Exmoor Zoo What did you think of it?

[Johnny Morris.]

this admission charge is the same as at, say Newquay Zoo, 100 miles down the coast, and I think you'd be hard pressed not to conclude that there is a better overall zoo experience at Newquay.

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I'm sorry, i honestly think there is a far better zoo experience at Exmoor, than possibly any other zoo i have been to. That's not saying it's the best zoo, but overall it ticks more boxes than the big zoo's with their manicured lawns and same old species. (I've endured a day at Whipsnade today, i will not be rushing back. I'm already looking at booking up a Hol in North Devon for next year.)

 

[sooty mangabey]

I'm sorry, i honestly think there is a far better zoo experience at Exmoor, than possibly any other zoo i have been to.

Blimey! Well, I suppose that we all have different tastes, and different things will tickle us in different ways. I just found the aesthetics of Exmoor to be lacking - it felt like a big field with a few cheap enclosures arranged in a fairly higgeldy-piggeldy fashion across its acres, with little or no thought having been given to its landscaping, or to the story it was seeking to tell. I am delighted, of course, that others think differently.

I do worry, though, about the ability of this sort of place to run in the way that a zoo should run (and I am not casting any aspersions on Exmoor in particular here, but just thinking about all low-budget zoos in general). How much off-show space do they have? What are the veterinary facilities like? Do the staff have time to practise behavioural enrichment in the way that they should be doing? In short, there has to be a size (of budget, possibly) below which a zoo is is simply not viable.

 

[Johnny Morris.]

Blimey! Well, I suppose that we all have different tastes, and different things will tickle us in different ways. I just found the aesthetics of Exmoor to be lacking - it felt like a big field with a few cheap enclosures arranged in a fairly higgeldy-piggeldy fashion across its acres, with little or no thought having been given to its landscaping, or to the story it was seeking to tell. I am delighted, of course, that others think differently.

I do worry, though, about the ability of this sort of place to run in the way that a zoo should run (and I am not casting any aspersions on Exmoor in particular here, but just thinking about all low-budget zoos in general). How much off-show space do they have? What are the veterinary facilities like? Do the staff have time to practise behavioural enrichment in the way that they should be doing? In short, there has to be a size (of budget, possibly) below which a zoo is is simply not viable.

Nice way to quote Sooty, very selective. You stated in an earlier post, that other zoos should take note of the way exmoors keepers go out of their way to talk to you, (I haven't experienced their enthusiaam or enjoyment anywhere else.) They also have a fantastic array of unusual species, their notice boards are possibly the most up to date and informative i have ever read. (They tell you what zoo every animal has come from.)I went 2 weeks ago, it's spring you are going to find birdshit every where, especially as it hasn't really rained for weeks. I thought their admission was very reasonable, and i'm possibly the tightest bloke you could ever meet. Out of your 5 zoos did you happen across Dartmoor?

 

[sooty mangabey]

Out of your 5 zoos did you happen across Dartmoor?

No! I've not been there since about 1992; even though it's a very different place now, I am sure, I don't think it's really my kind of zoo, somehow.

I'd certainly agree on all of the positives you say about Exmoor: the collection is good, most of the information is up-to-date, and the place is friendly. The discussion launched elsewhere about the unfriendliness of Whipsnade points to the importance of this last factor in leading to a good zoo visit.

Your point on bird crap is a fair one - but it is still going to have been cleaned off in a zoo which has a greater eye on the aesthetic. When I worked in a zoo, I once had a very firm ticking off for not sorting out the signs that had been thus decorated within the walk-through aviary - it was a ticking off which, i think, was wholly justified!

 

[Nisha]

One of the singing dog pups has already been transferred to Zoo Atlanta (I think that was the right collection) and the remaining brother and sister were supposed to be transferred to a German collection but that fell through. The intention is, I believe, to keep only the parents, Kota and Belle.

The remaining 1:1 offspring were transfered to Zoo Zlin, Czech Republic on 10th March 2011

 

[tim b]

Had to laugh at Sooty[do i really have to call you that J?] criticizing a zoo he last went to in 1992!Ive been to Exmoor twice in the past few years and although it does have a SLIGHT homemade feel to it,ive seen much worse elsewhere and enjoyed a pretty decent collection of smaller species.Homework for tonight Sooty...re-read page 68 of my book!

 

[sooty mangabey]

Had to laugh at Sooty[do i really have to call you that J?] criticizing a zoo he last went to in 1992!Ive been to Exmoor twice in the past few years and although it does have a SLIGHT homemade feel to it,ive seen much worse elsewhere and enjoyed a pretty decent collection of smaller species.Homework for tonight Sooty...re-read page 68 of my book!

Homework for Tim - read this thread more carefully! I was at Exmoor a few weeks ago; it was Dartmoor that I have not visited for years, and about which I simply said that I didn't think it would be my kind of zoo.

Surely you would expect better of me than that?

 

[Goretex]

Had to laugh at Sooty[do i really have to call you that J?]

And what about your avatar it ain't a sooty mangabey (I prefferd your previous one personally).

 

[sooty mangabey]

And what about your avatar it ain't a sooty mangabey (I prefferd your previous one personally).

I rather like this aardwolf!

And I agree with Tim - there is something vaguely daft about using pseudonyms. I did contact one fo the moderators and ask if I could change to my real name, but was told that the only way to do it would be to start again with a new title - which all seemed like a bit of a kerfuffle.

 

[Chlidonias]

Sim can change your username, but you might be in for a wait...

 

[Maguari]

I rather like this aardwolf!

And I agree with Tim - there is something vaguely daft about using pseudonyms. I did contact one fo the moderators and ask if I could change to my real name, but was told that the only way to do it would be to start again with a new title - which all seemed like a bit of a kerfuffle.

I quite like the silliness of the pseudonyms (silliness is all good) but I agree that we shouldn't hide behind them (hence the Facebook and Twitter links at the top right of this post, and all my posts).


I've actually not been to Exmoor for some time now, but apart from rotten weather whenever I go, I've always enjoyed it. If only the West Country didn't insist on being so far away I'd be there a lot more!

 

[Gigit]

If only the West Country didn't insist on being so far away I'd be there a lot more!

The West Country is really close from where I'm sitting. It's everywhere else that's so far away. It was all a lot nearer when I lived in London

 

[Zoovolunteer]

Having visited Exmoor yesterday with a coach tour I can say we were all very impressed with the collection. The reptiles and invertebrates are plainly just token examples, but it has a very comprehensive bird collection including such rarities as Wonga and Crested pigeons and Striated heron. The mammals had some very unusual species - Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel, Binturong, and Tamandua spring to mind. with its location I expect an early spring visit does not show it at its best, but it is definately a zoo to visit if you are in the area.

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Inca the male Maned Wolf has died.

Exmoor Zoo - Wall | Facebook

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

1.0 Puma arrived from a private collection in France.

 

[mhale]

1.0 Puma arrived from a private collection in France.

According to Facebook, he came from Belgium.

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Thanks mhale, I read something different at the same time and got it mixed up!

 

[Nisha]

2:0 Maned Wolf have arrived from Sweden and are now on show
Other new arrivals to be revealed shortly on the parks Facebook page

 

[zoogiraffe]

2:0 Maned Wolf have arrived from Sweden and are now on show
Other new arrivals to be revealed shortly on the parks Facebook page

What are the chances it will be some of the stock from RSCC turning up here yet again?

 

[Bele]

What are the chances it will be some of the stock from RSCC turning up here yet again?

Checking Facebook referred to above I see they now have a pair of tayra , guess the female came from RSCC ? Would be brilliant if they can breed from them .