Chester Zoo Chester 2012 #4

Pootle said:
Thats it, thanks Nisha. I knew I had read it somewhere, but could find nothing on the internet, then as you do, I started questioning myself as if I had made it up!

Back at the end of May this year, I observed what I thought was a pregnant rhino, so I will pat myself on the back for being correct :) (there is a first for everything :p)
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Well depends which one it was as you have three contenders for which one you saw. ;)

Who is the father to Ema's calf? I believe Magadi is the father of the other two.
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
I'm don't know a lot about Giant Otter rearing apart from there is a very high mortality rate, if both parents are out could this mean they dns?
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I saw them both out between the "may have cubs" signs going up and the confirmation of the birth, so I wouldn't get too worried.
 
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SMR said:
There seems to be a new general policy of closing the exhibits or restricting access whenever there's a new birth. I wonder why that should be, since it hasn't had an impact on youngsters in the past (for example, I saw the last giraffe calf within hours of its birth).
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That may well be so but I willing to bet the House was closed pretty soon after you saw the calf,as the zoo had pretty much always shut the Giraffe House after a birth over the last 25 years or so,to give the mother and calf a chance to bond in peace and quiet,and I for one have no problem with that,as its far better for the calf to be mother reared than hand reared,as you only have to look at the short lived,lives by most hand reared calfs and thats not just at Chester!
 
zoogiraffe said:
That may well be so but I willing to bet the House was closed pretty soon after you saw the calf...
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The first pure Rothschild's calf was born November 1st 2010 - in the early morning I think - I saw it on the 2nd (pure luck as it wasn't announced), photographed it on the 4th (those photos were used in the media) then again on the 7th, when it was out on the paddock. Perhaps I was just really lucky with my timing, but I don't recall seeing any closed signs.
 
SMR said:
It could mean anything, but all the barriers and notices were still up, so that's a good sign.
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Sorry - I did mention that I wasn't an expert on Giant Otters. All three holders (Chestnut, Chester and South Lakes) bred this year unfortunately only (so far) Chester and South Lakes have been successful.
 
Great news with all the pregnancy and births.

I don't have a problem with the giraffe house being closed, if its for the best.

I would agree with previous comments about posting information on zoochat. Zoos are public places, so if someone sees something then I see no reason not to post it. As has been stated zoochat is followed by us zoo nerds, not by the public at large. Whilst the zoo community read not sure that the average zoo visitor does.

My only exception to this would be when a member of staff spoke to me one on one, then I wouldn't post that as I don't think it would be fair them to quote them without permission. Things at talks are fair game though.

I've spent ages worrying about posting things I shouldn't but really lives too short!!
 
It's Adopters' Day on Sunday so I expect they will keep the giraffe house closed until after then, there are a lot of giraffe adopters.
 
Forgot to mention - last saturday I had an attack of lazyitis and hitched a ride on the monorail back to the entrance - this journey takes you across the end of the Giant Otter Pool area and from height I got a quick glimpse of both of the adults just outside the entrance to their den area where hopefully they are rearing pup/pups - it was only a quick glimpse as I say because the monorail doesn't have an emergency stop button :D
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
Sorry - I did mention that I wasn't an expert on Giant Otters. All three holders (Chestnut, Chester and South Lakes) bred this year unfortunately only (so far) Chester and South Lakes have been successful.
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4 holders, Chesnut sent some to New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park.
 
Waddi said:
4 holders, Chesnut sent some to New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park.
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They sure did - same owners apparently who run both Chestnut & New Forest Park.
Wasn't it the 2 male pups from the Chestnut Centre that went to the New Forest?
 
Another announcement from Chester's Facebook page (I do work during the day, honest...)

MORE BIG BABY NEWS! RHINO CALF IS BORN!

Just days after we told you about our new baby giraffe, we are now delighted to say that a baby black rhino has also been born!

In the wild, black rhino populations have been ravaged by poaching and numbers are critically low. That's why this arrival is such fantastic news for the insurance population in zoos.

As with the baby giraffe, our keepers need to give mum Ema Elsa and her newborn time to bond and so they won't be on-show immediately. We'll be sure to let you know as soon as you're able to see them.

In the meantime stay tuned, as we'll be sure to bring you more on both of our exciting new arrivals in the coming days.
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Lots of new arrivals at the moment! I think it's time I found a free day for a zoo trip :)
 
Rhino Born

I have just been emailed this, apparently it is from their facebook page.

MORE BIG BABY NEWS! RHINO CALF IS BORN!

Just days after we told you about our new baby giraffe, we are now delighted to say that a baby black rhino has also been born!

In the wild, black rhino populations have been ravaged by poaching and numbers are critically low. That's why this arrival is such fantastic news for the insurance population in zoos.

As with the baby giraffe, our keepers need to give mum Ema Elsa and her newborn time to bond and so they won't be on-show immediately. We'll be sure to let you know as soon as you're able to see them.

In the meantime stay tuned, as we'll be sure to bring you more on both of our exciting new arrivals in the coming days.


FAO Chester Zoo - I suggest if it is male to call it Pootle, would suit a male rhino that name :D.
 
Excellent news. It makes sense as to why they moved Asani and Bashira on I was confused a few months back as to why they were leaving. Glad to see another Black Rhino birth at Chester, I'm in love with their facility and specific Rhinos! :p
 
The great news keeps coming, many congrats to the Rhino team and of course to the lovely Ema!
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
Excellent news. It makes sense as to why they moved Asani and Bashira on I was confused a few months back as to why they were leaving. Glad to see another Black Rhino birth at Chester, I'm in love with their facility and specific Rhinos! :p
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There is always a method behind what may seem madness to us,with everything that Chester do!Even if this birth wasn't going to happen Chester would still have had to move them out as they needed the space!
 
Baby Giraffe's sex is now confirmed..... "drumroll"

It's a GIRL! :D


First pic now on the zoos Facebook

Edit: Giraffe house is now confirmed to be open again and the baby "appears" to have been given access outside today
 
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