Chester Zoo Congo Buffalo

bongorob

bongorob

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
I just saw Hornbills photo of the Congo Buffalos at Chester Zoo. Zoo Boy expressed amazement with the state of the grass paddock.

This subspecies arrived at Chester in September 1984 and have been kept in the same location ever since. Firstly they occupied the southernmost pen of the cattle house and for a short while had a male gaur for a neighbour. The other two pens on that side of the house were eventually made available for the buffalo.

The enclosure has since been enlarged and a pool was built.

There is a hardstanding alongside the side of the cattle house, and the buffalo can occupy all of the enclosure, or parts of it, at the keepers discretion.

Hornbill said over 22 calves have been born, I thought this seemed a lot but it is true.

1985 0.1
1990 0.1
1991 0.1
1992 0.2
1994 0.1
1995 2.1 (0.1 dns)
1996 2.0
1997 1.1
1998 2.1
1999 2.0
2000 1.0
2003 1.0 dns
2004 3.0 (1 dns)
2005 0.1
2006 1.1
2007 1

This is a total of 27, including 3 which did not survive. After a run of females the balance swung in favour of males. The current sex of babies born at Chester is 13.10 and 1 unsexed. The original pair came from Whipsnade Zoo.
 
they are fantastic animals, they look great would be ideal for a mixed exhibit, good to see safari parks taking them on now.
 
The exhibit is still grassed, I believe the zoo is planning on keeping the species were they are, as this area wil be themed forest, with the possibility of the giraffes being moved and their exhibit being turned into a gorilla enclosure.
 
I've heard that too, Taun. I also heard that the buffalo will be moved to the west zoo to make way for an extension to the okapi accommodation. We'll have to wait and see what happens next. The giraffes were supposed to be moved, I don't know what is happening to this plan now. There was talk of using the giraffe house for gorillas and colobus monkeys.
 
I was under the impression that it would only be the Visayan warty pig area that was to be modified for Okapi's and the congo buffalo staying were they are as fit in with the themeing.

I gather the gorilla enclosure is part of there masterplan and it would inculded a new building being built, chester could be able to house atleast two groups of gorillas there.
 
Where are the giraffes moving to? New expansion with safari-style savannah theme?
 
taun said:
I was under the impression that it would only be the Visayan warty pig area that was to be modified for Okapi's and the congo buffalo staying were they are as fit in with the themeing.
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Taun, you're probably right.

If I remember a new giraffe house was supposed to have been built within five years, in an undeveloped area behind the Grevy's zebras. The five years are up next year I think. It looks as if it's not going to happen.
 
Here is where a copy of the zoo masterplan would come in handy. So many different plans you have been discussing today it is difficult to find an answer to. Does anyone have access to the new masterplan?

If I would make some suggestions. If gorillas are in the plan, a themed rainforest exhibit including mandrills (or drills if they can acquire them), mangabeys, okapis, red river hogs, sitatungas and forest buffalo.

The giraffes - they are the rothschildi subspecies aren't they? (the hybrid pair are to stay???) - can go with the Grevy's zebra and black rhinos in a savannah themed area.

What about the extension area? Any news on that?
 
I think the zoo shoud build a large african themed enclosure with the Giraffes, zebras, Ostriches, Sitatungas and Oryx. Putting the Buffalo and maybe a small antelope species in the old sitatunga/ostrich enclsoure
 
jelle said:
Here is where a copy of the zoo masterplan would come in handy. So many different plans you have been discussing today it is difficult to find an answer to. Does anyone have access to the new masterplan?

If I would make some suggestions. If gorillas are in the plan, a themed rainforest exhibit including mandrills (or drills if they can acquire them), mangabeys, okapis, red river hogs, sitatungas and forest buffalo.

The giraffes - they are the rothschildi subspecies aren't they? (the hybrid pair are to stay???) - can go with the Grevy's zebra and black rhinos in a savannah themed area.

What about the extension area? Any news on that?
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They only have the 1 female Hybrid Giraffe now as the male was put down due to health problems this year,the female will be going as soon as a home can be found for her,then they should have at least 2 possible 3 more Baringo`s arriving
 
I find the hybrid giraffe question sometimes an uneasy one (in the wild there are natural intraspecific zones between the different races). Anyhow, that is beside the question here.

Again, anyone have access to the masterplan. Chris079?
 
Is this Chester's? I have pictures of it, but they are confidential at the moment. You should contact the zoo if you'd like to see them.
 
Speaking with the keepers at members day, they are keeping the hybrid as she is such a good mother and example for the other two young giraffe's.

Plus there has been questions raised about the lineage of the the pure bred giraffe's!
 
taun said:
Speaking with the keepers at members day, they are keeping the hybrid as she is such a good mother and example for the other two young giraffe's.

Plus there has been questions raised about the lineage of the the pure bred giraffe's!
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I have to say they all looked alike to me...:(
 
taun said:
Plus there has been questions raised about the lineage of the the pure bred giraffe's!
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Apparently about 20 years ago an impure giraffe was bred with pure bred Rothschild's, thus contaminating the gene pool.

However I was told that the person who made this discovery based his dientification on a photograph of the animal in question. Chester Zoo refer to them as Rothschild's Giraffes.
 
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