Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion and questions 2023

I'll hopefully be visiting after my exams finish so I can update but from recent pictures on the gallery it appears he's still there

And are the narrow striped mongoose still offshow behind the bats because I remember a few years ago you could occasionally see them through a wooden gate by the exit of the bats and also are there any plans to bring thr vontsira or the narrow striped mongoose anytime soon
 
I could be mistaken, but I seem to remember that there were plans to put the Small Indian Mongoose on display in near the lions and goats? Am I entirely misremembering this, have these plans been moved on from or is this still the eventual goal?

It feels weird (and unfortunate) to have the only individuals of a species in Europe offshow, especially considering that they are Least Concern, and as such, keeping them behind-the-scenes for breeding purposes (as they do with the Scottish Wildcats) isn't likely.

EDIT: Found an article on the zoo's website posted shortly before the lion enclosure opened, which claimed a 'family of mongooses' will be going on show shortly. It didn't specify the species, but given that there are currently no mongooses in that area of the zoo, and that, according to ZTL, the Small Indian Mongoose arrived the same year that the Lion complex opened, it does seem plausible that they are the species referenced.

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hari Jones said:
I'll hopefully be visiting after my exams finish so I can update but from recent pictures on the gallery it appears he's still there

And are the narrow striped mongoose still offshow behind the bats because I remember a few years ago you could occasionally see them through a wooden gate by the exit of the bats and also are there any plans to bring thr vontsira or the narrow striped mongoose anytime soon
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Yes they are behind the bats, no there are no plans to bring either species on show.
 
Embu said:
Any confirmation on a timeframe for elephant Aung Bo's departure or is it still work in progress?
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I think it's probably a work in progress at the moment, they want to confirm Sundara is pregnant, and then work out where Aung Bo will go and prepare for his move (by the mention of an elephant sized crate in either this thread or the Chester news thread I would assume this is already starting).
 
2.2 Small Indian Mongoose arrived in 2019 from the wild. The plan was to allow them access to the indoor lion exhibit. They were housed in an offshow enclosure adjoining the souther side of the indoor lions.

This plan never took place. The tube from the mongooses into the lions could easily be blocked by a lion's paw. So the mongooses remained offshow.

The whole thing was a bit of a disaster. Chester could not exibit them as they are too shy, they can't breed from them because of the invasive species act. They can't move them on to another collection.

They were imported direct from the West Indies, and although I don't remember where I saw it, I think Chester's specimens are descended from an export from the Mumbai (Bombay) area, which would make them Urva javanicus palustris.

Whatever they are, they are in the offshow zoo.


 
bongorob said:
2.2 Small Indian Mongoose arrived in 2019 from the wild. The plan was to allow them access to the indoor lion exhibit. They were housed in an offshow enclosure adjoining the souther side of the indoor lions.

This plan never took place. The tube from the mongooses into the lions could easily be blocked by a lion's paw. So the mongooses remained offshow.

The whole thing was a bit of a disaster. Chester could not exibit them as they are too shy, they can't breed from them because of the invasive species act. They can't move them on to another collection.

They were imported direct from the West Indies, and although I don't remember where I saw it, I think Chester's specimens are descended from an export from the Mumbai (Bombay) area, which would make them Urva javanicus palustris.

Whatever they are, they are in the offshow zoo.
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So the mongoose where going to live in the same space as the lions?
 
Does anyone know whether or not the young male black rhinos ,gabe , ike and jumanne will be leaving the collection soon to make room for a new bull so they can get breeding again
 
Just wondering what people’s thoughts are on CZ keeping both Bornean (RORA) AND Sumatran (Monsoon Forest) orangutans from a visitor point of view or otherwise.

I think I’d prefer to keep the Sumatran group and phase out the Borneans with the intention of trying to repurpose RORA for the chimps (perhaps whilst a new permanent exhibit is being built), bonobos or, potentially, gorillas. It would need a lot of work to adjust the viewing angles, tunnel systems etc but it’s just a thought.
 
I'd prefer Chester to have 2 species of orang-utan, rather than having more than 1 enclosure with the same species of animal
 
Cockchafer96 said:
Just wondering what people’s thoughts are on CZ keeping both Bornean (RORA) AND Sumatran (Monsoon Forest) orangutans from a visitor point of view or otherwise.
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I think that would be a grave mistake. In the first place, visitors can currently compare the different types of orangs, which are in some ways as different as chimps and bonobos. Secondly both species are endangered and are doing well at Chester, in good housing with an experienced team of keepers, so why bother? Thirdly older Bornean orangs react badly to change, so the consequences for old Martha and Tuan could be grim and perhaps Sarikei and Leia would suffer too. Fourthly, would there be any benefit for the chimps or would it risk the cohesion of the group? And finally, the lar gibbons would have to move too.
 
I have always liked the idea of Chester zoo moving the Chimps over to ROTRA with a few amendments I think it would be an amazing enclosure for them. But I do like the fact Chester zoo has both species of orangutan.
 
Too add what other people have said, there is also no need at all to house the chimps in ROTRA whilst a new house is built, as the zoo has plenty of land for a new chimp house, around that area, once, current developments are completed. Plus the house was custom built for the orangutans.

The land the zoo has, they could add bonobos. Gorillas and a top chimp house/island and keep the ROTRA.
 
Cockchafer96 said:
Just wondering what people’s thoughts are on CZ keeping both Bornean (RORA) AND Sumatran (Monsoon Forest) orangutans from a visitor point of view or otherwise.

I think I’d prefer to keep the Sumatran group and phase out the Borneans with the intention of trying to repurpose RORA for the chimps (perhaps whilst a new permanent exhibit is being built), bonobos or, potentially, gorillas. It would need a lot of work to adjust the viewing angles, tunnel systems etc but it’s just a thought.
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jde7582 said:
Too add what other people have said, there is also no need at all to house the chimps in ROTRA whilst a new house is built, as the zoo has plenty of land for a new chimp house, around that area, once, current developments are completed. Plus the house was custom built for the orangutans.

The land the zoo has, they could add bonobos. Gorillas and a top chimp house/island and keep the ROTRA.
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I don't see anything wrong with the current chimp exhibit. It's sizeable enough and can accomodate the growing troop going forward.

Potentially any developments there would be upgrading the back of house area, and definitely redeveloping the day room (probably making it bigger and also making it more modern).

The ROTRA enclosures would definitely be suitable to hold the chimps if any major modifications would be made; but that obviously would involve moving some of the Borneans elsewhere.
 
Both species of Orangutans share with a different species of gibbon too. So if you phased out Bornean Orangutans you'd also have to phase out Lar Gibbons. Also, the final enclosure in the Realm is often used as a holding enclosure for Red Pandas. Red Pandas and Chimpanzees would be a match made in hell as chimps are a lot more rowdy than Orangs which are relatively quiet. This may stress the Red Pandas which tend to be the younger ones.
 
Jambo said:
I don't see anything wrong with the current chimp exhibit. It's sizeable enough and can accomodate the growing troop going forward.
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The indoor area is rather small and could certainly be better (someone can correct me but I think this was a large reason there is plans for a new chimp enclosure). The outdoor enclosure has aged pretty well though, considering its been used for chimps for quite a while I'd say it still serves its purpose very well.
 
Fallax said:
The indoor area is rather small and could certainly be better (someone can correct me but I think this was a large reason there is plans for a new chimp enclosure). The outdoor enclosure has aged pretty well though, considering its been used for chimps for quite a while I'd say it still serves its purpose very well.
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Yeah, I was largely referring to the outdoor exhibit in saying its still suitable going forward. The only changes I can be see made would be to the indoor area and the back of house facilities.
 
Jambo said:
Yeah, I was largely referring to the outdoor exhibit in saying its still suitable going forward. The only changes I can be see made would be to the indoor area and the back of house facilities.
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Though the outdoor area is suitable it has been suggested that it be split into 2 'islands' so that maintenance can be carried out on one whilst the other is in use for the chimps. This would also allow the elderly chimps such as Boris an area to themselves without keeping the remaining troupe indoors.
 
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