Chester Zoo Visits Late July/August

[SMR]

I believe a chimp, Gloria, did though.

This might be the 1957 accidental incident, when a youngster fell into the water and it's mother jumped in to save it, only to scramble out on the other side of the moat.

The other I'm aware of involved the legendary Compo, he escaped through one of the ventilators and was spotted by leader Solomon, who then deliberately crossed the water to tackle him only for Compo to disappear across the fields after a brief fracas.

That incident prompted the installation of a hot wire in the moat. After Solomon investigated a couple of times, to the best of my knowledge it successfully dissuaded them from trying any further escapes.

 

[Pertinax]

I am pretty sure there was another more recent incident (than 1957), with a chimp called Gloria(?) which escaped and had to be shot.

 

[Pygathrix]

I think Zoo Without Bars has a couple of stories. A male chimp escaped and climbed up an electric pylon and had to be shot, I think another escaped at the same time but was recaptured. This was definitely Chester and was probably in the 60's. I also remember a story of an orangutan kept in a moated enclosure with a hotwire over the water. It learned to drape weeds over the wire and short it, and escaped. I'm not 100% sure if this was Chester though.

 

[SMR]

A male chimp escaped and climbed up an electric pylon and had to be shot, I think another escaped at the same time but was recaptured. This was definitely Chester and was probably in the 60's.

Just to clear this up; the story above involving Solomon and Compo, resulted in Solomon's recapture (without incident) but Compo's death, when he turned on pursuing keepers and had to be shot.

Solomon later died climbing a pylon, but accidentally when he was electrocuted. I can't recall a chimp named Gloria, it was Meg who was involved with the baby incident. She was quite a famous chimp and had at least ten young, right up until the late 1960s.

I also remember a story of an orangutan kept in a moated enclosure with a hotwire over the water. It learned to drape weeds over the wire and short it, and escaped. I'm not 100% sure if this was Chester though.

That was Chester, and an orang called Jimmy. I don't recall the exact details, but he used to enjoy walking around the paths with visitors and the weed-draping trick was only one of many in his arsenal.

 

[SMR]

After two hundred visits* I still haven't seen the Cabot's tragopan... but I did notice today that the adjacent aviary is finally occupied by a... Temminck's tragopan (Tragopan temminckii)! Strikingly beautiful bird if it's a male, but of course I wouldn't know, because I couldn't *&£!^£* see it either!

There were a number of photographers camped out around the red panda enclosure, including Cheetah Fan (hello!) and a gentleman from the Daily Mail who had been there all day but had still not seen the baby. Mariebee tells me that she saw her yesterday, so it's the luck of the draw.

* Possibly a slight exaggeration.

 

[bongorob]

After two hundred visits* I still haven't seen the Cabot's tragopan... but I did notice today that the adjacent aviary is finally occupied by a... Temminck's tragopan (Tragopan temminckii)! Strikingly beautiful bird if it's a male, but of course I wouldn't know, because I couldn't *&£!^£* see it either!

You certainly have a way with tragopans.

 

[Cheetah fan]

I wonder if the Daily Mail man got the shot he was after when we all left SMR. Makes me even happier to know I already have a photo of the baby and its been used on the zoo's site and a few local papers. Was good to meet a fellow ZooChat member there.

And I am not sure if its been mentioned but KT (The female Cheetah) is back in the top enclosure while Matrah, Burba and Singah are in the Yurt Enclosure again.

 

[OrangePerson]

And I am not sure if its been mentioned but KT (The female Cheetah) is back in the top enclosure while Matrah, Burba and Singah are in the Yurt Enclosure again.

The lady doing the talk reckoned she got all those tufty matts around her head last time she'd been up there - I suppose the vegetation is at a different stage now though.

 

[Cheetah fan]

The lady doing the talk reckoned she got all those tufty matts around her head last time she'd been up there - I suppose the vegetation is at a different stage now though.

According to all keepers I have spoke to its the remains of winter coat from this year. That's what I had been told anyway. Anyone know what the reason is?

 

[Pertinax]

I can't recall a chimp named Gloria, it was Meg who was involved with the baby incident. at least ten young, right up until the late 1960s.

Gloria arrived at Chester in 1986, so her escape must have been after that date. I have it from a reliable source that this happened.

 

[SMR]

I wonder if the Daily Mail man got the shot he was after when we all left...

Somehow I doubt it. I suspect that by the time he does, they'll have a print-quality image from another source, it is wholly down to luck.

And I am not sure if its been mentioned but KT (The female Cheetah) is back in the top enclosure while Matrah, Burba and Singah are in the Yurt Enclosure again.

Except... at about 5:30pm yesterday, their positions had reversed and the three boys were sheltering under a tree in the small top enclosure. I think it's probably time to stop tracking the movements of the cheetahs and trying to figure out what is going on, it seems their location is as fluid as that of the rhinos.

 

[Cheetah fan]

Somehow I doubt it. I suspect that by the time he does, they'll have a print-quality image from another source, it is wholly down to luck.

Except... at about 5:30pm yesterday, their positions had reversed and the three boys were sheltering under a tree in the small top enclosure. I think it's probably time to stop tracking the movements of the cheetahs and trying to figure out what is going on, it seems their location is as fluid as that of the rhinos.

KT sleeps in the house so that means the boys have the run of all the enclosures from 4 - 4:30ish. They could always use my photo of the Panda baby lol.

 

[Maguari]

Except... at about 5:30pm yesterday, their positions had reversed and the three boys were sheltering under a tree in the small top enclosure. I think it's probably time to stop tracking the movements of the cheetahs and trying to figure out what is going on, it seems their location is as fluid as that of the rhinos.

Amen to that. The animals rotate, that's all. Sometimes it might mean something, most times I'm sure it doesn't.

 

[Javan Rhino]

When I think I've made an achievment in seeing the Tragopan, they go and get another, and not just a new specimen but a new species/subspecies?

As for the rotation, isn't it usually a method of enrichment?

 

[Pygathrix]

I think it's a pair of Temminck's. They are commoner in captivity, quite a few places in the UK have them.

 

[Javan Rhino]

Ahh cool, I shall make it my mission to try and see them next time I'm there .

OUt of interest, has there been any developments regarding the Duiker? (Any official line on what happened etc. Are they any closer to trying to source another?)

 

[LeeMac13]

Visited today was packed with people havnt saw the zoo that busy for a long while. Both of the bears were out together and were busy browsing on the right side of the enclosure close to where the Coati usually are. Was good to see them both out together and so close aswell.

 

[Paix]

Hello all,

I visited today, and even bumped into another Zoochatter! Once again, the zoo was very busy, despite the on and off weather, and the whole zoo seems to have had slight touch ups, some enclosures seem to have alot more planting etc.

3 female Onagers have arrived at the zoo, and are settling in well. The Onagers arrived this week. I did not see the new Cheetah (if she has arrived) although, I did not expect too. I also did not see the Temminck's Tragopan!

Many artistic benches have been added to the Lawns infront of Islands in Danger, which I must admit look great, but are not the easiest thing to sit on. There also seemed to be Chicks in the Tsavo Aviary, I am not sure whether thse are Teal or Pochard chicks though.

 

[lechweoryx]

Is the paddock big enough for 1.6 onagers and 0.4 camels?

 

[Paix]

Is the paddock big enough for 1.6 onagers and 0.4 camels?

I would say it is at complete full capacity now!

And I also forgot to mention, developments in the Tropical Realm have really taken off, a hut has has been constructed, with many educational signs. At the entrance, there is a sign displaying the words "Medicine Trail", many plants were also being added.