2017 could prove to be exciting....., phased work on the Savannah exhibit will involve lots of moving and swapping of stock currently in that area, including Anoa, Peccary, RR Hog, Tapir, Meerkat, Takin & Rhea. Today the Pileated Gibbon and Howler Monkey lake was drained and the Squirrel Monkeys were absent while their shared house was being prepared for the now settled Howler group. The Lories & parrots have 'shifted' along an aviary or two leaving 2 empty? The new aviaries between the tropical and desert house are near complete. The Tenrecs are moving back to their original (anoa) house and have been moved from the old nocturnal house where only meerkats now reside. Other developments will include new viewing platforms in Lemur Wood and Cheetah enclosure enlargement.
Paignton holds a group of Squirrel monkeys in a mixed exhibit with Howlers. They do in fact also hold a breeding group of Brown Variagated Spider Monkeys in another part of the zoo.
Work is planned to start on the Savannah development in the Autumn. Other projects at Paignton this year will include new houses for the Lemurs and Gibbons Paignton Zoo's 2017 plans include start on new Savannah exhibit
Gibbons - wonder if this is housing for the Lars, and if so, whether it would be in public view (as train track is in the way)? I've always been surprised that the zoo inspector has allowed them to use a tiny tree house for so many years, but it is quite cool they are semi-wild. Lemurs - I was told the original house near the bridge was being converted into an observation platform & that they were looking at bringing in Bamboo Lemurs to reside in the lakeside house (originally intended for Gibbons to access Orang island).
Tropical House and Desert House are closed for refurbishment. Lots of building work and construction trucks around yesterday. Should be open by half term. Squirrel monkeys now in primate house opposite Bongo, in front of Lemur Wood entrance until new Howler grouping has settled.
Speculation, but an area of Gunnera has been cleared on the lake shore opposite Gibbon Island and turf is now being removed. This might be the site of a house for the Lars, similar to the Pileated house? They would just need a bridge over to the island. You can see this on the webcam: Live Webcams at Paignton Zoo The gibbons aren't used to being close to the public so the railway being there between them and us could be an advantage. And maybe it's time for one of the two brothers to be moved on and replaced with a female.
Was told today that the area being cleared is for a new flower bed in front of the Lar Gibbons. There is a concrete path being laid to replace the wooden walkway in the tropical/desert house.
After closer inspection today and seeing the care that was being taken, I thought this was probably the case.
This is worth looking at. It focuses on reptiles and amphibians but also includes a video of Bruce for all you Echidna fans. Take a look behind the scenes at Paignton Zoo
Thanks for this Gigit. One of the interviewees said he looked after Komodo Dragons. Does anyone know if Paignton keep these off-show? If so, what is their age and do we think they'll be on show soon?
It's not clear to me whether he was talking about Paignton specifically or about Komodos and reptiles generally. I think he's a fairly new appointee so maybe he's looked after Komodos elsewhere? They're not listed in the 2015 Inventory but anything could have happened since then. If they do have them, from what I've seen at other zoos they need a fairly large enclosure, so I can't think where they'd go.
If Paignton Zoo has gone into Komodo Dragon it would be a very new development, and one which I have not heard about; however, as Luke Harding - the individual in question - worked for ZSL until pretty recently and as such will have been involved with the species there we cannot assume he specifically meant Paignton holds the species.
Quite; given all you have said in the past about them I suspect it is only a matter of time, if it has not happened already!
2 Pygmy Loris have been born Tiny twin clowns born at Paignton Zoo https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1388145111206577
Three Maned Wolves have been born - the first at Paignton for 7 years http://m.devonlive.com/first-endang...at-devon-zoo/story-30232941-detail/story.html
