Chester Zoo Chester Zoo summer 2014

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Animal Friendly said:
This is a response Chester Zoo have given to a concerned member of the public regarding the relocation of Jangoli to Madrid Zoo, Spain. " Jangoli who is 46 has been with us for 20 years and in that time she became mother to Po Chin, now at Parc Paradiso in Belgium and Tunga who is at Bellewaede, also in Belgium. Naturally over the years she has been here the dynamics of the herd have changed and after much consideration we have moved Jangoli to a smaller herd in Madrid where we're confident she will settle well and enjoy her new surroundings. A keeper from Chester Zoo travelled with her and will remain at Madrid whilst she settles in, Kind regards C.Z."
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I contacted Chester Zoo yesterday enquiring about Jangali. I was told that she was accompanied on her journey to Madrid by one of the Chester elephant keepers and that she appears to be settling in well at her new home. I have also noted, as expected that C.A.P.S. have taken up this matter after been given information that an elephant called Jangali had been observed in transit at the docks. Next week, a representative of C.A.P.S has been invited to a meeting with the C.E.O. of Chester Zoo to discuss this matter, at least a bit of progress there, people sitting down and discussing this matter in a civil fashion, rather than turning it into a slanging match.
 
Animal Friendly said:
Next week, a representative of C.A.P.S has been invited to a meeting with the C.E.O. of Chester Zoo to discuss this matter, at least a bit of progress there, people sitting down and discussing this matter in a civil fashion, rather than turning it into a slanging match.
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I think that the zoo will find the meeting very much like talking to a brick wall.
 
stubeanz said:
Hi all, this video popped up on my friends fb feed and I know it's by caps but it has sparked a large debate where I seen to be the only one defending zoos. So thought I would come here and see what you guys think of the video and if you have any other info on the sloth enclosure. Thanks :D

Links here .... Conservationists express serious concern over sloth welfare at Chester Zoo - Captive Animals Protection Society
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The footage, as per usual where CAPS are concerned, is very deceptive. The shot has been angled so that the actually rather dense foliage at the back of the exhibit can't be seen. The article also does not take into account that the ropes were an expansion of the exhibit, which was initially confined to two trees but has gradually been given more climbing opportunities.

This deceptive approach to filming and photography is a technique used frequently by CAPS. In their 'Sad Eyes and Empty Lives' video a few years ago, I recall them including a significantly zoomed-in shot of the Tsavo Black Rhino house which made it look much more restrictive and gloomy.
 
where is the "large debate" raging? I couldn't see any comments on the sloth article linked to. CAPS are a mental lot with which there is literally no point trying to engage in debate, but it is endless fun to read their idiotic dribblings.
 
I was thinking about the comment that sloths are nocturnal. I am no expert by a long way but I am guessing that they are nocturnal to avoid competition for food and not by choice.

I have often seen them in diurnal exhibits.

The sloths at Chester frequently climb along the ropes, it is their choice to do so and at the risk of seeming anthropomorphic, they seem to enjoy it.

"The pictures depict a toe-toed sloth – a naturally nocturnal species famous for their lack of activity and extremely slow gait."

Extremely slow gait? They should have seen the one at Twycross doing laps of the Tropical House at breakneck speed.

This part sums up CAPS for me, "notwithstanding our fundamental opposition to zoos"
 
bongorob said:
I was thinking about the comment that sloths are nocturnal. I am no expert by a long way but I am guessing that they are nocturnal to avoid competition for food and not by choice.
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I think they are actually cathemeral in the wild. At any rate they don't seem averse to being active in the day-time in zoos.
 
Tiny sample size, but my three wild sloth sightings in Costa Rica were one active in daylight (B. variegatus), one sleeping in daylight (C. hoffmanni), and one sleeping at night (B. variegatus).

I'm pretty sure that cathemeral is the best-fitting term for their activity patterns - they are certainly not exclusively nocturnal.

But why let that get in the way of some good ol' fashioned ill-informed outrage, eh?
 
Maguari said:
Tiny sample size, but my three wild sloth sightings in Costa Rica were one active in daylight (B. variegatus), one sleeping in daylight (C. hoffmanni), and one sleeping at night (B. variegatus).

I'm pretty sure that cathemeral is the best-fitting term for their activity patterns - they are certainly not exclusively nocturnal.

But why let that get in the way of some good ol' fashioned ill-informed outrage, eh?
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Then why not go onto their facebook page and give them the facts.
 
Brum said:
What would be the point? CAPS aren't known for their reasoning with regards to animals in captivity!
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Well there is no harm in trying!, I will say one thing for them they don't block you from their facebook page just because you don't agree with them, I have posted quite a few comments regarding zoo and circus animals and they have always answered with their views, but they have never blocked me.
 
As we all know, CAPS are often way OTT. The space is certainly not brightly lit and the environment is generally quiet, but it can be noisy at times on busy days, particularly if there are parties of young children.
I have only visited once since the ropes were installed and one of the sloths was certainly very active, just as the video shows. I don't know enough about the psychology of sloths to know whether this is a sign of stress, as CAPS' conservationist claims, or of well-being. Can anyone properly claim to know enough about sloths to make a proper judgement?
Nonetheless, I am not entirely happy about this display. The trees were originally intended to live and grow, but died very quickly (perhaps because of the low light level). The pair of sloths have always been relatively active, compared to the sloths I have seen on display in other zoos. They have certainly used all the available space, including the ground area from time to time and, I believe, occasional dips in the pool - I think these are probably good signs, but I am not claiming to be an expert. The new ropework provides additional space for the animals, as bongorob has pointed out, and it also provides excellent viewing for the visitors; on the face of it, both of these are good things, but I think that the zoo now has to respond to CAPS' criticisms.
I would like to see two or three boxes added to give the sloths somewhere to retreat into. Then I would like to see someone studying the way the sloths use these boxes, the ropes and the other features of the exhibit. Do both animals use the ropes? Do they use them more at busy times? What do they do at night? Perhaps there are also physiological tests that could show signs of stress. If CAPS are found to be correct, rehouse the sloths and publicise the fact as a way of showing that the zoo takes animal welfare seriously: if they are wrong, publicise the way that the zoo provides the right sort of environment for its animals.

Incidentally, when did 'conservationist' become a qualification, aren't we all conservationists now? Who would admit to being a destructionist? ;)

Alan
 
Animal Friendly said:
Then why not go onto their facebook page and give them the facts.
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Because I value my sanity and don't intend to spend all of Sunday fending off the responses from people who don't want to listen (I thought very carefully before even posting on here on the subject!). Do you honestly think if I went on there, explained about the foliage at the other side of the exhibit and the cathemeral nature of sloths and the rest, they would just go 'oh, sorry!' and take the thing down? Or even tone it down?

To be honest, I'm more inclined to let them spout their nonsense as the more extreme they come across the less likely anyone is to pay any attention to them. I'm all for fighting for animal welfare, but CAPS are completely out of step with reality (and, in my experience, the public - when I was volunteering at a wildlife park - somewhere greatly inferior to Chester - they picketed us and at least one visitor offered to punch them in the face in return for free admission! The offer was, of course, declined - but I'm sure the entrance staff were tempted by it...).
 
Thanks for the replies, unfortunately the discussion is on a private Facebook page and so isn't open to the public to debate on. It has since now turned I am debating one of those butters whose keeps posting references to caps and PETA! Not sure whether I should carry on or just give In!

Thus lady would like all animals to live In "tourist free sanctuaries" how she expects to fund this sanctuary which no one can visit I don't know!
 
stubeanz said:
Thanks for the replies, unfortunately the discussion is on a private Facebook page and so isn't open to the public to debate on. It has since now turned I am debating one of those butters whose keeps posting references to caps and PETA! Not sure whether I should carry on or just give In!

Thus lady would like all animals to live In "tourist free sanctuaries" how she expects to fund this sanctuary which no one can visit I don't know!
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Well you have two options one is find a nice pad cell for this woman so that you can lock her up and throw the key away or the second is just to walk away as they are so blinded by ******** that what ever you say will not change their views!
 
I bet a visitor free location would be best for her … without any other foreign or dangerous stimulations to absorb her, perhaps she might come back to her senses. Though I think CAPS are a hard nut to crack … at the best of times (hence the name …!:D)
 
Does anyone know if Aung Bo has covered any of the Chester cows since his arrival? I would presume he is too young to assert dominance with Thi?
 
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