Why is it so good? Because it is the only zoo I have seen that promotes cheetahs from Asia instead of Africa. Of course they are from both continents, but every other zoo goes with Africa. I love this for its uniqueness.
Why is it so good? Because it is the only zoo I have seen that promotes cheetahs from Asia instead of Africa. Of course they are from both continents, but every other zoo goes with Africa. I love this for its uniqueness.
Doesn't the newest research show that all cheetahs are one population with no subspecies? That would mean here that these cheetahs are perfectly fine to be exhibited in an Asian area.
Its an attractive sign but I'm not sure I fully agree with these 'descriptive' terms for exhibits when they don't really bear any resemblance to the wild habitats that are described. In this case 'Asian Steppe' refers to a smallish paddock with Onagers and Camels, but there are many other examples (not at Chester particularly) e.g. very artificial enclosures described as 'Forests', 'African Plains' 'Plateau' or 'Swamp' etc etc. I can understand zoos trying to tie their exhibits in with natural habitats but often the reality of the zoo exhibit is so different that the pretence just makes a mockery of the description.
One place that doesn't attempt to do this by name except for their 'African Experience' is Howletts/PL but instead they have excellent signage/artwork , the artist has a real flair for accurately depicting the animals in their natural habitat. So while you see the animals in an enclosure you can also immediately visualise where/how they live in the wild.
These fanciful names stem from zoos trying to be something they're not; namely located in the country from which the animals originate. Personally I much prefer names such as Monkey Islands. Islands, with monkeys on them. Does exactly what it says on the tin.
Doesn't the newest research show that all cheetahs are one population with no subspecies? That would mean here that these cheetahs are perfectly fine to be exhibited in an Asian area.
Yes, cheetahs are now considered one monotypic species. I heard this directly from the mouth of Laurie Marker when she was at our zoo, and I think everyone would agree she is the world's leading authority on cheetahs.
I'm always reluctant to adopt newly-proposed taxonomies too quickly. Remember the 'Sumatran Tiger is a separate species' phase?
That said, Cheetahs are famously low in genetic diversity and it would not be too much of a shock to discover there's no significant difference between regions.
Is there any evidence that cheetahs ever inhabited the central Asian steppes at all? I know the range covered Iran and India but have they been sympatric with Bactrian camels in historic times?
