Chester Zoo Chester Zoo News 2024

On August 10th, it was mentioned that the zoo acquired a (1.0) palm cockatoo from Zoo Landau in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany**.

** Information was given by @JurassicMax in the News from Landau thread (Page 3 Post #45).
where is the Pallm Cockatoo? love to see this
As nice as it would be to have more Palm Cockatoos in the UK, this appears to have been a typo, as @JurassicMax 's post in the Landau thread referred to a Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), not Palm, and seeing as ZTL claims that Landau doesn't, and hasn't ever, held Palms, while they do keep Philippines, this is much more likely.

The Philippines are a species which Chester has held for some time now (sadly offshow), with ZTL listing 1992 as the year of their arrival, and have bred over the years, although given that they were down to just one female before the arrival of the Landau male, this is a very welcome arrival indeed and can hopefully restart their breeding success with the Critically Endangered species.
 
As nice as it would be to have more Palm Cockatoos in the UK, this appears to have been a typo, as @JurassicMax 's post in the Landau thread referred to a Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), not Palm, and seeing as ZTL claims that Landau doesn't, and hasn't ever, held Palms, while they do keep Philippines, this is much more likely.

The Philippines are a species which Chester has held for some time now (sadly offshow), with ZTL listing 1992 as the year of their arrival, and have bred over the years, although given that they were down to just one female before the arrival of the Landau male, this is a very welcome arrival indeed and can hopefully restart their breeding success with the Critically Endangered species.

As I’ve delved into the stocklists for previously years I’ve found that Chester has many parrot species, yet is rather discrete with them. Off the top of my head I can recall only 6 species that I’ve seen on show there over the past decade (although in all fairness my memory of those earlier years is a little rough), despite their holding of plenty of other great species which to this day I’m yet to see. Hopefully with heart of africa being nearly complete they can begin to shift their focus onto showing some more of their great collection, however I’m hopeful.
 
As I’ve delved into the stocklists for previously years I’ve found that Chester has many parrot species, yet is rather discrete with them. Off the top of my head I can recall only 6 species that I’ve seen on show there over the past decade (although in all fairness my memory of those earlier years is a little rough), despite their holding of plenty of other great species which to this day I’m yet to see. Hopefully with heart of africa being nearly complete they can begin to shift their focus onto showing some more of their great collection, however I’m hopeful.

Off the top of my head parrots on show at Chester are

Mitchell's Lorikeet
Forsten's Lorikeet
Mindanao Lorikeet
Purple-naped Lory
Buffon's Macaw
Blue-throated Macaw
Derbyan Parakeet
Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot

I miss the old Parrot House. Keepers did not like it, but the parrots seemed to. Most species kept in the building went on to breed. The only fault I can think of is the aviaries gave the birds no privacy. Viewing of exhibits was possible from all four sides.
 
Off the top of my head parrots on show at Chester are

Mitchell's Lorikeet
Forsten's Lorikeet
Mindanao Lorikeet
Purple-naped Lory
Buffon's Macaw
Blue-throated Macaw
Derbyan Parakeet
Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot

I miss the old Parrot House. Keepers did not like it, but the parrots seemed to. Most species kept in the building went on to breed. The only fault I can think of is the aviaries gave the birds no privacy. Viewing of exhibits was possible from all four sides.

Wow my memory is bad! Although I don’t remember seeing the Forsten’s Lorikeets onshow; have they been out onshow since summer when I last visited?
 
This has just come to me now, but as the giraffes have moved into their new home for Heart of Africa, is there any plan to do the same with things like the Gaboon Viper or the mice and rats that were in there, or will they stay where they are as a little slice of Africa outside the main section?
 
This has just come to me now, but as the giraffes have moved into their new home for Heart of Africa, is there any plan to do the same with things like the Gaboon Viper or the mice and rats that were in there, or will they stay where they are as a little slice of Africa outside the main section?
The vipers will probably stay in the okapi house in preparation for the African forest development. But the mice and rats may move
 
This may be a dumb question but do we have an “opening” date for HoA yet? And/or do we know if/when there’ll be a members/only preview like there was for the snow leopards?
 
We asked the other day, there’s not an official date for opening yet, we was also told spring 2025
It’s a big development with a lot going on so its going to be difficult to give an exact date
 
This may be a dumb question but do we have an “opening” date for HoA yet? And/or do we know if/when there’ll be a members/only preview like there was for the snow leopards?
No specific date has been set, but I imagine they'll probably aim to have the area opened either on or very close to the Easter weekend, or failing that, on time for the school Summer holidays.
 
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