Chessington Zoo Chessington Zoo news 2023

Is there any news on Kahari’s relocation yet?

I wondered if the lions and gorillas were going to move to the new land they were opening. If they aren’t I’m disgusted Chesssington have spent all that money on new rides and are keeping gorillas in an enclosure that’s so small it doesn’t meet the guidelines and to be honest I feel sad looking at the lions in their small enclosure. The tigers have lots of space and enrichment, different routes to walk through, areas to choose between and platforms and those poor lions just have that small space. I know there’s a plan for them to be moved but when? If this new land has been prioritised over them it will be sad.

I saw they have just got new capybaras this week. It was phrased as if the old ones had returned (maybe from the dead), “the capybaras are back”. When people questioned on Twitter how the previous ones had died they were told one got sick and the others died of heartbreak as is common in capybaras. Does anyone know if this is true? The capyabaras did seem a PR nightmare for Chessington so heartbreak seems a good way to go with the cause of death and doesn’t explain what happened to the first one
 
Last edited by a moderator:
starsinthesky said:
they were told one got sick and the others died of heartbreak as is common in capybaras. Does anyone know if this is true? The capyabaras did seem a PR nightmare for Chessington so heartbreak seems a good way to go with the cause of death and doesn’t explain what happened to the first one
Click to expand...

I wonder if 'heartbreak' would appear on the official post mortem report on causes of death...I doubt it.
 
Someone very high up (not zoo keeper) tried telling me to my face they died of old age. I’m not sure how old they were but they weren’t old.
 
As far as I am aware the new World of Jumanji area that opens in mid May does not feature any live animals so no species would be moving there.
The Sea Life centre has been closed since January for significant maintenance.
 
The sea life centre had a huge investment (was it half a million or a million I think I read) last year although it didn’t feel very impressive, I understand costs add up quickly though. I was hoping for more wow factor.

I just don’t like visiting the lions these days and even the gorillas make me sad. I know the keepers look after them very well but it’s such limited space. I’m assuming the baby gorilla is now old enough that it’s no longer being attacked by its older sister, that was hard to see too.
 
tennisfan said:
As far as I am aware the new World of Jumanji area that opens in mid May does not feature any live animals so no species would be moving there.
The Sea Life centre has been closed since January for significant maintenance.
Click to expand...
I was disappointed that no animals would move to the area especially seeing as mandrills and ostriches are themes of 2 of the rides
 
It’s a shame for the theming but the ostriches currently have a lovely big field where it’s fairly quiet and they aren’t bothered too much. I’m sad to see Chessingtons plan to put a water park in the middle of that African savannah. Surely it’s going to cause a lot of noise and stress to the giraffes? I couldn’t work out from the plan if the zebras, ostrich and eland will be able to walk further out to the side as other wise the amount of space they can roam on will drastically shrink with the building of this water park
 
Seven Humboldt Penguin Chicks have hatched since 25th of April - three males and four females.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top