Paignton Zoo Question about the swamp monkeys

James27

Well-Known Member
I went to Paignton last week sometime and I only saw the male. I waited for ages but never saw the female, and I went back twice but she failed to show herself even during the feeding.
I'm REALLY hoping she hasn't died as they're always one of the highlights to my visit at Paignton, and it would be a great loss for this species in Europe. Does anyone know if she's died or if she's just having vet treatment or something?
 
Aw no that sucks! :(
Thanks though, I guess there's not much chance of them getting another female?
 
My personal view is that her death marks the end of Swamp Monkeys for Paignton and that Marek, the male, will go elsewhere. It would be good to be proved wrong.
 
My personal view is that her death marks the end of Swamp Monkeys for Paignton and that Marek, the male, will go elsewhere. It would be good to be proved wrong.

Paignton are persevering with this species, I'm pleased to say. They will receive the single female from Twycross and a 2nd one from America (possibly from San Diego who have the largest captive group).
 
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Oh great, that makes me happy :D
 
When - and where - was the last breeding of this species in the UK ? I remember seeing some at Bristol in the past .
 
When - and where - was the last breeding of this species in the UK ? I remember seeing some at Bristol in the past .

I believe it was at Twycross. Your excellent data on Twycross primates will show which year it was- I think they may only have bred one (or only reared one.)

I don't think Bristol or Paignton have ever managed a birth. I don't know if any other UK zoo has kept or ever bred this interesting species.

There are currently just the 1.2 (+ single 0.1) at Twycross and the male at Paignton in the UK.
 
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In Paignton should be only the man.

There are only five other holders in Europe:
France: Mulhouse
Poland: Warsaw
UK: Paignton & Twycross
Germany: Karlsruhe

In Karlsruhe there are living, I guess, 1,2 or 1,3 animals. And I think one of them is a daughter.
 
Bristol bred them, I think they were the first in the UK. But I don't know if they have bred at Paignton. They have been kept there for around 15 years at least though.
 
Bristol bred them, I think they were the first in the UK. But I don't know if they have bred at Paignton. They have been kept there for around 15 years at least though.

i don't think Paignton's have bred(not successfully anyway).
 
Are they a particularly hard species to breed or have they just been unlucky?
 
Many guenons are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity. The UK population is ageing and in a largely very sorry state, vervets aside.
 
Shame, they're really interesting.
 
Many guenons are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity. The UK population is ageing and in a largely very sorry state, vervets aside.

That's very true. In the case of Allen's Monkey I think with yong fit compatible animals they aren't any harder to breed than other Guenons(example; San Diego's big group- 18 monkeys). But in the UK each holding zoo has just had the odd pair or so only which reduces the chances of success. Example;one of the current Twycross females (in the trio) has had a hysterectomy so obviously can't breed.

Maybe Paignton can reverse the trend in the UK, I hope so.
 
I believe it was at Twycross. Your excellent data on Twycross primates will show which year it was- I think they may only have bred one (or only reared one.)

I don't think Bristol or Paignton have ever managed a birth. I don't know if any other UK zoo has kept or ever bred this interesting species.

There are currently just the 1.2 (+ single 0.1) at Twycross and the male at Paignton in the UK.

Chessington kept a pair some years ago , they didnt breed though. Its possible London Zoo also kept them but Im not certain of that.
 
Its possible London Zoo also kept them but Im not certain of that.

I don't remember ever seeing them at ZSL either in the very old 'stamp collection' Monkey House or the Sobell Pavilions. I'm not 100% certain they haven't ever had them at some time in the past though.
 
Maybe people are confusing them with memories of seeing the Owl-faced monkeys?

Pertinax - I stumbled upon an interesting account of the Owl-faced monkey group at ZSL recently:

ZPlond
 
I don't remember ever seeing them at ZSL either in the very old 'stamp collection' Monkey House or the Sobell Pavilions. I'm not 100% certain they haven't ever had them at some time in the past though.

Like you, I don’t ever remember seeing Allen’s swamp monkey at London Zoo, either in the old Monkey House or in the Sobell Pavilions.

They have certainly had the species at London Zoo in the past though; indeed, the type specimen of Allen’s swamp monkey was an animal that arrived at London Zoo in 1892.
 
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