Chester Zoo Chester Zoo updates *3

[SMR]

There was discussion from the elephant team about "ideally" being able to keep bulls with the herd until they were at least ten years old. The question of a second group was mentioned, as was an extension to the paddock, but in response to both they explained that a lot of planning would be required and if implemented both would take considerable time.

Another intriguing reaction from the team was brought about when someone asked whether the elephants would be mixed with another species. They all smiled broadly and then went on to mention how blackbuck would be an prime candidate (following in the footsteps of Dublin presumably).

 

[Pertinax]

.
The Blackpool Orangs are still in Blackpool. Would they be, if there is a new enclosure almost ready? And is there space enough for them without one?
How could Kevin be transfered already in springtime?

I haven't heard of any new enclosure at Chester, but the older Orangutan house is a large building which, until the new 'Realm' building opened, held up to a dozen Orangutans of both species and is now closed to the public, could presumably still house several more orangs e.g. Blackpool's group(offshow), as there are three large 'showden' enclosures plus sleeping areas. I don't know what state of repair/condition that mostly empty House is in now though I believe it still houses the Bornean male 'Tuan'.

 

[pipaluk]

There was discussion from the elephant team about "ideally" being able to keep bulls with the herd until they were at least ten years old. The question of a second group was mentioned, as was an extension to the paddock, but in response to both they explained that a lot of planning would be required and if implemented both would take considerable time

I am no elephant expert, so please dont stampede me, but if the facility is believed to be at capacity, with 2 more youngsters on the way, is there a need to get a new bull in the immediate future?
Is keeping young bulls til they are 10 remotely realistic at Chester? I say this given that Whipsnade, with far greater capacity(outdoor anyway) moved on euan their young male at about 7-8?

 

[zoogiraffe]

Could anybody with contact to Chester Zoo find out what the plans concerning orang utan Kevin really are?
It sounds all a bit contradictory.
The Berlin Zoo claims that Chester wanted a contribution for a new enclosure (refused), and that Kevin would be brought to Chester after the Blackpool orangs had been there.
The Blackpool Orangs are still in Blackpool. Would they be, if there is a new enclosure almost ready? And is there space enough for them without one?
If no new enclosure is under construction now, how could Kevin be transfered already in springtime?

Kevin has been kept all by himself for 4 years in the cage for the sick on the roof of Berlin Zoo.

Please can anybody help with information?!

The simple answer is despite whatever Zoo Berlin,is saying Chester have not confirmed that they,are going to take Kevin yet,they have talked with them and sent staff over,to see him,but at present they have no plans to bring him,to Chester yet but things can change,atleast that was the plan 4 weeks ago.
Well seeing as Chester have not yet confirmed,that the Blackpool Orangs,will be housed at Chester,while Blackpool rebuild their enclosure,I suggest we all just wait and stop getting our knickers in a twist,until any move is confirmed by all the partys involved,its not a fact but just speculation,that could get out of hand!
Chester like to annouce any moves like this in their own time,and there is nothing any of us on here,can do to change that!

 

[gentle lemur]

I haven't heard of any new enclosure at Chester, but the older Orangutan house is a large building which, until the new 'Realm' building opened, held up to a dozen Orangutans of both species and is now closed to the public, could presumably still house several more orangs e.g. Blackpool's group(offshow), as there are three large 'showden' enclosures plus sleeping areas. I don't know what state of repair/condition that mostly empty House is in now though I believe it still houses the Bornean male 'Tuan'.

I agree with zoogiraffe's remarks entirely. Chester certainly has more space for orangs than any other British zoo - but of course they also keep more orangs
As far as I know, Tuan still has the end indoor enclosure by the flamingos & lemurs - but if the Blackpool group are accommodated temporarily, they might go there so that they can have access to the round open air island, which Tuan cannot use. Tuan could move into the larger middle enclosure, which I think was used before to mix him with the females - I don't know if this mixing has happened recently, but it may be in prospect fairly soon as Iznee and Latifah are getting quite independent.
It's been a couple of years since I saw the young male at Blackpool, but I feel that Tuan might not take too kindly to being next to him if he can sense his presence in any way. Likewise Tuan calls more than any other male orang I have encountered, which might upset the younger male. I can't imagine that Chester will be able to consider giving Kevin a home until the Sumatrans have moved into Islands as I don't think they can keep two adult males in adjacent enclosures. The third indoor enclosure is for the females and juveniles because it adjoins their wired outdoor enclosures in RotRA.

Alan

 

[Taisha]

The transfer of Orang Utan Kevin, Berlin

The simple answer is despite whatever Zoo Berlin,is saying Chester have not confirmed that they,are going to take Kevin yet

Thank you for bringing some light into this story. It would not be the first time that the public gets a wrong information in this case.
It looks quite bleak for Kevin, I would say.
The Blackpool Zoo didn't want or could not tell me when their animals will be send away. Only that they are still there.

May I ask you to send me a message if you get any news, better, or worse?

Many thanks!

 

[zoogiraffe]

Thank you for bringing some light into this story. It would not be the first time that the public gets a wrong information in this case.
It looks quite bleak for Kevin, I would say.
The Blackpool Zoo didn't want or could not tell me when their animals will be send away. Only that they are still there.

May I ask you to send me a message if you get any news, better, or worse?

Many thanks!

Thats why I tend to only believe things when they have happened,because very often alot of wrong info or mis-heard info,very quickly snowballs and becomes fact.

As for Blackpool Zoos Orang Chester have agreed in principle to house them,but as of yet the deal isn't a done deal,alot of things still remain to be sorted out at both ends,before there is any chance of this proposed moving happening.

 

[jde7582]

Short visit today, liked the new fallen trees in the Jaguar outdoor exhibits, makes them look more natural and less showy.

Tiger cubs are growing up fast, haven't seen them for a little while.

A lot of rubbish in exhibits, not a lt of staff walking around the zoo, I knw some will not like it, but CCTV would discourage people, as staff can't be everywhere all the time

 

[Pertinax]

As for Blackpool Zoos Orang Chester have agreed in principle to house them,but as of yet the deal isn't a done deal,alot of things still remain to be sorted out at both ends,before there is any chance of this proposed moving happening.

Put it like this. IF Blackpool need to remove their Orangutans from that House while its being renovated, Chester is the only place with room/enclosures to house them unless they ended up in Blackpool's own quarantine cages(I presume they have some).

 

[Taisha]

yet,they have talked with them and sent staff over,to see him

 

[Taisha]

Still puzzled

yet,they have talked with them and sent staff over,to see him

About a year ago Berlin Zoo said it was negotiating with Chester Zoo about taking Kevin. (They also talked about Monkey World which proved to be completely untrue.)
When I asked Chester about it, I got the reply they had taken Tuan instead (years ago?) and were quite happy with this decision.

Are you sure they sent staff to see Kevin? Would be a strange twist in a short period of time.

 

[adrian1963]

I know of 2 maybe 3 private collections that could quite easily take the Blackpool Orangutans thier maybe another couple also sorry can't name names.

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Put it like this. IF Blackpool need to remove their Orangutans from that House while its being renovated, Chester is the only place with room/enclosures to house them unless they ended up in Blackpool's own quarantine cages(I presume they have some).

I still think Chester's old Orangutan house is still a pretty decent facility. They do have a lot of space in there, on another thread there was reports about four or five years ago about when Chester had 'Dona (sp?)'. The reports were stating that Kevin would arrive at Chester and be introduced (hopefully successfully) to Dona and then they would be sent to another collection. Obviously 'Dona' is now deceased so that plan won't happen.

Blackpool have one on-show quarantine area and one off-show (I think). Blackpool's 'Great Ape house' is very old and outdated and held all three Ape species up until about the 1980/90's.

 

[Pertinax]

I know of 2 maybe 3 private collections that could quite easily take the Blackpool Orangutans thier maybe another couple also sorry can't name names.

Orangutans are extremely strong and inventive when it comes to taking enclosures apart- they really need specialist or purpose-built housing and I don't know of any other places apart from Chester that could provide that- and currently have the room as well.

 

[Pertinax]

When I asked Chester about it, I got the reply they had taken Tuan instead (years ago?) and were quite happy with this decision.

When Chester were looking for a new male some years ago(after the death of Anak) 'Kevin' was definately mentioned as being in the frame but then 'Tuan' was chosen/allocated to them instead.

The fresh mention of Kevin going to Chester seems a different/newer situation to that unless someone is referring to the original proposed move that didn't happen.

 

[Pertinax]

The reports were stating that Kevin would arrive at Chester and be introduced (hopefully successfully) to Dona and then they would be sent to another collection. Obviously 'Dona' is now deceased so that plan won't happen.

If I could have £1 for every proposed move of animals to zoos that then didn't happen, for whatever reasons, I would be rich by now.

If you ever see the EEP 'Recommended moves' sheet for any particular year e.g. for Orangutans or Gorillas, its simply a list with data for each animal being considered and simple notes such as ' xxx should move to(place) yyy, while www could be transferred to (place) zzz' or place x needs a new male following death of q. etc.

They do seem more like suggestions than directives and rather hypothetical. It seems to require agreement both between the Zoos concerned and the EEP co-ordinators before there is any real hope of a move happening and so for various reasons, only a percentage of these moves actually take place. It has always been like that.

 

[Pertinax]

Blackpool's 'Great Ape house' is very old and outdated and held all three Ape species up until about the 1980/90's.

The older section of the ApeHouse holding the Orangutans is probably now the worst in the UK for this species- since Dudley renovated their inside areas anyway. By contrast the Gorilla section is quite roomy and more modern as that 'wing' was added well after the original tiny 'three species' house was built when the zoo first opened.

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

The older section of the ApeHouse holding the Orangutans is probably now the worst in the UK for this species- since Dudley renovated their inside areas anyway. By contrast the Gorilla section is quite roomy and more modern as that 'wing' was added well after the original tiny 'three species' house was built when the zoo first opened.

I agree with your comments about it being the worst in the UK now. Dudley was possibly/probably worse. The current outdoor exhibit for theirs is still not the best however, they have a better indoor area judging from Maguari's recent photos. I will hopefully be visiting in a few months so I will judge the photos then.

 

[zoogiraffe]

yet,they have talked with them and sent staff over,to see him

Atleast one member of staff has been over to see Kevin,to try and work out IF Chester could possibly take him and to see how best they could work with him given his problems if they did take him!!

 

[Shorts]

I know of 2 maybe 3 private collections that could quite easily take the Blackpool Orangutans thier maybe another couple also sorry can't name names.

Seriously? To clarify, you're saying there's 2 or more private (i.e. not open to the public) collections in the UK that could house all the Dudley Orangs?

As far I as know (admittedly from not up that up to date information) I don't think they're any privately held anthropoid apes in the UK therefore I struggle to imagine anywhere has the facilities to house a group of them.