Chester Zoo Chester Zoo News 2024

[ItsZach]

I guess it's one downside of the approach chester is taking, doing whole areas in one go. If they just said that area is forrests. Then build the chimps new home and a few others, then maybe add gorillas a few years later

With the way Chester themes their areas, I don't think it would be possible to "build as they go" sadly.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Just watched the members update prior to the agm and CEO stated they will not be getting western lowland gorillas due to the cost.

I think that is a sensible approach. They have chimpanzees, bongos, okapis ... et cetera ... why bother with another gorilla troupe. For their conservation education messages the species and others not mentioned by me are quite sufficient to break ground on a Congo Forest area....

 

[Fallax]

It's a shame the gorilla plans aren't happening any longer, I guess this means the chimps will be the "star" of the future "Forest" section. Still this is likely quite a while away, so changes should be expected.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

It's a shame the gorilla plans aren't happening any longer, I guess this means the chimps will be the "star" of the future "Forest" section. Still this is likely quite a while away, so changes should be expected.

Look (reality check): The zoo has communicated that gorilla's will NOT feature in a future Central African area....! That is a final decision and one that will not be reversed for more reasons then just the above was given. Chester Zoo's financial burden is one to be reckoned with too.....!!!!

 

[JVM]

Does anyone know what the specific plans for the new chimpanzee exhibit are?

Perhaps if they build multiple sections (which sounds likely as some of the chimpanzee do need to be separated at times) then some sections could be constructed in such a way to be able to be easily converted to house gorillas if a future opportunity arose, while still being able to hold chimpanzees in the meantime - similar to how some zoos build elephant habitats in such a way they could be converted for rhinos, or polar bear exhibits that can be converted for grizzlies. Lincoln Park's central ape space used to switch between chimpanzee and gorilla, so I know their needs are not too distinct for this to be possible.

 

[Fallax]

Look (reality check): The zoo has communicated that gorilla's will NOT feature in a future Central African area....! That is a final decision and one that will not be reversed for more reasons then just the above was given. Chester Zoo's financial burden is one to be reckoned with too.....!!!!

I wasn't saying I expect it to be reversed? When I said plans may change I was referring to *this* change itself, not that they might "change their mind" regarding this.

 

[Fallax]

Does anyone know what the specific plans for the new chimpanzee exhibit are?

Perhaps if they build multiple sections (which sounds likely as some of the chimpanzee do need to be separated at times) then some sections could be constructed in such a way to be able to be easily converted to house gorillas if a future opportunity arose, while still being able to hold chimpanzees in the meantime - similar to how some zoos build elephant habitats in such a way they could be converted for rhinos, or polar bear exhibits that can be converted for grizzlies. Lincoln Park's central ape space used to switch between chimpanzee and gorilla, so I know their needs are not too distinct for this to be possible.

I think it was originally said at some point that it would be on the site of the current giraffe paddock but could definitely change.

 

[Laboratory 7]

I think it was originally said at some point that it would be on the site of the current giraffe paddock but could definitely change.

That was too be the gorilla area under the zoo's former CEO, before he was needlessly and pointlessly removed from his job,but thankfully he seems to be doing an excellent job in his new zoo and showing what a loss he is too Chester

 

[Laboratory 7]

I wasn't saying I expect it to be reversed? When I said plans may change I was referring to *this* change itself, not that they might "change their mind" regarding this.

That changed the very moment that Tim Rowlands and Mark Pilgrim were both removed from there jobs,now grasslands is the only thing animal wise that a serious amount of money since that day and that was already planned, I would love to know just how much money has been spent on the square and the Oakfield, since the current CEO took over I suspect well over the cost of the snow leopard and tamandua enclosure combined

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

That was too be the gorilla area under the zoo's former CEO, before he was needlessly and pointlessly removed from his job,but thankfully he seems to be doing an excellent job in his new zoo and showing what a loss he is too Chester

I can only second all you said relating to Chester. They have a caretaker CEO now, best with numbers but no clue on zoo animal collection, husbandry, management nor conservation. The exit of both left a big hole at Chester ...

 

[olhl.animal.photography]

Updates. Went on a trip today (it was great as usual) and am going again in a few weeks. Today I focused on the left half of the map (Tropical Realm, Snow Leopards, Dragons in Danger, Realm of the Red Ape, etc) and from that have a considerable amount of news/points of interest. Sorry if any of it has already been covered, and sorry for disrupting the gorilla/chimp conversation.

Firstly: babies. There are a ton. I didn't manage to get into the Monkey House unfortunately, so missed out on the Roloway Monkey family and their new arrival, but there were plenty more about, namely:
- Trinidad Stream Frog tadpoles in the Butterfly House
- one or two juvenile Brahminy Starlings by the Lions
- some juvenile Tricoloured Parrotfinches and Red Avadavats in Realm of the Red Ape
- at least one baby Satyr Tragopan
- multiple baby Crested Partridge in the third Dragons in Danger aviary
- also in that same aviary, a baby Great Argus Pheasant was terrorising a White Named Pheasant Pigeon
- there were three Vietnam Pheasant chicks in their shared aviary with the Grey Winged Blackbirds
- one of the Lord Derby's Parakeets - which I saw for the first time today - seems to be getting ready to incubate an egg, based on the footage from the camera in the hollow tree stump next box
- the four Black Necked Stilt chicks were very active and came very close
- Edie the baby giraffe was very showy today
- and finally a baby Orangutan in Realm of the Red Ape
There may well have been more, particularly of non-avian variety, but those were the ones I noted down.

Also, on the topic of birds, a few things had moved about:
- there is now a pair of Collared Grosbeaks in the Himalayan Monal/Spotted Laughingthrush aviary, which are much more showy than when in the outdoor Manas aviary by the Elephants
- there is now (at least) one Sumatran Laughingthrush in the Vietnam Pheasant/Grey Winged Blackbird aviary
- and perhaps most interestingly, in the Tropical Realm, the Green Aracaris in the raised aviary were gone, and replaced with some Blue Crowned Hanging Parrots. I speculate (having not been there to double check today) that the parrots are from Monsoon Forest - given that the ones in Realm of the Red Ape were still there - and so I hope, yet strongly doubt, that the aracaris are now onshow somewhere in the Islands complex??

Anyway, personally, the highlights were the Coquerel's Sifakas, who put on a great show for a good half-hour, the Collared Grosbeaks, the Tokay Gecko, and the Lord Derby's Parakeets, having not seen all but the Sifakas until today.

The disappointments were Yashin and Nubra who slept all day, the no-show Aloatran Gentle Lemurs, and the no-show Graham's Anole in the Butterfly House.

All in all though a great day out. I'll cover the right side of the map next time.

Sorry to disrupt the chat.

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

The disappointments were Yashin and Nubra who slept all day

Now Yashin and Nubra are who? When referring to zoos' animals by name, please always remember to state which species they are as well because not everyone knows every single animal at every zoo by name.

 

[Rajang-GOAT]

Now Yashin and Nubra are who? When referring to zoos' animals by name, please always remember to state which species they are as well because not everyone knows every single animal at every zoo by name.

I believe they are the pair of Snow Leopards that arrived this year to live in the new Snow Leopard exhibit that opened around Easter.

 

[ItsZach]

Correct on the Snow Leopards

Visiting this weekend, looking forward to it. The first time I've visited since Oct 2022, anything major I need to keep in mind? I know some of species have been moved elsewhere / off-show due to HoA, and obviously the new snow leopards, but besides that is there anything to aim for?

Currently got tuatara, sifaka, javan green magpie and yellow-faced myna on my "must see" list.

 

[Kalaw]

Just watched the members update prior to the agm and CEO stated they will not be getting western lowland gorillas due to the cost.

Were these plans ever official, or just rumours? If the former, how would they have been incorporated into HoA?

 

[ItsZach]

Were these plans ever official, or just rumours? If the former, how would they have been incorporated into HoA?

Official to a certain degree, the old CEO was set on getting them one day.

 

[JT]

Correct on the Snow Leopards

Visiting this weekend, looking forward to it. The first time I've visited since Oct 2022, anything major I need to keep in mind? I know some of species have been moved elsewhere / off-show due to HoA, and obviously the new snow leopards, but besides that is there anything to aim for?

Currently got tuatara, sifaka, javan green magpie and yellow-faced myna on my "must see" list.

I could be wrong, but I think the Javan magpies are offshow.

 

[olhl.animal.photography]

Correct on the Snow Leopards

Visiting this weekend, looking forward to it. The first time I've visited since Oct 2022, anything major I need to keep in mind? I know some of species have been moved elsewhere / off-show due to HoA, and obviously the new snow leopards, but besides that is there anything to aim for?

Currently got tuatara, sifaka, javan green magpie and yellow-faced myna on my "must see" list.

Tuataras and Sifakas were very easy to spot and enjoy today, so you should be in luck there.

The Yellow Faced Myna was signed again in Dragons in Danger but I neither heard nor saw it at all, despite it usually being quite a prominent member of the aviaries.

The Javan Green Magpie I did not see today, so if it's anywhere, it'll be in the Islands. If not, then it's not currently on show. Sorry.

Another thing to look out for (at least in my opinion) are the Lord Derby's Parakeets next to the Snow Leopards, and the Roloway Monkeys.

 

[olhl.animal.photography]

Now Yashin and Nubra are who? When referring to zoos' animals by name, please always remember to state which species they are as well because not everyone knows every single animal at every zoo by name.

Yes sorry. Yashin and Nubra are - like @Rajang-GOAT mentioned, the Snow Leopards.

 

[bongorob]

The aracaris were always destined to leave. The plan at one time was to replace them with another more endangered toucan species after staff had become accustomed to their husbandry. Javan Magpies were offshow on my last visit, their former aviary in the Sumatran Aviary housed a pair of Salvadori's Pheasants.

I received an email today announcing more progress on the Chester Zoo Theme Park.

A brand new off-road driving adventure for children. It is to the north of the Jaguar Coffee house picnic area. The zoo has assured members that they have no plans to become an amusement park. I do not believe them.