From around 1960 until a few years ago there was a round pond at the edge of the zoo, before the Kamchatka bear enclosure/condor aviary and the bridge across Flag Lane were built behind it. For many years there was a sign saying 'American Beaver' beside the pond - but I never saw the beaver and I don't think I've ever met anyone who admitted to seeing it either. This is the first photo I have seen which purports to be of this beaver. Its importance is that for many years the symbol of Chester Zoo was a drawing of a beaver and the motto 'Always Building'.
I don't think there were any wild beavers in Great Britain for several hundred years, until a few reintroduction projects for European Beaver started up in recent years.
their logo now doesn't even have an animal on it - it's just "Chester Zoo" looking like it was written by the left hand of a right-handed five year old. What's that about?
That is the northern of the two small walled enclosures sited where the condor aviary is now and was not the large beaver pond, the site of which is now the round picnic lawn. This exhibit was used for Indian Crested Porcupines for many years.
It does not look very beaver proof.
I saw the beavers on a few occasions and have photos to prove it.
AArghhhh..... I thought this thread would cause more confusion than it did, bongorob is correct. See the attached Chester Zoo plan from 1980. Ordinarily the beavers were kept in enclosure number 32. I took this photo in 1987 when they were moved temporarily into a 'flooded' enclosure number 30 whilst their enclosure was drained and repairs made to the wall. Enclosure 30 was the porcupine enclosure [by 1987 the porcupines had moved into to the camel house]. It was beaver proof, no beaver could negotiate the overhang on the wall BUT I'm not convinced about visitors fingers! As the steps to this enclosure were level with the wall, it was not unusual for children to walk on top of this low enclosure wall (and to fall in).
Enclosure 32 subsequently became the coati exhibit. A very popular centrepiece in the zoo like a roundabout at the intersection of three bridges (the now demolished giraffe bridge, the canal bridge and the bear / elephant bridge) AND the paths north to peccaries / birds of prey, and south to zebras / red lechwe.
For some unknown reason, the exhibit was demolished to make a another picnic lawn!
