Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo News 2012

Parrotsandrew said:
As there are twelve aviaries was one empty? Alternatively, with apologies to the Spice Girls, had two become one? Presumably there would have been a label so that should rule out the possibility of the birds still being there but being hidden from view. Sorry to be a nuisance Gigit.
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I was at Paignton today. I only saw one red-fronted macaw, and the aviary next to it seemed empty except for a female pheasant (I'd guess golden or Lady Amherst's, but I'm far from certain). As far as I could tell, all the other parrots were in pairs, except for the citron-cresteds. I watched the keeper servicing some of the aviaries - the hyacinthine macaws made most noise, the Duivenbode's lories tried to perch on his head and shoulders and the male yellow-streaked flew up behind him as he was bending down, perched on his head and tried to bite him! He told me that this bird has only started attacking him recently - but he still loves him :)
There was a notice on the gate saying that the giraffe house was closed, but when I got to the house, people were going in so I did too. I saw the calf sitting in a maternity stall. There were keepers with it and it looked OK. Some of the keepers went on to check Duchess' eye. She seemed glad of the attention and behaved impeccably.

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
I was at Paignton today. I only saw one red-fronted macaw, and the aviary next to it seemed empty except for a female pheasant
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Presuming the Red-fronted Macaw aviary is the same the one next to it housed one of the pairs of Hyacinthine Macaws last September. Is it too early for the Red-fronts to have gone to nest? The pair breeds well and the chicks I have seen in September have been very well-grown. I do know that Exmoor Zoo switches its birds on to the breeding season diet on 14th February.
 
Is handrearing a Giraffe fraught with difficulties? One being handreared at Flamingo Land the other year died at a few months old (hopefully it was not the shock of me giving it a bottle when I was on keeper for a day).
 
Giraffes

Paignton's previous pair, Paddy and Kisi, had 4 calves. 3 were rejected and only one of these, Zoolu, survived, although he died later at Twycross. Their 4th calf, which wasn't rejected, died in the fire in 2006 at 6 days old.
 
Hand reared Giraffes do not seem to live as long as parent reared Giraffes,and as a result hand rearing is very much a last resort,this decision will not have neen taken lightly by the zoo and the studbook holder!
 
Parrot Aviaries

gentle lemur said:
I was at Paignton today. I only saw one red-fronted macaw, and the aviary next to it seemed empty except for a female pheasant (I'd guess golden or Lady Amherst's, but I'm far from certain)
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I saw pair of Lady Amherst's in the aviary labelled Swainson's Lory, one of the 4 aviaries next to the tortoises - from left to right: Yellow Shouldered Parrot, Citron Crested Cockatoo, Swainson's Lory, Hyacinth Macaw.

I was going to make a note today of the occupants of the Desert and Tropical houses but the signs had disappeared.
 
Gigit said:
I saw pair of Lady Amherst's in the aviary labelled Swainson's Lory, one of the 4 aviaries next to the tortoises - from left to right: Yellow Shouldered Parrot, Citron Crested Cockatoo, Swainson's Lory, Hyacinth Macaw.

I was going to make a note today of the occupants of the Desert and Tropical houses but the signs had disappeared.
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Aha, so the Yellow-shouldered Amazons have usurped the Blue-throated Macaws since September. Otherwise that block is the same. I think the only Parrot species in those two houses in September were the Princess of Wales and Hooded Parakeets in the Desert House. I used to like the Splendids in there, but they departed the scene some years ago.
 
I saw hooded and Bourke's parakeets in the Desert House, but I didn't stop there long as there was an invasion of families with push-chairs, so I may well have missed the Princess of Wales.

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
I saw hooded and Bourke's parakeets in the Desert House, but I didn't stop there long as there was an invasion of families with push-chairs, so I may well have missed the Princess of Wales.
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I like that House- one of my favourite bits of Paignton. There are Princess of Wales parakeets(or were) in there along with the 2 pairs of Hoodeds and the Bourkes.
 
Did I miss the Bourke's Parakeets in September? That was remiss of me as I like Bourke's. At least Sewerby's single specimen showed its face last Sunday for the first time in a while during one of my visits.
 
Pertinax said:
I like that House- one of my favourite bits of Paignton. There are Princess of Wales parakeets(or were) in there along with the 2 pairs of Hoodeds and the Bourkes.
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London had Princess of Wales' parakeets for years, and I'm afraid I took them for granted. Only after they left the collection did I realise just what lovely birds they are.
 
Yoda, the father of the baby giraffe was handreared. He's fine. Sometimes rejection by the mother is a sign of other health problems, like in sanghas calf, but often it's not. Hand rearing giraffes isn't particularly hard.
 
Zebra

Wonderful news! A triumphant legacy for dear departed Blesk.

(from Facebook)
Zoo birth is black and white
by Paignton Zoo Environmental Park on Thursday, 1 March 2012 at 05:24 ·
Paignton Zoo is celebrating its first zebra birth for ten years.
The un-named foal – thought to be male – was born at around 6:30am on Tuesday 28th February to six year old Goma. Senior Head Keeper of Mammals Matthew Webb said: “We had to help him get to his feet, but after that he started to suckle well.”
The last zebra to be born at Paignton Zoo was female Taru in June 2002. The new arrival is the fifth Hartmann’s mountain zebra to be born at the Zoo.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Director of Operations and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “This is great news. We need more foals to increase the zoo population and as there is presently a lack of available males in the European Endangered species Programme he will certainly have a future part to play in saving his species.”
Goma came to Paignton Zoo in May 2008 from Marwell Zoo. Father Blesk came from Sigean Safari Park, France but had to be euthanised in December, 2011 due to chronic hoof problems. The Zoo’s small herd is completed by female Taru.
Hartmann’s mountain zebra come from rocky, mountainous areas. A herd of zebra, when grouped together, presents a dazzling sight to the human eye. The zebra's stripes may be a signalling system for the herd and may also be useful in confusing a predator.
A single foal is born after a gestation of 11.5 months (350 days). Some populations are protected in national parks. There is a European Endangered species Programme (EEP) for this zebra managed by Marwell Zoo.
 
Well done BLESK .you will be remembered for against all the odds producing a lovely LITTLE foal and another one is due soon..You did not die in vain.......what a shame you never saw your offspring..............
R.I.P. Blesk..................
 
Great news the Hartmann's females at Paignton have both been bred.
It is really a shame not more zoos keep this beautiful southern African species.
 
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