WOW! I knew they had K Dragons but assumed they would be very young & off-show. I guess they must be building a safe off-show area behind the door at the bottom of the pit then? Maybe the wooden pallets will have mock rock built over them? Very exciting!
Are we still talking about the open top python exhibit in Croc Swamp? How much more mock rock does one exhibit need?
I guess the exhibits base would need to be raised and be made more level for Dragons? Does anyone know how old/how many Dragons they have?
The volunteer didn't say they had them on site, but had one waiting to come in from another zoo. As far as I'm aware, the zoo has never had them, not even offshow. Not sure what the plans are, but obviously want to make it dragon friendly; will need to ensure it can't climb out, for example.
I think they are running to tests to determine sexes (they think 2 female but aren't sure) as well as "purity" tests. Not sure how long that takes.
PZ have become the first BIAZA zoo to breed the Chinese Crocodile Lizard. See their FB post. Wish they were on show.
The post has been vacant for a year, but the zoo has finally appointed a new Curator of Mammals - Nic Dunn, formerly head of Shaldon: New Curator has local roots and global reach
That's great news. I hope the TB restrictions are lifted soon. The mammal collection is suffering. They need a new male Bongo for a start! I wonder if the giraffe are on birth control as the herd is already pretty big for the space provided? The new curator will hopefully use his connections to get things moving. At least the zoo has time to plan moves and enclosure swaps whilst the TB restrictions are in place before the Savannah extensions are built! I wonder if he's planning how to showcase the Kiwi, Loris and Owstons Civet at Paignton?
The mammal collection certainly needs a boost. I don't know how big the offshow area is but it must be getting on for standing room only in there. Just recently, I've noticed that there's only one Saki monkey, one Goeldi's, and three Emperor tamarins. The male Diana monkey is still offshow, and I only saw one Bongo on my last visit (there were two previous to that). As mentioned above, the lesser mouse deer has vanished, as has the porcupine. I believe the giraffes are on contraception now, as are the mandrills, lions and tigers. To a regular, it does all look a bit sad at the moment with bindweed and brambles thriving in borders, especially round the ABC area. But at least you don't have to take a machete to go down the path from the car park now as the overgrowth has been cut back.
Good. Was there any semblance of construction taking place or internal stock moves re. savannah? Gigit - is the only off-show area for mammals behind the vet centre & amphitheater? I know there is a huge off-show bird area behind the cassowary and ABC building.
There is no sign of Savannah work, apart from the old badger field being razed to the ground. None of the animals have moved. As far as I know, that's the only off-show area for mammals. There are various buildings back there including a postmortem room, college classrooms and a crocodile house that was featured on TV once, but otherwise I think they're mainly for storage.
Unfortunately, TB restrictions being lifted aren't up to the zoo, they have to have a minimum of 6 months clear test results, difficult when the cat TB tests are done only once a month, and you have to have a fresh sample sent immediately (within 24 hours before the date of testing) and get it there in time. New curator won't be able to do anything, regardless of connections, it's not up to him. I see they've had a howler monkey born, though not sure that will do much to lure visitors back to the zoo. Male giraffe, Yoda, is on a contraceptive, though can be seen attempting to mate daughter, Eliska, every time she comes into season. Until TB restrictions are lifted, none of the daughters can be moved. I imagine the plan would be to move on the 2 older daughters, if not the 3 older. But then I was also informed by staff that the studbook do not require any more offspring from Yoda due to the captive population already being flooded with his genetics. I don't think there are any plans to get a male bongo any time soon. I'm not sure savannah will be going ahead as previously planned, due to badger fencing restrictions, I suspect that will cost a pretty penny!
Yoda the male Baringo is over represented,and the best move for the zoo when the TB restrictions are lifted will be to move him and not move his daughters why move 3 giraffes when you only need to move .
I suspect because the studbook would be better off with 3 different options for offspring, rather than just 1. I.e. each female goes to a different zoo with a different bull, rather than 1 male mating 3 females from the same bloodline. It's not about "ease" in zoo populations, it's about what is required and necessary for the species. Also, what zoo is going to want to take on a new bull who is no longer required to breed? He'd just be an unwanted expenditure.
Simple answer a zoo holding only surplus males plenty of zoos doing that in Europe and the UK,and who knows what bulls maybe available when TB restrictions are lifted a ready made herd of females able to breed is an attractive proposition.Well if Yoda is just an unwanted expense I suggest we apply the Copenhagen approach to surplus male giraffes!
