LTigert
Member
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Chester Zoo Chester Zoo discussion and questions 2025
- Thread starter Typhlonectes
- Start date
For me, this is what i would do for the next development at the zoo, another older area that could do with some new life. And more importantly, a huge new elephant exhibit l. The andean bears, miniature monkeys, tamandua, capybara, tapir, anteater, and bats would have a new exhibit somewhere else or be moved to another collection. The african primates in the monkey house would move to the already planned african forest development.
Green line, pathways. Blue line, enclosure borders
Green line, pathways. Blue line, enclosure borders
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If I may offer some constructive criticism, this development wouldn't make much sense logistically. In terms of moving all the species you've mentioned, where would they go? There's two options that I'd float, one of which I believe was floated by Chester Zoo themselves.
Option 1: expanding into the car park
- Chester Zoo would move the car park (I'm not entirely sure how much the zoo would sacrifice under this plan), but the elephants would get a brand new space within the existing car park, and the current cow yard would become a new bull space.
Option 2: the back 20 acres
- Behind the lion exhibit, there's a whole plot of land that's available for expansion. I'm unsure if this would be able to incorporate the existing elephant facility (if it was, there'd have to be an overhead bridge/transfer chute), but Chester Zoo could do a spin on a Werribee-esque complex for their elephants using these back 20 acres, and it would even tie into the neighboring Asian lion exhibit as a full-on Indian district.
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Both great suggestions, i was going to suggest the car park one but i thought on busier days they could need all the car park. I had no idea that chester owned all that land on the second suggestion you mentioned.
Yes Chester do have around 30 acres of spare space for future development. That green field you showed was originally going to be for the huge African biodome they planned in 2010. But after those plans got scrapped, it’s just been left there on its own. Although they will definitely use it for some sort of expansion in the future.
They will probably use up the car park to expand the elephant habitat and then build a new car park in one of the fields they own.
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
I actually have a plan on this over in the speculation forum, I’m going through bit by bit explaining how the zoo could use the space they have to create more habitats like HoA and Islands. Please have a look!
We have found late afternoon good too.
Was a reason ever given as to why they cancelled the biodome?
There were a few financial reasons which lead to them feeling that it would be best to not go ahead with the plans. I’m not sure exactly what it was but they thought it would be best to start fresh by developing the new Islands section that exists today.
Most of the funding was coming from the north West development fund, set up by the Labour government at the time, then this got cancelled, I think as the Conservatives came in to power and the zoo couldn't afford it, I believe the cost was around 90 million
Your assumption is correct jde7582. David Cameron abolished the Regional Development Agencies, preventing government funding for the project.
Chester Zoo land.
NEZS land obviously includes the zoo and car parks.
They also own the small field south west of the roundabout on the A41 as far as Flag Lane South (where the A41 is marked.) Flag Lane North is the footpath which divides the zoo.
If you follow the A41 (Liverpool Road) the zoo owns all the land to the right of ther A41 as far as the canal, which forms the northern boundary of NEZS land. Going right the farmland goes as far as Caughall Road, and continues east of Caughall road as far as where Wervin is marked. There is a hedgerow running approximately south east as far as Wervin Road which forms the southern boundary of the zoo's land. Just up from Spirit of the Jaguar is a small housing estate built on land sold by the zoo in the late 1980s. There is anopther small residential area just behind the lecture theatre,/maintenance yard site.
Chester Zoo land.
NEZS land obviously includes the zoo and car parks.
They also own the small field south west of the roundabout on the A41 as far as Flag Lane South (where the A41 is marked.) Flag Lane North is the footpath which divides the zoo.
If you follow the A41 (Liverpool Road) the zoo owns all the land to the right of ther A41 as far as the canal, which forms the northern boundary of NEZS land. Going right the farmland goes as far as Caughall Road, and continues east of Caughall road as far as where Wervin is marked. There is a hedgerow running approximately south east as far as Wervin Road which forms the southern boundary of the zoo's land. Just up from Spirit of the Jaguar is a small housing estate built on land sold by the zoo in the late 1980s. There is anopther small residential area just behind the lecture theatre,/maintenance yard site.
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Had a brief visit yesterday to check out Heart of Africa, i personally was very impressed, will take some time for planting to develope and we only had the Ostrich out in the paddock, so will be good to eventually see all species out at the same time.
Some good new views of enclosures due to the different levels.
Mixed indoor house is very good, had 2 visits and 2nd time just before closing we were the only ones in. Looks like 2 exhibits in there waiting to be completed, I know 1 is the cobra.
The ex restaurant, education building is not as planned but gives great views from the top and also underneath you get close to the small mammal enclosure. I think the are may have been quite cramped if the restaurant had gone ahead.
Some good new views of enclosures due to the different levels.
Mixed indoor house is very good, had 2 visits and 2nd time just before closing we were the only ones in. Looks like 2 exhibits in there waiting to be completed, I know 1 is the cobra.
The ex restaurant, education building is not as planned but gives great views from the top and also underneath you get close to the small mammal enclosure. I think the are may have been quite cramped if the restaurant had gone ahead.
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Is the turquoise dwarf gecko listed on the Heart of Africa webpage on display yet? I haven't seen any pictures of it yet from visitors. If not, I guess they could be the second inhabitant of one of the empty Hidden Savannah tanks.
I visited Graslands/Heart of Africa yesterday and I was impressed.
First exhibit is Meerkats (Suricata suricatta), so if you ask me, things can only get better.
Next to meerkats is thwe former pelican aviary housing
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
East African Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps)
Baer's Pocthard (Aythya baeri) NOT AFRICAN
Cape Teal (Anas capensis)
Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio porphyrio)
Red-billed Teal (Anas erythorhyncha)
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
African White-bakced Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus leuconotus)
White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) NOT AFRICAN
access to Bembe Kitchen is opposite the flamingo aviary.
Next to flamingos is Tsavo Aviary
Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)
Blue-billed Teal (Spatula hottentota)
Hsmerkop (Scopus umbretta)
Maccoa Duck (Oxyura maccoa)
Bruce's Green Pigeon (Treron waalia)
Purple Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis purpuerus)
Snowy-crowned Robin Chat (Cossypha niveicapilla)
*I think I've missed some birds off this list* Anyway all I saw was a gardener spraying weedkiller. Which makes me wonder if any birds are in there yet.
there is a choice of routes next, recommended is to turn left, but people can also head straight on if they so chose.
Vulture aviary
African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)
White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
There are three nesting platforms in this aviary, but the first two species are one male bird only.
Lovebird aviary
Black-cheeked Lovebird (Agapornis nigrigensis)
Common Waxbill (Estrida astrild)
Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afra)
opposite Kirk's Dik-Dik (Madoqua kirkii)
Verreaux's Eagle Owl (Ketupa lactea)
Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
main enclosure
Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus)
Grevy's Zebra (Equus grevyi)
Rothschild's Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)
The zoo now calls the giraffes Nubian Giraffes (G.c.camelopardalis)
now a choice of two routes, left for the dogs , ahead for restaurant Pagona Village. I wnent left and found myself in familiar surroundoings
Yellow Mongoose ((Cynictis penicillata) in old aardvark exhibit
African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)
in the tunnel is a new feature. A replica of a research laboratort where some of the zoo's scientific researc is described.
Cape Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis capensis)
Aardvark (Orycopterus africanus)
Across the paty is the Giant Pangolin Project display, I did not see anyone with a puppet pangolin
The next part is the one I most looked forward to, the small animals house. There was a wait of about 5 minutes to enter.
on the right is the Desert Locust (Schistocera gregaria) exhibit, thgere was a queue of small children waiting patiently to enter the Land Rover for an immersive experience. I didn'tt join it.
On the left had side is a series of small vivaria.
Ethiopian Mountain Adder (Bitis parviocula)
African Bullfrog (Pyxiecephals adsersus)
Keyserling's Wonder Gecko (Teratoscincus keyserlingii)
Cat-eyed Mantis (Heterochaeta orientalis) and Plum Dung Beetle (Chalconotus convexus)
Acacia Rat (Thallomys paedulcus)
next is an open-topped desert habitat
Gorongosa girdled Lizard (Smaug mossambicus)
Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri)
Oustalet's Chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti) NOT AFRICAN
Short-toed Rock Agama (Laudakia vulgaris brachydactyla)
Geyr's Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx geyri)
the final animals are opposite the desert reptiles, and are mainly rodents
Barbary Striped Grass Mouse (Lemniscomys barbarus)
South African Spiny Mouse (Acomys spinosissimus)
African Pygmy Mouse (Mus minutoides)
Round-eared Elephant Shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus)
Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
I'm not sure if all of these are hosed together. Mole Rats is a seperate enclosure.
Outside is a small play area Maasai Olympics.
Eastern Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli)
A feature much appreciated by visitors was a grass picnic lawn. I don't know if this is permanent.
Pagona Village houses a wide choice of food, childrens' play area and Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis), they have a large outisde enclosure, also visible from the upper level path.
In other news a new Blue-throated Piping Guan is in the tropical Realm.
Brown Wood Owls are in the Nissan Hut aviary, their own aviary is being refurbished.
At least one Siamese White-crested Laughing Thrush is in the Vietnamese Pheasant aviary.
What sounded like a hornbill could be heard in the vicinity of the parrot breeding centre.
I failed to see a Warty Frogfish again, I wonder if the zoo still has them as they are not easily missed.
A lot of visitors were heard commenting on how expensive the zoo is.
The zoo fairground has a large carousel, helter skelter and a carousel for smaller children. A new feature is a climbing wall.
First exhibit is Meerkats (Suricata suricatta), so if you ask me, things can only get better.
Next to meerkats is thwe former pelican aviary housing
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
East African Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps)
Baer's Pocthard (Aythya baeri) NOT AFRICAN
Cape Teal (Anas capensis)
Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio porphyrio)
Red-billed Teal (Anas erythorhyncha)
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
African White-bakced Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus leuconotus)
White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) NOT AFRICAN
access to Bembe Kitchen is opposite the flamingo aviary.
Next to flamingos is Tsavo Aviary
Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)
Blue-billed Teal (Spatula hottentota)
Hsmerkop (Scopus umbretta)
Maccoa Duck (Oxyura maccoa)
Bruce's Green Pigeon (Treron waalia)
Purple Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis purpuerus)
Snowy-crowned Robin Chat (Cossypha niveicapilla)
*I think I've missed some birds off this list* Anyway all I saw was a gardener spraying weedkiller. Which makes me wonder if any birds are in there yet.
there is a choice of routes next, recommended is to turn left, but people can also head straight on if they so chose.
Vulture aviary
African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)
White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
There are three nesting platforms in this aviary, but the first two species are one male bird only.
Lovebird aviary
Black-cheeked Lovebird (Agapornis nigrigensis)
Common Waxbill (Estrida astrild)
Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afra)
opposite Kirk's Dik-Dik (Madoqua kirkii)
Verreaux's Eagle Owl (Ketupa lactea)
Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
main enclosure
Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus)
Grevy's Zebra (Equus grevyi)
Rothschild's Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)
The zoo now calls the giraffes Nubian Giraffes (G.c.camelopardalis)
now a choice of two routes, left for the dogs , ahead for restaurant Pagona Village. I wnent left and found myself in familiar surroundoings
Yellow Mongoose ((Cynictis penicillata) in old aardvark exhibit
African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)
in the tunnel is a new feature. A replica of a research laboratort where some of the zoo's scientific researc is described.
Cape Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis capensis)
Aardvark (Orycopterus africanus)
Across the paty is the Giant Pangolin Project display, I did not see anyone with a puppet pangolin
The next part is the one I most looked forward to, the small animals house. There was a wait of about 5 minutes to enter.
on the right is the Desert Locust (Schistocera gregaria) exhibit, thgere was a queue of small children waiting patiently to enter the Land Rover for an immersive experience. I didn'tt join it.
On the left had side is a series of small vivaria.
Ethiopian Mountain Adder (Bitis parviocula)
African Bullfrog (Pyxiecephals adsersus)
Keyserling's Wonder Gecko (Teratoscincus keyserlingii)
Cat-eyed Mantis (Heterochaeta orientalis) and Plum Dung Beetle (Chalconotus convexus)
Acacia Rat (Thallomys paedulcus)
next is an open-topped desert habitat
Gorongosa girdled Lizard (Smaug mossambicus)
Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri)
Oustalet's Chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti) NOT AFRICAN
Short-toed Rock Agama (Laudakia vulgaris brachydactyla)
Geyr's Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx geyri)
the final animals are opposite the desert reptiles, and are mainly rodents
Barbary Striped Grass Mouse (Lemniscomys barbarus)
South African Spiny Mouse (Acomys spinosissimus)
African Pygmy Mouse (Mus minutoides)
Round-eared Elephant Shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus)
Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
I'm not sure if all of these are hosed together. Mole Rats is a seperate enclosure.
Outside is a small play area Maasai Olympics.
Eastern Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli)
A feature much appreciated by visitors was a grass picnic lawn. I don't know if this is permanent.
Pagona Village houses a wide choice of food, childrens' play area and Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis), they have a large outisde enclosure, also visible from the upper level path.
In other news a new Blue-throated Piping Guan is in the tropical Realm.
Brown Wood Owls are in the Nissan Hut aviary, their own aviary is being refurbished.
At least one Siamese White-crested Laughing Thrush is in the Vietnamese Pheasant aviary.
What sounded like a hornbill could be heard in the vicinity of the parrot breeding centre.
I failed to see a Warty Frogfish again, I wonder if the zoo still has them as they are not easily missed.
A lot of visitors were heard commenting on how expensive the zoo is.
The zoo fairground has a large carousel, helter skelter and a carousel for smaller children. A new feature is a climbing wall.
They are labelled in the Hidden Savannah house, I did not see them, it was so busy I didn't bother to look for them.
Something visitors have been saying for at least 40 years!
On a slightly more serious note, I think there is a "sweet spot" where a zoo is just the right size for a day visit and I wonder if Chester is at risk of exceeding it?
£x may be a decent price to pay to see y species - but if a day visit only gives time to see 50 or 60% of x .......
Joker22Hero
Well-Known Member
Having been last weekend as a first time visitor, we had the most amazing time for two days, with the long opening hours, but I think if you were only coming for a day it must feel incredibly rushed trying to see everything.
Seems like with an expansion of the places to stay as well as another large development, it would turn into the perfect weekend destination
Seems like with an expansion of the places to stay as well as another large development, it would turn into the perfect weekend destination