Paignton Zoo » Paignton Zoo

Paignton Zoo
13-11-2007

I thought I'd leave dear old Bulu and her orangutan companions to their own thread and start this one for Mandrills etc.
So, there are currently 7 Mandrills at Paignton - Brutus, the dominant male, Missy and her young daughter who is Brutus's daughter, Buffa(?) a hand reared female from Czechoslovakia, and another female and her two sons. (I'm afraid I didn't catch all their names.) Missy and the female with 2 sons came from France together. That female does not get on with Missy and Buffa, to put it mildly, and is off show awaiting rehoming. Her two sons have been introduced to Brutus's group successfully as Brutus is a tolerant individual. (It is quite amusing watching his small daughter taking liberties with him.) Missy may be pregnant, but her rotundness is actually due to greed - Brutus lets her take his food! Buffa is a social outcast and copes with it by distancing herself. Brutus is not sexually interested in her after failing to interest her in the past.
I hope this helps, Pertinax

13-11-2007

Yes, well done, thats great information...

Now, can you just find out where 'Brutus' came from? Was he born at Paignton (as I believe) and then lived many years in the Small Mammal House?(Paignton have bred a number of Mandrills in the past)

And maybe you can find where the 'new' Diana monkey came from- I presume its a girl?.

mandrills
13-11-2007

While I'm doing that, perhaps you know the reason for the female infant and the social outcast presenting their posteriors to us - is it dominance, submissiveness, or something else?

14-11-2007

I believe it is a submissive gesture but you should maybe check with the keepers for another opinion.

Does the big male ever 'grimace' at you, baring his teeth and shaking his head from side to side? That isn't hostility- he's being friendly!

Two young males(brothers)were born at Paignton, one in Sept 1990, and one in Dec. 1991. Their local(zoo) Identity numbers were A741, and A890. If 'Brutus' was born at the zoo I suspect he's one and was originally named 'Garvey' or 'Fari' -but I could be totally wrong about his history...

It sounds like the seperated female is dominant to the others which is why she's hostile. Its a pity if they have to rehome her as it will reduce the group to one breeding female(Missy). Still, I suppose one of the young males might mate with the outcast in due course. Were either of those young males fathered by 'Brutus' do you know?

14-11-2007

Have Paignton decided on what crocodile species they are going to keep in their new exhibit yet?

15-11-2007

I haven't heard anything - apart from the 3 Cuban crocodiles. I'll keep my ears open. The new exhibit is on course to open next Easter.

mandrills
15-11-2007

There's no chance at all of the rogue female (Juju I think) being mixed with the others. Her youngest son is Brutus's, the elder son came with her from France. The outcast is Biffa, short for Babinka. Brutus doesn't usually bother with us so I haven't noticed the gestures! My enquiries re him, Diana monkeys and Mangabeys continue!

15-11-2007

keep going....

22-11-2007

Just to say that I haven't forgotten my mission. I went to the zoo today. It was cold, dark and wet and keepers were wisely under cover, so my list of questions remains unanswered!

23-11-2007

I had a look on ISIS the other day and Newquay Zoo seem to be down (from about six some years ago) to just two Diana Monkeys(2 females) so either a number have been transferred elsewhere or they've lost some.

It also listed them(Newquay) as now having 1.2. Cherry-crowned Mangabey- I don't know if this may have anything to do with what you overheard.

I was very impressed to read that gorilla Mapema was crate-trained so that he was able to travel to Duisburg without being tranquilised- always a risky business... That's innovative management.

Presumably they'll be repeating this process with 'Damisi' for his much shorter trip to Chessington ?

23-11-2007

The transfer of a Diana monkey from Newquay sounds feasible to me, as does Newquay being the destination for our mystery Mangabey. I'll persevere with my enquiries!
Yes, Damisi has had the same training as Mapema.

23-11-2007

It would be good if Newquay sent their two remaining female Diana monkeys to Paignton- but maybe they are wanting a new male themselves. It would give Paignton a decent-sized group -and still under the same ownership...

Allen's Swamp Monkeys.
28-11-2007

Gigit, as our Paignton correspondent, what is the Swamp Monkey situation? Last time I went there was just the single pair, relocated (from the old cages) to the little 'island' near the entrance to the Ape House. Now ISIS list 1.3.- is that additional females, or are they breeding now? The male always looked very stereotyped to me- he'd go back and forth a few feet on one particular branch, and dip his tail(or was it hand?) repeatedly in the water dish. I guess this behaviour came from living many years in those very cramped old monkey cages.

These monkeys are rare in captivity- in Uk only at Paignton and Twycross.

Allen's Swamp Monkeys
28-11-2007

The male who used to be in the house near the Ape House died some time ago - it must be over a year ago but I can't remember exactly. He was replaced in that house by a female who had been off show and that it how the situation remains - just the two females. I don't know if they still have another female off show. They didn't breed before the male died. I'll add them to my list of questions! They are entertaining little creatures, especially when they're outside digging at the edge of the water.

28-11-2007

Thanks. I'm sorry to hear about the male's death. I'd seen him many times over the years.

I don't understand the current ISIS listing which is the same as for Twycross- 1.3.(a mistake?)

Anyway, it could be difficult for Paignton to get another male..