I would say it depends at least as much on the number ratios between the species involved.
Chester Zoo News at Chester
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I would say it depends at least as much on the number ratios between the species involved.
... and space too.
Yes, it's certainly large enough. The outdoor monkey islands are a lot large than they appear from ground level.
Couple of snippets from a wander on Sunday -
- rodents in the Okapi house at the moment are the puched rat, the Mount Kulal Spiny Mice and the zoo's still-unidentified Acacia Rats (Thallomys sp.) in with the rat in the large enclosure. No sign of dormice, grass rats or grass mice at the moment.
- although still labelled, there was no sign of the Pere David's Deer so these may have moved as noted elsewhere
- and the Philippine Crocs are little beauties!
- rodents in the Okapi house at the moment are the puched rat, the Mount Kulal Spiny Mice and the zoo's still-unidentified Acacia Rats (Thallomys sp.) in with the rat in the large enclosure. No sign of dormice, grass rats or grass mice at the moment.
- although still labelled, there was no sign of the Pere David's Deer so these may have moved as noted elsewhere
- and the Philippine Crocs are little beauties!
I feel that maybe mixed exhibits of monkeys plus another (compatable) non-primate species would be more successful than two primate species...
For a start grazers would reduce the tall grass/jungle effect which I think makes the monkeys very difficult to see outside, and there would be something using the islands instead of them looking so empty when the monkeys are indoors. The main problem is housing for the non-primate species- small low-level shelters along the back wall?
really think they are asking for trouble trying to keep groups of primates together in the restricted indoor areas....
johnstoni
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yes, if the cold-weather area is the same space for all the species, it really won't be long before serious fighting occurs. I don't understand why porcupines are ever mixed with primates? Although normally placid, I can't imagine the stress for a young primate if it comes into conflict with a porcupine, and the subseqent removal and treatment for injuries.
Small deer like Muntjac or Hog deer might work okay- they need something that would graze the islands'neatly' so you can see the Monkeys(when they are out) at ground level, but non aggressive also. Babirusa/pig species might work but would plough up the soil leaving a far less attractive exhibit in the longterm. But at the moment I feel Chester's primate islands are largely just so much wasted space most of the time as the Monkeys are rarely outside.( as with gorillas, are they too open with no overhead cover?)
Just on the point of the monkeys being outside, the spider monkeys and sulawesi macaques seem to be outdoors on most of my visits, whereas the lion-tailed macaques are occaisonally outside and i've only ever seen the mandrills outdoors once!
I don't think it's a similar situation to gorillas, as all of the islands are heavily planted and provide cover for the monkeys. I think the monkeys just prefer the indoor heating.
I don't think it's a similar situation to gorillas, as all of the islands are heavily planted and provide cover for the monkeys. I think the monkeys just prefer the indoor heating.
yes, I should have modified that- I too have seen the Monkeys using the outsides in similar ratios- Spider monkeys are always very active in any zoo anyway. Sulawesi macaques likewise seem happy outside also in virtually all zoos I've seen them in.
Regarding cover, I'm talking about overhead cover really. At Chester the Liontails and Mandrills go out far less than the other two species and both live in dense rainforest in the wild- does that have something to do with it though? (Colchester's Mandrills alternatively are always outside but have no choice as they are SHUT out)
It seems that the designers of gorilla enclosures decide to ignore the concept that lowland gorillas in the wild live mostly in very dense vegetation hence "the inpenetrable forest" where many lowland gorillas live.
Yes the public must be able to view gorillas l do understan that point very clearly. Exhibits that are often refered to as amazing like Lincoln Parks gorilla house. With its indoor viewing area and full viewing windows that afford NO privacy for gorillas. Really may look great butt are sooo not! In line with a gorillas needs.
Yes the public must be able to view gorillas l do understan that point very clearly. Exhibits that are often refered to as amazing like Lincoln Parks gorilla house. With its indoor viewing area and full viewing windows that afford NO privacy for gorillas. Really may look great butt are sooo not! In line with a gorillas needs.
Susan Humphreys
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Anyone seen the news about mating kingfishers halting work at Chester? It's on the BBC. Do they mean the path by the butterfly house?
Thanks
Susan
Thanks
Susan
I'd imagine so, there is a lake just to the north of the construction site.
They don't say exactly where to protect the birds but around the butterfly house seems likely.
Chester Zoo - Kingfishers at Chester Zoo
There's also a new picture of Tejas on the website
Chester Zoo - Kingfishers at Chester Zoo
There's also a new picture of Tejas on the website
Unfortunately you wouldn't see muntjac either as they like to hide behind the smallest bit of cover they can find. Both muntjac and hog deer are very flighty and think nothing about ploughing head-first into fences etc when alarmed. From memory that would mean into moats at Chester. Pigs/tapirs tend to work better with monkeys as they aren't so intimidated or flighty. Maybe I'm wrong but aren't babirusa alot easier on substrates compared to pigs?
You could well be right- although under zoo conditions all species can become very tame. Babirusa paddocks don't seem so badly ploughed up as pigs would do.
taun
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