Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo news 2025

Typhlonectes said:
Just looking through ZTL and thinking Paignton might have the best herp collection in the country. About 6-7 Ranitomeya species and 2 Atelopus, crocodilians, Pyxis tortoises just to name a few
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Yes, the herp section is very good & will only get better with the new collaboration with local college/uni.
My Latin isn’t great, but I thought ‘Atelopus’ refers to toads? Crocodilian species are down to two individuals, one Cuban croc and one Gharial?
Are ‘Pyxis’ tortoises known as Madagascan Tortoise? If so, I think they must be off show?
There are lots of rare & unusual reptiles kept behind the scenes at Paignton and some are even still kept in the old reptile nursery building near cottage aviary.
I believe they’d like Komodo Dragon to return along with more crocs in the future.
 
TriUK said:
Yes, the herp section is very good & will only get better with the new collaboration with local college/uni.
My Latin isn’t great, but I thought ‘Atelopus’ refers to toads? Crocodilian species are down to two individuals, one Cuban croc and one Gharial?
Are ‘Pyxis’ tortoises known as Madagascan Tortoise? If so, I think they must be off show?
There are lots of rare & unusual reptiles kept behind the scenes at Paignton and some are even still kept in the old reptile nursery building near cottage aviary.
I believe they’d like Komodo Dragon to return along with more crocs in the future.
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I didn’t know about the partnership with local universities, even better!
I believe there are 3 species and 2 holders of Atelopus in this country, all to my knowledge wild caught and brought into zoos for conservation purposes.
Pyxis only have two mainland holders in the UK. Would be great to have them on show at some point. Not sure if Welsh Mountain’s are on show (doubtful).
 
TriUK said:
Yes, the herp section is very good & will only get better with the new collaboration with local college/uni.
My Latin isn’t great, but I thought ‘Atelopus’ refers to toads? Crocodilian species are down to two individuals, one Cuban croc and one Gharial?
Are ‘Pyxis’ tortoises known as Madagascan Tortoise? If so, I think they must be off show?
There are lots of rare & unusual reptiles kept behind the scenes at Paignton and some are even still kept in the old reptile nursery building near cottage aviary.
I believe they’d like Komodo Dragon to return along with more crocs in the future.
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Referring to the Pyxis tortoises, Paignton Zoo was the first zoo in the UK to breed the spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides). The zoo was home to two male and two female spider tortoises, but they may now be offshow.
 
pendraig_milnerae said:
You reckon? Given the current two crocs appear to have been sourced on relatively short notice, I wouldn’t rule out the likelihood of more appearing when they come available.
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Sourced? They never left the zoo in the first place. The house once had many more separate pools, but some have now been merged or used for just one species to improve welfare and keeper safety.
 
TNT said:
Sourced? They never left the zoo in the first place. The house once had many more separate pools, but some have now been merged or used for just one species to improve welfare and keeper safety.
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That makes more sense, I’d just assumed they’d come from elsewhere for some reason.
 
Taken from Facebook

Tiny Miracle at Paignton Zoo!

We’re thrilled to share some truly special news - one of our Diana monkeys, Akea, has given birth to a healthy baby despite facing a serious medical challenge during her pregnancy

Akea was diagnosed with an ovarian tumour while expecting, and our expert veterinary and primate care teams have been carefully monitoring her every step of the way. Thanks to their dedication she’s now a proud mum once again and both she and her baby are doing really well We will continue monitoring Akea's health, with a procedure to address her tumour scheduled in the coming months.

This is Akea’s second baby, following Sakari who was born in 2022 - and both represent vital milestones for the conservation of this endangered species. Diana monkeys are one of the rarest primates in the world, with wild populations continuing to decline due to habitat loss and hunting.

Every visit to Paignton Zoo helps make moments like this possible. Your support directly funds the kind of expert care that gave Akea and her little one the best chance, and now you can witness their beautiful bonding moments in person at their home in Monkey Heights.

Don’t miss the daily feeding at 2:45pm for your chance to see the newest addition up close!
 
Arrival of 1.0 Cabot's Tragopan, a new species for the zoo.
The arrival of a female is hoped.
Paignton Zoo on Instagram: " Caught on Cam: Meet our new Cabot’s tragopan! Say hello to one of our newest (and shyest!) arrivals - a stunning male Cabot’s tragopan! Native to the mountainous forests of southeast China, these elusive pheasants are rarely seen in the wild… and just as shy in their new home! He’s still settling in, so visitors might not spot him right away but don’t worry, we’ve set up a camera in his exhibit so we can sneak a peek at his daily life without disturbing him We’re currently waiting for a female to join him, and when she does, we’re hoping to capture one of nature’s most incredible spectacles: the Cabot’s tragopan courtship display. Trust us - it’s worth the wait! Think bright blue wattles, a flared cape of feathers, and some serious strutting Did you know? Cabot’s tragopans are classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss They’re expert climbers and often perch in trees Their dramatic courtship dances have earned them the nickname “forest peacocks.”"
 
Haliaeetus said:
Arrival of 1.0 Cabot's Tragopan, a new species for the zoo.
The arrival of a female is hoped.
Paignton Zoo on Instagram: " Caught on Cam: Meet our new Cabot’s tragopan! Say hello to one of our newest (and shyest!) arrivals - a stunning male Cabot’s tragopan! Native to the mountainous forests of southeast China, these elusive pheasants are rarely seen in the wild… and just as shy in their new home! He’s still settling in, so visitors might not spot him right away but don’t worry, we’ve set up a camera in his exhibit so we can sneak a peek at his daily life without disturbing him We’re currently waiting for a female to join him, and when she does, we’re hoping to capture one of nature’s most incredible spectacles: the Cabot’s tragopan courtship display. Trust us - it’s worth the wait! Think bright blue wattles, a flared cape of feathers, and some serious strutting Did you know? Cabot’s tragopans are classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss They’re expert climbers and often perch in trees Their dramatic courtship dances have earned them the nickname “forest peacocks.”"
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This is good news. This must be the first new bird species since the Spoonbills arrived? The bird collection has been cut right back (decimated in fact) and the bird dept. team have been understaffed, I believe, for a while. With so many species gone, hopefully this is the start of a rebuilding phase? The parrot aviaries have been empty for ages and the Sulawesi macaques that were residing there mysteriously disappeared leaving the area spookily quiet - hopefully the Tragopans will go there.
The camera updates are a nice touch - well done team!
 
TNT said:
The enclosure fencing has recently been improved, and I know there were plans to improve the housing and keeper safety facilities. That's probably why!
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I suppose that makes sense, if they had, had a successful mating and the female were to gain access to the male whilst he was on the eggs a bloody confrontation would have happened. On saying that, if it's taken years to improve fencing that held such dangerous animals, I'm surprised that the zoo inspection didn't raise concerns.
 
The cassowaries were due to leave for Chester in a move that had been signed off by the previous regime of Flynn. The keepers had been asking for improvements to the on and off show areas for years. Chester even released a video where their keepers were excitedly explaining how their own pair would retire off show to accommodate Paigntons pair in breeding. For many members at Paignton, this was the ‘final straw’, the reality of another iconic species being lost. The acting CEO and his team correctly overturned this decision (I’m sure with an apology to Chester) and found the resources to correct the fencing, ditches and keepers area to allow breeding. If the Cassowaries had gone, it would have left one pair of Ural Owls in the space between the tiger and lion viewing. The Cassowary at Paignton are a firm favourite with all guests and the woodland paddocks there are good. Fingers crossed for breeding success and thank you to everyone involved in enabling the possibility.
 
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