Chester Zoo Chester Zoo 2017

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I haven't been to Chester for over a year, but last time I was there, there were at least 2 large Hornbill enclosures at one end of tropical Realm, viewable on 2 levels. They may be the old Gorilla indoor, but my first visit was 1991 so not sure!
Yep, there the ones :)
 
I suspect the fact that they are viewable on multiple levels may be a reason they are unsuitable - I have never seen tree kangaroo displayed elsewhere, so I do not know whether this is the case or not, but I have a feeling that an exhibit where they can be viewed from above *and* in front might be deemed too stressful.
 
I suspect the fact that they are viewable on multiple levels may be a reason they are unsuitable - I have never seen tree kangaroo displayed elsewhere, so I do not know whether this is the case or not, but I have a feeling that an exhibit where they can be viewed from above *and* in front might be deemed too stressful.
That's a fair argument, but one level could be covered over at minimal cost, hence solving the problem surely?
 
I'm sure they could find somewhere to house a pair of hornbills offshow and I'm sure 90% of visitors would be more interested in a tree Kangaroo than ' another Hornbill ' as I heard several visitors say at my local zoo last week! I know it won't happen, as all those in the know have said, but it could if they wanted it to!

You can count me into that 90%
 
I would be unhappy at the removal of any bird species to make way for the tree kangaroo but how about when the Sun Bears move to the islands project why not put the tree kangaroo in that exhibit as it is enclosed and with a little work could be a great exhibit for the kangaroo.
On the removal of Hornbills why hasn't the so called best zoo in the UK got more of the rarer species of Hornbill.
Does anyone know what species of bird will be going in the new aviary in Islands will it be new species or will it be more of the same old species.
 
On the removal of Hornbills why hasn't the so called best zoo in the UK got more of the rarer species of Hornbill.

The removal of any hornbills is hypothetical in the extreme, so no need to go on the counter-offensive!

But to address the point - rare in the wild or rare in zoos? If the latter, according to ZTL there are only four places in Europe you can see Writhed Hornbill, and one of them is Chester. That's a pretty decent zoo rarity. If the former, the Visayan Tarictics at least are definitely Endangered as per IUCN - not sure of the others without checking.

(Is the 'so called' really necessary? It's not as if even the best zoo can keep every species.)


Does anyone know what species of bird will be going in the new aviary in Islands will it be new species or will it be more of the same old species.

From a page or two back:

A number of bird species have moved to the new aviary in Islands. These include Javan green magpie

So at least one new species on display. :)
 
There are widely-travelled folk on here who will be more familiar with them, but I'm sure my (limited and long-ago) experience of Tree Kangaroo is that they don't make brilliant display animals?

And wouldn't they be a little lost in some of the enclosures being suggested?
 
The removal of any hornbills is hypothetical in the extreme, so no need to go on the counter-offensive!
Quite right, I said in my original post that I new it wouldn't happen, it was simply a suggestion of an enclosure that 'might ' be suitable! It also wasn't being suggested as a permanent arrangement, simply a way of getting a species on show whilst a new enclosure is built for them.

I would point out that I have nothing against hornbills either!
 
Does anyone know what species of bird will be going in the new aviary in Islands will it be new species or will it be more of the same old species.
Currently in the new walk-through aviary in Islands are:
  • Asian glossy starling (multiple pairs bred in and moved from the Tropical Realm)
  • Fairy bluebird (male only)
  • Chestnut-bellied partridge
  • Javan peacock pheasant
  • Pink-headed fruit dove
  • Javan green magpie (annex aviary, not walk-through)
The Malayan tapirs also moved to Islands this past week.
 
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Currently in the new walk-through aviary in Islands are:
  • Asian glossy starling (multiple pairs bred and moved from the Tropical Realm)
  • Fairy bluebird (male only)
  • Chestnut-bellied partridge
  • Javan peacock pheasant
  • Pink-headed fruit dove
  • Javan green magpie (annex aviary, not walk-through)
The Malayan tapirs also moved to Islands this past week.
So largely new species, that's great news!
 
By Javan Peacock-Pheasant, do you mean the off-show Bronze-tailed peacock pheasants?
So largely new species, that's great news!
3 new species, and 3 already on display elsewhere. Still, 3 very nice new species, all of which will be the only ones on display in the UK!
 
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By Javan Peacock-Pheasant, do you mean the off-show Bronze-tailed peacock pheasants?

3 new species, and 3 already on display elsewhere. Still, 3 very nice new species, all of which will be the only ones on display in the UK!
I meant new to islands as I feared a simple re do of the birds in monsoon, the only redo I'm sure is the fairy blue bird
 
Is the Javan Peacock Pheasant the name the zoo is using for Polyplectron chalcurum? If so I am confused, the species is endemic to Sumatra.
 
As the zoo does not have Green Peafowl, but does have Bronze-tailed Peacock Pheasant off display, which have been mentioned on here previously as going into that aviary, I suspect some sort of mistake is more likely. But yes, no Polyplectron species are found on Java.
 
I was just watching the new Play! TV advert and for a second it showed a Javan Green Magpie.This may sound stupid,but has this been done because the species are now on show or have they done it because they are brightly coloured and are attention grabbers?
 
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I was just watching the new Play! TV advert and for a second it showed a Javan Green Magpie.This may sound stupid,but has this been done because the species may be going on show at some point or have they done it because they are brightly coloured and are attention grabbers?

Re-read the last two pages of this thread. ;)
 
I do not believe they are on show yet, not until the islands extension opens. I too was a bit confused when I saw it in the advert, especially given Play! is the other side of the zoo to Islands.
 
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