breed and are easy to import, hence why they are so common. Other examples would be Gila Monsters and Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizards, which are both very common in zoos.

Sorry for going off-topic!
 
Zoo closed today due to flooding. I hope all animals are ok. I don’t remember this happening before to such an extent?
We had a good visit yesterday, in part. It was quiet and we had good viewings in the insect house and amphibian ark. The Pileated Gibbons were off-show (not signed), due probably to the tree work going on around them. The Lemurs Wood and Clennon Gorge trail were closed (not signed) due to groundwork’s for electric infrastructure to support the Zoo Glow Wild events later in the year. Rather frustrating that there was no signage, just orange barriers appearing causing everyone to double back without warning - not a problem for us, but there were less mobile guests near us who were finding it tough going on their planned routes.
The Giraffe herd have finally been making their way into the elephant paddock but only as far as the end of the elephant barn. Updates from staff suggest the plan is to use the whole barn for the herd and add ground floor viewing and an interactive ‘giraffe keeper’ exhibit (showing how keepers manage the care and welfare of their animals). This, I believe, will be a huge improvement and should get underway as the Baboon build nears its completion. A bull will then be brought in and….
The new paths to the new baboon exhibit have been tarmac’t and sealed and a wooden sleeper mini amphitheatre area constructed where the new glass viewing onto the hillside will be.
The Zebra herd lol much more relaxed and according to their keepers are much healthier. They’ll be allowed access to the elephant paddock as well in time.
A hard winter ahead but we should start hearing some very positive news about the zoos future in the coming months!!
 
TriUK said:
Zoo closed today due to flooding. I hope all animals are ok. I don’t remember this happening before to such an extent?
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I was told that the gibbons were caught up to allow the end of the lake around their island to be dredged and the water level there was low on Friday. I suppose that the outflow from the flamingo pool was restricted or blocked, so the flooding may be due to unexpected rainfall overnight. If I'm correct, that's another bit of bad luck causing another own goal :oops:
 
gentle lemur said:
I was told that the gibbons were caught up to allow the end of the lake around their island to be dredged and the water level there was low on Friday. I suppose that the outflow from the flamingo pool was restricted or blocked, so the flooding may be due to unexpected rainfall overnight. If I'm correct, that's another bit of bad luck causing another own goal :oops:
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The bank opposite their island (between the flamingos and the Crane shelter) has been stripped of all vegetation and the main tree has had most limbs cut off. It appears to be to create space for Glo Wild lights, but it would be nice if it were for the cranes?
The ‘bad luck’ of the drainage issues following the celebrated new paths on the old railway line is ironic but also highlights what a ‘tricky’ site to operate it is.
 
Did a quick visit today, actually did a 5 k run session as the park was so empty.
The Pileated Gibbons are in the vet centre off show housing as tree work, moat dredging and winter Glo lighting infrastructure is installed. The Bongo’s & giraffes were off show. There were children’s playground structures on the new Baboon field and there was lots of new fence work (footings) being dug and laid in the zebra paddock. Blue crowned laughing thrushes have been added to the cottage aviary which is positive. The Pied Tamarins and Echidna were also off show. The zoo is currently in its worst ever state, but there is a buzz of construction around and hopefully we’ll hear the master plan very soon. I feel really sorry for the front of house staff as they are clearly having to deal with heaps of complaints and criticism from paying guests - they deserve a medal!
 
It appears Tapir and Capybara are no longer kept at PZ (deaths or moves?).
 
dillotest0 said:
And now the Bison Farm in Wiltshire has announced retirement. Not only sad because these were probably the only wapiti in England; but also the biggest group of American bison in the UK :(
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@Pertinax
I will say this...
upload_2023-11-17_18-17-19.jpeg
I was reading on the subject of deer/vension farming recently... and was reading about how some farmers introduce wapiti into their herds... which results in hybridised animals with larger frame and more muscle... but are less hardy.
I then came across this picture of deer... and I will say that some of the deer here do look markedly more wapiti-like than red-like to my eye.
So there may well be some wapiti, however pure, around in the UK after all... and perhaps also in the supermarket.
 

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