Pity about the Choughs, I have an idea they haven't been without them for many years.
Not sure they'll be able to keep three Pink Pigeons together long term, they're pretty anti-social....
Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo News 2018
- Thread starter Gigit
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Not sure they'll be able to keep three Pink Pigeons together long term, they're pretty anti-social....
Good to know the gulls are still around.
And I assume the choughs are still held at Living Coasts so Whitley are still involved with the species, which is still great. 
No, unfortunately, they moved on from LC a good while back - returned to Paradise Park in Cornwall.Good to know the gulls are still around.
So unless there are Choughs off exhibit at Paignton, it's a species no longer held in the Whitley collections -- Newquay sadly hasn't had them for decades. Fortunately Paradise Park continues to produce this iconic species in Cornwall.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
The last one left in 2016 according to the inventory for that year.
Paignton had Choughs in the Cottage Aviary (and possibly elsewhere too) for several decades, at least as far back as the 1960's. I think the last one was probably sent to Paradise Park as they are the centre for them nowadays. I think they are finished in the Whitley collections and unlikely to return.
I remember them at Newquay too- I think they were obtained from Ireland originally but were kept as a flock, not in breeding pairs. I also remember some of them developed gapeworm which possibly contributed to their demise. Until 1968 the last remaining wild Cornish bird would apparently visit the aviary, attracted by their calls, or so I was told at the time.
A few observations from today: there has been a lot of vivarium shuffling in the Amphibian Ark and I watched some medical testing or treatment on some yellow poison dart frogs, which are probably the next ones to move. Last week the baby howler monkey was clinging to its mother's back, but today it was climbing on its own as she was dozing in the tree - it is just over 10 weeks old. I saw a newly fledged black hornbill chick (Anthracoceros malayanus) and a very vocal scarlet ibis chick in the nest. I thought I saw 3 newly fledged red-billed blue magpies, and I mentioned them to Gigit when I happened to meet her and her husband. However, on thinking about it, I wonder if it really was just the adult pair and the chick they raised earlier in the year, in the middle of very heavy moults - time will tell.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
We went to have a look but could only see what we thought were the adults and their growing chick. That chick didn't have a red bill when newly hatched and it's only recently changed colour. My photo of it when younger is here:
Red-billed blue magpie chick, June 2018 | ZooChat
Gigit
Well-Known Member
'Newly hatched' should be 'newly fledged' of course.
Does anyone know where the tapirs, peccaries and capybara are going to be housed once the Savannah project is complete?
I've al thought the paddock above the restaurant & desert house (currently holding Rhea, geese & cranes) could be linked neatly to the spider monkey exhibit to create a new S American area. The Pandas could move to the Takin & Tur area alongside some Himalayan pheasants. Bruce the Echidna could move to a new area near the Kangaroos or over near the cassowaries.
The grounds staff were again doing garden work on the site of the new Takin paddock last week.
I guess construction will start again from September when schools go back & before the bad weather sets in?
I've al thought the paddock above the restaurant & desert house (currently holding Rhea, geese & cranes) could be linked neatly to the spider monkey exhibit to create a new S American area. The Pandas could move to the Takin & Tur area alongside some Himalayan pheasants. Bruce the Echidna could move to a new area near the Kangaroos or over near the cassowaries.
The grounds staff were again doing garden work on the site of the new Takin paddock last week.
I guess construction will start again from September when schools go back & before the bad weather sets in?
Gigit
Well-Known Member
I haven't heard anything about the Savannah for some time and have even wondered whether it will be quietly shelved. The last official announcement was that it was being reduced.
Takin paddock - not sure if you mean the undeveloped area next to the Turs, where the Takin were said to be going, or the old Anoa paddock, where a 'Takin tor' sprang up a while ago. The first looks as though it's just had a strimmer run over it; the second was having an electric fence installed around it this morning. I may have started a rumour that the Takin were moving there after seeing the tor, but others have mentioned it so it could well be fact. Something's happening there anyway!
Himalayan Monal would be good
The exciting new meerkat development is growing and looks rather elaborate for meerkats, considering that when they last lived in that area they managed with a small wooden hutch. Photo in the Gallery.
The pygmy slow loris exhibit is empty 'for reburbishment'.
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Gigit
Well-Known Member
Something I forgot to add to the above post - I must find out 21 year old orang Gambira's anti-ageing secret. This morning she was in the showden with 10 year old male, Wousan. A mother pointed her out to her child 'Look, there's a baby', and then indicating Wousan 'and that's his mummy'.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Badgers and TB
The zoo is vaccinating wild badgers as part of a multi-faceted plan to defeat TB :
Charity zoo's vaccination plan
The zoo is vaccinating wild badgers as part of a multi-faceted plan to defeat TB :
Charity zoo's vaccination plan
Went to the zoo yesterday for the first time in 5 years! Someone (possibly from here) was telling me about Pertinax now being separated from the other 3 boys as they were starting to get a bit boisterous. Kiondo was out on the island, there was a gorilla shut inside (maybe Pertinax, I didn't get a chance to really see) and another one in the off show area. Can anyone enlighten me as to who was where?
And does anyone know why the zebra aren't allowed in the paddock? It said veterinary treatment but wondered if anyone had any more details?
And does anyone know why the zebra aren't allowed in the paddock? It said veterinary treatment but wondered if anyone had any more details?
I hope this is not TB related! Am I becoming paranoid?
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Pertinax has been separated from the others for some time now. He prefers it that way. If you see one inside by himself, that's who it will usually be. The other three will have access to the island from the off show areas. Other situations are the 3 boys in the showden with access to the island from there and Pertinax offshow, or the boys in the showden with the door shut and Pertinax outside.
Zebras - I think they stay in their yards sometimes because of hoof problems. That was the case when Goma was alive anyway - she had hoof problems and got upset if Taru and Uri went out without her, I believe. Taru seemed to be limping a while ago.
Ah in that case it would have been Pertinax inside. It was nice to see him down on the lower levels eating and not just sleeping on his platform at the top!
I had a nice visit today with a few points of interest to report. There have been a lot more changes in the Amphibian Ark, but as many of vivariums are not labelled yet and in many cases, I could not see any specimens inside them, I think there may be more changes still to come. Work is progressing in the former pygmy slow loris enclosure and in the new meerkat exhibit.
The marabou storks are back in their former aviary between the howler monkeys and the lar gibbons. I saw 3 Chilean flamingo chicks in the pool at the zoo entrance and a very young one being placed in a brooder in the Avian Breeding Centre. The scarlet ibis and the Palawan peacock pheasants have both fledged 2 chicks.
The enclosure for Bruce the echidna is getting a makeover. I was chatting to the keeper who was rearranging logs when two more keepers arrived to assist and to feed Bruce. One of them was a Dutch girl, perhaps a trainee, who was getting her leg pulled because she had taught her colleagues that the Dutch name for an echidna is 'arehole' (my attempt at phonetic spelling is undoubtedly not right). I hope a Dutch-speaking ZooChatter can confirm this
Apparently the keepers have just worked out that Bruce is 38 years old (they had thought he was rather younger) while the life expectancy of an echidna is around 40 years! So don't miss the chance to see Bruce while you can.
The big news is that the renovation of the Cottage Aviary is now complete! The first birds are now in place.
Guessing game
I saw this bowl of food in the Cottage Aviary just before the keeper arrived to open the door of the shelter to let the birds into the aviary. Can you guess which new species has arrived at the Zoo?
I will post the answer in 24 hours time. If you already know the answer, please don't give the game away - let's have a bit of fun. It's only a guessing game, and even a rough guess might turn out to be correct 
The marabou storks are back in their former aviary between the howler monkeys and the lar gibbons. I saw 3 Chilean flamingo chicks in the pool at the zoo entrance and a very young one being placed in a brooder in the Avian Breeding Centre. The scarlet ibis and the Palawan peacock pheasants have both fledged 2 chicks.
The enclosure for Bruce the echidna is getting a makeover. I was chatting to the keeper who was rearranging logs when two more keepers arrived to assist and to feed Bruce. One of them was a Dutch girl, perhaps a trainee, who was getting her leg pulled because she had taught her colleagues that the Dutch name for an echidna is 'arehole' (my attempt at phonetic spelling is undoubtedly not right). I hope a Dutch-speaking ZooChatter can confirm this
Apparently the keepers have just worked out that Bruce is 38 years old (they had thought he was rather younger) while the life expectancy of an echidna is around 40 years! So don't miss the chance to see Bruce while you can.
The big news is that the renovation of the Cottage Aviary is now complete! The first birds are now in place.
Guessing game
I saw this bowl of food in the Cottage Aviary just before the keeper arrived to open the door of the shelter to let the birds into the aviary. Can you guess which new species has arrived at the Zoo?
The Dutch name for an echidna is mierenegel!
Waldrapp or Madagascan IbisI had a nice visit today with a few points of interest to report. There have been a lot more changes in the Amphibian Ark, but as many of vivariums are not labelled yet and in many cases, I could not see any specimens inside them, I think there may be more changes still to come. Work is progressing in the former pygmy slow loris enclosure and in the new meerkat exhibit.
The marabou storks are back in their former aviary between the howler monkeys and the lar gibbons. I saw 3 Chilean flamingo chicks in the pool at the zoo entrance and a very young one being placed in a brooder in the Avian Breeding Centre. The scarlet ibis and the Palawan peacock pheasants have both fledged 2 chicks.
The enclosure for Bruce the echidna is getting a makeover. I was chatting to the keeper who was rearranging logs when two more keepers arrived to assist and to feed Bruce. One of them was a Dutch girl, perhaps a trainee, who was getting her leg pulled because she had taught her colleagues that the Dutch name for an echidna is 'arehole' (my attempt at phonetic spelling is undoubtedly not right). I hope a Dutch-speaking ZooChatter can confirm this
Apparently the keepers have just worked out that Bruce is 38 years old (they had thought he was rather younger) while the life expectancy of an echidna is around 40 years! So don't miss the chance to see Bruce while you can.
The big news is that the renovation of the Cottage Aviary is now complete! The first birds are now in place.
Guessing game
I saw this bowl of food in the Cottage Aviary just before the keeper arrived to open the door of the shelter to let the birds into the aviary. Can you guess which new species has arrived at the Zoo?I will post the answer in 24 hours time. If you already know the answer, please don't give the game away - let's have a bit of fun. It's only a guessing game, and even a rough guess might turn out to be correct