Plus Cricket St Thomas when it existed- the small river ran through their paddock.
Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion and questions 2023
- Thread starter bongorob
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No, I remember there was talk of a pool being created for them but it didn't happen. Rather ironically and if I remember correctly, the artwork on their information board showed them running through a wetland marsh( in the wild).
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
Although that was the old exhibit on the back section of the Rhino, by the Viewpoint, which was a little small. They are now in the forest section with the Bongo opposite the White Rhino house, which is considerably bigger, but alas no pool.
Indeed. Given that bongo and sitatunga will hybridise, I've always thought that a strange mixed exhibit....
Is it because there are now so few Bongo left (at one time there were about nine) they added the Sitatunga? Hybridisation indeed possible.
Was it the small area by the road that had a concrete pool in it? A long while ago I saw a small Alligator or Crocodile in there!
And plus the newer Watatunga reserve in Norfolk which has both Sitatunga and a big lake...
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
From what I have been told, the Sitatunga, or Bongo, will not return to the zoo on the completion of Heart Of Africa, as they are not covered in that project, but in another project which is to be done once Heart Of Africa is completed, which makes use of the current Giraffe and Chimpanzee area of the zoo, aimed more at species from the Congo including Forest Buffalo, Okapi, Bongo, Red River Hog, Chimpanzees & Sitatunga.
ZooAtHome
Well-Known Member
Fair enough! I believe that redevelopment is not the next plan though. I was informed that after the Heart Of Africa was completed then the next will be a new reptile/tropical house to replace the one currently near the Chimps, the one with the free flying birds that is falling apart. Which makes sense as then they can move the animals out and the old one can be knocked down to make room for the new Congo area you mention.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
Interesting, as the Tropical Realm is on the footprint of where they want the Congolese area.
Chester in recent years have moved away from “reptile houses” etc, and have housed reptiles and birds in exhibits around their geographic locations. Ie the reptiles already designed for HOF, the ones on Islands.
I would expect reptiles to be in the Congolese section, but I would be very surprised if Chester created a reptile house so to speak.
Also there is a lot of room over at holding which could house birds and reptiles which already does, whilst there isn’t much set up which is suitable for larger primates, although a lot of hoofstock is over there already.
I was told that there will be a 'Congo' development around the giraffe/chimp area but the next development will be the new bull elephant enclosure which will take up some of the car park.
ZooAtHome
Well-Known Member
I was told it by a Chester Zoo reptile keeper, though maybe he did not mean a 'reptile house' as such but he did say the Tropical Realm as it stands was to be knocked down and the animals re-located to a new location; though he did not clarify exactly what this would be, it did sound like a single location though rather than distributing them around different areas.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
That much is true. Tropical Realm is being knocked down, to make way for the Congolese exhibit. I would be surprised if they built a reptile house though, as a number of the off show reptiles held out of public sight in the Tropical Realm, are ones which are destined for the exhibits on Heart Of Africa.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
Along with the Aye-Aye, there is space by the Madagascar exhibit for future developments. I would not be surprised to see things added here and there in the already established themed zones.
I believe that the Tuatara that was on show, has now left the collection and there was 3 off-show when I got to see that area last year, but don't know how many of those still remain.
Also the bird teams kitchen and offices are behind the Tropical Realm, as is the reptile teams offices, which are portacabins, so whatever happens to the TR, some things will need to be created, but I can't think where a reptile house could be built for instance, but I could see where little exhibits around the Latin America, Madagascar and HOF plans, that exhibits could fit which hold reptiles.
I'm sure there will be lots of small developments over the next 5 years or so, such as the Snow Leopard exhibit being built at the same time as Heart Of Africa, but I was informed that as soon as HOF was complete, that work would begin on the current Giraffe area for the Chimps, as there was nothing suitable for them over at holding, whilst all the other animals affected by the demolition of the Tropical Realm and the creation of the Congolese exhibit, could be housed over on holding.
Bongo and sitatunga were in the original Heart of Africa plan, which was to be built where the lions are now. Part of a rainforest zone. I'll be saddened to see the Tropical House go, but it has had its day. I doubt that it was designed to last 60 years.
I was under the impression the new elephant enclosure would be for all of them, not just the bull?
Total speculation based on nothing at all so not be taken as fact in any way - but I could easy see a quick adaptation of the current giraffe paddock for one or both out of the bongo and sitatunga while the 'proper' Congo area is still pending.