Chester Zoo Species you miss seeing at Chester

Fallax

Fallax

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Now I'm one of the younger ZooChatters who talk about Chester here (I'm 15 in case you are wondering). But there are still many animals at the zo that I miss seeing. First, I miss Chesters ratite collection which has now been reduced to the cassowaries which don't even show that well. I remember the ostrich was one of my favourite animals in the paddocks and I also enjoyed the rhea and also the guanaco/vicuna as the area felt more complete with them. The same can be said for the paddocks in the west zoo when they still held the gemsbok and the wild horses along with the already mentioned ostrich. I don't remember the emu as well or the wallabies but then again it took me a few months for me to realise the kudu had left because I forgot that enclosure existed! Anyway I really hope Chester gets more ratites once again as to me the zoo doesn't feel complete without them (I'm sure many older members could say that about some other larger animals). The sea lions were a sad loss too but I was more focused on the penguins when I was younger and their replacements, the giant otters have been an accepting replacement since day 1. The species that I was the most sad for to leave though has to be a tie between the kangaroos and the servals. I've always liked that area of the zoo due to how quiet it was and it housed some smaller active mammals which were always fun to watch (I always go to see the bush dogs and red pandas if I can). I remember being confused when the kangaroos left and I was upset I couldn't see the anteater but when I eventually saw one I was very happy and I must say Bliss is one of my favourite characters at the zoo. The servals. I was absolutely devestated when they left. I remember walking up to the serval enclosure and seeing the spots, but it was just a cheetah. I was so upset that they had left and it surprised me a lot. This is why ZooChat is great because I won't feel an upsetting shock of an animal leaving again like when I was younger. Does anyone actually know why the Serval left? Also what animals do you all miss seeing at Chester?
 
One species I wish the zoo still held are the Mauritius kestrels. There was something truly special as a young child, watching a bird that I'd heard was once the rarest in the world. It was a shame the species was phased out, especially since the wild population began to decline again.
 
Swampy said:
One species I wish the zoo still held are the Mauritius kestrels. There was something truly special as a young child, watching a bird that I'd heard was once the rarest in the world. It was a shame the species was phased out, especially since the wild population began to decline again.
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I'm sure I have told you the story about why their loss frustrates me so much? :P
 
Former Chester Zoo inhabitants that I miss include:

brindled gnu, musk-ox, pygmy hippo, common hippo, eastern lowland gorilla.
 
While I never saw them I would have loved to see the red bird of paradise such a beautiful species and one of my favourite birds. I wish the zoo could get the species again though I'm not sure if they will.
 
I miss the larger collection of herps held in the Tropical Realm from the Cobra, Anaconda and green mambas.

I also miss the Small Cat house. I found it fascinating to see so many in a small area.

The Gorillia is a huge miss from r over 30 years at the Zoo. I really am at a loss why Chester have never reintroduced the species.

I also miss the Przewalski's horse and Pere David’s Deer.
 
redstarsmith said:
I miss the larger collection of herps held in the Tropical Realm from the Cobra, Anaconda and green mambas.

I also miss the Small Cat house. I found it fascinating to see so many in a small area.

The Gorillia is a huge miss from r over 30 years at the Zoo. I really am at a loss why Chester have never reintroduced the species.

I also miss the Przewalski's horse and Pere David’s Deer.
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Well gorilla will hopefully be back in the next 10 years.
 
My obvious choice is the eastern lowland gorillas. Then I thought of the greater vasa parrots, which were endlessly interesting and entertaining. Then I realised that I could easily name a dozen more species of parrots, but I won't bore you.
I'll just name a couple of lower profile species that I used to think were particularly interesting and beautiful - New Zealand green geckos (Naultinus, see my photos in the Gallery) and Barbus arulius.
I should add that I am so old that I could compile similar lists for Bristol and Whipsnade, not to mention much longer ones for Regent's Park and Birdland :rolleyes:
 
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Does anyone know why the serval actually left? I can't seem to think why apart from the fact that they aren't a threatened species.
 
Serval were brought in to Chester for Heart of Africa, it got cancelled and so serval became surplus. One died (female I think) so the other specimen was sent away.
 
bongorob said:
Serval were brought in to Chester for Heart of Africa, it got cancelled and so serval became surplus. One died (female I think) so the other specimen was sent away.
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That's unfortunate. I hope the zoo brings them back in the future, however unlikely it is.
 
One I miss is the Guianan Tailed Agouti, maybe GentleLemur can recognise the name.
 
bongorob said:
One I miss is the Guianan Tailed Agouti, maybe GentleLemur can recognise the name.
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Err . . . no! I had to look them up. I guess they were in the Small Mammal House, but I don't recall them at all - there were so many species in there over the years. My favourite rodents were the plains viscacha.
 
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