Chester Zoo Chester Zoo discussion and questions 2025
- Thread starter Typhlonectes
- Start date
Regarding a phase 2 of HOA
I think there definitely will be a mini phase 2. The dead space near love birds and next to vultures will undoubtedly be finished with 2 new enclosures. There has been speculation secretary birds will fill the smaller area near love birds. I’d like to see a small cat species (which is currently not represented) sitting next to vultures but who knows what this will eventually be used for.
I also think there needs to be an upgrade to some of the newer exhibits despite them only just being opened. I’m primarily talking about the inside area for porcupines and bat eared foxes which currently resemble a prison cell and not at all worthy of a world class facility like Chester.
I also think the first rhino paddock needs work. As the first major exhibit at the entrance to HOA I’m surprised it hasn’t had any theming done at all. The retaining wall is concrete slabs which look awful and the house and adjacent fences look really old and worn with the photo opportunity really lacking due to such a tired and unnatural backdrop. It wouldn’t take much effort to add in some rock work with contained planting to hide and soften the fence line etc it just sticks out like a sore thumb when the rest of the outdoor animal areas are so beautifully themed and planted.
I also think the dik dik enclosure is awful for viewing and would benefit from just a couple of glass viewing windows which would be easy to install within the line of the existing mesh fencing by just removing a couple of the mesh panels and replacing with glass - exactly the same style as what the zoo has done with the fossa or sifaka exhibits.
As for monkey islands I personally think there will need to be some reimagining here in the coming years when mandrill and roloway move to African forests. Imo it could go one of 2 ways.
Either an expansion of HOA as discussed or ( a better option for me) an expansion or the start of Islands (or at least SE Asia theme). When tropical realm goes there is a large number of species to relocate. Monkey islands would make a great new location for hornbills which will need a home. The zoo has 4 key species who could each have one of the large indoor areas with all or some of the outdoor island being netted over allowing a huge aviary for them
and an amazing spectacle of seeing them have the space for much more free flight than they’ve ever had before. The moat could be used for Asia short clawed otters giving them a huge body of water and some of the islands to use. Other parts of the larger island could be used for more aviaries with bridges linking them - in the spirit of the current islands. There will be a need to rehouse all the species currently in dragons in danger as this will likely need to be used for Madagascar species currently in tropical realm. Some of the birds in here would be able to be housed on monkey islands. and let’s not forget about komodo dragons.
This could all likely be done at lower cost than building new facilities as the structure is all in place it would just need some re- working of the indoor areas and planting etc, netting or construction of individual aviaries outside and new pathways.
I think any expansion of HOA e.g cheetahs / primates would be better to go into the coach park area which is easily able to be linked to the existing footprint. I can see cheetahs living nicely in this area and again could be achieved relatively easily with coach parking able to be moved to a new location.
I think there definitely will be a mini phase 2. The dead space near love birds and next to vultures will undoubtedly be finished with 2 new enclosures. There has been speculation secretary birds will fill the smaller area near love birds. I’d like to see a small cat species (which is currently not represented) sitting next to vultures but who knows what this will eventually be used for.
I also think there needs to be an upgrade to some of the newer exhibits despite them only just being opened. I’m primarily talking about the inside area for porcupines and bat eared foxes which currently resemble a prison cell and not at all worthy of a world class facility like Chester.
I also think the first rhino paddock needs work. As the first major exhibit at the entrance to HOA I’m surprised it hasn’t had any theming done at all. The retaining wall is concrete slabs which look awful and the house and adjacent fences look really old and worn with the photo opportunity really lacking due to such a tired and unnatural backdrop. It wouldn’t take much effort to add in some rock work with contained planting to hide and soften the fence line etc it just sticks out like a sore thumb when the rest of the outdoor animal areas are so beautifully themed and planted.
I also think the dik dik enclosure is awful for viewing and would benefit from just a couple of glass viewing windows which would be easy to install within the line of the existing mesh fencing by just removing a couple of the mesh panels and replacing with glass - exactly the same style as what the zoo has done with the fossa or sifaka exhibits.
As for monkey islands I personally think there will need to be some reimagining here in the coming years when mandrill and roloway move to African forests. Imo it could go one of 2 ways.
Either an expansion of HOA as discussed or ( a better option for me) an expansion or the start of Islands (or at least SE Asia theme). When tropical realm goes there is a large number of species to relocate. Monkey islands would make a great new location for hornbills which will need a home. The zoo has 4 key species who could each have one of the large indoor areas with all or some of the outdoor island being netted over allowing a huge aviary for them
and an amazing spectacle of seeing them have the space for much more free flight than they’ve ever had before. The moat could be used for Asia short clawed otters giving them a huge body of water and some of the islands to use. Other parts of the larger island could be used for more aviaries with bridges linking them - in the spirit of the current islands. There will be a need to rehouse all the species currently in dragons in danger as this will likely need to be used for Madagascar species currently in tropical realm. Some of the birds in here would be able to be housed on monkey islands. and let’s not forget about komodo dragons.
This could all likely be done at lower cost than building new facilities as the structure is all in place it would just need some re- working of the indoor areas and planting etc, netting or construction of individual aviaries outside and new pathways.
I think any expansion of HOA e.g cheetahs / primates would be better to go into the coach park area which is easily able to be linked to the existing footprint. I can see cheetahs living nicely in this area and again could be achieved relatively easily with coach parking able to be moved to a new location.
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
Haven't visited Chester in a while and it appears I may have missed a lot...
-I saw somebody mention about the Asian Small-Clawed Otters mixed with the orangutans, is this true? And if so I'm assuming they mean the Borneans
-Has a baby snow leopard been born recently?
- Why is there an overpopulation of babirusas, and are the zoo planning to deal with this?
-I've heard that there were originally plans for secretary birds (which I know are behind the scenes) and servals to be in HoA, any update on this?
-I saw somebody mention about the Asian Small-Clawed Otters mixed with the orangutans, is this true? And if so I'm assuming they mean the Borneans
-Has a baby snow leopard been born recently?
- Why is there an overpopulation of babirusas, and are the zoo planning to deal with this?
-I've heard that there were originally plans for secretary birds (which I know are behind the scenes) and servals to be in HoA, any update on this?
Yes the otters are with the borneo Orangutans, the enclosure have been set up to allow this since they were built.
No secretary birds yet in HOA unlikely they will do any work until after the summer peak period, and even then may be next year if they do something.
No secretary birds yet in HOA unlikely they will do any work until after the summer peak period, and even then may be next year if they do something.
AmazonianHippo
Well-Known Member
If so are the babirusas still in that space, or are they the ones moving into the ex-cheetah and wild dog enclosure
Given that the large number of Babirusa kept at Chester is the main reason why there even are Babirusa in Europe still after the population plummeted a while back, they can keep as many as they like for my money.
A highlight from a visit many years ago was watching the otters tug at the male orangs fur - great natural enrichment!
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
I think there is also some uncertainty amongst their purity, ZSL also lists theirs as Babyrousa sp for this reason.
LTigert
Member
I thought this might be the case, thanks!
If the zoo complete the building as per the plans, then there is no public access to the area, there are 2 educational spaces, so these may not need updating, as they are for viewing from these spaces, showing a behind the scenes look.
Bit if they ditch those plans then maybe they will add some themeing to the visible area's
Ryley
Well-Known Member
Do you know the cause of Margery’s death? It was quite surprising to hear she had died but I had no idea why. I don’t believe it was due to age.
Does anyone know how Chester will eventually expand their elephant exhibit/what the timetable for that would look like? Hopefully it's something in a similar vein to Islands or Heart of Africa detail and immersionwise! From the sounds of things it seemed like they'd expand their existing complex rather than building an entirely new space, unless they do decide on using the 20 acres behind their Asiatic lion space...