Monkey Heights » Paignton Zoo

Monkey Heights
30-07-2008

I can sense Sim looking over our shoulders and tutting, so here's a new thread to carry on the discussion about Monkey Heights from the news from Paignton thread.
Wearing a rainproof deerstalker, I spoke to a monkey keeper today. Apparently, it was never the intention for the monkeys to have access to the plane trees. The idea was that visitors could look down from tree height at the monkeys. The colobus escapees weren't used to electric fences when first put in the enclosure and this aided their escape.
The King Colobus monkeys have recently been joined by a male, Martin, from Chester and it is hoped they will soon produce a baby.
The adult female Diana Monkey is heavily pregnant and due to give birth at any time.

30-07-2008

Chester haven't got any (king) colobus...

30-07-2008

That was what I heard. Maybe it should have been Colchester?

30-07-2008

1. That is what I originally thought- they didn't want the Plane trees damaged by the Monkeys. Certainly the two Colobus groups, being leaf eaters, would have soon started to damage them. But it seems a very odd idea to me to plan the exhibit for people could look 'down' on monkeys- its like the roles have been reversed- maybe that's why I find it an unnatural display.

2. As mentioned above, there are no Colobus at Chester- maybe Colchester?

3.Glad to hear the Diana female is pregnant again- will this be her third offspring now? Do you know the sexes of the others? A pity they don't add the two females from Newquay to this group.....

30-07-2008

Shame they won't let them use the trees. The least they could do is give them more climbing structures!

30-07-2008

Again, i don't think Colchester have ever had king colobus

30-07-2008

Would it not have been likely to come from Blackpool?

30-07-2008

Yes, her third - a female in 2006 and a male in 2007.

30-07-2008

They would have to cut the plane trees back drastically if the monkeys were to use them. The branches are very wide spread, overlapping with each other in the different enclosures. You may end up with something that didn't look much better than the climbing frames!

30-07-2008

Yes, cutting them back would be really ugly and spoil three beautiful trees.. The problem is the trees are like umbrellas in the enclosures and it is difficult to add or raise the height of anymore climbing structures as it would let the Monkeys access the trees/escape. Its a plan that hasn't worked very well in my opinion.

Dianas.
30-07-2008

I would really like to see them concentrate on this species and build up a decent-sized group. That's why I'd like to see the Newquay ones added(or alternatively get a male themselves and restart breeding.) This species is numerically rare in the Uk nowadays, and even fewer zoos are breeding them at present.

30-07-2008

monkey 'heights' is therefore the least appropriate name for this exhibit.

30-07-2008

I don't like to be overly critical but I always think of it as 'Monkey Lows...' Paigton is a 'go ahead' zoo in many ways nowadays with a comprehensive & interesting collection so I was really surprised when they produced this 'White Elephant'.

31-07-2008

So where did the King colobus actually come from?

31-07-2008

I haven't been back to check with the keeper yet. Anybody got the stud book? He must have come from a British zoo as planned imports from European zoos to Paignton all seem to be on hold.