Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion and questions 2023

bongorob said:
You are very unlucky. I often see them. The last few times they have been in the house, swimming in the pool with underwater viewing. I can't give you a time though.

I wish you good luck on your next visit.
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I thought there was only one giant otter at the moment.
 
Update: I visited the zoo yesterday and am very pleased to say that I have finally seen a giant otter! As @derek pointed out, I think there is only one individual at the moment, but they were super active and kept moving between the indoor and outdoor enclosures.

It was also a great all-round visit, the baby sifaka looks very healthy and was even climbing away from its mother at times. I got plenty of good photos (as well as of the baby Komodo dragon) which I’ll upload to the media page later.
 
It’s also worth mentioning that progress on Heart of Africa is coming along nicely, the frames of many buildings have gone up and some of the cladding on the giraffe house is even on. As for Himalaya, the snow leopard enclosures have had faux rock and even some trees put in, the buildings at the front are still going up but it’s coming along very well.
 
pendraig_milnerae said:
It’s also worth mentioning that progress on Heart of Africa is coming along nicely, the frames of many buildings have gone up and some of the cladding on the giraffe house is even on. As for Himalaya, the snow leopard enclosures have had faux rock and even some trees put in, the buildings at the front are still going up but it’s coming along very well.
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Not sure they are faux rocks. According to the members online magazine they are rocks from a North Wales quarry which were given free as part of a sponsorship deal.
 
derek said:
Not sure they are faux rocks. According to the members online magazine they are rocks from a North Wales quarry which were given free as part of a sponsorship deal.
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That’s even cooler! I just assumed they were fake given how well Chester do fake rock work (plus it was a long way away). In that case I’m hoping there’s some near the viewing areas when it opens so I can get a good look at them. Does the article mention the name of the quarry?
 
pendraig_milnerae said:
That’s even cooler! I just assumed they were fake given how well Chester do fake rock work (plus it was a long way away). In that case I’m hoping there’s some near the viewing areas when it opens so I can get a good look at them. Does the article mention the name of the quarry?
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Not sure of the precise quarry but the magazine quoted "Wienerberger UK who have kindly donated over 600 tonnes of scree and rocks to build this unique habitat."
 
We went yesterday, and I have officially given up trying to spot the 'baby' Okapi.
Been 5 times since end of July :(

Nice day overall, bit of rain once in a while, not busy at all.
Next stop, baby Sifaka, but there were people working in the inside enclosure, so didn't think we'd have any chance.
All 4 Fossa where sleeping but very viewable.
Did the Lemur walk through, but none were out as was raining lightly. Had a great chat with the keeper.
By the time we left, we checked the Sifaka again, and the people in there were just packing up and leaving and seconds later the entire family came out! The little one is so cute! Already leaving mom for short moments.

We then saw 1 Giant Otter. I'm sure in July we saw 2?

Inka the black panther was outside and got a few glimpses of her.

We then went to the other side to check on the Philippine Spotted Deer and Tigers, but didn't see them.

The path to the Rhinos and Meerkats is closed off, and we were told for a long time this will be. As we wanted to try and see the baby Rhino.
You can try and see them from behind the cafe before you enter the gates.
But when doing it during the day you need to let someone know you're coming back in, as your pass can't be scanned twice in 1 day, is what we were told.
We didn't see the baby.

I went back to the Lemur walkthrough and this time lots were out.
There's now 2 Red Bellied Lemurs, they've added a female.
The Sifaka were visible again and so were the Fossa still.

Feel like we didn't see/do that much, but still felt like really running around to see what we wanted before closing time (3.30pm).
 
I also went yesterday it’s so nice to see the baby Sifaca doing well and is active too
Lemurs were out and active when it brightened up , it’s a fantastic enclosure and they are very photogenic
We have tried a few time to see the Spotted deer in their new enclosure but they have always been hiding understandable though as they have recently been moved
The baby Rhino is difficult to see where they are at the moment because of all the new building going on but that’s to be expected it’s just nice to know that Chester zoo is still doing well with breeding Black Rhino
The baby Okapi is very difficult to see we have only seen it once on several attempts but it is doing well apparently
 
Jacob Blackwood said:
Has there been any information about the Heart Of Africa recently?:)Just asking
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There don’t seem to have been any announcements from the zoo recently, however on my visit last week I managed a good look at the construction site. The frames for several buildings have gone up and some cladding is being added, with a whole complex next to what I assume can only be the (absolutely immense) giraffe house, and quite a large building next to the old wetland bird aviary.
 
pendraig_milnerae said:
and quite a large building next to the old wetland bird aviary.
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I saw this last week - assuming the plans haven't changed, this will be the stabling for the antelope, zebras, and ostrich. :)
 
bongorob said:
Chester Zoo website has a page about new developments.

Always Building - New developments and temporary closures at Chester Zoo | Chester Zoo

Unfortunately it is not kept up to date.

Greater Flamingo and Hooded Vulture have been imported this year for the Heart of Africa exhibit.
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Exciting about the arrivals of those two species, as the flamingos I knew about but the hooded vultures I did not, so it’ll be excellent to see them added. Is there any notion of where in Heart of Africa they’ll be housed? I wouldn’t initially assume the Tsavo Bird Safari or the wetland aviary but I have no idea how compatible they are with other species. That being said, the zoo already keeps black vultures with waldrapp and various ducks so it seems plausible.

Between all the species arriving at the zoo this year and those that have already been announced to be in Heart of Africa, it’s really exciting to build up an increasingly detailed picture of what it’ll eventually be like.
 
bongorob said:
The vulture aviary will be to the west of the Tsavo aviary.

It is supposed to house 4 species of African vulture. My guess for the missing one is Rüppells Griffon.
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Very cool indeed. In all honesty I should probably have a look at the plans for Heart of Africa. Be that as it may, may I inquire as to the other vultures that are confirmed so far?
 
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