Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion and Questions 2024

The zoo have sent an email update late this afternoon that their online booking portal has run into some problems - members are now not being asked to pre book online to see the Snow Leopards.


We’re sorry but we have experienced some issues with our online booking system for the snow leopard member preview.

Due to these issues, we have decided to remove the pre-booking requirement for members, so there is no need to book via the link we shared earlier today. Simply visit the zoo and show your membership card/s at the entrance to the Himalayan habitat to gain access to see the snow leopards.

As a reminder, we are offering exclusive member preview days on the 22, 23 and 24 March and from 25 March - 1 April you'll also have exclusive access every morning, from 10am - 1pm, before it’s open to others.

We do expect this weekend to be popular so please consider visiting on a weekday to avoid the queues and get the best views!

Thank you for your continued support, and we hope you enjoy meeting our new arrivals.
 
Can someone please pass on some tiger info as last time I went only 1 was there. The older one having moved to smarden. Is it a breeding pair with cubs or 2 adult pairs or what. I'm hoping to go Easter hols. Cheers
 
sidcup said:
Can someone please pass on some tiger info as last time I went only 1 was there. The older one having moved to smarden. Is it a breeding pair with cubs or 2 adult pairs or what. I'm hoping to go Easter hols. Cheers
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Breeding pair with cubs. Cubs are a year old now.
 
We went today. I wanted to have been on Friday, but boyfriend really wanted to come too and see the Snow Leopards.
We lined up for about an hour.
Organisation was good we thought. Keepers also made sure people weren't standing in front of the glass for ages, so everyone could see.
The female was in the 'inside' bit, the male was walking around in the back on the rocks.

I still find it really cool we saw the female as a younger cub last year in Krefeld.

The mesh is very awkward to take pictures through. At least, for us. Maybe a more experienced photographer can work around it, but around every square of mesh there's little metallic balls.

Next to it will be a new Red Panda enclosure?

I've been 7 times now since the end of July, and still not seen the 'baby' Okapi.
I thought I'd try today, but with the new Giraffe arrival, there was quite the line to get inside, and I didn't bother.

2 Tiger cubs were in front of the glass, so I finally got a good look at them, hadn't actually seen any of them yet, apart from in the very distance.

Other then that, no news I don't think. At least not that I know off or can think of with what I saw today compared to my last visit 3 weeks ago.
 
We went on Friday too, my other half was keen to see the snow leopards, I didn’t want to queue though, went to lions then the Lemurs instead.
They are having had to keep the Black and White ruffed and Red ruffed lemurs apart now as apparently they don’t get on , a real shame as they were interacting nicely until fairly recently
If I understand it correctly they are not intending to breed the Crowned Lemurs, if I’ve got that wrong please correct me
I’ll go back in a few weeks to see the snow leopards when it’s quieter have seen them recently at Welsh mountain zoo and was the only person watching them
My other half did say that the organisation at the snow leopards was very good though and did see both of them
 
Moorhunhe said:
We went today. I wanted to have been on Friday, but boyfriend really wanted to come too and see the Snow Leopards.
We lined up for about an hour.
Organisation was good we thought. Keepers also made sure people weren't standing in front of the glass for ages, so everyone could see.
The female was in the 'inside' bit, the male was walking around in the back on the rocks.

I still find it really cool we saw the female as a younger cub last year in Krefeld.

The mesh is very awkward to take pictures through. At least, for us. Maybe a more experienced photographer can work around it, but around every square of mesh there's little metallic balls.

Next to it will be a new Red Panda enclosure?

I've been 7 times now since the end of July, and still not seen the 'baby' Okapi.
I thought I'd try today, but with the new Giraffe arrival, there was quite the line to get inside, and I didn't bother.

2 Tiger cubs were in front of the glass, so I finally got a good look at them, hadn't actually seen any of them yet, apart from in the very distance.

Other then that, no news I don't think. At least not that I know off or can think of with what I saw today compared to my last visit 3 weeks ago.
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I forgot to mention on here that on my visit near the end of January I did manage to see the young okapi very well. I'd be more than happy to provide photographic proof if nobody believes me :)
 
I'll be a the zoo on Wednesday, I thought that schools won't be off for Easter yet so hopefully its quiet but not sure if its different between English and Welsh schools? Does anyone know, as I'd like it to be mostly quiet.

The red pandas going back to their old enclosure or is it a completely new one? Either way I was expecting them to return. That paired with some of the bird species in the nearby aviaries means this area has a bit more of a cohesive Himalayan theme (well, ignoring the parrots in the middle). Now just turn one of the lawns for a caprine species, I want to see bharal or markhor! :p:D
 
Fallax said:
I'll be a the zoo on Wednesday, I thought that schools won't be off for Easter yet so hopefully its quiet but not sure if its different between English and Welsh schools? Does anyone know, as I'd like it to be mostly quiet.
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Unless it's different up t' norf, Easter isn't for another week so it should be (relatively) quiet.

I cannot begin to describe the immense jealously I have being stuck at the other end of the country while everyone's visiting, the new leopard exhibit looks brilliant. Shall have to visit this summer...somehow.
 
Wales broke up on Friday for 2 weeks plus with the holiday parks in full swing, Chester zoo is a popular destination for the locals and tourists
 
Fallax said:
I'll be a the zoo on Wednesday, I thought that schools won't be off for Easter yet so hopefully its quiet but not sure if its different between English and Welsh schools? Does anyone know, as I'd like it to be mostly quiet.

The red pandas going back to their old enclosure or is it a completely new one? Either way I was expecting them to return. That paired with some of the bird species in the nearby aviaries means this area has a bit more of a cohesive Himalayan theme (well, ignoring the parrots in the middle). Now just turn one of the lawns for a caprine species, I want to see bharal or markhor! :p:D
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The red panda enclosure has been slightly enlarged but not a lot. The red pandas have not been moved back yet as the habitat is being 'refreshed'. The aviary which had parrots in, now has Lord Derby's parakeets.
 
derek said:
The red panda enclosure has been slightly enlarged but not a lot. The red pandas have not been moved back yet as the habitat is being 'refreshed'. The aviary which had parrots in, now has Lord Derby's parakeets.
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Thanks, I'm guessing this means the Amazon's are off show? Either way going for that species shows they are definitely dedicating to making this area of the zoo Himalayan themed.
 
I visited first thing this morning, the snow leopard enclosure is very nice but all I saw was two grey sleeping blobs. One of the red pandas is back in the old exhibit. The roloways were really active which was nice to see and the giraffe calf is adorable.

The new signage around the Himalayan section is very nice and clean looking, wonder what the signage for Heart of Africa will be like. Also saw the cheetah for the first time in a long time which was quite nice.
 
Fallax said:
I visited first thing this morning, the snow leopard enclosure is very nice but all I saw was two grey sleeping blobs. One of the red pandas is back in the old exhibit. The roloways were really active which was nice to see and the giraffe calf is adorable.

The new signage around the Himalayan section is very nice and clean looking, wonder what the signage for Heart of Africa will be like. Also saw the cheetah for the first time in a long time which was quite nice.
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Interesting I thought that gorilla had been ditched from the plan but with heart of Africa happening maybe I'm wrong or missed something.
 
Laboratory 7 said:
Interesting I thought that gorilla had been ditched from the plan but with heart of Africa happening maybe I'm wrong or missed something.
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Heart of Africa is the name of the development ongoing on the west side of the zoos where the painted dogs, zebras, antelope etc were and used to be called Grasslands until they changed the name. It's not related to the old Heart of Africa plan with gorillas.
 
Fallax said:
Heart of Africa is the name of the development ongoing on the west side of the zoos where the painted dogs, zebras, antelope etc were and used to be called Grasslands until they changed the name. It's not related to the old Heart of Africa plan with gorillas.
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Ah so a misleading rebrand of a perfectly good name which perfectly described something,oh well I'm sure that the restaurant and retail sides will be perfect and bring in yet more commercial opportunities for the zoo too exploit out of people.
 
Laboratory 7 said:
Ah so a misleading rebrand of a perfectly good name which perfectly described something,oh well I'm sure that the restaurant and retail sides will be perfect and bring in yet more commercial opportunities for the zoo too exploit out of people.
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Each to their own but is it really necessary to be so overly, and in many ways obsessively, negative and cynical about absolutely everything?

It's a name change. There will be further developments after. Plans change. And zoos need to make money. It is an interesting world to live in where commercial opportunities for a zoo are a bad thing.
 
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