Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo news 2024

[TriUK]

Interesting article on Devonlive (not my most ideal info source, but….) which also contains a link about the future of the Living Coasts site.
Paignton Zoo signals major reset to ensure its future

 

[TriUK]

Stephen Kings, acting (voluntary non paid trustee) CEO, has seemingly achieved more in a few weeks than the previous fat cat regime did in years!

 

[Panthera1981]

Stephen Kings, acting (voluntary non paid trustee) CEO, has seemingly achieved more in a few weeks than the previous fat cat regime did in years!

Having read the article, I’d say give him whatever tools he needs!

 

[polarbear]

Interesting article on Devonlive (not my most ideal info source, but….) which also contains a link about the future of the Living Coasts site.
Paignton Zoo signals major reset to ensure its future

Thanks for the link - as you said, Devon Live is not a great site but the article gives some hope and, for once, is not just a click bait link.

 

[polarbear]

Stephen Kings, acting (voluntary non paid trustee) CEO, has seemingly achieved more in a few weeks than the previous fat cat regime did in years!

It has to be remembered that the Trustees (all volunteers) oversee all the work of the Charity and so should have been on the ball with all that has been going wrong at WPT over the past few years. They were, after all, the ones who appointed the previous CEO and worked with him. They thus have to take some responsibility, which it looks like they finally are after all of this time.

 

[gentle lemur]

I like Mr Kings' positive attitude. I like the reopening of the Nocturnal House. I like the arrival of some new stock, albeit on a limited scale. There is of course still much to be done, and progress will be slow and there will be problems to come (unless an eccentric millionaire steps forward).
I do not like the round of reduncancies, but that seems to be the price of progress.

 

[Embu]

Not that anyone facing redundancy deserves it but it could be in areas that aren't animal related(think we just presume it's keepers) could be gift shop, catering, maintenence, admin etc

 

[Strathmorezoo]

I like Mr Kings' positive attitude. I like the reopening of the Nocturnal House. I like the arrival of some new stock, albeit on a limited scale. There is of course still much to be done, and progress will be slow and there will be problems to come (unless an eccentric millionaire steps forward).
I do not like the round of reduncancies, but that seems to be the price of progress.

I think that redundancies can also be a the price of failure

 

[polarbear]

I think that redundancies can also be a the price of failure

This is the third round of redundancies in as many years as well as countless reorganisations within the zoos.

 

[Embu]

Realistically(I guess there's no point sugar coating things) is there a real possibility that Paignton zoo could close before the end of the year or reduce the number of animals & species in the collection?

Are things near that level yet?

 

[Pertinax]

Realistically(I guess there's no point sugar coating things) is there a real possibility that Paignton zoo could close before the end of the year or reduce the number of animals & species in the collection?

Are things near that level yet?

Well, there is plenty of fighting talk at the moment, particularly about Reopening the Crocodile Swamp and the 'large mammal house' - despite the DevonLIve reference to 'Giraffe and Zebra', I presume this refers to just the indoor giraffe house, as the zebras have seperate stabling. Then although not mentioned, there is another major undertaking to address- the unfinished baboon enclosure. People were also very pleased to see the temporary return of the miniature train, but the zoo say that IF it was brought back more permanently its likely to be a simpler land train- a cheaper replacement presumably but realistically, I think people are nostalgic for a real train on tracks going around the lake- that's not going to happen again I don't think.

Though they are now approaching the poorest months of the years for visitors, I doubt things are quite as extreme as 'facing closure' yet, though one can never be sure when that point becomes reached- until there is a sudden 'shock' announcement.

 

[Embu]

Like everyone else I really hope Paignton can turn it around and bring the visitors back in huge numbers although as @Pertinax says we're now heading into the wrong time of year for that to happen.

Just out of curiosity what species apart from the Giraffes could be at risk of numbers being reduced to ease food bills for instance? Not saying this is a line they're contemplating but if push came to shove

 

[gentle lemur]

Realistically(I guess there's no point sugar coating things) is there a real possibility that Paignton zoo could close before the end of the year or reduce the number of animals & species in the collection?
Are things near that level yet?

I suppose nothing is totally impossible, (so watch out for meteorites ). But I think it is highly unlikely. I haven't been at the zoo since 6th of August, but it was very busy then, and as I wrote above, there has been some progress recently.

 

[Panthera1981]

Realistically(I guess there's no point sugar coating things) is there a real possibility that Paignton zoo could close before the end of the year or reduce the number of animals & species in the collection?

Are things near that level yet?

I can’t remember if I’ve said this already, but Paignton’s issue is its location. It’s in one of the most socially and economically deprived parts of the country and is heavily reliant on high spring/summer footfall. It’s not like a Chester or London for example, so goodwill and nostalgia will only get it so far. I hope (pray) it won’t close but stranger things have happened.

I can’t remember date of broadcast or title, but I’m certain the BBC did a reality TV type series on Paignton in the late 90’s/early 00’s focusing on its revamp/expansion. Perhaps the zoo could do something along the lines of “Secret Life of…” to generate wider interest?

 

[TriUK]

I can’t remember if I’ve said this already, but Paignton’s issue is its location. It’s in one of the most socially and economically deprived parts of the country and is heavily reliant on high spring/summer footfall. It’s not like a Chester or London for example, so goodwill and nostalgia will only get it so far. I hope (pray) it won’t close but stranger things have happened.

I can’t remember date of broadcast or title, but I’m certain the BBC did a reality TV type series on Paignton in the late 90’s/early 00’s focusing on its revamp/expansion. Perhaps the zoo could do something along the lines of “Secret Life of…” to generate wider interest?

I reckon that’s a brilliant idea!!

 

[Pertinax]

It was called 'Zookeepers'. The zoo was certainly experiencing something of a revival at the time and this was well before the current decline and problems set in.

I've been visiting Paignton zoo since the late 1950' so almost 70 years now, but on an irregular basis as I don't live nearby. It always struck me on my earliest visits as an enthusiastic young zoo goer, how this substantial zoo was tucked away in an almost subtropical and secret valley at the back of Torbay. Seemed an unlikely location and I am sure that is still one of its problems today ,being too reliant perhaps on visitors holidaying in the area in the short summer season.

 

[ZooNews2024]

I can’t remember if I’ve said this already, but Paignton’s issue is its location. It’s in one of the most socially and economically deprived parts of the country and is heavily reliant on high spring/summer footfall. It’s not like a Chester or London for example, so goodwill and nostalgia will only get it so far. I hope (pray) it won’t close but stranger things have happened.

I can’t remember date of broadcast or title, but I’m certain the BBC did a reality TV type series on Paignton in the late 90’s/early 00’s focusing on its revamp/expansion. Perhaps the zoo could do something along the lines of “Secret Life of…” to generate wider interest?

Yes. I remember the series, and recall that it focussed almost wholly on 'people', the keepers and vets etc, and barely mentioned animals. Perhaps my memory is poor, but it was not repeated I dont think.
I visited a couple of times when staying with family at Bigbury. The way we drive to it was through 'estates' of holiday/retirement bungalows. We never went to Paignton town so I dont know the geography, but assumed it was similar to Blackpool? - ie set away from the town and seafront.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

We never went to Paignton town so I dont know the geography, but assumed it was similar to Blackpool? - ie set away from the town and seafront.

Spot on; Paignton Zoo is about 1.5 miles inland from the seafront, and on the outskirts of the town itself..... so very much akin to Blackpool Zoo in that regard.

 

[Pertinax]

Yes. I remember the series, and recall that it focussed almost wholly on 'people', the keepers and vets etc, and barely mentioned animals. Perhaps my memory is poor, but it was not repeated I dont think.
I visited a couple of times when staying with family at Bigbury. The way we drive to it was through 'estates' of holiday/retirement bungalows. We never went to Paignton town so I dont know the geography, but assumed it was similar to Blackpool? - ie set away from the town and seafront.

You can see the more open part of the valley and the sea from one point in the zoo-by the old Camel/takin area near the Giraffes.

 

[JVM]

What's the history on Paington's nocturnal house? Glad to hear it and crocodile swamp are reopening. I did not make it during my trip this year but am hopeful for next time.