Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Review
- Thread starter CZJimmy
- Start date
Onagers and Horses would never work together. Stallions of both are very aggressive (particularly the wild Asses) and would almost certainly fight dreadfully.
Prez Horses wouldn't do well with the rhino- they need hard dry ground for their feet, not a bog- they would develop terrible foot problems or break their legs in the mudholes. The best they can do is keep the horses adjacent to the onager/camels in the appropriate 'steppe' area, perhaps with another steppe species(Yak
or some steppe antelope perhaps?)Onagers and Horses would never work together. Stallions of both are very aggressive (particularly the wild Asses) and would almost certainly fight dreadfully.
Prez Horses wouldn't do well with the rhino- they need hard dry ground for their feet, not a bog- they would develop terrible foot problems or break their legs in the mudholes. The best they can do is keep the horses adjacent to the onager/camels in the appropriate 'steppe' area, perhaps with another steppe species(Yak
It would be possible to have them side-by-side. Asian Steppes has a sandy paddock adjacent to the grassed one. The Onagers could be kept in the sand and the horses and camels could share the larger grass paddock.
I haven't visited Whipsnade for a couple of years, but the horses were on their own then. I don't mind mixing them with camels, as I can't imagine a camel getting intimidated. But I don't like the idea of putting them next door to the onagers. There isn't enough room (particularly if they breed both species) and the stallions would get very worked up. The zoo would need to build a wall between them.
Alan
Alan
I think you could mix the horses with another(non-equine) species such as some form of small antelope which they would probably ignore or which could run fast.
If the two paddocks were side by side, the dividing fences would need to be double or screened off as the horse and ass males would fight through a netted fence. I've seen Marwell's Somali Ass stallion biting and chewing his hardstand fencing trying to get in with the mares- he has buckled the mesh considerably.
If the two paddocks were side by side, the dividing fences would need to be double or screened off as the horse and ass males would fight through a netted fence. I've seen Marwell's Somali Ass stallion biting and chewing his hardstand fencing trying to get in with the mares- he has buckled the mesh considerably.
They still are.
Ah right, it looked like they were part of the mixed asian reserve. My mistake!
I'm really not keen on the idea of Przewalski's on the Asian plains with Asian Rhino, blackbucks etc. It's just not geograhpically correct for starters. I think one of the best solutions, and maybe most likely, is as jimmy suggests- using that sandy bit near the cheetahs and camels for the onager, and then mix the przewlaski's with camels. Maybe the grass paddock could be rotated between the two equine species. I can see Alan's and pertinax's points regarding horses and asses side-by-side though- not ideal.
I never knew the zoo were moving out of Pere David's deer. If the lechwe are moving into there exhibit, what will move into the Prezwalski's old one? Theres also the current lechwe paddock to think about, but I guess that could go back to black rhino. Hopefully we'll be seeing at least one, new ungulate species in the zoo.
I never knew the zoo were moving out of Pere David's deer. If the lechwe are moving into there exhibit, what will move into the Prezwalski's old one? Theres also the current lechwe paddock to think about, but I guess that could go back to black rhino. Hopefully we'll be seeing at least one, new ungulate species in the zoo.
taun
Well-Known Member
It might be one of the planned/talked about species Zoogiraffe said that would be a Europen first??
From a distance they do as their paddock extends into the Asian area. I don't think I've ever seen them mixed with anything at Whipsnade- however I'm sure they'd be fine with other non-equid species, as at the HWP.
Ooh, I hope so, what guesses do we have?
taun
Well-Known Member
I have completely forgetten, but now there is room becoming availble its one possibility it will be something completely new to europe!
I had a thought last night. The Asian Plains area has a small paddock containing 1.1 Philippine Spotted Deer and their youngster. Now that the pathway to this enclosure is closed there is room for an extension towards the Twilight Zone. Perhaps the horses could be housed here. They would not have to go in with the rhinos then.
It is not geographically correct to keep onager with Bactrian Camels, but it seems to be popular.
It is not geographically correct to keep onager with Bactrian Camels, but it seems to be popular.
taun
Well-Known Member
Hmmm....Quite possible considering they seemed to have not yet finished building in that area.
Thought it was a little strange the bridge was diverted alot, Ok some of it was because of the height need to cross the footpath.
No, its actually more correct to have the Camels with Prezwalski horses.
I can't seriously imagine they are thinking of putting horses and rhinos together- geographically they exist thousands of miles apart in totally different habitats- the only thing they have in common is being 'from Asia' (and a fairly close relationship) Do Chester need the Prezwalski's anyway?- they have zebras and asses.
Personally I think the Asian rhinos would do better moved to a much larger paddock elsewhere, or the deer and antelope. I think longterm its too small for all three to coexist there and will be ruined.
I'd say that it is just about geographically correct, or near enough. whilst wild bactrian camels have more in common with the Przewalski horses, I think domestic bactrians (and maybe feral ones?) live within the range of onagers (as a species certainly- Persian Onagers as a subspecies I'm little less certain).
Aren't all captive bactrians from domestic stock?
I believe so- certainly in Uk & Europe. I think Peking/Beijing Zoo had 'wild' Bactrian camels at one stage, or maybe still do.