Chester Zoo Chester Zoo discussion and questions 2025

[jde7582]

This year looks like it could be a big year for the zoo, weather has been great over the early school holidays, can see the visitors topping 2million this year, especially on the summer is good and the opening of Heart of Africa.

Plus the start of income from the Reserve, plus ongoing income from the Oakfield and the events building in the stable block.

 

[North Entrance]

I've read earlier in this discussion that the penguin pool is being netted over, to protect inhabitants from wild birds and possibly introduce Terns, but the way it's being done is awful, the previously uninterrupted view of the penguins which we've enjoyed since 1981 is being spoilt with the construction of an extremely heavy duty metal weld fence which looks strong enough to contain a tiger! Chester Zoo is making it ever more difficult to see so many of their residents these days.
A lovely open plan vista is being lost after 40 years. So sad that the only way the penguins will be viewable unobstructed will be when they're under water. Patrick Moore will be turning in his grave! Looks like London will be the only place to go in the UK to see a beautiful Penguin Pool.
Whilst I understand why this is being done, the retrofit design is awful. I'd remove the shrubbery and incorporate glass panels on the wall so the penguins can still be seen clearly and at close range when on land.

 

[James Barber]

I believe the over netting is the main reason to stop the Gulls and Herons stealing all of the Penguin food.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Looks like London will be the only place to go to see a beautiful Penguin Pool.

The only place in London, maybe those who look a little further afield will still be able to enjoy the far superior Edinburgh exhibit!

 

[North Entrance]

The only place in London, maybe those who look a little further afield will still be able to enjoy the far superior Edinburgh exhibit!

Edinburgh has a decent Penguin pool, but I wouldn’t describe it as beautiful. In the sun London looks like a lagoon and affords multiple close up viewing opportunities. Blackpool is decent too for close up viewing, but again, not beautiful.

 

[North Entrance]

I've read earlier in this discussion that the penguin pool is being netted over, to protect inhabitants from wild birds and possibly introduce Terns, but the way it's being done is awful, the previously uninterrupted view of the penguins which we've enjoyed since 1981 is being spoilt with the construction of an extremely heavy duty metal weld fence which looks strong enough to contain a tiger! Chester Zoo is making it ever more difficult to see so many of their residents these days.
A lovely open plan vista is being lost after 40 years. So sad that the only way the penguins will be viewable unobstructed will be when they're under water. Patrick Moore will be turning in his grave! Looks like London will be the only place to go in the UK to see a beautiful Penguin Pool.
Whilst I understand why this is being done, the retrofit design is awful. I'd remove the shrubbery and incorporate glass panels on the wall so the penguins can still be seen clearly and at close range when on land.

In terms of visibility (& mobile phone camera photo opportunity) Chester's new 'Penguin Fortress' is a far cry from this earlier pool in Chester which as a child I really loved (Simpler times). Rockhopper Penguins, Otters and Rainbow Trout featured as part of this close up penguin experience....

 

[bongorob]

I remember that North Entrance.

I remember 2 rescued gannets housed there as well in the late 1970s. Also Gentoo Penguins just before the exhibit closed in 1980 I think.

 

[North Entrance]

I remember that North Entrance.

I remember 2 rescued gannets housed there as well in the late 1970s. Also Gentoo Penguins just before the exhibit closed in 1980 I think.

I wonder if any zoochatters have any more photos of this exhibit, I have a recollection of the Rainbow Trout bit / otters bit but would to see more images.

 

[Ed123]

In terms of visibility (& mobile phone camera photo opportunity) Chester's new 'Penguin Fortress' is a far cry from this earlier pool in Chester which as a child I really loved (Simpler times). Rockhopper Penguins, Otters and Rainbow Trout featured as part of this close up penguin experience....

It’s a real shame they’ve had to net it over. I’ve not seen it yet but I’m sure it looks awful. But obviously better to have the net than 50+ dead penguins.

I agree Londons penguin pool is very good (although I don’t think it’s deep enough) but it offers possibly the closest viewing / access to penguins that I’ve ever experienced.

 

[Sand Cat]

The only place in London, maybe those who look a little further afield will still be able to enjoy the far superior Edinburgh exhibit!

I really like the penguin exhibit at Woodside... sorry, Lincoln Zoo, as its now known! Its also netted over, but effectively its like a walk-through aviary with Inca Terns flying around, and the penguins in one side of it. The views it offers are really good, I was seriously impressed by it!

 

[jde7582]

I really like the penguin exhibit at Woodside... sorry, Lincoln Zoo, as its now known! Its also netted over, but effectively its like a walk-through aviary with Inca Terns flying around, and the penguins in one side of it. The views it offers are really good, I was seriously impressed by it!

Guess chester could have netted over the path around the above water viewing and the under water viewing, connecting it to the flamingo netting, added some access gates and made it a walk through with terns.

 

[Maguari]

Guess chester could have netted over the path around the above water viewing and the under water viewing, connecting it to the flamingo netting, added some access gates and made it a walk through with terns.

They could, but if they did that they'd have to close it during any future bird flu restrictions, and by keeping all the viewing outside the aviary it both keeps the penguins visible in those cases and avoids that path being blocked off completely.

 

[North Entrance]

Guess chester could have netted over the path around the above water viewing and the under water viewing, connecting it to the flamingo netting, added some access gates and made it a walk through with terns.

That would have been the best and logical solution!

 

[Rajang21]

That would have been the best and logical solution!

Illogical, taking into account what @Maguari posted above.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

In terms of visibility (& mobile phone camera photo opportunity) Chester's new 'Penguin Fortress' is a far cry from this earlier pool in Chester which as a child I really loved (Simpler times). Rockhopper Penguins, Otters and Rainbow Trout featured as part of this close up penguin experience....

I'm intrigued that Rainbow Trout were housed there, they normally need specific water conditiions three of which are cool, fast flowing, aerated water.

 

[pipaluk]

Edinburgh has a decent Penguin pool, but I wouldn’t describe it as beautiful. In the sun London looks like a lagoon and affords multiple close up viewing opportunities. Blackpool is decent too for close up viewing, but again, not beautiful.

Blackpool? Really? Good views maybe but I think it is more likely to make the worst 10 penguin exhibits in the UK than the best 10!!

 

[Ed123]

They could, but if they did that they'd have to close it during any future bird flu restrictions, and by keeping all the viewing outside the aviary it both keeps the penguins visible in those cases and avoids that path being blocked off completely.

I don’t think we’ll ever see another new outdoor bird walkthrough again. Maybe indoor walkthroughs could still be incorporated into future developments - but I think the zoo will want to future proof any new exhibits to limit the risk of long term closures like we’ve seen recently.

 

[North Entrance]

Illogical, taking into account what @Maguari posted above.

Illogical, taking into account what @Maguari posted above.

Re: comments above concerned about walkthrough aviary closures during bird flu and obstruction of the current road by creation of a walkthrough... An easy (dare I say logical ) solution would be to absorb, for the public, the current shrubbery and 1/3rd of the current road into the walkthrough aviary. But to leave the decking area and underwater viewing windows as they are outside the netting, problem solved.

 

[North Entrance]

I'm intrigued that Rainbow Trout were housed there, they normally need specific water conditiions three of which are cool, fast flowing, aerated water.

Yes @Strathmorezoo those three conditions were met for the Rainbow Trout. The aquarium tank was enormous, in a dark entry building prior to the main penguin exhibit (number 47 on attached 1980 zoo map). The glass was always super cold and dripping with condensation, fast flowing as it served as the header tank for the waterfalls in the main penguin & otter exhibits. I hope a zoochatter does have a photo, but I guess visitors back then with only 24 or 36 frames in their Kodak or Fuji film are unlikely to have photographed this exhibit.

 

[Maguari]

I don’t think we’ll ever see another new outdoor bird walkthrough again. Maybe indoor walkthroughs could still be incorporated into future developments - but I think the zoo will want to future proof any new exhibits to limit the risk of long term closures like we’ve seen recently.

I don't know about never building one but I definitely agree about future proofing - you can already see this in practice with the reconfigured Tsavo aviary having both viewing and labelling from outside as well as the interior viewing (also a feature of the Latin American aviary as well of course) - meaning closing the aviary doesn't mean taking the birds fully off-show, as it does with the Sumatra aviary, for instance.