Chester Zoo Gemsbok programme

lechweoryx

lechweoryx

Well-Known Member
Is it true that Chester zoo manages the UK breeding programme for Gemsbok? If so does this mean that the future for the gemsbok at Chester is reasonably secure?
 
Have you asked the zoo itself? They probably are more than willing to answer this question for you.
 
Wasn't the enclosure refurbished recently? That would suggest that their future is secure.
 
Good, because they are my fav animal but they are not a popular animal at chester and they occupy a large paddock which they may have wanted to develop so a comfirmation that the enclosure has been re-done is reasuring.
 
At this moment in time I`m not aware of them leaving the collection in the near future,but that they will be in the collection in the longer term.
 
lechweoryx said:
...but they are not a popular animal at chester...
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Unpopular with whom, the zoo or the public? Gemsbok are a striking animal, albeit rather shy, and I can't imagine the public failing to be impressed.

The hard standing was indeed improved this year and has slightly better viewing. The design looks a bit like a small go-cart track, but I'm not holding that against it.



The above is from late in the day on the 22nd October. Not sure what is happening behind the new hard standing, the area looks like it may develop further.
 
I do hope that at some point Chester will switch over to Beisa or Fringe-Eared oryx. They would better suit the entire Tsavo exhibit. In Europe, several zoos exhibit Beisa.

Any thoughts?
 
They are defiently POPULAR with ME!!!!! and every1 i take to the zoo love them. I do think the exhibit for the gemsbok is plain but for a 1 antelope enclosure it's 1 of the best i've seen. I wouldn't like trhe zoo to get rid of them but if the zoo would swap them for Beisa's, I would understand why as they are a more of an endangred species.
 
When I first became interested in zoos (mid 1960s) Beisa Oryx were everywhere in the UK, it was Gemsbok that were unusual. Suddenly the focus changed and everyone kept Gemsbok and Beisa Oryx died out. I never found out why.
 
I don't remember ever seeing them in a mixed exhibit. They were in the cattle house at first.
 
lechweoryx said:
The cattle house doesn't look roomy enough for a big herd grazer like gemsbok!
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And if I remember right they were in the current warty pig side as well (ie the smaller paddock - and I'm not even sure they had all of it!).
 
I reckon that in the past there were 4 narrow enclosures on the warty pig side of the Cattle House . There were Grevy zebra , Asian asses ( a kulan , an onager and hybrid foals ) and Zebroids in these .
 
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