I can confirm that they'll be located in the area captured in this photograph; the semi-circular region in the centre of the image. They will not be viewable from this aspect though, visitors will walk down to the bottom of the rhino paddock, then back on themselves towards the entry to the dogs, at which point the view to the hyrax will open up.
I see both on here and the current Chester thread about them that they are referred to as 'African Painted Dogs' There was discussion of this nomenclature on another thread where someone was saying they'd never heard the term 'painted' used for them and I said I'd seen it in several Zoos in recent years.. Is this how Chester will call them?
I can't remember if they've had them before- Bongorob will know for sure.
At one time they were very rare in UK zoos but in recent years more and more places are exhibiting them- Howletts/Port Lympne (long term), Colchester, London, Edinburgh, Yorkshire, Cricket St Thomas (before it closed) Dublin, Belfast, Dudley, West Midlands, Knowsley etc so with this exhibit Chester are joining a growing number of other Zoos. But I'm sure Chester's will be one of the best enclosures...
I'm not a fan of the name, although "painted" is a direct translation of the latin. It's what Chester are calling them, so to avoid confusion that's the name I gave to the title of this photo, and the name in the text I wrote for the walk-and-talk invitation.
"Hunting" is a far better, more descriptive term (as is "wild" for that matter), but I think the general consensus is that it's not 'friendly' enough for today's zoo visitor.
I can't remember if they've had them before- Bongorob will know for sure.
At one time they were very rare in UK zoos but in recent years more and more places are exhibiting them- Howletts/Port Lympne (long term), Colchester, London, Edinburgh, Yorkshire, Cricket St Thomas (before it closed) Dublin, Belfast, Dudley, West Midlands, Knowsley etc so with this exhibit Chester are joining a growing number of other Zoos. But I'm sure Chester's will be one of the best enclosures...
I recall seeing Hunting dogs on a listing of previous species held at Chester, but don't know any dates - I would imagine it was most likely before I was born or when I was very young, I don't think it would have been within the last 15 years but could be wrong - hopefully somebody can confirm the years that Chester previously kept them
"Hunting" is a far better, more descriptive term (as is "wild" for that matter), but I think the general consensus is that it's not 'friendly' enough for today's zoo visitor.
I think the name change was suggested more to challenge perceptions of them in their native range so that local populations wouldn't see them as a threat and to avoid any perception of them being connected with feral dogs.
I'm very hopeful it will. Chester's recent record with open-plan carnivore exhibits is very good - the cheetah and bear exhibits are among the zoo's best.
But it's a new carnivore exhibit with small mammals dotted around and new ungulate viewing, so I'm happy.
