Chester Zoo EAZA Ape Campaign Special Event - Saturday 19th February 2011

Bele said:
I would like to add my thanks to all involved and say how much I enjoyed the day . RORA is so impressive when you see how it all works from the non-public side . My highlight was Tuan giving his 'long call' from the enclosure under our feet , seems he does not much enjoy having visitors , I have only ever heard that once before in many years of Zoo visiting .
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Did you see Tuan? Our group was very lucky to see him, since he was calling from underneath while we were in there. It was time to move onto the next part when somebody took a last look into the enclosure and saw him walk out and climb onto the frame, where he sat nicely while we all took pictures :D
 
All three groups saw Tuan, who sat and posed for photographs throughout. There was a chance he'd not enjoy seeing visitors again - especially as the viewing had been opened specifically for us yesterday - but everyone was so quiet and well-behaved that it actually turned out to be a non-issue.
 
SMR said:
All three groups saw Tuan, who sat and posed for photographs throughout. There was a chance he'd not enjoy seeing visitors again - especially as the viewing had been opened specifically for us yesterday - but everyone was so quiet and well-behaved that it actually turned out to be a non-issue.
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Ahhh, that is certainly good to know :) I love how he's so off-show that the viewing windows in an off-show building are blocked off :eek:

I'm glad we all saw him, and his booming voice was something to behold :D
 
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Thanks a lot for a great day... Andy did a great job showing us around; highlights for me were the lion-tails (appeared very cute and peaceful despite their reputation!) and orangs (even more amazing and intelligent close up). My greatest ambition now is to be in the service corridor when the chimps come in for the night!!
 
Wolverine said:
My greatest ambition now is to be in the service corridor when the chimps come in for the night!!
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Primate keeper for the day'll take care of that - definitely worth doing.

I did love the way they were climbing up to have a look at us, and the rasberries from Boris!
 
and I'll add my humble thanks to all involved too - had an absolutely stonking day out, would have sent this earlier but I've been freezing my butt off at Parkgate witnessing the high tide spectacle as it floods the marsh (well more like sidles up on the marsh) anyway - the EAZA event was a RORA-ing success (sorry couldn't resist it) and I think I might be secretly in love with JC the Mandrill - what a fine specimen he is!
Thanks again to all of my fellow 'Nicks Posse' friends - great to put some faces and names together - to Tim, Nick & Andy for their time and expertise and SMR & Zoogiraffe for the usual organising, hair tearing out, corralling and time and effort - it is VERY much appreciated - when's the next one please :O)
 
Javan Rhino said:
Ahhh, that is certainly good to know :) I love how he's so off-show that the viewing windows in an off-show building are blocked off :o
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Is there any specific reason why Tuan at Chester is held offshow? I know he eats soil if he's let outside so that is a problem and also they don't keep him with the females and young, but apart from those reasons is it just logistics of the enclosures-or something else?

He is just about the only male Orangutan(either species) in the UK which you can't normally see.
 
Have only just got back - but did come home via Twycross to have a quick look at the new baby orang, and gorillas ! (have seen 18 - I think - orangs this weekend :) )

I'd like to say a big big thank you to everyone involved in organising this fantastic event. I can't get over the fact we were given such a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes, plus the chance to bend an expert's ear for almost five hours, for such a bargain price.

It was so nice to spend the day in the company of other primate enthusiasts, and with all we saw, and all the interesting chat and laughs, the time flew by. Viewing the animals from the 'other side' put a whole new perspective on things - not least because it was a complete sensory experience, with smells and unmuted sounds. They also somehow seemed to be much closer with only mesh between us instead of glass - though personally I found that the orangs seemed slightly smaller 'in the flesh' (that may have something to do with me being so short sighted !)

It was also very interesting to see the infrastructure behind the public exhibit .... I just didn't appreciate how huge and complex RORA was before. Similarly, getting to see the old chimp house as well as the old orang house was great from a historical perspective though I have to say I hope RORA phase 2 gets underway sooner rather than later - particularly for Tuan since his soil eating prevents him from going outside (not so concerned about the other Borneans as they have good outside access of course). I asked what might be done to rectify the Tuan issue and Nick suggested that one possibility might be a very deep layer of bark so at least he could get out. There must be something that could be done. Anyway ..... was thrilled to see Tuan at long last, as well as Martha, who I've never seen before either.

Thank you so much again !!!
 
Pertinax said:
Is there any specific reason why Tuan at Chester is held offshow? I know he eats soil if he's let outside so that is a problem and also they don't keep him with the females and young, but apart from those reasons is it just logistics of the enclosures-or something else?
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The only part of the Bornean accommodation that is on show is the netted outdoor enclosure that is part of RORA. Well there are 2 but one is being left to try & allow the planting to get more orang-proof!
 
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GillP - you get the A* for your 'What I did at the Weekend' report ;)

My local zoo has some ape events lined up for April and May but I don't know what they are yet. I suspect that they won't top Chester's orangutan extravaganza.
 
Thank you to everyone involved in organising and doing the event. It was the most amazing thing I've ever done.
Seeing enclosures and animals from the point of view of the keepers was fantastic. RORA is even bigger than I imagined!
Meeting fellow zoo chatters was lovely too. Can't wait for the next primate event!
Thanks again Tim, Nick, Andy, SMR and ZooGiraffe
 
It's so commendable the willingness some of Chester's keepers are at putting on events such as these. I'd have loved to have come too. It sounded fantastic.:(
 
I don't think anyone has mentioned that Tuan has taken up painting as a form of enrichment , using a brush and children's poster paints . His first effort was sold at the end of the meeting to raise further funds for the EAZA Great Ape campaign , along with a finger-painted effort by another Bornenan orang , sorry I cannot remember which one . It is planned to have further original paintings produced and sold during the year for the same purpose . Would love to see a photo of the artists at work !

I got the impression that Tuan is quite happy living quietly on his own and was considered to be in better condition than when he arrived at Chester .
 
The other artist was Leia.

Yes, I think Tuan has changed a lot in the time he's been there and really settled down. Maybe he has no desire to have people laughing at him & banging on his window!
 
Bele said:
I don't think anyone has mentioned that Tuan has taken up painting as a form of enrichment , using a brush and children's poster paints . His first effort was sold at the end of the meeting to raise further funds for the EAZA Great Ape campaign , along with a finger-painted effort by another Bornenan orang , sorry I cannot remember which one . It is planned to have further original paintings produced and sold during the year for the same purpose .
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What a brilliant idea! Chester leads the way again. Do you know how much the painting went for?
 
Tuan's bold brushwork went for £20 whilst Leia's more muted finger painting went for £45 I think. Of course now they are established artists who have sold work the sky's the limit!

Don't know if painting is a Bornean speciality or if the Sumatrans will get in on the act!
 
OrangePerson said:
Tuan's bold brushwork went for £20 whilst Leia's more muted finger painting went for £45 I think. Of course now they are established artists who have sold work the sky's the limit!

Don't know if painting is a Bornean speciality or if the Sumatrans will get in on the act!
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It was the other way around - Tuan did the finger painting (and an interesting and bold use of colours too) whilst the more abstract and thoughtful brushwork was the work of Leia - which prompted a hot bidding session mirroring the fine strong brush strokes of the original artist :D:D:D
 
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