Well that's not what I was told!
Chester Zoo EAZA Ape Campaign Special Event - Saturday 19th February 2011
- Thread starter SMR
- Start date
Red Panda
Well-Known Member
No, they still dont do anything for me lol, Sorry
Id go if there is something different lolTuan moved to Chester from Antwerp where he'd been living since 1994. I believe there he had cramped quarters and possibly very limited (or maybe no) outdoor access either so he is no doubt far better off at Chester with a lot more space, even if he has to stay (largely?) indoors in the old building.
However as both Sarikei and Leia now have infants by him, born in 2009, and despite his very frequent attentions, Martha hasn't become pregnant, he may not be able to breed again there for anything up to the next five/six years. As he can't be seen by the public either, maybe he will be transferred elsewhere for breeding sometime in the interim period?
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karoocheetah
Well-Known Member
No, they still dont do anything for me lol, Sorry
I'm with you Red Panda. I did think about going, but I would only have been walking round thinking why am I looking at apes, when there are interesting animals I can see. No insult to the primate fans is intended, you certainly seem to have had a great day out.
AgileGibbon
Well-Known Member
I doubt they would ever consider moving him, they don't like to move adult primates, especially the big ones - due to all the stress it causes to the animal in question
In 1985 two year old Sumatran Orang Utan Sidney did a painting which was auctioned by Sotherby's and raised £120 for the NEZS Junior Member's chosen appeal, the WWF Atlantic Rainforest Project.
While I would very much have liked to have been able to go, I'm consoling myself that at least, for me too, apes are not a real priority. I'd have been very interested in seeing the offshow and historic areas (which sound fascinating), and the tamarins, but great apes don't do a lot for me.
No offence meant but I find it surprising that you are not enthralled by the great apes, what is your favourite? Personally elephants are my number one and a zoo without them is all the poorer, I do however agree with the decisions of certain zoos for not keeping them any longer, e.g. London, Edinburgh. Gorillas are a close second, in particular one gent who resided at Twycross for many years and sadly died in 2008,over the years I had come to regard him as a personal friend and is looking down at me now at my desk while I am typing this, albeit in portrait form. Thirdly the chimps, in particular the ones I have had the pleasure of watching grow from babies into adulthood.
For me, I have primates at both ends of the spectrum. Whilst I'm absolutely no huge fan of chimps (something that I admit did change a little after the EAZA day - I'm a little more interested now). Then however, I rate monkeys and prosimians somewhere in the middle - not disliking them, but not being to bothered about them unless it's a species I haven't seen before. Gorillas, bonobos, gibbons and callitrichids (I can now say the word, so hopefully won't get kicked 
) come somewhere between mild interest and top species. Then there's the best of the best, and an animal that shares the top spot of my favourite animal with the rhinos: the ever intelligent, deep, thoughtful and down-right wonderful, the orangutan. I do prefer Sumatrans over Bornean, but both are good 
) come somewhere between mild interest and top species. Then there's the best of the best, and an animal that shares the top spot of my favourite animal with the rhinos: the ever intelligent, deep, thoughtful and down-right wonderful, the orangutan. I do prefer Sumatrans over Bornean, but both are good
My biggest animal interests are small mammals (particularly small carnivores) and ungulates (particularly bovids), with larger carnivores not far behind. Also wetland and sea birds, amphibians, invertebrates and certain fish groups. Among primates, I'm most interested in Old World monkeys and prosimians. But in truth all animals interest me to some degree.
Great apes however are the animal group of all animal groups that I am least interested in, I'd say; although my love of anything rare or unusual means I will still get excited about (say) Antwerp's Eastern Lowland Gorilla. I can't say why this is, they just don't do anything for me. Asked to pick a favourite of the three basic great ape lineages (chimp/bonobo, gorilla, orang), I'd give the edge to orangs, though.
I can fully understand the reasoning, but think those who decided the event wasn't for them because apes were involved missed out on an incredible experience.
For me personally, apes aren't quite as interesting as some other parts of the collection, but that didn't really matter because seeing the infrastructure of vast buildings such as Realm of the Red Ape and learning about the intricate husbandry involved was itself quite fascinating. Everything from the minutiae such as prototype slides that couldn't be thrown back at the keepers, to huge moving walls that allow vehicle access.
I'd have paid my £25 just to stand on the roof of RotRA and look out over the zoo, or to visit the old ape house, or go in the gorilla beds in the Tropical Realm, an area that was never on-show.
So what I'm saying in a long-winded kind-of way (and forgive the obvious bias) is that even for someone who doesn't necessarily dash to see the chimps, the day had so many other highlights that it didn't really matter.
For me personally, apes aren't quite as interesting as some other parts of the collection, but that didn't really matter because seeing the infrastructure of vast buildings such as Realm of the Red Ape and learning about the intricate husbandry involved was itself quite fascinating. Everything from the minutiae such as prototype slides that couldn't be thrown back at the keepers, to huge moving walls that allow vehicle access.
I'd have paid my £25 just to stand on the roof of RotRA and look out over the zoo, or to visit the old ape house, or go in the gorilla beds in the Tropical Realm, an area that was never on-show.
So what I'm saying in a long-winded kind-of way (and forgive the obvious bias) is that even for someone who doesn't necessarily dash to see the chimps, the day had so many other highlights that it didn't really matter.
A question for those who participated in the event to help the zoo and the campaign, but had no massive interest in primates beforehand - did the day change how you see the animals? Like I said in an earlier post, my dislike of chimpanzees subsided somewhat after seeing all of the behind the scenes and hearing stories about them.
I was never sure exactly where their night dens were situated, are/were they behind what used to be the water moated indoor show areas? Were they tiny 'cells' or something a bit more luxurious?
My specific 'interests' in rank order would be;
Gorillas
Orangutans.
Old World Primates
Black/Indian Rhinos- but not White Rhino..
Ungulates, particularly Equids & Deer.
Wolves/Wild Dogs.
Smaller mammals.
Birds e.g. Cranes, Parrots, Hornbills, Toucans, Waterfowl.
Big carnivores and New World Monkeys don't feature very highly on my list nor do Elephants except for some known 'family' groups such as Chester's.
Another point about the day which does not appear to have been mentioned is that - at least this applies to my group - did not get to see any of the chimps up close . We were in their off-show area , and they were aware of this , but I do not think they could have been trusted to meet us through the bars without the risk of something nasty being accurately chucked at us ! The stories of the management of the chimps when they slept in dens in the old corridor at the back of Tropical Realm were hair-raising !
I agree with SMR that it was amazing up on the roof of RotRA , the height of the enclosures can only be appreciated when you are above them .
I agree with SMR that it was amazing up on the roof of RotRA , the height of the enclosures can only be appreciated when you are above them .
GillP
Well-Known Member
Our group - with Nick - didn't see any chimps up close either. We were being spied upon through the grille in their door when we were in the bedroom area, but after that couldn't even get into the public area as it was packed. I was bemused to hear that after the breakout (last year ?) a kettle turned up on chimp island some time later .....
They would probably have gone ballistic if confronted at close quarters by a group of strangers- probably the reason that wasn't part of the experience. Even Bonobos can be dangerous at close quarters, screaming, grabbing etc if they can reach through the bars/mesh.
I'm tempted not to say so that you come with us next time!
The footprint of the Tropical Realm is vast and I don't think many people realise just what's in there... including the zoo's own staff. For example, the gorilla dens were to either side of the indoor areas, so to access the first, you go in through the door that's to the right of the waterfall. There's a small corridor and kitchen, then an "old-fashioned" set of iron bars set into the sandstone wall, behind which is one of the beds. They were small, with just enough room for a raised platform and raceway to the indoor area, but no smaller than one would expect for the era.
It'll probably surprise everyone to learn that the area has actually been renovated, and a false wall knocked down to utilise previously undiscovered space behind the waterfall, with the huge water tank - now disused - still overhead. This has created a secure area that is large enough to hold a chimp or mandrill, should there be an emergency need, and the bars/slides etc. have been updated accordingly, although the outer set of iron bars from the gorilla days remain.
We were able to walk around the off-show side of the circular chimp area and look out of the small window next to the door where they go outside. As soon as one saw my camera he ran for it, while another pounded on the glass between us and the indoor area. We were a couple of feet away from Boris, who peered through the grill in the door that affords keeper access and blew raspberries... at OrangePerson mainly.
The kettle was returned to the chimp kitchen and is still used by staff. Apparently while in there, they'd also used the telephone and the Internet.
On a more serious note it was explained where the chimps had gained access to and how they had remained secure throughout, which was patently obvious from the huge double doors we had gone through. A number of our guides independently told their groups that they didn't feel that the zoo needed to be evacuated at any point.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Nope still not an Ape and Primate fan,was worth going if only to see the behind the scences bit of the Apes and Primates,and to see the zoo from the top of the Realm of the Red Ape house!!