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Armadillos in the UK...

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by butterfingers, 7 Aug 2008.

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  1. butterfingers

    butterfingers New Member

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    Sounds like a punk band! But in all seriousness, does anyone know where in the UK armadillos of any species are kept? They are my younger son William's favourite animal (he's 6 years old), and so far he's only ever seen stuffed ones in museums.

    We've been to Chessington and to Regents Park Zoo and neither of them seems to have armadillos at present (although both visits were great fun!).

    Thanks,

    Simon Beck
    London SE26
     
  2. CZJimmy

    CZJimmy Well-Known Member

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    hey butterfingers

    as far as I know, Paignton Zoo keeps Armadillos.
     
  3. Al

    Al Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Edinburgh zoo, paradise wildlife park and amazon zoo park also have them :)
     
  4. johnstoni

    johnstoni Well-Known Member

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    also banham, bristol and newquay, although some collections don't have them on exhibit but may use them in their displays or animal encounters......
     
  5. butterfingers

    butterfingers New Member

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    Well, thanks to everyone for such a quick response! If William still likes armadillos after the summer holidays we'll try some of those suggestions. His brother Thomas (9) loves dolphins, and sponsors one of a pod living in the Moray Firth, so maybe we might even make it up to Scotland some time...

    Simon
     
  6. Pt123

    Pt123 Well-Known Member

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    There are also quite a few in private hands. I know a private breeder of three banded armadillos, they are amazing animals!
     
  7. Al

    Al Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    hi Pt123 ive sent you a private message bout the armadillos!:)
     
  8. Bele

    Bele Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Can anybody give a list of the species held in the UK at present - both zoo and private ?
     
  9. bongorob

    bongorob Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    I don't know if all the specimens listed are still at their respective zoos but ISIS is currently showing

    Screaming Armadillo Chaetophractus vellerosus
    Amazon World 0.1

    Large Hairy Armadillo Chaetophractus villosus
    Amazon World 4.1 Banham 1.0

    Nine-banded Armadillo Dasypus novencinctus
    Paignton 1.1

    Six-banded Armadillo Euphractus sexcinctus
    Amazon World 1.2 Bristol 1.0 Newquay 1.1

    Southern Three-banded Armadillo Tolypeutes matacus
    Amazon World 1.0 Edinburgh 1.1 Paradise Wildlife Park (Broxbourne) 1.2

    The armadillo at Bristol takes part in the animal talk at 2pm

    On my last visit to Paignton the armadillos stubbonly refused to show themselves, though on many other occasions they have been very active.
     
    Last edited: 9 Aug 2008
  10. johnstoni

    johnstoni Well-Known Member

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    Below is a link to an interesting article by one of the main private breeders of armadillos. It provides details of some of the current animals listed above, which they provided to the zoos in question:

    http://www.napak.com/armadillos.html
     
  11. foz

    foz Well-Known Member

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    the two at newquay are called scratch and sniff and are six banded armadillo according to their website, though i've never seen them in the nocturnal house
     
  12. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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  13. johnstoni

    johnstoni Well-Known Member

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    London acquired a Hairy Armadillo a couple of years ago. I wonder where it went, they were going to try and have a breeding group if I remember rightly.
     
  14. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    I think it went to Amazonworld along with a few other species when London Zoo empty the Clores out before its refurb.
     
  15. bongorob

    bongorob Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    That's quite good Pertinax.

    Ok the armadillo at Bristol is show to visitors during the keepers' talk commencing at 2pm. Let's see you make fun of that then.
     
  16. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Not possible....:(
     
  17. bongorob

    bongorob Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    I'm sure you'll catch me out again in the future.
     
  18. Pygathrix

    Pygathrix Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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  19. Zoovolunteer

    Zoovolunteer Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Bristol Zoo now has a pair of 6-banded on show in Twilight World. They are sposed to be diurnal but they do not appear to have read the manual...
     
  20. dillotest0

    dillotest0 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Since this thread was last touched, armadillos have gained much popularity within the UK, albeit not without the disappearance of the nine-banded armadillo [Dasypus Novemcinctus]...
    So as of now.. [2022]
    Big Hairy Armadillo
    Now held in about 14 public collections. including Hoo Farm and Amazon World Zoo. [Possibly also in private hands?]
    Three-banded Armadillo
    Held in about 21 public collections, including Hemsley Conservation Centre and All Things Wild Nature Centre. Would not be surprised if exists in private hands as well.
    Six-banded Armadillo
    Held in about 22 public collections, several of which are smaller establishments. [e.g. Battersea, Wild Discovery]
    Little Hairy Armadillo
    The most uncommon of those in UK captivity - held only at Amazon World, and also at the Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre.