Chessington Zoo Chessington Zoo Developments.

Pertinax said:
very interesting- in that case they may put these new animal developments on hold either short or even longer term. If there is one thing that governs what happens at Chessington, it is MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!;)
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it must be built by 2009 or they will lose thier lisence to house gorrilas :(
 
I was thinking exacly the same thing. I'd be rather surprised to see a brand new enclosure completed in the next year though.
 
it might have already started, its quite a fair way away from the current zoo, its in the middle of the woods (by creature features) I AM GOING NEXT WEEK AND WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT I SEE AND FIND OUT!
 
Tigerlemurguy said:
it might have already started, its quite a fair way away from the current zoo, its in the middle of the woods (by creature features) I AM GOING NEXT WEEK AND WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT I SEE AND FIND OUT!
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Great.... Here's a few questions you might be able to find answers to;
1. Have any changes been made to the existing Gorilla cage(e.g. in the last 12 months) any extension to indoor areas?

2. When are they getting a new male,( is it still Damisi from Paignton or another one from somewhere else)?

3. Any news on this new enclosure for Gorillas, and other developments generally regarding the new Zoo areas would be good.

Many thanks...!!
 
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Pertinax said:
Great.... Here's a few questions you might be able to find answers to;
1. Have any changes been made to the existing Gorilla cage(e.g. in the last 12 months) any extension to indoor areas?

2. When are they getting a new male,( is it still Damisi from Paignton or another one from somewhere else)?

3. Any news on this new enclosure for Gorillas, and other developments generally regarding the new Zoo areas would be good.

Many thanks...!!
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Yes will do, i saw the gorilla enclosure two years ago so i will be able to compare it with what i saw back them, i will also tell you how the baby tigers are doing!
 
Tigerlemurguy said:
Yes will do, i saw the gorilla enclosure two years ago so i will be able to compare it with what i saw back them, i will also tell you how the baby tigers are doing!
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regarding the current cage, I wouldn't expect major changes but some alterations may have been done as I believe last year at the time of the row about the license, they were requested to make 'improvements' to the existing cage before the new male arrives- I've just heard from another thread that he may be arriving shortly now.
 
i thought he had already arrived, because they have shut the old male in the inside area away from the main group???

or am i wrong?
 
Nope, the new male scheduled for Chessington is Damisi from Paignton and Gigit just confirmed that he is being crate-trained right now and hasn`t left yet. The transfer was on hold because the EEP had asked Chessington to send one of their young females to London in exchange for a new breeding male, and it took some time before this happened.

My understanding is that the old male had a stroke and although he has recovered, he can´t be put back with the group because some females attacked him. It`s a very strange thing and I am not aware that something like this has happened before, but well, this is why they nedd a new male in the first place.
 
Yassa said:
My understanding is that the old male had a stroke and although he has recovered, he can´t be put back with the group because some females attacked him. It`s a very strange thing and I am not aware that something like this has happened before, but well, this is why they nedd a new male in the first place.
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Does anyone know if he off to another collection?
 
Yassa said:
My understanding is that the old male had a stroke and although he has recovered, he can´t be put back with the group because some females attacked him. It`s a very strange thing and I am not aware that something like this has happened before, but well, this is why they nedd a new male in the first place.
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Its the first time 'rejection' behavior of an adult Silverback like this has been recorded apparently. Kumba still looks in very good health, despite his stroke(s) and seems fully recovered nowadays. He lives with his original partner 'Baffia' and they are kept permanently seperate from the others in the group. They will probably stay in the old cage when(if) a new one is built for the main group, possibly also with 'Kaja' the next oldest female, who is currently the boss in the main group. (Mjuku, who has recentlytransferred to ZSL is Kaja's granddaughter).

They needed a new male anyway because 3 of the younger females in the group are Kumba's daughters (Mjuku was the fourth). I would expect to hear soon that Damisi has arrived , but this transfer has been very long drawn out, for the reason Yassa mentioned above.
 
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taun said:
Does anyone know if he off to another collection?
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see above. Kumba won't leave Chessington- he & Baffia will probably stay in the existing cage permanently- unless they need to demolish it!
 
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just got back

heres the updates

in the trail of the kings, there was two enclosures for bingturong (spelling?)

saw the baby tigers, so cute!

only saw three gorillas, maybe they are still introducing new members?

there was a sign of a new gorilla enclosure

1. there was metal tracks near the monorail, looks as if they are goin to extend it over the otter pool and round to the new area

2. there is new metal building next to the hotel and more bamboo screens have been put up to stop visitors bieng nosy on the new devolpments!

any questions just ask
 
Paulkarli08 said:
on your travels to chessington, was the new lioness on show, or do they still have the single male there?
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yes she was in all her glory, she seemed very settled with the male.

and there have been no changes to the current gorilla cage answering the question!

apparently theres a large indoor house offshow as well
 
Tigerlemurguy said:
and there have been no changes to the current gorilla cage answering the question!

apparently theres a large indoor house offshow as well
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That is rather strange considering the fuss and critisism this time last year.

The indoor offshow area was the old chimpanzee cage converted into a 'gorillarium'- its been part of the exhibit for a long time now and provides a good big private area. However now the group is split only the old male and his mate(s) have access to it while the others are on show in the main enclosure.

I'm not sure how they can integrate a new male with the current space available...
 
Pertinax said:
That is rather strange considering the fuss and critisism this time last year.

The indoor offshow area was the old chimpanzee cage converted into a 'gorillarium'- its been part of the exhibit for a long time now and provides a good big private area. However now the group is split only the old male and his mate(s) have access to it while the others are on show in the main enclosure.

I'm not sure how they can integrate a new male with the current space available...
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old chimp cage?, its so small! they have alot of indoor dens, maybe they will introduce them through the mess in the dens, like many zoos do?
 
Tigerlemurguy said:
old chimp cage?, its so small! they have alot of indoor dens, maybe they will introduce them through the mess in the dens, like many zoos do?
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There are only a few small sleeping dens- and a large group of 10 Gorillas now.
A new male will need his own space to start with, even if only for a short while....

The chimp cage only had a pair of chimps if I remember correctly.
 
Pertinax said:
There are only a few small sleeping dens- and a large group of 10 Gorillas now.
A new male will need his own space to start with, even if only for a short while....

The chimp cage only had a pair of chimps if I remember correctly.
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no, on the display boards in the gorillas it showed there were 10 dens, if you dont believe me go and have a look in the second gorilla viewing area and theres a map of the facility and cages.

does anyone know when the male is arriving or has he arrived?
 
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