Recent visit Visited a couple of times in recent days and noticed the following: * The 4 Pied Tamarins (in the old GL Tamarin enclosure in Monkey Heights) seem confident and comfortable with the public. I'm not sure if their cortisol is measured as it is at Durrell? * The Desert House is looking fantastic with new planting. The Crested Tinamou are also active and visible later in the day (Incidentally, this addition to the collection completes the 'set' of ratites! *The Reptile Nursery has been remodelled with a smaller viewing window into the nursery itself. Shame. * The signage in Croc Swamp seems incorrect but there are now 2 Tomistoma's on show together. The first pool to the right on arrival in the exhibit now houses Dwarf Crocs which seem too small for the space. I hope there are no Cubans or Phillipines held in off-show holding pens! * The Orang island seem lush with vegetation again after being de-forested in recent years. Both mothers were very active. I felt privileged to have such a view of them. Is the Grey Gibbon still sharing the smaller island? * With the exception of the bus shelter type areas outside of the indoor play area which are awful, the new playgrounds and surrounding flower beds are fantastic. The kids loved them. * The nature trail opposite the Orang island is well stocked with wild bird feeders and nest boxes and worth a walk if time permits. Great picnic spot away from seagulls and wildlings. * Duchess looked in good shape and was very active during one of her daily forages after a scatter feed. * New Lemur set up looks more positive. Anyone know what species is going to be housed in the old house at the end of the bridge? * Not sure if the zoo will go out of Tapir, Capybara and Anoa once the Savannah exhibit is built and the old stable complex and ex-penguin/meerkat/water vole enclosure is knocked down? I'vealways thought the paddocks to the left of the path (above the restaurant) up the hill towards the Red Pandas would be a good site for a mixed S American exhibit. Overall, the zoo and L Coasts are looking good.
Crocwise, I think they have gone out of Philippine crocs. The Cubans should be on show as they are the EEP studbook holder. BTW: I do hope they have sorted the undesirable situation with the hybrids by now!)
An UK collection with - for years - non-breeding Philippine crocs has recently gone out of them ... (reliably informed) and had been transferred / relocated to a specialist collection in France .
Here is the link: Des crocodiles des Philippines ont rejoint la Ferme aux Crocodiles – Zoonaute.net In the case of Philippine crocs it is just adding up, is it not? Previously these were: ZSL - London 1.1 - breeders; Paignton: 1.1 - non-breeding (ex Chester).
I'll answer this bit as the orang area is where I spend most of my time at the zoo! Grey Gibbon, Naomi, usually has access to the small island when Gambira is out there but I've not seen her there for a while. Gambira doesn't seem to be too keen on her. The large island does look lush at the moment with shrubby growth. Tatty has taken to climbing up the only tall tree that's still alive and breaking off small branches, so that one may not last much longer. I heard that there are plans to put in some poles (sway?) at some point in the future. Perhaps they should look at Dublin's new fake trees which are providing the orangs there with lots of climbing opportunities.
*The Reptile Nursery has been remodelled with a smaller viewing window into the nursery itself. Shame. This is to show that the area is a work space for the keepers, used to be lots of complaints that visitors couldn't see the animals in the holding enclosures, but was not designed for this. * The signage in Croc Swamp seems incorrect but there are now 2 Tomistoma's on show together. The first pool to the right on arrival in the exhibit now houses Dwarf Crocs which seem too small for the space. I hope there are no Cubans or Phillipines held in off-show holding pens! There are 3 tomistomas on show together. Cubans (smaller than dwarfs) to go in Reptile House pool where dwarfs were. * New Lemur set up looks more positive. Anyone know what species is going to be housed in the old house at the end of the bridge? Will be knocked down and used as a feeding area to allow more space for visitors to see.
The wife and I used to love going in the reptile nursery, but have been disappointed since the changes.
The two Asian lion cubs have been on show for a couple of weeks and the Sumatran tiger cub has been on show since Friday 12th. Chester regulars will not be surprised to learn that Fabi is being a very tolerant and playful father and Shakira is quite happy to leave the cub with him as she takes a short break from her parental duties. New species in the Desert House are a pair of bush thick-knees (bush stone-curlews) Burhinus grallarius and a number of Bicheno's finches (aka owl finches or double-barred finches) Taeniopygia bichenovii, which are very active and are already building nests. The left hand side of the Tenrec House is now officially empty, although it's been a while since I saw a tail-less tenrec. There are now 3 pygmy hedgehog tenrecs on show in separate tanks on the other side of the house. Alan
Sadly the latest arrival to the Giraffe herd has had to be put to sleep after developing a problem with his neck Paignton Zoo puts to sleep young giraffe which developed kink in his neck | Torquay Herald Express
A female King Colobus is being handreared after a dramatic birth by c-section Paignton Zoo staff deliver baby monkey by Caesarean | Plymouth Herald
With the recent talk of crocs at Paignton, I can confirm the recent moves and trying to get 2 more Cubans in (with the one individual left - probably the Skansen Akvariet female that was confirmed as pure-bred in 2010). Link: Paignton Zoo is taking charge of Cuban crocodile conservation across Europe. | West Briton As the link is already a good few months old, the (exciting) move of the Cubans may already have taken place or is close to being completed.
Not sure if this still happening given the fact if what I have heard is true,because if it is Mike Bungard no longer works at Paignton Zoo!I know that Wingham have received 2 hybrids from Paignton,but as 2 what is happening over the rest I am not sure!
Small update: The fruit bats have gone to Folly Farm. The monkey/Lemur house next to Orang island that is just outside of Lemur Wood may be used to house Bamboo Lemurs, making use of the bamboo in that area (inspired by Durrells lakeside enclosure?). As I predicted, the Tapir/Capybara will move to the paddocks above the restaurant where Rhea and Wattled Cranes are currently housed. The area opposite, that was cleared recently (see Gigits photo) will be used for a house for both species but I don't know how the visitor paths will be re-directed? Wrinkled Hornbill have now moved into the parrot aviaries (next to Hyacynths). Both Pileated Gibbons appear to be using their excellent (probably the best in the Country IMO) enclosure at all times of the day now which is great! There are new climbing structures being erected at Monkey Heights.
The Tiger cub has been named Lucu. The Lion cubs (previously reported as 2.0) have now been confirmed as 1.1 and also given names Paignton Zoo lion and tiger cubs have been named - new pictures | Torquay Herald Express
Intresting article about how food is produced ( hydroponic and vertical farming ) at Paignton : England?s Paignton Zoo: Feeding Animals from the Ground Up | FoodTank.com
