Chester Zoo Chester visit 29.10.09
- Thread starter Nisha
- Start date
Dawn B
Well-Known Member
Thats as maybe but I doubt it is unknown really, I mean they would of had a PM wouldnt they?
It's odd, I'm also a regular visitor (four times in the last six weeks or so) but only ever give the elephants a quick glance on the way out. The closest I've been was to take a photo of the entrance for Google Earth. Next time I'll try to find someone and ask about Raman.
Incidentally, I haven't seen the otters in their new enclosure or in with the orangs either. It's a shame, they were a popular exhibit and their old enclosure has gone so they cannot be returned.
Incidentally, I haven't seen the otters in their new enclosure or in with the orangs either. It's a shame, they were a popular exhibit and their old enclosure has gone so they cannot be returned.
Dawn B
Well-Known Member
Good point, I agree.
Unless I've misunderstood the whole immunisation process, the injection will only make the animal resistant to contamination by 'teaching' the animals immunesystem to deal with the virus, but will do nothing if the animal is allready infected.
In essence, the immunisation shots will stop the virus from spreading further, and if this is the solution the zoo has chosen, I think it likely that there is no definate 'cure' available, and we will just have to cross our fingers and hope that the other elephants are not infected.
In essence, the immunisation shots will stop the virus from spreading further, and if this is the solution the zoo has chosen, I think it likely that there is no definate 'cure' available, and we will just have to cross our fingers and hope that the other elephants are not infected.
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zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Just a few quick notes on my visit Chester on the 31st,the Round Aviarys and all the Bird House corridor Aviarys have had the signs taken down and apart from a few Birds in the corridor Aviarys all are now empty,also the female Komodo Dragon is not on show,the waterfall has been filled in the enclosure,this could be in preparation for the zoo converting the enclosure to house 3 different species of Iguanas in it.Life on the Lily Pond has now been moved into Spirit of the Jaguar,at the moment the only species on show is the Surinam Toad.The male Kafue Flats Lechwe has been moved from the back of the Giraffe House to join the females.In the Tropical Realm they now have 2 exhibits with Lace Monitors,both of which hold a single animal also the Tropical realm no longer has a Komodo Dragon on show and the Phillipine Crocs have the plastic sheeting back over the top of it for winter to help maintain the temperature within the exhibit.
I thought those aviaries were being emptied. Even by my own standards, a magpie, a kingfisher, the go-away birds and a few pheasants is rather pittiful out of 10 or so aviaries. The Round Aviaries were also a bit emptier than usual. Glad I visited when I did then if these birds had been removed only a few days later.
Whats happening to them then. Aviaries being taken down I pressume, to be replaced by what?
I hope at least some of these birds stay in the zoo and are moved to somewhere else like the Tropical Realm. There were some extremly nice birds disaplyed here.
Whats happening to them then. Aviaries being taken down I pressume, to be replaced by what?
I hope at least some of these birds stay in the zoo and are moved to somewhere else like the Tropical Realm. There were some extremly nice birds disaplyed here.
Maisie
Well-Known Member
We popped into the zoo yesterday afternoon. The aviaries are now totally empty, the corridor aviaries have been closed off with barriers, and the bird keeper's kitchen is empty. Most of the birds have been moved to new off-show aviaries behind the jaguar house. The porcupine enclosure was also signed as being empty for refurbishment.
Just to clarify; we're talking about the corridor aviaries are along the memorial walk, between the old bird house and Fountain Shop, correct?
And these are the (old) circular aviaries that are also empty?
If they go it'll leave a big space, and what are they doing with the bird collection, I wonder? It has already been downsized.
I have to say im finding this all very dissapointing that the Bird collection just seems to be constantly shrinking (this is not just with these aviaries going, i've been thinking this for a while). Im hoping at least some of these birds are moved on-show again. Plenty of aviaries dotted around the zoo could do with a few more bird in them - that South East Asian/Chinese whatever the theme is aviary that use to house the Kestrels for starters.
Saying that however im looking forward to how the exhibit thats replacing them turns out.
Saying that however im looking forward to how the exhibit thats replacing them turns out.
As far as the lawns go, im in 2 minds here. Obviously its a great shame that relatively large pieces of lands are not being used on animals here but the zoo had just lost a picnic lawn with the Mini Golf Course monstrosity being constructed on one so therefore replacing the Coati enclosure with a picnic lawn can be justified.
I agree with you though that the bird corridor & round aviaries always provided a nice and interesting collection. Im partically dissapointed to see the Rpund Aviaries go since these means even less parrots will be on-show.
I agree with you though that the bird corridor & round aviaries always provided a nice and interesting collection. Im partically dissapointed to see the Rpund Aviaries go since these means even less parrots will be on-show.
taun
Well-Known Member
There was plans for this area, but I cannot remember what they were.
I suppose if we're thinking long term, then the demolition of the Tropical House (slated within the next four-five years) also has to factor into the discussion, since its residents are now primarily birds. And personally, I don't think Realm of the Red Ape is suitable for species such as the fairy bluebird, it's far too busy and noisy.
I'm not sure the loss of the coati enclosure can be justified, especially now that the zoo has acres of empty space in front of the Fountain Shop, but you're right, there does seem to be a lot of grass all of a sudden.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of logic behind some of these decisions, for example the old wolf enclosure was used to build the Butterfly Journey, then five minutes later and right next door, the coati enclosure was grassed over. Surely the butterfly exhibit could've been built there? Not to mention it's now almost impossible to see the coatis.
Me too. To extend Islands in Danger it would've made more sense to use some of the land currently planted with exotics (formerly the butterfly garden) where there are no existing enclosures and little interest, or even forwards onto the Fountain Lawns where there isn't anything now either.
As folks will be aware, I think the flowers are a huge loss, but that could at least be justified to some degree if the space was used for new exhibits.
Sometimes I think it would be nice if the zoo could outline some of these plans, either in the magazine or on-line, rather than making us guess!
On the news ticker on the official website, it now says that work has started on the removal of the old aviaries around the zoo. I assume it refers to the ones near Islands in Danger so we'll know soon enough if a lawn is going to replace them
As has previously been said, there is a lot of empty space within the zoo now (particularly in the central area of the zoo)...