The rhinos lived in the current pygmy hippo house, with a small oval concrete outdoor yard. The first successful breeding in the UK happened here. Bristol, 9th November 1973. Scanned from a Kodachrome slide.
The rhinos lived in the current pygmy hippo house, with a small oval concrete outdoor yard. The first successful breeding in the UK happened here. Bristol, 9th November 1973. Scanned from a Kodachrome slide.
Its still amazing they bred them in here, not once but five times. This outside area was probably no larger than most of the holding yards that lead to outside paddocks. The pair were fortunately
Thanks for posting some very interesting old photographs; much appreciated.
I know I am being pedantic but “Roger” wasn’t Chester’s first rhinoceros.
According to the Black Rhinoceros Studbook, “Roger”, born at Bristol Zoo, arrived at Chester Zoo on 7th March 1960; however, the female “Susie” arrived at Chester Zoo a few months earlier than “Roger” on 3rd October 1959.
Moreover, according to an article by Richard Reynolds (International Zoo Yearbook, Volume 4) there was also a short lived black rhinoceros that died in Chester Zoo in 1953.
(Incidentally, the first black rhinoceros that I ever saw was “Lorna” at London Zoo; originally in the old Antelope House and subsequently in the old Deer & Cattle Sheds.)
Thanks for posting some very interesting old photographs; much appreciated.
I know I am being pedantic but “Roger” wasn’t Chester’s first rhinoceros.
According to the Black Rhinoceros Studbook, “Roger”, born at Bristol Zoo, arrived at Chester Zoo on 7th March 1960; however, the female “Susie” arrived at Chester Zoo a few months earlier than “Roger” on 3rd October 1959.
Moreover, according to an article by Richard Reynolds (International Zoo Yearbook, Volume 4) there was also a short lived black rhinoceros that died in Chester Zoo in 1953.
(Incidentally, the first black rhinoceros that I ever saw was “Lorna” at London Zoo; originally in the old Antelope House and subsequently in the old Deer & Cattle Sheds.)
I stand corrected. I didn't know about the 1953 rhino. I do remember trying to use my Kodak Brownie to photograph Roger or Susie in the new rhino house (as it was then, now it's the oldest one). I might have that photo somewhere - but it certainly won't be fit to post here
Moreover, according to an article by Richard Reynolds (International Zoo Yearbook, Volume 4) there was also a short lived black rhinoceros that died in Chester Zoo in 1953.
The article by Reynolds, mentioned in my earlier post, simply states it was a young animal that died in the winter of 1953 soon after it arrived at the zoo.
“The Rhinoceros in Captivity” (Rookmaaker, 1998) also mentions this specimen, again giving very similar information, without providing any exact details about dates or provenance.
