Last day 😦 with the Rhinos, Kangaroo, Bongos, Agouti and Pudu. I have really enjoyed my experience at Paignton, the variety of animals I have been able to work with has been incredible and I will never forget the time I spent at the zoo. The whole experience has helped me become even more determined […]
Read more "Day 15 – Rhinos, Kangaroo, Bongos, Agouti and Pudu"Nearing the end of my time at Paignton with tomorrow being my last day which is both sad and a relief because I wish I could stay here forever but I am physically exhausted from the 3 weeks that I have been here. Today I was on Zebras, Takin, Camels, Pigs, Giraffes and Elephants. Interesting […]
Read more "Day 14 – Zebras, Camels, Tarkin, Pigs, Elephants and Giraffes"Today marks International Orang Utan Day so it was very fitting that I was placed on the ape section today with the Orang Utans and Gorillas. We let them out and then set about cleaning the gorilla and Orang enclosures, the gorillas do frighten me a bit with their strength and size but also their […]
Read more "Day 13 – Orang Utans and Gorillas"I managed to get onto the last remaining section that I have not helped out on today with the Tapirs, Meerkats, Cusimanse, Bats and Two-toed sloth. The best part of the day came along when I got to cuddle the Tapirs and give them a nice belly rub which they greatly appreciated!! I also got […]
Read more "Day 12 – Tapirs, Meerkats, Bats, etc!!"I spent most of my day helping out the keepers with whatever needed doing in the primate sections. Firstly I helped clean the Macaques, Dianas and Mangabeys which included re-barking the floor of the King Colobus monkeys. This involved me filling up big bins full of new bark and having to drag/pull them with all […]
Read more "Day 11 – Tenrec and Monkeys"Today I floated between sections, in the morning I took on the task of cleaning out the baboon enclosure with a pressure washer -face mask and gloves needed as the splash back from this leads to baboon poo everywhere(I’m pretty sure I had some in my hair!). In the afternoon I helped the keeper with […]
Read more "Day 10 – Baboons, Macaques and Mangabeys"Today I was working with the smallest members of the primate club at Paignton, such as Emperor Tamarin and Pied Tamarin.Emperor tamarins get their name from the royal appearance of their white moustaches. These moustaches play a part in signaling to each other, and also as a means of recognising each other (as well as […]
Read more "Day 9 – Pied and Emperor Tamarins"Another primates section, Baboons + Spider Monkeys and Red Pandas today. Mostly cleaning, feeding and making up enrichment by smothering boiled sweet potato into the cracks of pinecones. Highlights included getting electrocuted (joking that was NOT a highlight), stroking and playing with spider monkeys and making the baboons a bubble bath only to have all […]
Read more "Day 8 – Baboons, Spider Monkeys and Red Pandas"Gorillas and Orang-Utans today – mainly cleaning and making up their enrichment by filling a variety of shaped containers with pellet wrapped in newspaper of shredded paper. I also helped out with the keeper talk and fed the gorillas which was pretty cool. Western Lowland Gorilla Gorillas live and travel together in stable groups. An […]
Read more "Day 7 – Gorillas and Orang-Utans"Today I was with the same monkeys as ‘Day 2’ so instead of repeating myself I will take this opportunity to talk through my routine each day and the individuals in each monkey species. Each day I get to the zoo at about 8am to then be assigned a section by the senior mammal keeper, […]
Read more "Day 6 – Sulawesi Crested Macaques, Dianas, King Colobus and Cherry Crowned Mangabeys (Again!)"
My Adventures at Paignton Zoo 