Chester Zoo Chester Zoo news 2025

zoogoth said:
I understand why developers choose geographical location (displaying animals that live together in the wild comes across as more "natural" / you can theme an area around it / etc), plus I've heard it helps to build a conservation "storyline" for an area that helps the public empathise. For example, the Goats are next to the lions at Chester because one of the biggest threats to asiatic lions is them being killed for predating on livestock. By putting them close together in a themed area (brought together by peacocks, which are the national bird of india) you can get the public to engage with the conservation work you're doing.
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Although it would not have been hard for them to obtain a geographically-correct breed of goat.... which they did not do :rolleyes:
 
jde7582 said:
New edition of the zoo life magazine was emailed today, the aquarium will be open till the 7th September.

It does confirm they are planning a new aquarium in the old Orangutan house. Wording indicates using the existing building and not a new build on the site, which makes sense if the building is structurally safe and has a long life left in it.
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Sadly the aquarium was one of the things I ended up skipping on my last visit in July, so I didn't get a chance to say a proper goodbye to it, but I do look forward to seeing how this new aquarium turns out. I'd love it if they made one of those big wide tanks for the coral reef fish like London Zoo have.
 
Typhlonectes said:
Interesting they’re choosing not to go the geographical route in this instance.

Anyone visiting the zoo today could you please check if the Boelen’s Python is back on display?
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On show yesterday, but hidden at the rear left hand corner of the viv and difficult to see.
 
Looks like the sloths have gone off show while their indoor area gets an upgrade. This is so long overdue so I’m really pleased the dead trees may finally be getting replaced.

I’ve not seen Napos indoor area in person but it looks from the photos I’ve seen that this also need additional planting. Far too basic from what I’ve seen and disappointing that there hasn’t been more effort put into the immersive planting.
 
Ed123 said:
I’ve not seen Napos indoor area in person but it looks from the photos I’ve seen that this also need additional planting. Far too basic from what I’ve seen and disappointing that there hasn’t been more effort put into the immersive planting.
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Considering it's meant to be a dry savannah as opposed to the jungle biome represented by the other indoor exhibit, making it lushly vegetated and "immersive" would rather defeat the point!
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Considering it's meant to be a dry savannah as opposed to the jungle biome represented by the other indoor exhibit, making it lushly vegetated and "immersive" would rather defeat the point!
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I’m aware it’s supposed to be a dry savannah and representative of the Pantanal so I’m not proposing it be planted to the same level as the rainforest side. However, extensive exposure of the bare breeze block walls, mounds of bare soil and full visibility of the off show den and related infrastructure just doesn’t cut it for me. In my opinion it needs additional softer planting around the permiter walls (some dry shrubs / grasses and a couple of trees) to distract the eye from the ugly walls. It also needs some planting around the pond and also to obscure the inside den and something to soften the extensive bare soil everywhere.
 

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gentle lemur said:
You could do this for freshwater fishes, but it is not really possible for a marine displays: if you choose to have a range of marine tanks you really need a centralised system for a sump, protein skimmer (preferably with ozone) and u-v sterilisation. Even if you have only single large display tank (like Regent's Park), you still need the same kit behind the scenes, plus off-show reservoirs and quarantine tanks - they don't have to be in the same building as the main display, but it's much more convenient if they are.
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I would welcome even just a dedicated freshwater fish Aquarium building and look forward to how and where they can hold onto their fish and acquatic inverts/verts they can maintain before opening this new Aquarium building sometime in 2026/27+ (just a wild guess...) season.

I do wonder and cannot wait to see the list of freshwater fish they choose to maintain in future. They held a good collection of rare and specifically in focus threatened or endangered taxa like f.i. the Malagasy chichlids and the Omani mountain stream fish ....!

Anyone has more info or from the magazine to make any observations on the future Aquarium?
 
LCPete said:
Very sad about Iblis , I have been going to see him for years at Chester at least he lived to a good age
I was there a week ago and he was active and looked well considering his age, must have been something sudden
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It's so sad, at least you were able to see him last week <3 I hope you're okay

He was such a gorgeous lion and whenever I was sat at the chimps I could always hear his roars, it's going to be so quiet now.
 
wunderswift said:
It's so sad, at least you were able to see him last week <3 I hope you're okay

He was such a gorgeous lion and whenever I was sat at the chimps I could always hear his roars, it's going to be so quiet now.
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thanks yes was sad but ok always went to the Lions first, he was such a character
 
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