Giraffe's 'enjoying new enlarged savannah' as attention now turns to baboon rock
We've been given an insight into the ongoing work to transform Paignton Zoo
Paignton Zoo's new-look savannah area is starting to take shape - as bosses reveal plans to relocate 'Baboon Rock' to the zoo's quarry area this Winter.
The Savanah area redevelopment comes as the herd welcomes its newest arrival, Brad, the zoo’s only male - who arrived from Twycross Zoo as part of the European Endangered Species breeding programme.
The Nubian giraffes are moving into one side of the newly renovated Savannah House, with the other side providing indoor space for zebras and antelope species as plans progress for a mixed-species savannah habitat inspired by Africa’s grasslands.
After the Summer, bosses are looking to relocate the famous 1973 baboon rock area to the quarry part of the site, based just behind the giraffe house.
Steven Vam den Heuvel, who has been overseeing the zoo's transformation under new owners the Dutch leisure company Libéma, said: "I think a lot of people in the region know the old baboon rock, which has a lot of historical feelings but, at the same time, it is an outdated exhibit on the welfare side of things - but also on safety.
"We have an amazing quarry here at the zoo that we would like to rebuild into probably one of the most unique baboon exhibits in the world.
"We'll start with that after the Summer and hopefully have that ready somewhere at the begging of next year."