Paignton Zoo Has Champagne And A Dance Waiting For You

By Philip Knowling

Paignton, UK - Paignton Zoo’s Mistletoe Ball takes place on Saturday 6th December at the Grand Hotel, Torquay.

This traditional charity curtain-raiser to the festive season features a champagne reception, four-course meal and dancing to live music from CHIPS. This year the Ball is being held to raise funds for the Zoo’s new Baboon Rock exhibit.

Neil Bemment, Curator of Mammals and Director of Operations at Paignton Zoo, said: “The original Baboon Rock opened in July 1973 and is one of the most popular exhibits in the Zoo, but after 35 years it’s starting to show its age. While it still meets the animals’ needs very well, by today’s modern zoo standards, and the high standards which Paignton Zoo sets for itself, it is now past its sell-by-date.”

Experts have concluded that renovating the enclosure would not be cost-effective. The Zoo hopes to build an exciting new baboon exhibit on the site of other aging buildings nearby. The project is due to go out to tender in due course.

Neil Bemment again: “The new exhibit will include a realistic rock-work backdrop with kopje-style hills, water features, different natural substrates, an unimpaired view of the animals and excellent off-show areas to make the management of the group for daily cleaning and veterinary purposes as easy as possible. The cost of the project is expected to be in the region of £1 to £1.5 million. We hope the new exhibit will be open by 2011.”

Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) are found in eastern Ethiopia, northern Somalia, Sudan and along the coastal ranges of south-western Arabia. They are not threatened as such, but their range is comparatively restricted so they are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red Data Book.

Tickets for the Mistletoe Ball, which is being supported by Sparkworld, are £45 (£42.50 for SOS Club members). To book tickets contact Lynne Parker on (01803) 697509 or e-mail lynne.parker@paigntonzoo.org.uk. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity.

Paignton Zoo is a member of the British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums (BIAZA). BIAZA represents its member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums. For further information please telephone 020 7449 6351.

www.paigntonzoo.org.uk
www.livingcoasts.org.uk

PHOTO: Lynne Parker holding mistletoe and awaiting your call to purchase tickets.