Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Chester 2011 #5

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I'll start this update with the bad news - the Tropical Realm's Taveta golden weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps) has recently died in the last few weeks, having reached an exceptional age of 23 years old (at least).
This is sad news for regular visitors. Seeing the weaver on his perch was an inherent part of visiting the Tropical Realm.

A couple of months ago I was lucky enough to see him on a feeding bowl and managed to get a half-decent photograph:

http://goo.gl/2MhzI

Lovely little bird.
 
Do you know if she is being tried mixed with Pele, or if he is back inside and they're being rotated at the moment?

From what I was told, just a rotation today. Pele was in the waterfall enclosure yesterday, so this is her first day. Im sure they would let her adjust to the enclosure before trying a mix, wouldn't they?
 
From what I was told, just a rotation today. Pele was in the waterfall enclosure yesterday, so this is her first day. Im sure they would let her adjust to the enclosure before trying a mix, wouldn't they?

Makes sense :) - I managed to see Pele yesterday in the enclosure as I arrived right at feeding time.
 

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nice pic, unfortunately I cant upload any of my photos. My entire web access is done on my phone.
 
Does anyone know if they have ever considered mixing other animals in with the rhino's, I.e. zebra?

Just think with all the open space it would enhance the experience, I know Colchester have a mixed exhibit
 
Does anyone know if they have ever considered mixing other animals in with the rhino's, I.e. zebra?

Just think with all the open space it would enhance the experience, I know Colchester have a mixed exhibit
Just for the record Colchester have White Rhino's which are not as nervous as the Black's that Chester keep,now I have seen Black's mixed at Port Lympne but every now and again they have to shut them in,as one of the Black Rhino's sometimes just doesn't like the zebra that share the safari are with them.As for Chester having plans at one time it was talked about mixing the lechwe with them but it never happened to the best of my knowledge,also Chester would only attempt a mix if they were pretty certain that it would work for all the animals involved if they had doubts it wouldn't happen.
 
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Does anyone know if they have ever considered mixing other animals in with the rhino's, I.e. zebra?

Just think with all the open space it would enhance the experience, I know Colchester have a mixed exhibit

Due to the nature of the different species, I doubt it would work. Black rhinos cannot be mixed with other species as easily as white rhinos as black rhinos tend to be more aggressive. The only place in the UK I can think of where black rhinos are mixed are Port Lympne's safari experience, but this is a massive expanse of land meaning it's easy for any of the species to escape each other. Even then though, they are cows that are not in a breeding situation so far as I know, and if they were to introduce a bull into the mixed exhibit then it would go wrong.

Also, Colchester's zebras are Burchell's - a subspecies of the Plains zebra which I believe are the most docile - Grevy's zebra are a bit riskier to mix with other species [I think?], though it has been done in a few places seemingly successfully, so I don't know.
 
Thanks Nisha, It certainly doesn't detract any of her beauty.

Cross eyes in Zoo Lions may be a sign of inbreeding. I have not heard of it in Asian Lions before but it was not infrequent in the past in some inbred African Lions.
 
Cross eyes in Zoo Lions may be a sign of inbreeding. I have not heard of it in Asian Lions before but it was not infrequent in the past in some inbred African Lions.

ah to be honest when you look at her head on I think her mum sat on her head when she was younger as she's slightly skewiff facially too!
I'm making her sound proper freaky here and she really isn't - I think she's a very good looking lioness in truth and frankly as long as Iblis likes her it matters not a jot what I think :D
 
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