Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion, Speculation & Questions 2018

Visited today on a very cold adopter day (my wife adopted an Okapi) it appears we are now only 6 weeks away from a new baby Okapi bringing the total to 5 briefly before one of the males is due to be exported.

Also leaving next week is a male Capybara who is currently in pre-export quarentine in the South American Tapier paddock opposite the rest of the group.

The Onegar paddock is also currently in quarantine following the arrival of a new female around 3 weeks ago with another Onegar now heavily pregnant.

In the brief Q&A with the keeper who was the assistant section leader and Okapi specialist I believe was discussing the future of the Giraffe house and its demolition to make way for a new Congo themed area also incorporating the Congo Buffalo meaning the old Cattle house will finally be demolished. I wonder what other Congo species they plan to exhibit.

The Asian Short Clawed Otters are now in the Orang side of the enclosure whilst they raise another litter of pups that are around 12 days old.

Another scheduled departure in the coming weeks is a pair of Pudu the offspring of the current breeding pair.

Only other point of interest from our visit was a Fruit Bat who tried to make a break for it managing to make it through to the hand wash area, we were held up in the Fruit Bat Forrest for around 10 minutes whilst keepers tried to tempt it back in.

Thanks for the info from your visit. Would you recommend the Adopter Day? I adopted the Spectacled Bears recently and, whilst I probably wouldn't go to one of these, I am curious if its worth it... can you attend the talk/Q&A sessions on other animals, or just the one that you've adopted?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for the info from your visit. Would you recommend the Adopter Day? I adopted the Spectacled Bears recently and, whilst I probably wouldn't go to one of these, I am curious if its worth it... can you attend the talk/Q&A sessions on other animals, or just the one that you've adopted?
Hi,

The Adopter day is pretty much like any other day to be honest you get one free admission per adoption but as we are members we don’t really benefit. You can attend as many of the Q&A sessions as you wish and you do get a free drink . Overall I would recommend.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
May just be a technical issue, but the plans for the Madagascar walk through are no longer available to view on the council's web site. Have to keep an eye on it
 
Noah.png Reference was made this evening in the Members' talk by the botanic team to the 'Donkeys Nest'.
This is one of my favourite parts of the zoo, the sunken garden housing the marvelous sculpture Noah and the Four Winds.
I've flicked through some old copies of Zoo News and read the discussion:-
Chester Zoo - Demise of Chester Zoo Gardens

I know it was a former pit or small quarry, and over the years was referred to in guide books as 'Animal Enclosure' having housed Raccoons, Wolves and Goats (at different times!), finally becoming a Sunken Garden in Winter 1972 / Spring 1973. I can't see anywhere where the name Donkeys Nest came from. Anyone have any knowledge?
 
Last edited:
View attachment 336274 Reference was made this evening in the Members' talk by the botanic team to the 'Donkeys Nest'.
This is one of my favourite parts of the zoo, the sunken garden housing the marvelous sculpture Noah and the Four Winds.
I've flicked through some old copies of Zoo News and read the discussion:-
Chester Zoo - Demise of Chester Zoo Gardens

I know it was a former pit or small quarry, and over the years was referred to in guide books as 'Animal Enclosure' having housed Raccoons, Wolves and Goats (at different times!), finally becoming a Sunken Garden in Winter 1972 / Spring 1973. I can't see anywhere where the name Donkeys Nest came from. Anyone have any knowledge?
I was also at the talk and was equally intrigued I hope someone can tell us the reason.
 
Not entirely I expect a flower themed play area will make an appearance.

What about a nostalgia themed play area for us oldies? Comfy seats, thick hedges to muffle the noise of boisterous visitors and to keep out cold winds (so bongorob's knees don't go blue), a little display of bedding plants (for SMR) and no entry for children between 4 and 18 years old. Perhaps bring back the otter fountain and definitely bring back one of the animals that we enjoyed watching at the zoo years ago and that we still all miss (I vote for vasa parrots, but there are plenty of species to choose from).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top