Chester Zoo Chester late 2013/Early 2014 news

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Assuming they go on-show any time soon, of course! :p

Still a great bit of news though.
 
Brum said:
And on a related note, are the duiker on show and if so where are they kept?
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They are in with two young male Okapi in the building at the back of the giraffe house. It's viewed over the canal and recently housed Giant Anteaters.
 
HGibbins said:
They are in with two young male Okapi in the building at the back of the giraffe house. It's viewed over the canal and recently housed Giant Anteaters.
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Have the anteaters moved?
I haven't been for a few weeks but am hoping to go next week
 
HGibbins said:
They are in with two young male Okapi in the building at the back of the giraffe house. It's viewed over the canal and recently housed Giant Anteaters.
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Hopefully I'll get to see them then, pretty sure they will be my first ever duikers! :)
 
Brum said:
How soon are we talking here? I suppose Saturday would be pushing my luck!? :p
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I visited the zoo today and I was told that the Komodos are expected to be on show this weekend. Other happenings in Islands in Danger; the boardwalk between the aviaries is being replaced and the Boelen's pythons were off-show as their enclosure is being fumigated and renovated.
I also noticed that the adult okapis were together and Dickie was taking a close interest in Stuma.

Alan
 
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gentle lemur said:
I visited the zoo today and I was told that the Komodos are expected to be on show this weekend. Other happenings in Islands in Danger; the boardwalk between the aviaries is being replaced and the Boelen's pythons were off-show as their enclosure is being fumigated and renovated.
I also noticed that the adult okapis were together and Dickie was taking a close interest in Stuma.

Alan
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That's fantastic regarding the Komodo situation but slightly disapointing regarding the Boelen's, they were high on my priority list!
 
Brum said:
That's fantastic regarding the Komodo situation but slightly disapointing regarding the Boelen's, they were high on my priority list!
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I didn't look like a major overhaul for the Boelens enclosure. They may be back already :) BTW I always try to visit them first (asap after 10 am) as they seem to be most active at this time.

Alan
 
The new Komodos are on show from today.. They are 3 year old siblings called Jantan and Ora
 
gentle lemur said:
I didn't look like a major overhaul for the Boelens enclosure. They may be back already :) BTW I always try to visit them first (asap after 10 am) as they seem to be most active at this time.

Alan
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Thanks for the tip, I should be arriving in Chester shortly after 10 so will make Islands In Danger my first point of call! :) Komodos on show as well, tomorrow's looking like it could be a good day! :D
 
After visiting today I have a couple of questions; What's the deal with The Asian Plains enclosure? Rhino were off-show, no blackbuck(?) and why are the deer relegated to one corner of the enclosure?

Also no sign of the Boelen's python but the new Komodo male is a very impressive beast! :)
 
Brum said:
After visiting today I have a couple of questions; What's the deal with The Asian Plains enclosure? Rhino were off-show, no blackbuck(?) and why are the deer relegated to one corner of the enclosure?
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Rhino are kept off the paddock in winter to stop them from reducing it to a mudbath, and I presume that the churning up it gets in the summer makes it too dangerous for deer and blackbuck in the winter months when it gets a bit slippery/muddy. All the west zoo hoofstock except both pigs, Bongo and Sitatunga were off the paddocks today, same with Camels, Congo Buffalo and Onager (I think?).

Another observation today, the queuing system in June's Pavilion has changed. You now pay at each of the service areas rather than collecting food then paying. This, if anything, has made things less efficient, with a small number of staff having to handle money, sort out drinks and serve food rather than only having to do the latter, as they did previously.
 
HGibbins said:
Rhino are kept off the paddock in winter to stop them from reducing it to a mudbath, and I presume that the churning up it gets in the summer makes it too dangerous for deer and blackbuck in the winter months when it gets a bit slippery/muddy. All the west zoo hoofstock except both pigs, Bongo and Sitatunga were off the paddocks today, same with Camels, Congo Buffalo and Onager (I think?).
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The camels and onager were both out in the paddock this morning but had been relegated to the hardstanding later in the day, also the spotted deer had access to their paddock as well, if you can call class them as west side hoofstock.
Do they still have the blackbuck then? I saw no sign of them anywhere. I also failed to spot a duiker (not that surprising really! :p) but also didn't see any sign of the yellow mongoose either, have they now gone?
 
Yellow Mongoose left the collection 12 months ago - the male Anteater now has access to there former enclosure
 
The Asian Plains enclosure has always had drainage problems and with the wet winter, all the paddocks are pretty muddy. I think the Indian rhinos do have access to the section nearest the house, at certain times anyway - but I didn't see them on Wednesday. The blackbuck are in the yard behind the rhino house, between the rhinos and the Philippine spotted deer - they can sometimes be seen from the Bat Bridge.
I haven't seen a yellow mongoose since they moved the male anteater into the old round enclosure by the staff entrance, but I don't know if they have left the collection or if they are held off-show.

Alan
 
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