personally I prefer watching them to the sealions and I certainly spend more time at this exhibit now that the Giant Otters are present - they are much more engaging and vocal.
For me I'd definately say that the Zoo did the right thing in swapping the exhibit - but obviously that's a personal stance. From what I see and hear from visitors ?(when they are not being called 'seals' ) is that they are very popular - particularly around feeding time and in general they are very curious animals so they like to come up to the fence and the glass and see what's going on - so you get a lot closer to them than you ever did to the sealions in the same place.
There was a time when you could get a lot closer to the sea lions. Until 2000 the pool had a path all around it and just a low metal fence without any stand-offs. Before that it was a wooden picket fence!
The giant otters are an excellent exhibit, although the fences are poorly constructed and the viewing from the south west end terrible. They're active and vocal.
People still ask about the sea lions however, they are a far more identifiable species. The biggest loss is the noise they made, there's nothing that says "zoo" like a sea lion honking in the distance.
People still ask about the sea lions however, they are a far more identifiable species. The biggest loss is the noise they made, there's nothing that says "zoo" like a sea lion honking in the distance.
The otters versus sea lions comparison is an interesting one.
There is no doubt that sea lions have tradition, visitor recognition plus visual and aural impact on their side.
The otters win in terms of conservation value and their 'rarely seen in a zoo' factor: I can still remember seeing my first giant otter in 1972, and I dare say most ZooChat regulars can do the same (except poor old Pertinax ). There are other factors in their favour which are rather less obvious, they are cheaper to keep than sea lions because they don't eat as much and they don't need salt water, and these facts mean that less filtration is required for their water. So their exhibit is both literally and metaphorically greener - better planted and environmentally more acceptable (which is one of the factors that the Zoo Licensing Act requires).
The final consideration is breeding; sea lion pups had to be more or less off exhibit - so if the otters at Chester should happen to breed, a family group on display would make a very nice exhibit.
I can still remember seeing my first giant otter in 1972, and I dare say most ZooChat regulars can do the same (except poor old Pertinax ).
The final consideration is breeding; sea lion pups had to be more or less off exhibit - so if the otters at Chester should happen to breed, a family group on display would make a very nice exhibit.
My time will come soon- now they are at the New Forest Park
You present a very clear picture as to why they win out over SeaLions- water filtration must be an important factor, when it comes to old 'ailing' sealion pools. I can see them becoming more popular in the UK if more pairs become available. I've seen film of larger 'packs' in the wild, and photos at one of the German Zoos too- if Chester can replicate that with say half a dozen animals, that would indeed be an impressive exhibit.
I have seen a group of ten at Brasilia and Dortmund, Philadelphia as well as Hamburg have or had groups of similar size. Seeing a large group in a large and well designed enclosure is fantastic and I believe Chester (along with Doue) currently has the biggest enclosure in Europe, which is a clear advantage for a large group. Most GO enclosures in the US as well as Hamburg and Duisburg are clearly too small for a really large family group. It is perfectly natural to have up to three generations live together - that's the real deal !
