She died not very long ago. It was announced by the Zoo and on here.
Chester Zoo Chester Zoo 2015 #2
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She died not very long ago. It was announced by the Zoo and on here.
Pootle
Well-Known Member
This has just reminded me of something I was in two minds about posting, but I can take a laugh and have thick skin so here goes....
When me and my partner (a witness to it
) walked into the area with JRH friend perched on branch, it hopped onto another branch and opened its mouth and 'hello' came out, now there was another younger couple (mid 20's) in front of us and the lad also heard it as he went right up to the mesh, and said hello back!!, I turned to the missus and said did that just...and she said it said hello before I could finish my sentence. hung around for a minute until no one was there, said hello to it myself a couple of times and it just looked at me in silence!anyone else heard this individual Javan Rhino Hornbill or any other hornbill (any of the species) speak!?!
I have never heard of hornbills mimicking human speech before. Given the sounds they normally make I wouldn't have thought they could do so.This has just reminded me of something I was in two minds about posting, but I can take a laugh and have thick skin so here goes....
When me and my partner (a witness to it
anyone else heard this individual Javan Rhino Hornbill or any other hornbill (any of the species) speak!?!
What did the hello actually sound like? I.e. like a human, like a parrot, like just a vague approximation of the word...?
Pootle
Well-Known Member
I think the best way to describe it would be a 'dull' voiced male voice saying 'hello', quite quiet, but loud and clear enough to know what I (we) heard.
When I got back home I did a web search about hornbills mimicking speak and nothing.....
I can imagine it must hear hello from all sorts of people every day of its life in a zoo when on show, so I guess if it is going to say a word that would be the one!
When I got back home I did a web search about hornbills mimicking speak and nothing.....
I can imagine it must hear hello from all sorts of people every day of its life in a zoo when on show, so I guess if it is going to say a word that would be the one!
have a listen to some of these, especially the second one (by Frank Lambert): Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) :: xeno-canto
You know years ago in the Bronx zoo I experianced a similar experiance! In the World of Birds they have many bird species so I am not sure which one it was but I am fairly certain it was a hornbill. After watching the bird for a bit and about to leave, the bird clearly said,"Hello". After a bit of prompting to the bird(Hello!), I never heard it again and hadn't heard of any experiance like it.
Pootle
Well-Known Member
The recording by Frank Lambert does sound similar in tone and a call has two syllables (like hello) but it also sounds speeded up to what we heard and really not as human sounding.....
Having listened to a few other of these recordings, there is the distinct two syllable 'hae -huh' noise on a few of them.
With an imagination someone could suggest it (if slowed down a little) it could sound like a very vague 'he-llo'.
The tone of the voice is quite similar though..
Having listened to a few other of these recordings, there is the distinct two syllable 'hae -huh' noise on a few of them.
With an imagination someone could suggest it (if slowed down a little) it could sound like a very vague 'he-llo'.
The tone of the voice is quite similar though..
Pootle
Well-Known Member
Good to hear this! I found nothing on a web search about them mimicking words, see if you have any more success than me maybe? I know next time I am there I will be tracking down a keeper or two and asking them!
BlackRhino78
Well-Known Member
Expanding Chester
Having recently been to Chester and living very local I am intrigued as to what the next stages of developments are going to take place at this already fantastic Zoo. What are the mammals that are still to be moved into Islands? Does anyone have any plans released from the Zoo as to what developments will take place, I've heard rumours of turning the Zoo into a more geographical place ie Africa area etc but wouldn't this be logistically very hard to move and relocate enclosures? Is it just me or does anyone else think the Lion enclosure needs to be updated as Lions are the main animals in the Zoo so surely they should have a more impressive enclosure. I believe a big missing link in the zoo is not having any hippos the Zoo is to move some Hippos maybe loan some from WMSP for a period?
Having recently been to Chester and living very local I am intrigued as to what the next stages of developments are going to take place at this already fantastic Zoo. What are the mammals that are still to be moved into Islands? Does anyone have any plans released from the Zoo as to what developments will take place, I've heard rumours of turning the Zoo into a more geographical place ie Africa area etc but wouldn't this be logistically very hard to move and relocate enclosures? Is it just me or does anyone else think the Lion enclosure needs to be updated as Lions are the main animals in the Zoo so surely they should have a more impressive enclosure. I believe a big missing link in the zoo is not having any hippos the Zoo is to move some Hippos maybe loan some from WMSP for a period?
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I don't think there is anything wrong with the Lion enclosure. It's a bit old but perfectly functional for animals and visitors.
Hippos would be a very expensive addition, as they are large and dangerous, need lots of water and are downright dirty, flinging their dung everywhere, filling their pools.
They also are doing okay in the wild. Not without their problems for sure, but they are doing a lot better than rhinoceros and elephants.
Still it would be nice to see more collections keeping them, especially if someone invests in underwater viewing. I've got a feeling YWP might go for that one day. If Chester keep hippos again it will probably be pygmy hippos, which would fit with the Heart of Africa idea and are easier to keep (smaller, safer, less aquatic).
Hippos would be a very expensive addition, as they are large and dangerous, need lots of water and are downright dirty, flinging their dung everywhere, filling their pools.
They also are doing okay in the wild. Not without their problems for sure, but they are doing a lot better than rhinoceros and elephants.
Still it would be nice to see more collections keeping them, especially if someone invests in underwater viewing. I've got a feeling YWP might go for that one day. If Chester keep hippos again it will probably be pygmy hippos, which would fit with the Heart of Africa idea and are easier to keep (smaller, safer, less aquatic).
Conservation-work on the Northern bald ibis at Chester :
Chester Zoo birds to be reintroduced to the wild - Chester Chronicle
Chester Zoo birds to be reintroduced to the wild - Chester Chronicle
BlackRhino78
Well-Known Member
I second that
apart from the species already mentioned on the forum, no one knows.
The birds move into Monsoon house on 12th October, and it will be closed for a week.
The Orang Utans will move as soon as the exhibit in finished.
The amphibians and reptiles will move in around December.
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They'll arrive once the Orangutan exhibit in Monsoon Forest is ready for them. The species in question was revealed at the AGM
Had a nice visit today, got my first look at Islands. We left it late in the year but it was still very much a work in progress, but looks like it will be nice when it is done.
Two issues though, there was no real sense of going from island to island, and the gharial area was abysmal. Why on earth is there only one way in and out of the viewing area?
Two issues though, there was no real sense of going from island to island, and the gharial area was abysmal. Why on earth is there only one way in and out of the viewing area?
giant_anteater
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Any chance you could share with us?
The idea is that you go from one island to another when you go across a bridge (and all the bridges are different). The fancy props are also intended to give you a clue to the island involved, the mist and masks for Papua, the gamelin music for Bali and so on - perhaps it works better on paper than it does on site. The croc's area is fine, but I agree that the viewing area is the blackspot.
Alan
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