Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion, Speculation & Questions 2018
- Thread starter JoeDK14
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I don't believe there are any birds in those areas. While we're on the subject, the large holding area behind the waterfall in the Tropical Realm is also currently unoccupied, but there are all sorts of animals in unusual places, such as an insect breeding facility in the southerly former gorilla den.
It is still there, complete with vivariums, furniture, signage, heating and lighting. No animals though.
Vivaria surely?
I remember them both very clearly - but I have no photos of them I'm afraid.
redstarsmith
Well-Known Member
I have a picture of a Cobra circa 1993 but I’ll have to dig it out when I next go home. I’d be interested in photos of the corridor itself. I’m surprised that none have surfaced yet.
I have photos of the corridor and keeper area from after its closure, but none that I can share publicly unfortunately. Perhaps one day. Strange how so many of us old-timers remember these areas clearly, but apparently didn't take any photos.
To be frank, the corridor itself was hardly photogenic. It was dark and narrow, and it was hard enough to get photos of the animals on display - if you were there on a busy day, you could easily hold up the queue. I particularly remember several species, including giant zonures, Calabar ground pythons and an African giant bullfrog in the last enclosure: but my favourites were the New Zealand green geckos.
All sorts of small reptiles were kept there, milk snakes, royal python, sunbeam snakes, leopard geckos, Madagascan tree boas, a lot of Australian pythons in the 70s and 80s.
One speciers I particularly remember is Wagler's pit viper, because for 22 years my slide was labelled white-lipped pit viper.
A species I remeber but never photographed was Russian Ratsnake (Elaphe schrencki)
One speciers I particularly remember is Wagler's pit viper, because for 22 years my slide was labelled white-lipped pit viper.
A species I remeber but never photographed was Russian Ratsnake (Elaphe schrencki)
redstarsmith
Well-Known Member
I recall (not to say my memory on it is accurate) in the mid to late eighties there being a couple of vivs full of rattlesnakes and a Gila Monster in the far corridor. On the front an Anoconda, a couple of species of Green Mamba and Egyptian Cobra which I hardly ever saw. Think they got snouted Cobra in the 90’s.
It was the Best reptile collection other than London Zoo I’ve seen in the UK. I would argue the collection today is better than many realise because of the spread across the whole Zoo.
It was the Best reptile collection other than London Zoo I’ve seen in the UK. I would argue the collection today is better than many realise because of the spread across the whole Zoo.
It’s a good point you make there, because they’re not all in one typical reptile house. But I like that about Chester however, it makes larger exhibits more immersive somewhat and gives more of an accurate representation of ecosystems and such. Not to say I don’t like reptile houses, but I love the way Chester displays most of its species of reptile, and the new species being put on show over the last few years.
I made a point about fifteen years ago, to take enclosure and environment photos wherever possible as they told more of a story than a generic, could-be-anywhere close-up picture of an animal, no matter how good it was.I guess that being limited to 24 or 36 exposures that we didn't have the luxury to snap away quite as freely as we do nowadays.
Before Christmas I was scanning some old zoo transparencies (not mine) and came across images of the original entrance and car park with its grand stone gateway, together with a photo of a sign depicting a suggested walking route around the zoo. I find that sort of thing most fascinating.
It wasn't, but it was certainly atmospheric. There was something magical about seeing all those species, some of them lethal, in a dark, damp environment that had its own unique smell. Having said that, without any people and a camera on a tripod, the corridor does have a compelling atmosphere, even in recent years.
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I slightly remember the corridor. I remember it was usually empty and no one would ever care about what was in there apart from the people who were in to reptiles. It's weird having the corner with the caiman lizards as a dead end now though, still doesn't feel right.
I remember the corridor and then at the end, by the current caiman lizards, was where the invertebrates were. I was always intrigued by the fruit beetles and how they usually had bananas. They always seemed to be piled up by the glass for some reason... The one reptile that always stuck out was the anaconda (green?) because its tank seemed a tad too small for such a snake. I think I have some pictures of individual enclosures but will have to check, none of the corridor itself though.
To be frank, the corridor itself was hardly photogenic. It was dark and narrow, and it was hard enough to get photos of the animals on display - if you were there on a busy day, you could easily hold up the queue. I particularly remember several species, including giant zonures, Calabar ground pythons and an African giant bullfrog in the last enclosure: but my favourites were the New Zealand green geckos.
Exceptional photograph!