Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion and Questions 2024

[Zoofan189]

Just a zoo update the great hornbill that where housed in the aviary in the elephant house have now been moved in to tropical realm in the last big aviary where the rhino hornbills where and the rhino hornbill that was in that aviary has been moved into the elephant house.

 

[AdrianW1963]

Is there any chance that someone as Animal Inventories for the years before 2018 please?

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Anoa used to be housed in an enclosure which is now the site of the jaguar coffee shop. One day I was standing by the fence looking at the female and her calf. The female nudged her baby, making it stand up. She then led the calf towards me and stood in a position so that the calf could not move away from the fence. After about a minute she led the calf away. It seemed as though the female was saying 'look what I've got.'

Interesting behaviour!

@bongorob, now only on Islands ... I guess. They are down to the one breeding pair!
(DM me, I know where the rest went....).

 

[Olek]

by any chance are the ostrich that'll be in heart of africa on site already?

 

[Gibbonandcroc]

by any chance are the ostrich that'll be in heart of africa on site already?

No

 

[Fallax]

I made the most of the good weather and visited today, the lowland anoa calf and Visayan spotted deer fawn were both very showy so happy on that front!

Some things I noticed from my last visit:
- The path into Miniature Monkeys is blocked off, the indoor areas are still visible.
- The ropes into the outdoor sloth enclosure have been lowered so the sloths can't currently access it.
- The small vivarium in Spirit of the Jaguar is empty.
- The butterfly goodeid tank in the Tropical Realm is empty as is the tank formerly housing the young chameleon. Does anyone know where the helmeted currasows have gone? And why the piping-guans are no longer free-flying?
- The new binturong hasn't been introduced to the sun bears yet.

 

[Moorhunhe]

According to ZTL, Chester has Grandidier’s Mongoose.
Does anyone know if this is still correct and if so, are they on show somewhere? Can't say I've ever seen them during 9 visits last year.

 

[Baringogiraffe12]

According to ZTL, Chester has Grandidier’s Mongoose.
Does anyone know if this is still correct and if so, are they on show somewhere? Can't say I've ever seen them during 9 visits last year.

The zoo does hold Grandidier's vontsira, according to the latest inventory (2023), the zoo held 4,2, however they are held off-show.

 

[jde7582]

We're these the ones that originally going to be mixed with the lions, well semi share the indore space?

 

[Prochilodus246]

We're these the ones that originally going to be mixed with the lions, well semi share the indore space?

No, they were Small Indian Mongoose which now reside at London Zoo

 

[Fallax]

The Grandider's mongoose have never been on show as far as I'm aware.

 

[Dassie rat]

The Grandider's mongoose have never been on show as far as I'm aware.

When I visited Stuttgart Zoo in 1985, the Kiwi House had CCTV, so that people could see the kiwi if it was inside its enclosure. Surely, Chester could provide a similar facility so that visitors could see the Grandidier's mongoose. Perhaps some visitors would be more interested in this obscure species if they could see it.

 

[Pandaboi]

Does anyone know how many giraffes are being brought into Chester when HOA is open? I was told today that the zoo plans to house up to 20 giraffes in the family and bachelor herds.

I was also told by a keeper near Snow Leopards that they are hoping they will have babies in February / March time after being given the green light to introduce the pair.

I was made aware of the 10 year masterplan. They want to build new enclosures for the Okapi, Bongo and Chimpanzee as well as bringing in “Gorillas”. I’ve seen some posts stating the zoo do not want gorillas but today I was told other information from a keeper.

 

[jde7582]

I think the bachelor house can hold 4 animals, and I think the other group will just be as it is, can't see them bringing more in, especially not when it's new and introducing different animals into the pack.

 

[Pandaboi]

I think the bachelor house can hold 4 animals, and I think the other group will just be as it is, can't see them bringing more in, especially not when it's new and introducing different animals into the pack.

I was a bit shocked when told the zoo want to hold up to 20 giraffes as the house is big but not big enough for 20 of them haha.

 

[jde7582]

I think most of the volunteers although mean we'll, sometimes have not quite 100% information and sometimes rely stuff other visitors have said they may not be correct.

 

[jde7582]

Most of the staff people see and interact with are the volunteers or guest services staff and not keepers, as far as the current plans are, the senior zoo management do not intent to add Gorillas to the collection.

 

[Pandaboi]

I think most of the volunteers although mean we'll, sometimes have not quite 100% information and sometimes rely stuff other visitors have said they may not be correct.

I wasn’t informed by a volunteer. It was multiple keepers who I asked questions too throughout the day. But I know what you mean about volunteers not knowing everything and hearing incorrect information.

 

[LCPete]

I asked about Iblis the male Asiatic Lion a few days ago,as he was off show , someone mentioned that he is now out and about, saw him today he’s looking well
Apparently had a vet appointment as he was off his food but is now OK
Was told today that there is no plans to breed from the tigers again as other Tigers in the stud book are a higher priority

 

[jayden]

Interesting behaviour!

@bongorob, now only on Islands ... I guess. They are down to the one breeding pair!
(DM me, I know where the rest went....).

Could u tell me where they went?