Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion and Questions 2024

Nice visit today, pretty happy with my photos too (will upload later)... Also after talking in the YWP thread about giant otters being no-shows, of course I got lucky with them today. :)

Some notes:
- The hard-standing and shelter in the old Philippine spotted deer paddock is now being used by the brow-antlered deer, I wonder if the plan is to allow them into the paddock as well?
- No scarlet ibis seen which was quite bizarre since there is quite a big group and all other bird species in the Latin American aviary were seen. I assume they are still at the zoo as they were signed but certainly strange.
- Only two capybaras, I think there might have been just two for a bit now actually. Anyone know what's going on there? A few years back the group was a decent size.
- No sign of the baby spider monkey but most of the group were huddled in the corner.
- The Mindanao lorikeets now seem to have full access to the Bali Temple aviary, beforehand they were in a smaller one behind. This species is also signed in Dragons in Danger but I didn't see any.
- The strawberry poison frogs are back on show in the Tropical Realm.
 
That is correct Fallax. Seeing the Mindanao Lorikeets in Dragons In Danger is hit and miss, sometimes I see them, othertimes I don't.
 
Has anyone got any tips for spotting the Philippine chevrotain in DID? I’ve been a few times and never managed to see it.
 
JT said:
Has anyone got any tips for spotting the Philippine chevrotain in DID? I’ve been a few times and never managed to see it.
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It's in the aviary at the back, the one behind the peacock pheasants. Not the easiest to spot.
 
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JT said:
Has anyone got any tips for spotting the Philippine chevrotain in DID? I’ve been a few times and never managed to see it.
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Swampy said:
It's in the aviary at the back, the one behind the peacock pheasants. Not the easiest to spot.
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Yep, I've only seen it in the very back aviary. Last time it was active in the later part of the afternoon once the crowds had started thinning so might be the best time to try. :)
 
Visited today, all the flamingoes were inside because of maintenance to the enclosure. As a result, the walkthrough was closed though it seems some ducks were still out. No sign of the ibis still...

Also, forgot to mention last week but all the grosbeak starlings in Monsoon Forest have been moved to the semi-off show aviaries in the building, I assume this is temporary and hopefully they are back in the main section soon.

One of the giraffes was looking a bit round and wasn't moving as much as the others, maybe my eyes are decieving me though... I'm not sure how easy it is to tell pregnancy in a giraffe.
 
Fallax said:
Visited today, all the flamingoes were inside because of maintenance to the enclosure. As a result, the walkthrough was closed though it seems some ducks were still out. No sign of the ibis still...

Also, forgot to mention last week but all the grosbeak starlings in Monsoon Forest have been moved to the semi-off show aviaries in the building, I assume this is temporary and hopefully they are back in the main section soon.

One of the giraffes was looking a bit round and wasn't moving as much as the others, maybe my eyes are decieving me though... I'm not sure how easy it is to tell pregnancy in a giraffe.
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There is a hole in the roof netting covering the flamingo walkthrough; repairs are to start this week according to one of the keepers. Therefore, the ibis were removed as a precaution as they are often up in the trees close to the hole.
 
I think the zoo is aiming to make this exhibit it's second longest construction project ever. I think it was started about 4 years ago.

The longest is Bats Bridge. First appeared on the zoo map in 1968 and then was removed in 1971. Opened in 2008.
 
Swampy said:
Natalia's pricklenape has replaced the jungle nymph exhibit in Realm of the Red Ape
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A very nice species, and what seems to be a new one for the UK as a whole if zootierliste is accurate.

As for the tuatara, I also doubt they will go back on show unfortunately. That new exhibit in the Tropical Realm I think is for tortoises if the signs around it are any indication though I'd love to be wrong.
 
SHAVINGTONZOO said:
So why aren't the Tuatara on public display?
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That is something only Chester's CEO, curator of reptiles and the deputy curator can probably answer, as it's a truly unique group outside of New Zealand as this site knows, but why would you move a proven breeding group of animals offshow from a enclosure that is clearly right for their needs,more to the point they've not bred since and probably won't again.
 
When I visited Chester Zoo in 1980, I saw tuataras for the first time. There was a stall with many postcards of different animals. None of them showed a tuatara, even though Chester was the only zoo on the UK mainland to have tuataras.
 
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