Chester Zoo Chester Zoo 2017

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s534nlr said:
I'd like to see the Zoo become fully non-smoking. And my real reason for this isn't for actual cigarettes. The vapers seem to think they can have a puff whenever and wherever they see fit. Over the 2 days the only time I saw people smoking cigarettes was in the actually designated ares. But vaping seems to be a different story all together. People seem to think they can have a cheeky puff because no one will see the cloud that escapes them. I'm also pretty sure someone was smoking in the Bat House yesterday. It's a smell you can't confuse with anything else. Do people think because it's dark that they can get away with it.
I'm an ex smoker myself, but i'm often around people that smoke and it doesn't bother me. It's just people who think they can do what they like. And yes the Zoo might be an open space, but it's always highly populated.
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e-cigarettes are not covered by anti-smoking legislation in England and the Guidelines from Public Health England are lukewarm and vague. A proposal to ban their use in many public places was defeated in the Welsh Assembly last year. I don't think that the zoo can do much about it.
s534nlr said:
Their didn't seem to be many or any staff/volunteers around the SoJ over the weekend. The amount of people banging on the glass when Napo was on his rock was unbelievable. I've been to other zoos where they've always got people around at exhibits with glass to prevent this.
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This is a longstanding problem in zoos. I agree that Chester probably needs more personnel in areas like this because so many people are arriving at weekends, even at this time of year. But I feel that any visitor ought to take that an initiative if they see it happening - I find that a quiet, polite request such as 'Please, don't do that' usually works nicely (older members may remember Joyce Grenfell's patient rebuke to young George) - as a retired teacher I have just the right tone and manner to do this, but I realise that some people might be reluctant to get involved in this way.
 
s534nlr said:
I'd like to see the Zoo become fully non-smoking. And my real reason for this isn't for actual cigarettes. The vapers seem to think they can have a puff whenever and wherever they see fit. Over the 2 days the only time I saw people smoking cigarettes was in the actually designated ares. But vaping seems to be a different story all together. People seem to think they can have a cheeky puff because no one will see the cloud that escapes them. I'm also pretty sure someone was smoking in the Bat House yesterday. It's a smell you can't confuse with anything else. Do people think because it's dark that they can get away with it.
I'm an ex smoker myself, but i'm often around people that smoke and it doesn't bother me. It's just people who think they can do what they like. And yes the Zoo might be an open space, but it's always highly populated.
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gentle lemur said:
e-cigarettes are not covered by anti-smoking legislation in England and the Guidelines from Public Health England are lukewarm and vague. A proposal to ban their use in many public places was defeated in the Welsh Assembly last year. I don't think that the zoo can do much about it.
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With the exception of the designated areas, the zoo is non-smoking, including electronic cigarettes. The zoo's terms and conditions state that:
All smoking (including but not limited to cigarettes, pipes (including water pipes such as shisha and hookah pipes), cigars, herbal cigarettes and e-cigs/e-cigarettes) is strictly prohibited within the Zoo premises, with the exception of those designated smoking areas which can be found on the zoo map.
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However, at a practical level, this is somewhat hard to police - staff cannot be everywhere at once (although in the case of nocturnal exhibits, there is usually a volunteer present).
 
Chester should follow what a few shopping centre's are now doing and stating e-cigs are banned from ALL public area's please be aware this is part of the public agreement when you use the facilities.
They could also include them in the smoking area's only, yes I am a previous smoker so wouldn't want a complete ban on smoking as this could defer from some family members having a great day out.
 
s534nlr said:
My favourite big cats though are the Jaguars. I tend to spend most of my time down there. And lucky enough got to see both of them feeding during the talk yesterday. Goshi was on the prawl a fair bit over both days. Pretty sure she was enjoying soaking up the sun. I just wish they'd breed. I'd love to see her become a mother. I've just never seen them spend too much tome together. He loves his rock but hates it when she tries to wake him up. I often wonder if he's got in in him. Once the Sun Bears move, I wonder if they'll bring in a new male for her.
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My understanding they have breed in the past with the cubs never surviving (or have I mixs up with Sofia?). But as Nisha says breeding has been put on hold by the studbook for the time being.
 
taun said:
My understanding they have breed in the past with the cubs never surviving (or have I mixs up with Sofia?). But as Nisha says breeding has been put on hold by the studbook for the time being.
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Yes, Salvador and Sofia had cubs which did not survive, but the new pair have not bred before (not as far as any of the Annual Reports suggest, anyway).
 
Also this afternoon, one of the cheetahs proved his hunting skills by accounting for a local woodpigeon. I shall attempt to post a photo in the gallery (not of the kill, but of the chomp).
 
Aaarg! I must have missed that post! Ah well, I am still a zoochat noob so I can probably get away with it...
On the other hand it is such a shame to lose such a great species. It was my favourite fish at the zoo and the highlight of the aquarium if you ask me. But didn't they appear on Secret Life of the Zoo?
 
Black Rhinos - mentioned on Paignton's Twitter and maybe already on here somewhere (I've only had a quick look) - Zuri, born at Paignton, is pregnant again. Maybe she could give some tips to her mother, Sita ;)
 
HGibbins said:
Yes, Salvador and Sofia had cubs which did not survive, but the new pair have not bred before (not as far as any of the Annual Reports suggest, anyway).
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1.1 in 2005 and 2 in 2007 did not survive.

When the studbook decides to let Chester breed jaguars again, they will not have to wai
 
the epauletted sharks left because they are such a poor exhibit. They spent most of their time hidden behind the rockwork.
 
Don't know if it's been mentioned but there are Madagascar spiny-tailed lizards in with the ploughshare tortoises now....explains why climbing opportunities were available in the enclosure when myself, pocket, Nisha, gentle lemur, bongorob and MagpieGoose visited a while back!!
 
bongorob said:
the epauletted sharks left because they are such a poor exhibit. They spent most of their time hidden behind the rockwork.
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Ah well, that is a good enough reason for it even though I saw them the last time that I went. I just hope that they do the same thing with them blue-legged mantella frogs! Have the Amazon tree boas left the collection too?
 
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