Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion and Questions 2024

Fallax said:
It's supposed to open some time in 2025. As for species that are currently off show, there is a lot, many of which are species the zoo has acquired for the development that wasn't on-show before hand.

As for species that were previously on show that are now completely off show its mostly paddock species and birds. Roan antelope, Grevy's zebra, sitatunga, meerkat, rock hyrax, aardvark, warthog, blesbok, grey and black crowned crane, wattled crane, Kirk's dik-dik... Then a large amount of African birds (mostly waterfowl). As for species that were never on show to begin with but are planned to be in the new development the main species are common ostrich, bat-eared fox, secretary bird, all the African vultures, and greater flamingo.

There's probably some I missed, the list is quite extensive. If you have any queries about particular species I'd be more than happy to answer.
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Thank you for the list. I've had the luck to see quite a few of these on my trip already so most of these are not heartbreaking, with Roan Antelope and secretary bird the big miss, with aardvark, blesbok and situtanga all species I've seen but would have loved to see again. It does help to adjust expectations though.

Does this development make it easier to see more of Chester in a day? I'm still hoping to do two visits but nothing's confirmed right now.
 
JVM said:
Thank you for the list. I've had the luck to see quite a few of these on my trip already so most of these are not heartbreaking, with Roan Antelope and secretary bird the big miss, with aardvark, blesbok and situtanga all species I've seen but would have loved to see again. It does help to adjust expectations though.

Does this development make it easier to see more of Chester in a day? I'm still hoping to do two visits but nothing's confirmed right now.
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Personally I think Chester is doable in a day, though I'm a regular so I may be biased there as I know how to get around! The development definitely makes it easier but I think if you want to get a really good look at everything then two visits may be better.
 
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Chester can be “done” in a day, but it means little chance of either waiting for anything hiding, or getting back for a second chance at anything. If you are certainly doing two trips, I would advise being quite rigorous at moving past anything uncooperative on the first visit, and then targeting anything specific on the second; talk to the staff; they may be able to suggest optimal times for certain species.
 
I'd advise starting at the back of the zoo, so to speak, and working towards the front. Make a beeline for Islands as soon as the zoo opens and you'll have the place more or less to yourself, whereas the indoor exhibits closer to the entrance (butterflies, Spirit of the Jaguar, Tropical Realm) will be quieter towards the end of the day.
 
StoppableSan said:
ASTRONOMICAL CHANCE Chester Zoo decided to get polar bears again, how do you think they'd go about it? As far as location, exhibit design, potential additional species to beef up the zone (like the peafowl aviary near the lions, the small exhibits in Elephants of the Asian Forest, the terrariums in RotRA, etc.)
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I gather that current Chester policy is not to maintain taxa from developed countries (other than the UK itself) which are capable of looking after their own wildlife, hence the departure of the Rainbow Shiners. So the return of Polar Bears is off the table for the foreseeable future.
 
Jennings said:
I gather that current Chester policy is not to maintain taxa from developed countries (other than the UK itself) which are capable of looking after their own wildlife, hence the departure of the Rainbow Shiners. So the return of Polar Bears is off the table for the foreseeable future.
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I think it is they keep taxa from the areas where they have field programmes. This rules out North America and Australia
 
Jennings said:
I'd advise starting at the back of the zoo, so to speak, and working towards the front. Make a beeline for Islands as soon as the zoo opens and you'll have the place more or less to yourself, whereas the indoor exhibits closer to the entrance (butterflies, Spirit of the Jaguar, Tropical Realm) will be quieter towards the end of the day.
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I followed that advice on my first visit and it worked well. Thank you! So I’d definitely recommend it. Mind you I then got completely captivated by the aviaries and missed some other things later on but it was worth it!
 
Fallax said:
It's supposed to open some time in 2025. As for species that are currently off show, there is a lot, many of which are species the zoo has acquired for the development that wasn't on-show before hand.

As for species that were previously on show that are now completely off show its mostly paddock species and birds. Roan antelope, Grevy's zebra, sitatunga, meerkat, rock hyrax, aardvark, warthog, blesbok, grey and black crowned crane, wattled crane, Kirk's dik-dik... Then a large amount of African birds (mostly waterfowl). As for species that were never on show to begin with but are planned to be in the new development the main species are common ostrich, bat-eared fox, secretary bird, all the African vultures, and greater flamingo.

There's probably some I missed, the list is quite extensive. If you have any queries about particular species I'd be more than happy to answer.
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I think I've Missed The Blesbok For Many Years. Where Were They?
 
Olek said:
I think I've Missed The Blesbok For Many Years. Where Were They?
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They were in the paddock that is now the site of the new snow leopard enclosure. They weren't on show for very long to be fair.
 
bongorob said:
As far as I know the elephant paddock is to be extended northwards into the car park area. This will be for the cows.

The bull paddock will then be the existing elephant area.

This was a few years ago and plans may change over time.

A previous plan was to extend the elephant enclosure southwards and allow them to mix with the Indian Rhinos.
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Honesyly, why not both approaches? Rotating the rhinos with the elephants and allowing the deer to have access to the rhino paddock and bull elephant paddock...
 
Fallax said:
They were in the paddock that is now the site of the new snow leopard enclosure. They weren't on show for very long to be fair.
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Chester has held Blesbok between 1967 and 1977 and since 2020. The ones Fallax mentioned were on show for a few months during the Summer of 2022.

The original herd was housed in what is now the rhino enclosure next to Cafe Bembe.
 
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Is Anyone Aware of Why AArdvark & Rock Hyrax Are Listed As Former Holdings On ZooTierListe? But The Other Animals Like Zebra, Sitatunga & Blesbok Aren't. It Confuses me:confused:
 
Olek said:
Is Anyone Aware of Why AArdvark & Rock Hyrax Are Listed As Former Holdings On ZooTierListe? But The Other Animals Like Zebra, Sitatunga & Blesbok Aren't. It Confuses me:confused:
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Not sure on the Rock Hyrax (could be a similar situation), but Chester's two Aardvarks, Koos and Oni, arrived at Colchester on loan back in mid October to join Colchester's single female OQ (following the death of their male Afer earlier in 2023). It was described "as part of a breeding recommendation", and I imagine with it being a loan the pair will return to Chester closer to the opening of Heart of Africa in 2025.
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
Not sure on the Rock Hyrax (could be a similar situation), but Chester's two Aardvarks, Koos and Oni, arrived at Colchester on loan back in mid October to join Colchester's single female OQ (following the death of their male Afer earlier in 2023). It was described "as part of a breeding recommendation", and I imagine with it being a loan the pair will return to Chester closer to the opening of Heart of Africa in 2025.
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Did they still have Dobby the youngster or did she go to?
 
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