Chester Zoo Zoo News 29th March 09

LeeMac13

LeeMac13

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone we have been to the zoo today and heard at the Tiger talk that there is a new male sumartran tiger the viewing window to the house has been boarded up an he will be staying inside for a few weeks to get used to his new surroundings before being introduced to Kirana. It must have been in the last two weeks as when we visited a fortnight ago we were told that they were trying to bring a new male too breed. Hopefully tiger cubs soon!
Also the chimpanzees were very vocal today with lots of displaying and fighting alot of the females were showing they are ready to be mated so hopefully more baby chimps soon.
 
LeeMac13 said:
Also the chimpanzees were very vocal today with lots of displaying and fighting alot of the females were showing they are ready to be mated so hopefully more baby chimps soon.
Click to expand...

Chester are not breeding their chimps at the moment and all females are on contraceptives (ok they don't work 100% of the time). Chester are looking at building a pure sub-species group of chimps.

Do you know where the male tiger was sourced from?
 
I was at the Zoo today too. I overheard some other visitors speculating about when the new male tiger would be introduced to Kirana, but I didn't try to see him (I spent quite a bit of time shooting her as she fed).
New developments in progress:-
  • babirusa area is not ready yet, no-one working there on a Sunday
  • Mauritius kestrel has gone, a group of staff were mulching the enclosure and the windows on the house have been boarded up - my guess is galliformes (but what do I know?)
  • the netting 'roof' of the big wildfowl pond (between the monkeys and the African Aviary) has gone, so have the pelicans and the trees have all been pollarded - looks very odd
  • Africn Aviary hardware looks complete and there are lots of plants waiting to go in
  • Miniature Monkeys closed and a digger was standing on the lawn between MMs and the Bat Cave, it has dug a moat round a small island. Might this be an extension for the black lion tamarins?
Alan
 
Well i guess that answers my Kirana question then.

The former Kestrel aviary (devastated they're gone) is going to be a Chinese Aviary. A few birds are already arrived according to Rob.

Have the Pelicans actually left the collection then? Shame if they have since surely they could be put somewhere else.
 
The construction work adjacent to Miniature Monkeys is for a mini golf course. Not as exciting as an extension for lion tamarins. It also means the loss of another grassed picnic area.

Case File

A male Collared Hill Partridge has arrived at Chester and could go into the new Chinese themed aviary.
 
A keeper last summer told me that the Dalmatian Pelicans would be replaced by a flock of European White Pelicans.
 
Shame about the Pelicans. Rob, do you know where the Dalmatians where they went too and why the zoo decided to keep another species instead of them.
 
I don't know if they've gone yet. The reason was because the zoo were not sure of their sexes, sexing was done on feather length apparently. Two weeks ago the signs were still there for the Dalmatians, so perhaps they are still in the zoo somewhere offshow.

The keeper I spoke to said the zoo thouight there was a greater chance of success with the white pelicans, but as regular visitors to the forum know, policies can change overnight at Chester.

Jimmy I wish I were kidding about the mini golf.
 
Kirana was resting when we arrived maybe she had just eaten. As far as i know they plan to introduce the male in the next few weeks. Sorry Taun no idea where the male came from did try to ask but there were lots of people around the presenter. I noticed aswell that some of the black rhinos had been moved from the house to the right of tsavo to another enclosure behind the meerkat enclosure ive not saw them there before and didnt know whether they are regulary moved around. We finally managed to get to see the black Jaguar thanks to a tip from one of the zoo chat forum big thanks to you apoligies as im unsure who it was. We also got to see one of the other jaguars in the desert side of the enclosure feeding which was really good to get to see it up close. The otters have been moved from there enclosure perhaps they have been taken off show to there new enclosure. Myself an my girlfriend decided to become members last week and got are membership cards today does anybody know what we do now when we next go to the zoo do we still cue? Also were planning on atteding the members day on the 25th April and wanted to know exactly what happens on that day? oh i almost forget miniture golf course :eek:
 
LeeMac13 said:
Kirana was resting when we arrived maybe she had just eaten. As far as i know they plan to introduce the male in the next few weeks. Sorry Taun no idea where the male came from did try to ask but there were lots of people around the presenter. I noticed aswell that some of the black rhinos had been moved from the house to the right of tsavo to another enclosure behind the meerkat enclosure ive not saw them there before and didnt know whether they are regulary moved around. We finally managed to get to see the black Jaguar thanks to a tip from one of the zoo chat forum big thanks to you apoligies as im unsure who it was. We also got to see one of the other jaguars in the desert side of the enclosure feeding which was really good to get to see it up close. The otters have been moved from there enclosure perhaps they have been taken off show to there new enclosure. Myself an my girlfriend decided to become members last week and got are membership cards today does anybody know what we do now when we next go to the zoo do we still cue? Also were planning on atteding the members day on the 25th April and wanted to know exactly what happens on that day? oh i almost forget miniture golf course :eek:
Click to expand...

You still need to queue to get inside the zoo, but sometimes during the peak months you can get in through the "exit" gate (closest to the shop) - well i've been allowed through there anyway...

Members days tend to have a lot of talks situated throughout the zoo, it's a good way of getting information.

Regarding the rhinos, it looks like they've finally opened up the passage from Tsavo to the paddock that you mentioned (it's underneath the public footpath). It is just another paddock as it doesn't have any indoor accomodation for the rhinos.
 
CZJimmy said:
You still need to queue to get inside the zoo, but sometimes during the peak months you can get in through the "exit" gate (closest to the shop) - well i've been allowed through there anyway...

Members days tend to have a lot of talks situated throughout the zoo, it's a good way of getting information.

Regarding the rhinos, it looks like they've finally opened up the passage from Tsavo to the paddock that you mentioned (it's underneath the public footpath). It is just another paddock as it doesn't have any indoor accomodation for the rhinos.
Click to expand...

Is this an underground passage? we have in the past used prepayed tickets and there just scanned by one of the people to the left or right of the queue and we just go straight in i thought we would just the same with are membership cards. What are the "behind the scenes" things that members supposedly get?
 
LeeMac13 said:
Is this an underground passage? we have in the past used prepayed tickets and there just scanned by one of the people to the left or right of the queue and we just go straight in i thought we would just the same with are membership cards. What are the "behind the scenes" things that members supposedly get?
Click to expand...

It's not underground as such. Do you know the pathway from Tsavo to the meerkat exhibit? The passage for the rhinos leads from their hardstanding in Tsavo to the other paddock
 
i think i do, how many rhinos do they have at the zoo do they them seperated? ive noticed the last few times we have been to the zoo that there are people outside holding barcode scanners is that for members?
 
Members days are basically meet the keepers, I find them better than adopter's days because there are not usually so many people about. The keeprs normally stand in a conspicuous place and you just go up to them and ask questions. If you do the aquarium talk someone takes you into the offshow area. If you intend to go on 25th April you need to phone the zoo and tell them, this is so they can alter the staffing level accordingly.

Chester Zoo - Members Day Information

A programme will probably be on the internet nearer the date.

Previously I've done talks for the following sections rhinos, bird house, tropical realm, reptiles, aquarium, penguins, carnivores and monkeys. Also the greenhouse tour.

Last time (November) the library was open also.
 
bongorob said:
Members days are basically meet the keepers, I find them better than adopter's days because there are not usually so many people about. The keeprs normally stand in a conspicuous place and you just go up to them and ask questions. If you do the aquarium talk someone takes you into the offshow area. If you intend to go on 25th April you need to phone the zoo and tell them, this is so they can alter the staffing level accordingly.

Chester Zoo - Members Day Information

A programme will probably be on the internet nearer the date.

Previously I've done talks for the following sections rhinos, bird house, tropical realm, reptiles, aquarium, penguins, carnivores and monkeys. Also the greenhouse tour.

Last time (November) the library was open also.
Click to expand...


were planning on taking some family members with us as tickets are half price on that day. we have filled the form in a posted it back when we go do we have to all queque together? I always assumed that members just go straight in after having there card scanned as when we have gone before using prepaid tickets that is what happened.
 
The people who are paying will have to go through the normal entrance, as the half price tickets are only valid when the holder is accompanied by a member you'll all have to enter together. Otherwise your guests will have to pay the full admission cost.
 
LeeMac13 said:
i think i do, how many rhinos do they have at the zoo do they them seperated? ive noticed the last few times we have been to the zoo that there are people outside holding barcode scanners is that for members?
Click to expand...

LeeMac,

Chester have 7 (3.4) black rhinos. ISIS is a good way of checking up on species held and numbers (please note that is not always correct). Link below

https://app.isis.org/abstracts/abs.asp
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top