Chester Zoo Chester Bits and Bobs

Maguari

Maguari

Never could get the hang of Thursdays.
15+ year member
Premium Member
Just a few bits of 'news and views' from my visit yesterday - unsually for me it had been nearly 5 months since my last visit so I was a little behind (and yes, I missed the 'duiker period' entirely!).

- very pleasing to see so many young animals around the place - in particular young Mandrills and Buffy-headed Capuchins

- also nice to see the Asian Steppe area much more populated - the larger herds of camels and onagers now (four animals and I think eight respectively?) look superb. Surprised to see so many onagers, in fact

- they may not be ideal, but thank the Great Green Arkleseizure there are finally some labels in the Butterfly Journey!

- Giant Otter exhibit looking even better now it's bedded in a bit

- Eastern Pygmy Marmoset/Black-tailed Marmoset mix seems to be working very well - 2 of each outside and looking very content

- saw Cabot's Tragopan at first attempt but nothing else in the aviary

- unsurprisingly, no sign of an anteater

- a few new fish in the tropical marine tanks in the aquarium, I think? Not looking like a fish geriatrics unit on that middle run quite so much these days. And the building's had a more tasteful lick of paint (though I did miss the lionfish outside, and the bright blue returns as soon as you cross the threshold!)

- managed a decent view of the Gambian Pouched Rat for the first time

- nice to see the Rhinoceros Ratsnakes on show in the Tropical Realm, but the 'corner' exhibit is still not finished

- and while I can see the logic behind it, not sure I approve of a play area that close to the beer garden! Disturbs the peace of my Guinness...
 
Maguari said:
- also nice to see the Asian Steppe area much more populated - the larger herds of camels and onagers now (four animals and I think eight respectively?) look superb. Surprised to see so many onagers, in fact.

- managed a decent view of the Gambian Pouched Rat for the first time
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I believe there are only 7 Onagers, the original 1.3 plus 0.3 New females....

Also, the Gambian Pouched Rats seem to be much more active at the moment, although, it also seems that much of the furnishing in the enclosure has disappeared, along with the Acacia Rats! It seems that the Acacia Rat have been removed from the exhibit, though I am not sure. Did you see any sign of the Acacia Rats?
 
Paix said:
I believe there are only 7 Onagers, the original 1.3 plus 0.3 New females....
Click to expand...

Thanks Paix - they all took off to the back of the paddock while I was counting and I lost track!


Paix said:
Also, the Gambian Pouched Rats seem to be much more active at the moment, although, it also seems that much of the furnishing in the enclosure has disappeared, along with the Acacia Rats! It seems that the Acacia Rat have been removed from the exhibit, though I am not sure. Did you see any sign of the Acacia Rats?
Click to expand...

Not a whisker of an Acacia Rat, no.
 
Paix said:
I believe there are only 7 Onagers, the original 1.3 plus 0.3 New females....

Also, the Gambian Pouched Rats seem to be much more active at the moment, although, it also seems that much of the furnishing in the enclosure has disappeared, along with the Acacia Rats! It seems that the Acacia Rat have been removed from the exhibit, though I am not sure. Did you see any sign of the Acacia Rats?
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I saw an Acacia Rat the other week. They're quite tricky to spot though. I've only seen them a couple of times since I've been there every week.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Again: any idea from which Continental zoo the new females have come in? :confused: I have a bet on Augsburg .. or Montpellier. ;)
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Don't know whic zoos exactly, but 0.2 from the Netherlands and 0.1 from Denmark. The keeper I spoke to didn't have much time to talk, he was very busy.
 
vs0u2086 said:
I think I'm correct in saying that the giant anteater is still off-show, behind the okapi house.
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True, yet the outdoor enclosure can be seen across the canal/river, Its just a case of seeing him outside!
 
vs0u2086 said:
I think I'm correct in saying that the giant anteater is still off-show, behind the okapi house.
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It may as well be, but I think it is classed as on-show. It is listed on the map, and whenever I look out for it across the canal the house is open, so I think it has access to the paddock. It's never out though, would be interesting to know if anybody has caught a glimpse.

Virtual prize for the first person to see it AND post a photograph as proof?
 
Paix said:
True, yet the outdoor enclosure can be seen across the canal/river, Its just a case of seeing him outside!
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Speaking to the keepers and vets a couple of months ago, that was a very real problem - he really doesn't like going outside!
 
Javan Rhino said:
It may as well be, but I think it is classed as on-show. It is listed on the map, and whenever I look out for it across the canal the house is open, so I think it has access to the paddock. It's never out though, would be interesting to know if anybody has caught a glimpse.

Virtual prize for the first person to see it AND post a photograph as proof?
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Hmmm, that's interesting. I have been lucky enough to see him behind-the-scenes, and the keepers were desperately trying to encourage him to go outside more, but I don't think the outside yard that he had access to, could be seen by the public. I might be wrong on that.
 
vs0u2086 said:
Hmmm, that's interesting. I have been lucky enough to see him behind-the-scenes, and the keepers were desperately trying to encourage him to go outside more, but I don't think the outside yard that he had access to, could be seen by the public. I might be wrong on that.
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Looking up at the giraffe house across the canal, there is a paddock to the right of the pudu that I think is the anteaters. If it is that one, it can be seen by the public but it isn't easy (like the pudu's themselves)
 
Javan Rhino said:
Looking up at the giraffe house across the canal, there is a paddock to the right of the pudu that I think is the anteaters. If it is that one, it can be seen by the public but it isn't easy (like the pudu's themselves)
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That is indeed the paddock that the anteater would have access to (but I think you'd be very lucky to see it out and about).
 
Maguari said:
That is indeed the paddock that the anteater would have access to (but I think you'd be very lucky to see it out and about).
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Hence I think it deserves a virtual trophy when somebody does. I have yet to see it, but I always waste a few seconds having a quick look ;p.

We should have a ZooChat hall of fame to list people who earn virtual trophies, would be interesting :D
 
Javan Rhino said:
We should have a ZooChat hall of fame to list people who earn virtual trophies, would be interesting :D
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Good idea. I think I'll turn my 'major prize' offered for the first photo of a Whipsnade Indian rhino using the pools in their new house (I'm still waiting) into a virtual trophy too.;)
 
vs0u2086 said:
I have been lucky enough to see him behind-the-scenes, and the keepers were desperately trying to encourage him to go outside more,
Click to expand...

Didn't London have a similar problem with their Giant Anteaters being 'no-showers' and there was some publicity about them being taken out for walks in the grounds to try and solve the problem?
 
The London anteaters do not leave the enclosure but the keepers go in with them and feed them around 5pm, which is when you are pretty much guaranteed to see them.
 
I'm sure they started to take them for 'walks' at one stage- maybe this has been discontinued now?
 
Have been aways so sorry if this has already been mentioned but has Padang (Sumatran orangutan) left yet and if not does anyone have any idea when he's going?
 
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