Paignton Zoo webcams at Paignton

Hmmmm, not the most exciting webcam in the world. They need to reposition the camera or have more than one. Your bosses will wonder why you're staring at a pile of hay and a bucket.
 
Gigit said:
Hmmmm, not the most exciting webcam in the world. They need to reposition the camera or have more than one. Your bosses will wonder why you're staring at a pile of hay and a bucket.
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Most zoo webcams I've seen are pretty ineffective- the idea seems better than the reality. Bristol recently added one for their gorillas' outdoor area- you won't see much on that one! Howletts had them in the Gorilla cages too- they just showed empty cages.

The best I've seen is/was the indoor Cincinnati Sumatran rhino camera- the stall is quite small so mother 'Emi' and her baby were frequently in shot- feeding,walking around, resting etc. I could never get the 'outdoor' one to work though.
 
It doesn't help that Sita and Zuri now have the run of the whole rhino house.
On the thread 'Webcam Tips', Dan recommended the Tigercam at Kolmarden Zoo in Sweden - it's a good one.
 
Maybe Paignton should have one trained on the Vet. centre so we can see what's going on there?....;)
 
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Good idea - though apparently they pull down the blind for anything too upsetting for the public!
 
Just seen them both. It reminds me of the hours I spent watching Sita on the webcam last year, waiting for her to give birth and wondering why she looks very wrinkled but Kingo, the male, is smooth and rounded. Is it 'just one of those things'?
 
Gigit said:
Just seen them both. It reminds me of the hours I spent watching Sita on the webcam last year, waiting for her to give birth and wondering why she looks very wrinkled but Kingo, the male, is smooth and rounded. Is it 'just one of those things'?
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So you watch them on the webcam then run across the road into the zoo to see them in person? :D Virtuality & reality all in one....;)

I noticed the same difference in the condition of the Paignton black rhino pair when they first arrived. It might have something to with the different conditions they were kept in previously- e.g. access to mud wallows etc but it seems a permanent feature. Whipsnade's last female 'Saya' (before she died) was similar in appearance to Sita with greyish rough skin & prominent ribs, and she may also have come from Berlin.Maybe there's a lot of contact with concrete there. From memory none of Port Lympne's rhinos have that appearance.
 
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Pertinax said:
So you watch them on the webcam then run across the road into the zoo to see them in person? :D Virtuality & reality all in one....;)
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In my defence, (and to avoid seeming too sad a person!) I mainly watched Sita on the webcam when the zoo was closed! That's my story and I'm sticking to it :)
Skinwise, Zuri seems to be taking after her mum.
 
Gigit said:
Skinwise, Zuri seems to be taking after her mum.
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Now that's interesting.... the difference between the two adults was very marked I know, but I was only guessing as to the real cause. Maybe it could be genetic??:confused: Male and female black rhino have different shapes but it doesn't extend to skin texture I don't think.
 
Watching the rhinos on the webcam this week, I was very surprised to see Zuri suckling. She had to lie down to do it but Sita let her - horns and all! She's 21 months old now.
 
Gigit said:
Watching the rhinos on the webcam this week, I was very surprised to see Zuri suckling. She had to lie down to do it but Sita let her - horns and all! She's 21 months old now.
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I think that's quite normal. Is the calf almost as big as her mother now?
 
There's not a lot of difference in their sizes now. If I see just one of them I have to look at the horns to tell which one she is. When would a calf normally 'leave home'?
 
Gigit said:
There's not a lot of difference in their sizes now. If I see just one of them I have to look at the horns to tell which one she is. When would a calf normally 'leave home'?
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Usually after a few years however it has been know for mothers to have a second calf while the first is still around.
 
taun said:
Usually after a few years however it has been know for mothers to have a second calf while the first is still around.
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Yes, they are actually quite social and in the wild females in particular may stay together several years and still associate together sometimes as adults I believe.

At Port Lympne a few months ago their oldest female 'Rukwa'- the grandmother of Zuri- was in a paddock with her own daughter 'Nakuru'. They were lying down side by side, almost touching. Rukwa is about 38 and has had around six calves,, and Nakuru is 18 and has had several of her own too, yet here they were the best of friends still.

Zuri could stay with her mother indefinately I guess.
 
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taun said:
Isn't there a room issue with the rhinos there? I expect Zuri will move on in a few years so thy can breed from the mother again.
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When they got their first Black Rhino they still had a pair of White Rhinos living in the house as well,so as far as i`m aware the house can handle 3 adult rhinos if needs be.
 
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