Chester Zoo Chester Zoo discussion and questions 2025

Kifaru Bwana said:
Damn....
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To be fair, the Zootierliste entry doesn't list a source, so is probably just based on the post on social media that only actually even includes the word 'ostrich' in the hashtags, never mind specifying, so it's not definitive by any means.
 
Would the zoo be given the endangered North Africa Ostrich when they haven't kept the species for a number of years and going into a mixed exhibit, also not seen at the zoo before. Maybe change in a few years
 
jde7582 said:
Would the zoo be given the endangered North Africa Ostrich when they haven't kept the species for a number of years and going into a mixed exhibit, also not seen at the zoo before. Maybe change in a few years
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I wouldn’t have thought so, zoos such as Bristol have to learn/prove good husbandry first so I doubt they would get them instantly even at chester
 
There are photos on FB of the 2 snow leopards together at last. Also a few people in the comments saying they’ve seen mating behaviour too so hopefully cubs may be on the way.
 
jde7582 said:
The zoo has sent out an Heart of Africa update email with a good video showing most of the site, main thing I noticed is the Vulture Aviary is about half the size of the plans, maybe leaving to space free for another species in the future
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Is this public and if so where can I find it?
 
ghostmantis said:
They have confirmed that it’s opening in April with a new webpage they have released today as well. No video attached though
Heart of Africa | Chester Zoo
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This is a smart looking page for their big new exhibit, but does anyone know what happened to the warthogs when the area was first closed off for development, because I don't seem them mentioned here (admittedly I haven't heard them mentioned with reference to HoA at all)?
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
This is a smart looking page for their big new exhibit, but does anyone know what happened to the warthogs when the area was first closed off for development, because I don't seem them mentioned here (admittedly I haven't heard them mentioned with reference to HoA at all)?
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There's been at least one photo on the Chester fan Facebook groups showing the warthogs out and about in their new paddock adjoining the main savannah, so they seem to be present and correct. :)
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
This is a smart looking page for their big new exhibit, but does anyone know what happened to the warthogs when the area was first closed off for development, because I don't seem them mentioned here (admittedly I haven't heard them mentioned with reference to HoA at all)?
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The wart hogs are shown on the new web page. I believe they are housed in the same building as the zebra / roan antelope / ostrich but do not have access to the savannah but have their own external area.
 
jde7582 said:
The zoo has sent out an Heart of Africa update email with a good video showing most of the site, main thing I noticed is the Vulture Aviary is about half the size of the plans, maybe leaving to space free for another species in the future
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This is exactly what I thought! No reason for there to be such a huge space left empty in the middle of the entire project other than to allow an additional species to be introduced in the future! This is exciting news what do we think would go here? Don’t think it’s enough space for a primate so I’m gonna call serval maybe ?
 
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Ed123 said:
This is exactly what I thought! No reason for there to be such a huge space left empty in the middle of the entire project other than to allow an additional species to be introduced in the future! This is exciting news what do we think would go here? Don’t think it’s enough space for a primate so I’m gonna call serval maybe ?
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Could be a small group of Barbary macaques maybe ?
 
Ed123 said:
This is exactly what I thought! No reason for there to be such a huge space left empty in the middle of the entire project other than to allow an additional species to be introduced in the future! This is exciting news what do we think would go here? Don’t think it’s enough space for a primate so I’m gonna call serval maybe ?
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Any way for the public to access the video?
 
Ed123 said:
This is exactly what I thought! No reason for there to be such a huge space left empty in the middle of the entire project other than to allow an additional species to be introduced in the future! This is exciting news what do we think would go here? Don’t think it’s enough space for a primate so I’m gonna call serval maybe ?
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I think the enclosure that you are talking about is for the verreaux eagle owl. This will be the aviary next to the wart hog enclosure. From what I have heard the vulture aviary is still the same size as the plans.
 
If you look at the below screen shot from the plans. And compare to the video the aviary appears to be half the size, with the left hand side just an empty space
 

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Hello everyone

I am a Canadian planning on a large cross-UK trip for the summer of 2026, with the goal of visiting many UK Zoos, and Chester Zoo is one of the zoos I am most interested in visiting.
Chester Zoo has many species not commonly kept in Canadian Zoos, and I have a few questions about some of the species and the Zoo.

1. Bush Dogs are listed on the Chester Zoos website, but their location is not listed in the zoo? Are they still on display, or have they been moved off-display?

2. Are the Onagers still on habitat with the Camels?

3. How easy is it to see the Tuataras? Are they usually in the open? Or are they hiding most of the time?

4. Similarly, how easy is it to see the Goodfellow's Tree-Kangaroo? In NA we only have Matschie's Tree-Kangaroos, so I would be excited to see this species.

5. What are the species you find most interesting to see at the Chester Zoo? What are some tips and tricks you have for a day visit here?

6. And finally, are there any major construction plans for 2026, similar to how the Heart of Africa area has been closed for renovations? Or will most of the Zoo be accessible in 2026?

Thanks in advance!
 
LTigert said:
Hello everyone

I am a Canadian planning on a large cross-UK trip for the summer of 2026, with the goal of visiting many UK Zoos, and Chester Zoo is one of the zoos I am most interested in visiting.
Chester Zoo has many species not commonly kept in Canadian Zoos, and I have a few questions about some of the species and the Zoo.

1. Bush Dogs are listed on the Chester Zoos website, but their location is not listed in the zoo? Are they still on display, or have they been moved off-display?

2. Are the Onagers still on habitat with the Camels?

3. How easy is it to see the Tuataras? Are they usually in the open? Or are they hiding most of the time?

4. Similarly, how easy is it to see the Goodfellow's Tree-Kangaroo? In NA we only have Matschie's Tree-Kangaroos, so I would be excited to see this species.

5. What are the species you find most interesting to see at the Chester Zoo? What are some tips and tricks you have for a day visit here?

6. And finally, are there any major construction plans for 2026, similar to how the Heart of Africa area has been closed for renovations? Or will most of the Zoo be accessible in 2026?

Thanks in advance!
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Tuatara and Tree Kangaroo are always fairly showy
 
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