I meant on the site of that enclosure.
Chester Zoo If you could, how would you change Chester Zoo!
- Thread starter Fallax
- Start date
As a not so tall person, I have noticed. Badly designed enclosure.
It is outdated, expensive to run and basically at the end of its useful life.
. . . and bits of the roof come down from time to time
)
My IZY Vol.20 tells me that at 31 Dec 1978 Chester had 134 mammal species, 232 of birds, 70 of reptiles and ampibians. That's what I call a collection!
(Note. The figures were almost certainly inflated by the inclusion of some domestic animals and even some wild species living within the grounds, but I'm sure it was still 120/ 220/ 70.)
And, at the same date Berlin ZG (i.e. West Berlin) listed 271 species of mammal!
The NEZS 1978 annual report lists
mammals 134 species 805 specimens
birds 232 species 1279 specimens
reptiles 70 species 188 specimens
amphibians 2 species 4 specimens
fishes 171 species 1874 specimens
invertebrates 2 species 151 specimens
domestic species listed (excluding fish) were Bactrian camel, Arabian camel, reindeer, Ankole cattle, highland cattle, Bagot goat, Soay sheep, white call duck, Muscovy duck, domestic guineafowl, bantam, Java dove, cockatiel, budgerigar, Bengalese finch
At that time there were probably 10 species of cat in the Cat House, at least as many rodents and small carnivores in the Small Mammal House, plus 5 species of bears, 2 races of tiger, wapiti, Przewalski's horses, striped hyaenas, sea lions, gnu, eland, lechwe, kangaroos, wallabies and pademelon, plus 2 races of gorilla, and about a dozen more species of monkey than now (albeit in much smaller groups). But the only lemurs were ring-tails, the only cattle were American bison and I don't remember any marmosets or pigs. The only domestics that I remember were Ankole cattle, highland cattle and Bagot goats.
I am sure others can correct any mistakes I have made in this list
Cat House
jungle cat
leopard cat
caracal
Canadian lynx
European lynx
serval
Geoffroy's cat
jaguarundi
puma
clouded leopard
For a building that is still comparatively young it does feel rather neglected now. The 'star' occupants, the more active Sumatran orangs, having moved out, the enclosures seem empty and quiet now with only the less active Borneans in them.
I would re modem the ROTRA to house chimps aswell as organutans and let them have half of the facility each. THat then leaves the door open for a new species on the chimp island; either bonobo or gorilla or even make it fit to house another species of mammal, anyone have any ideas what other species that could move onto ther e
Don't forget the lar gibbons!
I agree that the Borneans are less active, particularly old Martha (obviously) - but that will change to some extent as Tombol grows, particularly if Leia has an infant which will be a playmate for him. That said, the indoor enclosures could benefit from a facelift and some ideas for extra enrichment.
I don't think those are good ideas. They need the space in RotRA for the orangs in case they need to isolate individuals and to give the orangs some choice of association, and of course, to keep old Tuan comfortable. There certainly wouldn't be enough room for all the chimps too, particularly if they start breeding again. As I said in this thread before, if Chester get gorillas again, I am sure they would build a brand new exhibit for them.
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My original suggestions were pretty modest (a guidebook, better labelling, some pruning, a different attitude) that could be achieved on a small budget and short timescale.
B ... U ... T ... given a free rein and an even freer budget ...
1. Extend the zoo to the north of the Tropical House (the field that was used, many years ago, for overflow car parking). In the long-term a Neotropical Section (linking to existing Jaguar etc). In the short-term used to decant the Tropical House, so that ...
2. The Tropical House can be totally gutted and rebuilt as a modern building (basically retaining only the stone external walls) - perhaps as a Central Asian temperate display.
3. Create an off-show, off-(public) site area for specialist conservation breeding (e.g. Black Rhino). Keep two or three on display in the thatched building. This would release a large area from the entrance area to (virtually) the Park & Ride to develop for Apes of Africa (Gorilla & Chimpanzee). If necessary the existing coach parking area could be included.
4. The current Chimpanzee House (which, I get the impression, has never been ideal) could be adapted for another species at a lower density. Bonobo? (If they could be obtained ...)
5. I would do something to the entrance. I just don't like the current set-up with elephants sort-of outside the zoo.
B ... U ... T ... given a free rein and an even freer budget ...
1. Extend the zoo to the north of the Tropical House (the field that was used, many years ago, for overflow car parking). In the long-term a Neotropical Section (linking to existing Jaguar etc). In the short-term used to decant the Tropical House, so that ...
2. The Tropical House can be totally gutted and rebuilt as a modern building (basically retaining only the stone external walls) - perhaps as a Central Asian temperate display.
3. Create an off-show, off-(public) site area for specialist conservation breeding (e.g. Black Rhino). Keep two or three on display in the thatched building. This would release a large area from the entrance area to (virtually) the Park & Ride to develop for Apes of Africa (Gorilla & Chimpanzee). If necessary the existing coach parking area could be included.
4. The current Chimpanzee House (which, I get the impression, has never been ideal) could be adapted for another species at a lower density. Bonobo? (If they could be obtained ...)
5. I would do something to the entrance. I just don't like the current set-up with elephants sort-of outside the zoo.
I think the best thing for realm would be a monkey troop to occupy the old Bornean side. In my wildest dreams it would be proboscis monkeys a species rarely ever seen in U.K. zoos. However more realistically I would like to see a troop of langurs ( a group of monkeys the zoo does not have currently) or a group of macaques of which the zoo had two species. Either would do well in the enclosures and I think changes to the enclosures would be a minimum far less than ideas to move the chimps there. Plus they would for the Asian theme and I would like it if the species where from Indonesia Malaysia or Brunei but I'm not fussed.
Perfect.
Was talking about the Philippine Spotted Deer on another thread. Got me curious. Shouldn't they be moved to Islands? The warty pigs went, so why not the deer? Maybe they could be a mixed exhibit but I don't know if this is enough space or the two can be mixed. I'm sure there is enough space for another enclosure nearby anyway. Maybe we could see this become an enclosure for hyena? Preferably Striped Hyena due to it being found across Asia and most of the enclosures nearby are Asian themed.
I agree the deer should and most likely will move but I have to disagree with mixing them in with the warty pigs that enclosure is highly unsuitable for them as it is too small. I think they should have there own enclosure in that area though however as Panay is in the phillipenes so it makes sense.
How much more exhibits are planned for Islands. I only know of the Komodo Dragons.
Colchester have exactly this mix and IMO its not good. Formerly the Deer had a nice grassy paddock but after the pigs were introduced they have churned up the ground so there is no grazing for the Deer anymore, just bare, rutted ground. It looks awful and I felt sorry for the Deer. Moving them to Islands at Chester would be fine- but hopefuly not to be kept with pigs.