When I visit zoos on my own I will wait for as long as it takes, usually, but I have chronic fatigue issues which can be a problem.
My partner gets really frustrated with me because I tend to circle the zoo repeatedly, revisiting the same area two, three, four times until I see what I came for.
I always visit the whole zoo (time permitting), but return to one particular spot two, three, four times . . . !
Paignton have a first-breeding of the Solomon Islands Skink, with mother and young on view in Reptile Tropics Zoo breeds lizard of many names
Well, well, well! Mr Gigit and I saw this baby on 14 March and took a couple of iffy photos. We went for another look the following week and couldn't see it and asked a keeper about it. He said there wasn't a baby and maybe it was a gecko - they used to keep geckos in this exhibit along with the skinks. We showed him the photo and went on our way. They've obviously spotted it themselves now! My photo is now in the Gallery. I almost feel it should be named after me
Well done! I didn't see it on the 22nd, when I last visited, but that doesn't really surprise me because these lizards are largely nocturnal, so they like to hide during visiting hours. I will pay extra attention next time I visit.
The Secretary Birds will be back out on show just as soon as it warms up a bit. The Grey Gulls are in the Screamer aviary and it appears there will be some movements in the Avian Dept - lots of landscaping/shrub removal in the mixed aviaries next to the Ground Hornbills. The off-show Maned Wolf enclosure is now visible from the main path opposite the insect house. The Zoo felt a little 'sparse' today - lots of empty enclosures and not much in the way of work! I know it's the final Sunday of Easter Hols...., but, there is SO MUCH to do!!
At the end of the school day today, a parent and child from my class last year came to my classroom to say that, apparently, I feature in the CBBC Zoo programme (walking past in the background!) So now I have to go watch all the recent episodes and see if I can spot myself!
What CBBC Zoo programme is that? Didn't know there had been one since the excellent ' ROAR ' which made my daughter take her to Howletts & Port Lympne!
It is called The Zoo - I had vaguely heard of it, and had seen signs at Paignton saying they were filming, but didn't see any cameras. It's an anthropomorphic thing where they use digital technology to make the animals talk. It is amusing, though a bit of a shame it's not educational (that's the teacher in me talking!)
They've had some successes over the years. My records are very unofficial, but I think the mother and father in this case were both born at the zoo.
Paignton had (a pair of) King Colobus in the old Monkey House as far back as the 1950-60's era. It was the first time I saw this species. I don't know if they've kept them in an unbroken line ever since, or if the current group are of more recent acquisition.
New blood has been brought in since then - I have notes about the arrivals of females in 1998 and 2006, and a male in 2007. He was the breeding male until his death last year and I think one of his sons has taken over.
I wonder if its an unbroken line since the 1960's though, or whether there was a gap when they didn't have this species at all.
