Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo news 2025

TriUK

TriUK

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
The Interim CEO sent a well written message to all Wild Planet Trust members. He summarised a difficult year at both Newquay & Paignton, whilst talking about how 2025 will also be challenging, specifically the anticipated (and continued) drop in tourist numbers, increased heating bills and the negative impact of many years of under-investment in core infrastructure at both sites.
However, he also celebrated the opening of Newquays otter exhibit and the reopening of the Giraffe house and Croc Swamp at Paignton.
The Amphibian Ark area is going to receive a refurbishment in conjunction with a local university.
The IT systems have also gained a belated upgrade.

Personally, I’m hoping for new Takin (exhibit currently closed), a new Giraffe bull, progress on the new Baboon Hill exhibit, a new roof (?) on the tropical house greenhouse and new individuals to pair singletons in the bird section.

I’m grateful for the honest, introspective and regular updates (by email & in person), by management, with members at the zoo. Long may it continue…..
 
Dr. Loxodonta said:
One of Paignton’s pygmy slow loris’ (named Lewis) is now on show at Monkey Heights. The lorises have been off-show for a while, but now are slowly being introduced to their new enclosure, starting off with Lewis.

https://www.facebook.com/paigntonzoo
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Another cool species being brought on display, it’s very exciting to keep up with all of Paignton’s smaller developments of late, and lots of small improvements adding up.
 
pendraig_milnerae said:
Another cool species being brought on display, it’s very exciting to keep up with all of Paignton’s smaller developments of late, and lots of small improvements adding up.
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…., I agree, but, it’s another species being returned to being on display. Good news though!
 
The (3) bachelor male Sulawesi Macaques that were living in the parrot aviaries at the top of the zoo have moved - I’m unsure where - and the aviaries have been stripped back.
The old owl & pheasant aviaries, essentially all of the wood & wire ones, have been emptied and it looks like they are waiting demolition.
The Jacob’s sheep have died/moved on and the paddock behind the restaurant is once again empty.
The new croc swamp walkway looks really good ahead of re-opening this weekend.
 
Visited today for the opening of Crocodile Swamp and it’s lovely! Same layout inside, only change is the last 2 pools have had the divider taken down so now it’s one big enclosure.

Nice to see Nagini is still there! And we’re unsure if the Gharial is the one from before (this one is quite a bit bigger!).

Spud has gone off show and apparently is currently up at the old Takin Quarry ready to be moved. :-( I know he needed to go, but it’s sad to see him move on.

Signs are still there but the current porcupine enclosure was emptier. Their house has gone and no food around today. Possibly been moved already to their new enclosure?

It was actually pretty busy today and so lovely to see!
 
Kr15 said:
Visited today for the opening of Crocodile Swamp and it’s lovely! Same layout inside, only change is the last 2 pools have had the divider taken down so now it’s one big enclosure.

Nice to see Nagini is still there! And we’re unsure if the Gharial is the one from before (this one is quite a bit bigger!).

Spud has gone off show and apparently is currently up at the old Takin Quarry ready to be moved. :-( I know he needed to go, but it’s sad to see him move on.

Signs are still there but the current porcupine enclosure was emptier. Their house has gone and no food around today. Possibly been moved already to their new enclosure?

It was actually pretty busy today and so lovely to see!
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What species are Nagini and Spud?
 
Re. Reptiles - since the Caiman Lizards & turtles have moved to Croc Swamp from Reptile Tropics, I wonder if Anaconda (if still in collection), or another large aquatic snake will return to that enclosure, if and when the house is reopened after the latest storm damage?

Does anyone on here know what bird species are currently kept off show (both behind Cottage Aviary and behind the ABC and Cassowary areas), and whether any of these will move into the vacated parrot flights at the top of the zoo?

By all accounts, Saturdays re-opening of Croc Swamp was a huge success. I’m so pleased.

2025 - I’d imagine the focus will turn to building the new Flamingo, Indoor Lion (with public viewing), Lion lookout and Red Ruffed Lemur buildings, all of which have in-date planning authorisation?

I’m hoping for Bongo, Potoroo, Diana Monkey, Spider Monkey breeding success, and imports/exports to pair Tiger, King Colobus, Hartmanns Zebra, Giraffe, Oriental Stork, Secretary Bird, Kiwi and some updates on Takin and Cuban Crocs.

Hopefully a financially bountiful Spring & summer will allow work to restart on the failed new Baboon Hill exhibit?

Well done to all the staff who are helping to bring our zoo back from the brink!
 
TriUK said:
I’m hoping for Bongo, Potoroo, Diana Monkey, Spider Monkey breeding success, and imports/exports to pair Tiger, King Colobus, Hartmanns Zebra, Giraffe, Oriental Stork, Secretary Bird, Kiwi and some updates on Takin and Cuban Crocs.
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Black Rhino could be added to that list, unless there has been some development already?
 
Panthera1981 said:
A very interesting (and very humble) email received this morning from the Head of Living Collections. Of note in particular an article detailing updates and logistics involved in current and forthcoming animal transfers to both sites (essentially more coming in than going out, but blame Brexit!)
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I’m split, got mixed feelings, about this email. On one level, I’m so very grateful and genuinely appreciative of the Curator at Paignton sending a message - this type of communication is something that had been neglected completely by previous management regimes.
On another level, I’m disappointed in the lack of detail & content - it really tells us nothing! We know about all of the barriers & hurdles that they face to move animals, but after so long they can ‘come across’ as excuses for poor planning and change management. This may be harsh, but other zoos (from the outside anyways) seem to be importing new stock?
 
TriUK said:
I’m split, got mixed feelings, about this email. On one level, I’m so very grateful and genuinely appreciative of the Curator at Paignton sending a message - this type of communication is something that had been neglected completely by previous management regimes.
On another level, I’m disappointed in the lack of detail & content - it really tells us nothing! We know about all of the barriers & hurdles that they face to move animals, but after so long they can ‘come across’ as excuses for poor planning and change management. This may be harsh, but other zoos (from the outside anyways) seem to be importing new stock?
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But, with respect, considering what the zoo has been going through over recent years, this is surely better than having nothing at all?
 
Panthera1981 said:
But, with respect, considering what the zoo has been going through over recent years, this is surely better than having nothing at all?
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With equal respect, I agree, to a point, but the email was ‘fluffy’ and lacked real depth. I’d have rather they had waited until there was something of substance that could have been written. I’m fully aware of all the issues they’ve faced, and continue to battle, but people outside of our zoochat and regular visit community sadly don’t care and have little empathy once they’ve forked out hard earned cash to see a poorly stocked zoo.
The visitor experience IS improving with the reopening of key exhibits and the extreme dedication of many PZ departments, from top to bottom, the change is notable and it is making a positive difference. I feel the curatorship is not proactive enough, at least not visibly, for a major UK zoo in 2025.
 
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TriUK said:
On another level, I’m disappointed in the lack of detail & content - it really tells us nothing!
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TriUK said:
the email was ‘fluffy’ and lacked real depth. I’d have rather they had waited until there was something of substance that could have been written.
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Thing is, given your general track record when it comes to criticism of the collection and the direction it has gone in recent years, if they *had* waited until there was something substantial to share, you would have probably criticised them for waiting too long to provide some form of communication and suggested that hearing something/anything would have been better than nothing :rolleyes::D
 
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