Chester Zoo Chester Zoo news 2025

olhl.animal.photography said:
Ahead of my trip this week, does anyone know if the walkthrough aviaries and/or large aves-oriented buildings are still open?
I’m aware that bird flu measures have been tightened in the northwest of the UK and so am hoping they’re still open, however understand that they may be temporary closed to prevent the spread of the virus like they were 18 months ago.
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As of yesterday all the walkthrough aviaries are closed (LAWA, Bali, Sumatra). However both Tropical Realm and Monsoon Forest are open with disinfectant foot mats.
 
Have had email saying from 1st March Highland Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire Zoo and ZSEA (Banham & Africa Alive) are being added to the list of zoos can visit free (1 visit per year) with Chester membership but Twycross is being removed.
 
Couple of changes to the zoos you can visit on the back of having a Chester membership

We wanted to inform you about a couple of upcoming changes to your membership benefits.
We’re pleased to share that from 1 March, Highland Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire Zoo and ZSEA(Banham & Africa Alive) will be added to the list of selected UK zoos that you can now visit with your membership! Unfortunately, free entry to Twycross Zoo will no longer be available from 1 March.
 
Just wanted to mention some change-arounds that I have noticed since I last visited a few months ago and also some news from my visit today:

. Black-breasted Leaf Turtles no longer on display in ROTRA.

. Panther Chameleon juveniles in Tropical Realm have been replaced by Parson’s Chameleon juveniles.

. Caiman Lizards have been replaced by Cone-headed Iguanas.

. Tokay Geckos no longer signed in ROTRA.

. Henkel’s Leaf Tailed Gecko now on display in the large Madagascar cohab (good luck finding those :)), along with Western Girdled Lizard. The Southeastern Girdled Lizard has moved into the smaller display at the end of the corridor.

. Reticulated Python and Emerald Tree Boa off display today I assume for health checks.

. Rio Cauca Caecilians are back on display in their old habitat in Tropical Realm.

. Signage has been removed for Imbabura Tree Frogs.

. Signage has been removed for Mountain Chickens (hopefully the zoo hasn’t lost the species).

. Daisy’s Ricefish now on display in the old Pea Pufferfish tank in the Aquarium.

. Javan Green Magpie are on display in Tropical Realm and displaying nesting behaviours.
 
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Typhlonectes said:
Just wanted to mention some change-arounds that I have noticed since I last visited a few months ago and also some news from my visit today:

. Black-breasted Leaf Turtles no longer on display in ROTRA.

. Panther Chameleon juveniles in Tropical Realm have been replaced by Parson’s Chameleon juveniles.

. Caiman Lizards have been replaced by Cone-headed Iguanas.

. Tokay Geckos no longer signed in ROTRA.

. Henkel’s Leaf Tailed Gecko now on display in the large Madagascar cohab (good luck finding those :)), along with Western Girdled Lizard. The Southeastern Girdled Lizard has moved into the smaller display at the end of the corridor.

. Reticulated Python and Emerald Tree Boa off display today I assume for health checks.

. Rio Cauca Caecilians are back on display in their old habitat in Tropical Realm.

. Signage has been removed for Imbabura Tree Frogs.

. Signage has been removed for Mountain Chickens (hopefully the zoo hasn’t lost the species).

. Daisy’s Ricefish now on display in the old Pea Pufferfish tank in the Aquarium.
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In November i went into another part of the zoo where the Amphibian Pods are located and i was shocked when i found out how many Mountain Chickens are living back there. The zoo keeps a lot of amphibian species behind the scenes so I wouldn’t be worried about them going out of the species.
 
Pandaboi said:
In November i went into another part of the zoo where the Amphibian Pods are located and i was shocked when i found out how many Mountain Chickens are living back there. The zoo keeps a lot of amphibian species behind the scenes so I wouldn’t be worried about them going out of the species.
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Great to hear
 
Typhlonectes said:
Just wanted to mention some change-arounds that I have noticed since I last visited a few months ago and also some news from my visit today:

. Black-breasted Leaf Turtles no longer on display in ROTRA.

. Panther Chameleon juveniles in Tropical Realm have been replaced by Parson’s Chameleon juveniles.

. Caiman Lizards have been replaced by Cone-headed Iguanas.

. Tokay Geckos no longer signed in ROTRA.

. Henkel’s Leaf Tailed Gecko now on display in the large Madagascar cohab (good luck finding those :)), along with Western Girdled Lizard. The Southeastern Girdled Lizard has moved into the smaller display at the end of the corridor.

. Reticulated Python and Emerald Tree Boa off display today I assume for health checks.

. Rio Cauca Caecilians are back on display in their old habitat in Tropical Realm.

. Signage has been removed for Imbabura Tree Frogs.

. Signage has been removed for Mountain Chickens (hopefully the zoo hasn’t lost the species).

. Daisy’s Ricefish now on display in the old Pea Pufferfish tank in the Aquarium.

. Javan Green Magpie are on display in Tropical Realm and displaying nesting behaviours.
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Also with the Imbabura Tree Frogs (didn’t even know they were on show!) they also had some of these in the backstage area so again I wouldn’t worry about them going out of the species.

It’s honestly amazing seeing the conservation work Chester do behind the scenes. I was lucky enough to be invited to go and see the Bermuda Skink and Snail breeding pods and was very surprised to spot a little baby skink popping its head up. Another highlight was seeing Golden Mantella and Cinnamon Tree Frog tadpoles in the pods.
 
Pandaboi said:
Also with the Imbabura Tree Frogs (didn’t even know they were on show!) they also had some of these in the backstage area so again I wouldn’t worry about them going out of the species.

It’s honestly amazing seeing the conservation work Chester do behind the scenes. I was lucky enough to be invited to go and see the Bermuda Skink and Snail breeding pods and was very surprised to spot a little baby skink popping its head up. Another highlight was seeing Golden Mantella and Cinnamon Tree Frog tadpoles in the pods.
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Lucky. Can I ask how you were invited behind the scenes?
 
There’s various videos circulating on Facebook this evening showing one of the Roloway monkeys escaping their enclosure, approaching the public clearly very distressed before diving back into the moat surrounding the island and climbing back onto their island. Looks like they might have to cut some shrubs back around their enclosure.
 
ChiChi said:
There’s various videos circulating on Facebook this evening showing one of the Roloway monkeys escaping their enclosure, approaching the public clearly very distressed before diving back into the moat surrounding the island and climbing back onto their island. Looks like they might have to cut some shrubs back around their enclosure.
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I noticed one youngster exploring the reed beds a couple of days ago! Should’ve said something to a keeper
 
ChiChi said:
There’s various videos circulating on Facebook this evening showing one of the Roloway monkeys escaping their enclosure, approaching the public clearly very distressed before diving back into the moat surrounding the island and climbing back onto their island. Looks like they might have to cut some shrubs back around their enclosure.
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Or maybe consider whether they should be in an enclosure with a moat?
 
Quick visit yesterday, was happy to see the giraffes actually out in the main paddock briefly. Went to see them again later on and they had all gone in and the zebra were out instead.
 
Coquerel’s sifaka birth:
https://www.chesterzoo.org/news/rare-baby-sifaka-born-at-the-zoo
https://www.chesterzoo.org/news/rare-baby-sifaka-born-at-the-zoo

The tiny baby has arrived to parents Beatrice (12) and Elliot (12), bringing an end to a five-month pregnancy.

We're the only zoo in the UK, and one of just three in Europe, to care for Coquerel’s sifakas, having worked with the Duke Lemur Centre in America to establish a conservation breeding programme across the continent that’s working to prevent the rare primates from becoming extinct. Currently just nine sifaka reside in the whole of Europe, with four now found in Chester.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Coquerel’s sifaka birth:
https://www.chesterzoo.org/news/rare-baby-sifaka-born-at-the-zoo

The tiny baby has arrived to parents Beatrice (12) and Elliot (12), bringing an end to a five-month pregnancy.

We're the only zoo in the UK, and one of just three in Europe, to care for Coquerel’s sifakas, having worked with the Duke Lemur Centre in America to establish a conservation breeding programme across the continent that’s working to prevent the rare primates from becoming extinct. Currently just nine sifaka reside in the whole of Europe, with four now found in Chester.
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How old is the first offspring now?
 
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