Chester Zoo Assistance please chimp geeks...

Cbarnes1987

Cbarnes1987

Member
i use that term affectionatley...

can anybody tell me the current number of chimps at the zoo (ratio of sex or adults - babies)? and does anybody have a pic or link to a pic of the enclosure (inside, out or both) from a birds eye view (photo or plan)? iv looked on zoolex but the chimp enc isnt on there. thanks in advance (need for a uni asignment)

Chris
 
I read it a few years ago.

The chimps at Chester all have their own labels, so you can find out the sexes ages and names by visiting the zoo.

The stock list for the end of 2010 lists 7.19 chimps.
 
This seems like the best place for this question.
On my second ever visit today I was surprised to read that of Chester's very large troop of chimps, all but a handful (I think 3 from Welsh Mountain Zoo) were born at Chester. Are there several separate bloodlines still represented? What is the longterm plan for the chimpanzees? Surely new blood will be needed before too long.
 
The current group have been prevented from breeding since 2009 whilst tests were carried out to establish purity and subspecies of all individuals.

The tests have now been done and they are now working with the EEP to form a breeding group of pure Western Chimps at Chester. Two females were sent to Boras, Sweden in May to start the process
 
FunkyGibbon said:
On my second ever visit today I was surprised to read that of Chester's very large troop of chimps, all but a handful (I think 3 from Welsh Mountain Zoo) were born at Chester. Are there several separate bloodlines still represented? What is the longterm plan for the chimpanzees? Surely new blood will be needed before too long.
Click to expand...

Don't forget that Boris, the former alpha male, was wild-caught. As Chester has had a multi-male group for many years, the paternity of most the zoo-born chimps was not known: but I don't know if the genetic tests have been able to resolve any of these questions.

Alan
 
I'm pretty sure the majority (if not all?) are pure. Long term they will be the centre piece (along with gorillas) of the Heart of Africa exhibit. I am told the zoo very much intends to develop this as close to the original plans as possible, but anyone's guess as to when they will break ground on it - likely be many years from now.

Most recent inventory says 7:17 chimps. The group have gradually got smaller and smaller...would be great to see some youngsters back again- would be good for the dynamic of the troop.
 
ChesterZooFan said:
I'm pretty sure the majority (if not all?) are pure.
Click to expand...

I would be surprised if that turned out to be the case from the DNA testing. Of course if most/all of their original stock happened to be West African, then yes, but I think that is perhaps unlikely.
 
Pertinax said:
I would be surprised if that turned out to be the case from the DNA testing. Of course if most/all of their original stock happened to be West African, then yes, but I think that is perhaps unlikely.
Click to expand...

Am happy to be corrected but am sure that the DNA testing has proven, surprisingly, that they are mostly pure Weat Afticans.
 
ChesterZooFan said:
Am happy to be corrected but am sure that the DNA testing has proven, surprisingly, that they are mostly pure Weat Afticans.
Click to expand...
From memory only about half are pure Westerns,but not all the Wild caught ones are Western and some of them are not even pure,from what I have heard the results were not what was expected!
 
Straight from the horses mouth, here's what the chimp keeper told me at today's members day:

There are 22 chimps currently at the zoo. 13 (including Dillon the dominant male) are being kept in the main house and island, with 9 (including 2 new females) being kept off show inside. They have been separated to allow the 2 new females to acclimatise and build relationships with some of the existing group. Once they have assimilated into the group they will all be put together.

As I thought, the majority (all but 3) are pure West Africans. Now they have determined their purity they have removed all the contraceptive implants from the appropriate females and all being well are expecting (hoping for) some chimp babies next summer. The keeper told me the new babies are really important for the dynamic of the group.

There is still no main dominant female after the death of several of the elder female chimps over the last year or so. There are high hopes to re-establish a much stronger and bigger breeding group.

Have to say I have never been that bothered about the chimps (more of an orang man) but after my chat today I have a new found interest!
 
Last edited:
Pertinax said:
Always good to get the facts direct....;)

1. Do you know where the two new females have come from? Presumably (rather obviously) they are pure West African too?

2. Surprised given the usual doubts over parentage/paternity and with a group originally established many years ago, that Chester's have proven nearly all West African but it is certainly good news. Sorry I doubted but with a similar number of 23/24, Twycross only found five of theirs were WA, and in Edinburgh's original group of circa eleven, there were only two(?).

3. Would the three non-West Africans at Chester be the ones from Colwyn Bay perhaps?

4. When genetics are involved with a species, it tends to become more interesting IMO.
Click to expand...

I was told where they are from and which 3 were not pure but don't remember sorry - note to self: take notes next time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top