hari Jones
Well-Known Member
Most likely the islands enclosure or if not out the collection
Chester Zoo Chester Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter DesertRhino150
- Start date
Or alternatively, and significantly more likely, it has moved to the sizeable offshow facilities
the assumption that if something isn't in their "usual" exhibit or hasn't been spotted, it *must* have left the collection is precisely why ZTL is so inaccurate for many UK collections; there is a solid core of people with more edit-access than sense who like to jump to conclusions!hari Jones
Well-Known Member
I also noticed today a bunch of work going on in the old bushdog enclosure by the red pandas
I always read the discussions on here and it's really interesting but I rarely post.
However thought I'd pop a post in today having been at Chester for couple of days.
Apologies if its been mentioned elsewhere but I asked about why the top area of Tropical Realm was closed.
The answer was it closed originally during covid and has now been closed off as they have deemed it a fire risk as it only has one way up and down.
In their words 'its unlikely to ever open again'
Very sad if turns out to be the case as always enjoy Tropical Realm
However thought I'd pop a post in today having been at Chester for couple of days.
Apologies if its been mentioned elsewhere but I asked about why the top area of Tropical Realm was closed.
The answer was it closed originally during covid and has now been closed off as they have deemed it a fire risk as it only has one way up and down.
In their words 'its unlikely to ever open again'
Very sad if turns out to be the case as always enjoy Tropical Realm
Extremely sad news... what a shame I will never be able to go up there again
hari Jones
Well-Known Member
Very sad news I will always miss going up there two
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
I’d rather the upstairs of Tropical Realm permanently close than people perish in a fire. I guess Chester Zoo have to me more cautious,following The Monsoon Forest fire of December 2018.
Has there actually been any issues with the upper floor since its opening? And also has it been there since the tropical realms opening in 1964(?)? If so then that is a very long time without any issues and it just seems strange that they have shut it now and not when the Monsoon Forest fire happened if it is indeed so hazardous
It truly is a shame I really enjoyed that area.
(Apologies if I’ve jumped the gun there, I don’t know any history of this area or much about risk assessments so I’m just assuming
)
It truly is a shame I really enjoyed that area.(Apologies if I’ve jumped the gun there, I don’t know any history of this area or much about risk assessments so I’m just assuming
)
The photo below was taken in 1957 (I think it must have been scanned from a newspaper before being posted in our Gallery). This was before the main Tropical House was built. The Chimpanzee gallery was open to the public with access from the ramp at the far end in the photo below, and the exit to the second ramp on the right. The building beside the ramp is now off-show with the indoor area for the macaws in the aviary which was built much later. It had indoor areas for pygmy hippos (now holding the aye-ayes, after much modification) and a crocodile pool, which was viewed from a raised gallery, which led into a nocturnal 'house' (actually a single room) - the windows seen in the photo were covered with navy blue paint - with an exit through the door in the end wall to the down ramp.Has there actually been any issues with the upper floor since its opening? And also has it been there since the tropical realms opening in 1964(?)? If so then that is a very long time without any issues and it just seems strange that they have shut it now and not when the Monsoon Forest fire happened if it is indeed so hazardous
(Apologies if I’ve jumped the gun there, I don’t know any history of this area or much about risk assessments so I’m just assuming
When the Tropical House was built, the upper gallery led to this same door, which probably had an exit turnstile as you had to pay to enter at the front door. I think it cost 6d (old pennies of course), you also had to pay to go into the previous Reptile House (beside the sea lions) and into the Aquarium.
I'm not sure of the date when this passage was blocked off and the aviary which eventually held the Soccoro doves was built - perhaps when the macaw aviary and the fence around the keeper's yard were built.
Chester Zoo has been in existance for 91 years. I can only remember two fires. In the 1990s the old tortoise house (now part of the okapi paddock) caught fire. The Fire Brigade soon dealt with the incident. A tortoise was not rescued but survived the fire anyway. And the Monsoon Forest House fire, they may be more fires at the zoo which they have not made public, but I think their record is pretty good.
I can't remember everything that was in the aviaries since I last saw them, but there used to be collared trogon, green aracari, Mindanao bleeding heart pigeon, blue-headed tanager and blue-faced mousebird.
I think there has been one way operation on the upper floor since 1981 when the nocturnal house closed.
I can't remember everything that was in the aviaries since I last saw them, but there used to be collared trogon, green aracari, Mindanao bleeding heart pigeon, blue-headed tanager and blue-faced mousebird.
I think there has been one way operation on the upper floor since 1981 when the nocturnal house closed.
I've fond memories of the Nocturnal House as a child. Probably 1979 /80. I understand it closed in 1981. At that time visitors (having paid to enter the Tropical house) would walk up the central ramp, have an elevated view and smell of the indoor Gorilla enclosures. There were large black fish, Mirror Carp? in the indoor moats. At the top of the ramp, a small collection of stick insects and spiders in tanks about a foot deep fronted by white pvc boards. Then a viewing window into one of the indoor chimp yards. The upper gallery aviaries followed. At the end of the upper aviary gallery a single door lead into the Nocturnal house. As a kid it was useful that there was a raised box running the length of the exhibits, probably boxing in pipes, but nevertheless gave that boost to see into the displays. My favourite was always the Black Rats! and the Senegal Bush babies. The Nocturnal house lead to indoor viewing of pygmy hippos. I have previously posted a photo of this area in a derelict state... Chester Zoo 1987 - ZooChatThe photo below was taken in 1957 (I think it must have been scanned from a newspaper before being posted in our Gallery). This was before the main Tropical House was built. The Chimpanzee gallery was open to the public with access from the ramp at the far end in the photo below, and the exit to the second ramp on the right. The building beside the ramp is now off-show with the indoor area for the macaws in the aviary which was built much later. It had indoor areas for pygmy hippos (now holding the aye-ayes, after much modification) and a crocodile pool, which was viewed from a raised gallery, which led into a nocturnal 'house' (actually a single room) - the windows seen in the photo were covered with navy blue paint - with an exit through the door in the end wall to the down ramp.
When the Tropical House was built, the upper gallery led to this same door, which probably had an exit turnstile as you had to pay to enter at the front door. I think it cost 6d (old pennies of course), you also had to pay to go into the previous Reptile House (beside the sea lions) and into the Aquarium.
I'm not sure of the date when this passage was blocked off and the aviary which eventually held the Soccoro doves was built - perhaps when the macaw aviary and the fence around the keeper's yard were built.
If any ZooChatters have pictures of the old Nocturnal House or Pygmy Hippo enclosures in their prime, I’d really love to see them.
In 1979, customers then exited via the top level door [the down ramp in the hippo pen was gated off] and down a ramp at the rear wall inside the Tropical house. Right next to the crocodile pool and right next to where one now enters the Aye-Ayes. By the way, that doorway to the Aye-Ayes actually once lead to public toilets. As the Tropical house had an additional entry fee, toilets were necessary for paying guests!
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Apologies if this has already been reported but the animal inventory lists on the website have finally been updated and reflect the zoo's collection as of December 2021. Notable mammals include the arrival of 1.0 Margay and that 2.2 Small Indian Mongoose are also listed.
Link: Animal Inventory | Chester Zoo | Corporate Information
Link: Animal Inventory | Chester Zoo | Corporate Information
Themonkeyguy1
Well-Known Member
Believe the margay is no longer in the collection.
Nine Humboldt penguin chicks have hatched this season:
Chester Zoo celebrating birth of nine adorable penguin chicks
Chester Zoo celebrating birth of nine adorable penguin chicks
I don't know, but fish are often moved offshow and back onshow again. Both species are stll listed on Zootierliste, which suggests that Chester still has them.
Ta. I also noticed that the Kotsovato Cichlids had been moved to the aquarium and that the tank in the Okapi house is now occupied by two species of Lake Chilingali Cichlid.