Post by Dave on Feb 25, 2010 20:19:11 GMT
As you know I live very close to Paignton Zoo and always make sure I visit it at least once a year. Last year it was sad to learn one of the new rare Sumatran tiger cubs had been put down and the other cubs both broke bones in their legs.
The cubs, born in February last year , had osteoporosis, a weakness of the bones. They have now fully recovered after treatment and are back reunited with their family.
The biggest and saddest disaster to ever happen at the zoo was the tragic fire that killed the three giraffes Paddy, Kizi and their week-old calf back in 2006, I went to the zoo a few days before the fire to see the new baby giraffe.
As you may know Jimd looks after the elephants and the giraffes at the zoo and their deaths hit him very hard. Jim's wife has not been well and sadly he has lost all interest in football but he must be over the moon that a baby giraffe as been born again at the zoo.
On the day I was with Jim and he let me go behind the scenes and let me hand feed his elephants and giraffes he told me that the large male Yoda had been mating with the oldest of the two young female giraffes and it was hoped he would get her pregnant.
I did ask Jim at the time if there was a test they might do to find out and he told me there were no tests done and when Yoda lost interest that was the best sign the female was pregnant.
The fire was caused by an overhead heating lamp breaking, it had never happened before at our zoo or any other for that matter. Now heating is blown into their very large home that is also shared by the elephants, they were in the building at the time of the fire but at the other end and while they suffered from the smoke etc, were lead out to safety and recovered fully.
The mum and baby giraffe died in the fire and Paddy the father lived for just one week after the fire, he was full of smoke but maybe his heart was also broken.
Will have to get to the zoo soon to see the new baby.
The cubs, born in February last year , had osteoporosis, a weakness of the bones. They have now fully recovered after treatment and are back reunited with their family.
The biggest and saddest disaster to ever happen at the zoo was the tragic fire that killed the three giraffes Paddy, Kizi and their week-old calf back in 2006, I went to the zoo a few days before the fire to see the new baby giraffe.
As you may know Jimd looks after the elephants and the giraffes at the zoo and their deaths hit him very hard. Jim's wife has not been well and sadly he has lost all interest in football but he must be over the moon that a baby giraffe as been born again at the zoo.
On the day I was with Jim and he let me go behind the scenes and let me hand feed his elephants and giraffes he told me that the large male Yoda had been mating with the oldest of the two young female giraffes and it was hoped he would get her pregnant.
I did ask Jim at the time if there was a test they might do to find out and he told me there were no tests done and when Yoda lost interest that was the best sign the female was pregnant.
The fire was caused by an overhead heating lamp breaking, it had never happened before at our zoo or any other for that matter. Now heating is blown into their very large home that is also shared by the elephants, they were in the building at the time of the fire but at the other end and while they suffered from the smoke etc, were lead out to safety and recovered fully.
The mum and baby giraffe died in the fire and Paddy the father lived for just one week after the fire, he was full of smoke but maybe his heart was also broken.
Will have to get to the zoo soon to see the new baby.
so I think I can still look down on it, well at least until tomorrow. 