news at Paignton zoo » Paignton Zoo

30-08-2008

You amaze me. The house and landscaping looked brand new to me - is it the sea air or do I need my eyes testing?

Alan

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30-08-2008

It must be our pollution free air and the fact that it's spent most of this 'summer' being washed When it first opened, the Sheep were quite nervous and would hide when they heard you coming along the path, so you had to arrive as silently as you could. But it's a nice place to just sit quietly until they appear.

30-08-2008

Yes please, just that part of the zoo would do...

Last time I saw them the Barbary sheep were in a miserable looking small paddock with a chainlink fence and a shed, tucked away on the southern boundary of the zoo, (near the Giraffe paddock) and almost overlooking the sea.

30-08-2008

I think what makes Paignton's baboon rock exhibit work is not the design of the exhibit; it is the fact that have a good sized group which is interactive with each other and the public that makes it a winner. The exhibit is old and basic and although it works, it doesn't compare well with modern analogues. The best I have seen is the world-class hamadryas exhibit at Singapore.

Installing large plate-glass windows, giving them more space or adding trees (is there any point, they would destroy them!) would be impressive but is not likely to happen. They are not going to throw alot money at the exhibit or the species. If Paignton are going to do any work it will be mostly aesthetic (beyond any necessary flaws that I am not aware of). Or of course close the exhibit and surplus the baboons...

30-08-2008

1. Agreed- it is the species which is behaviourally interesting, rather than the exhibit itself. The best thing is the basic shape, the circular or spherical outline of the rock pinnacles allows the various harem groups to 'travel' around while keeping their distance from each other.

2. Agreed- except they have made mention of improvements of some sort. As you say they are hardly likely to indulge massive expenditure on this species. But closing the exhibit would probably produce an outcry from visitors who regularly enjoy it.

3. Perhaps the course they will take is a 'makeoever' which improves the exhibit value/viewing facilities. For a start I would like to see the very ugly back wall reduced(perhaps by rebuilding the night quarters) and also closer access for the public all around the periphery.

30-08-2008

That's where the goats are now. I had a quick stroll up to the zoo earlier and took a photo of the map.



The Barbary Sheep are at 40. The small gibbon house is at the 10 near Lemur Wood 14. The Brown Spider Monkeys are at 69.

30-08-2008

Thanks. I can't enlarge the map to read the numbers but I think I can see where the Barbary Sheep are- its a new bit of development. That area is where I would have built the Monkey enclosures... Interesting to see a map of the zoo like that- I've never taken much notice of the layout before.

I guess you must live only a 'deerstalker's throw' from the zoo. You are very lucky...

31-08-2008

I can just click on the map and it enlarges.
I'm just a short walk from the zoo but not close enough to hear the peacocks! I knew where I wanted to live when we moved here - you need to get your priorities right

31-08-2008

Oh yes, so it does. The Barbary Sheep previously lived at Number 51...

I see 'Lemur Wood' at No 14 looks like part of the Orangutan's Island.( i haven't been to Paignton for a couple of years now) Is that so- has it used the big tall trees the Orangutans never climb, or is it in fact a seperate area?

If I was able to choose to live near a zoo Paignton(at least in the UK) would probably be one of my top choices because of the location and its a good zoo with a comprehensive 'traditional' collection too.

31-08-2008

There is water all round the orangutan island so the lemurs are separate. They do have lots of tall trees in their bit and have been known to venture into the woodland walk. I think the map is a bit misleading as the lemurs aren't actually surrounded by water - there's a stream draining away from the orangutan moat through that area.
We have the zoo in one direction and the sea in the other - it sure beats living near London! And we used to have Bulu, of course.

31-08-2008

One thread per topic please. Closing thread.