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The 2 zoos report.
An article
about Paigntion Zoo and Dartmoor Wildlife Park
This article is to look at animals from different zoos to see
which zoo hosts the happiest, healthiest animals.
Tigers
at Paignton 
at Dartmoor
Paignton Zoo's rare Sumatran tigers live in an enclousure not
much bigger than the one Dartmoor Wildlife Park's Siberian tigers
live in. So, if Dartmoor's tiger's home is smaller, why do they
look happier?
Paignton's tiger's enclousure consists of a tall tree, and a
wooden house. The edges are built with a strong fence, and a
glass viewing panel. Dartmoor's tiger's enclousure is built
simply with a protective fence on two sides, a wall at the back,
with the front left bare except for a moat beneath a wall. Inside
the enclousure there is a pile of large rocks for climbing, a
moat for swimming, plenty of grass for running on, and trees for
shade.
I think Dartmoor's tiger's are happier because they are relaxed,
and have plenty to do. They are very socialable together. I think
Paignton's tigers look bored.
European Brown Bear
The European Brown Bears at Dartmoor Wildlife Park live in an
enclousure surrounded by a high wall and fences. A deep, concrete
pit runs round the perimeter of the enclousure, with an island in
the middle covered with grass.
Even though the bears seem happy at first, some things are
definitely not right. The bears are fat and unhealthy. They are
fed on peanuts all day, definitely not all that wild bears would
eat. Their enclosure is too small, as wild bears would need more
foraging territory.
I think the bears need a bigger enclosure, less concrete, and a
more varied diet.
African and Asian Lions
at Paignton 
at Dartmoor
The African lions from Dartmoor and the Asian lions from Paignton
both seemed quite happy, but just not as happy as lions seen at
other, larger, wildlife parks (such as Longleat). Longleat's
lions were more active, and also had more space.
Deer
The first animal to be seen at Dartmoor is the Muntjac deer.
There are three of them, a male and two females. Their enclousure
is built of a chain link fence. Their enclousure is filled with
grass and bushes.
The deer are fed on special deer food the visitors can give them.
They also have enough grass to graze on.
The deer have a big enough enclousure and plenty of natural food
to live on. I think the deers are healthly and happy.
Elephants and Giraffes
The African elephants and the giraffes live in the same
enclousure in the Savanna section of Paignton Zoo. They have a
large field surrounded by a high wall. The field is linked to a
large indoor house.
Both the elephants and the giraffes seemed quite happy with their
enclousure. They seemed to have enough room, and to enjoy living
together.
Puma
Some of Dartmoor's big cats include three pumas. They live in a
small pen with a few tree branches. A fence covers the sides and
ceiling.
The pumas are definitely not happy. Their cage is too small, and
pumas need more grass and bushes.
I think the pumas need a bigger enclousure, with no fence on the
ceiling.
They need more grass and trees, and a more natural habitat.
Final
Conclusion
Both zoos are changing rapidly, and building bigger, better
enclosures for their animals. Paignton Zoo has changed a lot in
the past few years. They are making changes to suit the needs of
their animals.
Both zoos host equally happy animals, but the results above show
that some species of animals need bigger enclousures, and some
animals need quality enclousures.
Some animals (such as the European Brown Bear) need better diets
to keep them healthy.
Conservation in zoos is important for rare species like Sumatran
tigers, so they will need better enclousures for any chance of
breeding.
Written by Yasmin.
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