Chester Zoo Chester Zoo News 2024

olhl.animal.photography said:
I’ve spent at least an hour on every visit looking and waiting for a Mao Son Frog to appear, every visit for a few years. They’ve never shown up, and the volunteers that I’ve met around that area seem to have no idea on them. Maybe they really have gone.
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The 2023 animal inventory shows Chester as holding 2 males, 2 females and 24 unsexed.
 
ChiChi said:
Kumari the 17 year old Lioness was sadly put to sleep today due to age related issues.
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Aww, sad but not surprising in all honesty. If I’m thinking of the right lioness then I’m aware that she had some pretty nasty-looking wounds above her eye and on her hind area, and was always very lethargic. Still, a great shame and a substantial loss to the zoo, and also the Asiatic Lion population as a whole.
 
ChiChi said:
Kiburi and Iblis are still both at Chester and both also 17 years old! I didn’t realise Iblis was that old. Usual life expectancy is 12 so they have all done very well.
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I reckon the zoo is managing the species for phase out. Or am I wrong and will they wait untill both remaining Asiatic lions pass on to restart with a new young breeding pair?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I reckon the zoo is managing the species for phase out. Or am I wrong and will they wait untill both remaining Asiatic lions pass on to restart with a new young breeding pair?
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The current Asian Lion enclosure is only five years old and has a specific India theme - including a peafowl aviary and a goat enclosure on a human-wildlife conflict theme.

It certainly wouldn't be impossible to re-theme (or re-build) the area, but I would expect them to start with a new pair once the current lions have lived out their lives.
 
Maguari said:
The current Asian Lion enclosure is only five years old and has a specific India theme - including a peafowl aviary and a goat enclosure on a human-wildlife conflict theme.

It certainly wouldn't be impossible to re-theme (or re-build) the area, but I would expect them to start with a new pair once the current lions have lived out their lives.
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I know this was the plan a good number of years ago. Just glad that Chester has remained on track for the Asiatic lions.
 
ChiChi said:
Kiburi and Iblis are still both at Chester and both also 17 years old! I didn’t realise Iblis was that old. Usual life expectancy is 12 so they have all done very well.
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yes they are doing well , Iblis is a stunning mature Male Lion , he’s a bit past his prime I guess but still has a superb full mane
Always try to see him when I visit
I read that it’s rare to see an African wild male with a full mane like that as they get shot by trophy hunters which is such a shame, I’m hoping that the Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest are safe from hunting but they only have a relatively small area to live so are vulnerable
 
LCPete said:
yes they are doing well , Iblis is a stunning mature Male Lion , he’s a bit past his prime I guess but still has a superb full mane
Always try to see him when I visit
I read that it’s rare to see an African wild male with a full mane like that as they get shot by trophy hunters which is such a shame, I’m hoping that the Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest are safe from hunting but they only have a relatively small area to live so are vulnerable
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The male may look the part ..., but has he done much for the Asiatic lion population in Europe .... Mmmm, I beg to differ!

As to Gir Forest, the current All India national administration and Junagadh State Govt. have made the Asiatic lion a heavily politicised issue with the Junagadh State Govt. the first authority to prevent full recovery of Asiatic lions in India (over and above Junagadh State frontiers). Just read up what happened with the Madhya Pradesh - Kuno NP plan for reintroduction of Asiatic lions. ATM, the Gir Forest population is around 700-750+ individuals (my guesstimate) and the area is to small to support that big a population. This in part was already good rationale enough to look for other sites to re-establish Asiatic lions in India.

A recent Times of India feature informing on the current situation in Gir Forest put the number of Asiatic lions in the park and surrounding areas at 674 (2020 numbers). This figure is up from the original estimate of 174 individuals ..., so the species is well on the way to recovery. Yet the current population inside this small area is unsustainable .... long term. A new count is due for 2025 and I expect the number of 674 to be surpassed even further ....!

Link: Gir Sanctuary Turns 59, Lion Numbers Continue To Rise | Ahmedabad News - Times of India
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
The male may look the part ..., but has he done much for the Asiatic lion population in Europe .... Mmmm, I beg to differ!

As to Gir Forest, the current All India national administration and Junagadh State Govt. have made the Asiatic lion a heavily politicised issue with the Junagadh State Govt. the first authority to prevent full recovery of Asiatic lions in India (over and above Junagadh State frontiers). Just read up what happened with the Madhya Pradesh - Kuno NP plan for reintroduction of Asiatic lions. ATM, the Gir Forest population is around 700-750+ individuals (my guesstimate) and the area is to small to support that big a population. This in part was already good rationale enough to look for other sites to re-establish Asiatic lions in India.

A recent Times of India feature informing on the current situation in Gir Forest put the number of Asiatic lions in the park and surrounding areas at 674 (2020 numbers). This figure is up from the original estimate of 174 individuals ..., so the species is well on the way to recovery. Yet the current population inside this small area is unsustainable .... long term. A new count is due for 2025 and I expect the number of 674 to be surpassed even further ....!

Link: Gir Sanctuary Turns 59, Lion Numbers Continue To Rise | Ahmedabad News - Times of India
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You are right it is a shame that they have not managed to breed from Iblis , Chester have put a lot of work into trying to but without success
Have just read up on the Madhya Pradesh - Kuno NP plan for reintroduction of Asiatic lions that you mentioned, such a shame that the authorities that look after Gir forest reserve do not want to release any lions , as you say the current population isn’t sustainable
 
Jambo said:
I have seen cases of bulls being too forceful with cows when they're younger which consequently has lead to the cows refusing mating as they grew older. Obviously this isn't always the case, but there's a chance. Without a dominant presence on the cows side the bull could also likely mate with Riva as well; and she's far too young. Just some things to keep in mind re. acquiring a new bull. Giving them a few years to mature may be the best option before acquiring a bull soon (which may have been the original plan).
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Which exact cases did you witness ? Who were the Elephants and what exactly happened ?
 
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