Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo News 2014

Just read of the very sad news that former Paignton male lion and father to the cubs Mwamba has died at his new home Dudley Zoo.

This is tragic news - RIP Mwamba - you were magnificent! xxx
 
Received Zoo news copy today with a article about demolishing the small mammal house, winter quarters and Porcupine/Meerkat enclosures.

'Neil Bemment. Diretor of operations and Currator of mammals, said: ''These old buildings are no longer fit for use. They have seen better days and are aesthetically unpleasing. Also, it is not economic to keep repairing them.'' Long term there are plans for the space: ''This is where we hope to create a new habitat zone - the Mountain Zone, but we will not be rushing into anything, so it will become an open green space for now''.

Also the Meerkats in the Long term will move to the ranch where the Prarie dogs presently reside.
 
Name the giraffe calf

You can now make a donation to choose a name for the female calf born on 25 January, Yoda x Sangha:

Afya - meaning 'Health' in Swahili
Chloe
Dasa - 'Glorious' (Czech)
Eliska - 'Truthful' (Czech)
Florrie
Hvezda - 'Star'
Joanna
Kalena - a type of flower
K'tusha - 'Joy'
 
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Brown Spider Monkeys

From the Zoo's website:

"Brown spider monkey Paru might be just one year old, but she knows that her prehensile – gripping - tail is a useful fifth limb.

Paru and her mother Sophie arrived at Paignton Zoo in February from Stuttgart Zoo.
Paru was born at the German zoo on 21st April 2013, meaning her birthday was on Easter Monday.

The brown spider monkey (Ateles hybridus) comes from South America, is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and is among the world's 25 most endangered primates.

For many years Paignton Zoo was home to red faced black spider monkeys, but has featured brown spider monkeys since 2006. The Zoo is currently home to five; in addition to Sophie and Paru, there’s one male - Jean-Robert - and two females – Lijuana and Luna. They have not bred at the Zoo.

Mother and daughter have not yet been mixed with the others. Senior Head Keeper of Mammals Matthew Webb explained: “We are introducing them very slowly as the baby is still young. First they get to see each other through mesh, then we will probably mix the girls first and then all together, indoors only. We are not rushing it.”

Spider monkeys live high in the South American tropical forest, feeding on ripe fruit and flowers. It’s likely that they play an important part in spreading the seeds of many plants. A single youngster is born after a gestation of 225 days (7 months).

Threatened in the wild by habitat destruction and hunting for food, there is some protection for the species in reserves as well as legal protection. Populations in European zoos are managed co-operatively."
 
Gigit said:
For many years Paignton Zoo was home to red faced black spider monkeys, but has featured brown spider monkeys since 2006.
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What happened to the Red-faced Blacks?:confused: I can remember them as early as my first 1960's visits to Paignton- they always had a group and I particularly remember one with strange swellings around its eyes so it looked like it was wearing spectacles- they had that one a very long time.
 
Pertinax said:
What happened to the Red-faced Blacks?:confused: I can remember them as early as my first 1960's visits to Paignton- they always had a group and I particularly remember one with strange swellings around its eyes so it looked like it was wearing spectacles- they had that one a very long time.
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I think that was Sputnik. She was born in 1969 and died of natural causes in 2003. Her son went to Twycross. Her brother was at ZSL and then Amsterdam. My incomplete records show there were 1.2 in 2000, and just 1 in 2004. That one had left by the end of 2004.
 
3 common tenrecs (Tenrec ecaudatus) born and will hopefully be sent to Chester and Cotswolds wildlife park :D
 
Developments

What developments have been taking place at Paignton, other than the lake dredging and opening of the new invertebrate exhibit?
Have the crayfish and wall lizards been moved into the enclosures next to the wildlife ponds (side of Celebes Macaques)?
Any news on new Baboon Rock development?
How is Duchess's eye?
Are the Ruffed Lemurs mixed with the Ring Tails yet?
Any news on Cheetah breeding? If not, does anyone else think Paignton should accept that breeding in this location won't work and change species - Serval or Hyena for that exhibit?
 
TriUK said:
What developments have been taking place at Paignton, other than the lake dredging and opening of the new invertebrate exhibit?
Have the crayfish and wall lizards been moved into the enclosures next to the wildlife ponds (side of Celebes Macaques)?
Any news on new Baboon Rock development?
How is Duchess's eye?
Are the Ruffed Lemurs mixed with the Ring Tails yet?
Any news on Cheetah breeding? If not, does anyone else think Paignton should accept that breeding in this location won't work and change species - Serval or Hyena for that exhibit?
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The Crayfish have been on show in the ponds for a few months now. Though I haven't been able to spot them. Lizards still 'coming soon' though.

Not sure about Babbon rock.

Duchess appeared fine. Not sure about her eye but more larger signs have gone up about her and answering several FAQ's. The zoo was getting several complaints about her 'terrible state' (cracked wrinkly skin, worn 'damaged' tusks, she's alone! etc) on tripadvisor and I'd presume other review sites by the public.

Red Ruffed Lemurs kept seperate. Overheard a keeper or volunteer a while ago talking to other people saying they're to aggressive to mix with the other Lemurs.

According to the girl doing the Cheetah talk male Kasai is being kept offshow in a seperate enclosure whilst female Isantya is in the show enclosure. She said they plan to introduce them together and hope they will breed. When Isantya first arrived in september she was in the show enclosure with Kasai, but they kept apart. Have to see how it goes, Cheetahs are quite difficult to breed as the females are quite fussy about there mates, I believe.

The new picnic lawn on the old small mammal house/winter quarters has been seeded and probably will be ready soon.
 
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i went to the big cat talk yesterday and i was told that a new male lion is soon to arrive from London zoo .
 
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