HEAD-TO-HEAD PROTOTYPE: Chester vs Prague (HOOFSTOCK)

[TeaLovingDave]

As the title suggests, this one will focus on the HOOFSTOCK category - as previously, the match will last for three days and although discussion of your reasoning and provision of supplementary evidence is not mandatory (except in cases of a 5:0 vote) it *is* very much encouraged.

Moreover, even if one does not feel comfortable voting, please do ask questions, post comments relating to your opinions on the evidence presented, and generally-speaking get involved in the wider discussion!

 

[PossumRoach]

I am voting for Prague with a single point due to the inclusion of caprids and Nile hippopotamus, two taxa that I enjoy.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Anyone want to get their teeth into a detailed breakdown of the two competitors?

 

[Dassie rat]

Prague has 29 types of hoofstock not found in Chester and gets 23 points for types found in up to 10 European zoos
Chester has 15 types of hoofstock not found in Prague and gets 7 points for types found in up to 10 European zoos
This gives Prague a 52-22 win. I'll make it 3-2

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Prague has 29 types of hoofstock not found in Chester and gets 23 points for types found in up to 10 European zoos

As far as I can tell, you've largely arrived at those figures by including a large number of domestic breeds at Prague

----

This is one where I would contend that although Prague has more species, and boasts one of the very best hoofstock exhibits in Europe (the caprine cliff exhibits), Chester nonetheless deserves the edge in this very close match based on a number of factors, boiling down to:

1) A higher level of consistent quality across the board where exhibits are concerned - although Prague has some very good hoofstock exhibits, it also has several poor-to-average exhibits (most notably the hippopotamus exhibit).
2) World-class exhibits for several species, most notably the Black Rhinoceros complex.
3) A very solid breeding record with many of the species held within the collection, including the aforementioned Black Rhinoceros, and more-or-less sole responsibility for the continued presence of Babirusa in European collections as a viable concern.

I'll provide exhibit breakdowns anon.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I'll start off with some of the particular highlights....

Tsavo Rhino House and Black Rhinoceros paddocks

The massive complex of paddocks for Eastern Black Rhinoceros at Chester has been a particular highlight of the zoo for many years prior to the recent redevelopment of that area of the zoo - and they have been retained more or less "as is" within the Grasslands complex, with the only real change being a reduction in public footpaths between the paddocks. The onshow paddocks cover a total of around 18,000 m², with a further 10,000 m² of offshow breeding paddocks.

I would argue that the quality and scale of this exhibit complex *alone* is sufficient to demonstrate why it is egregiously unfair for anyone to suggest that Chester merits only a single point, and when taken alongside the other exhibits present at the zoo very much serve as evidence that Chester merits the win in this category despite the higher number of species at Prague. It is also worth noting that Prague has no equivalent counter to this exhibit whatsoever.

Indian Rhinoceros and Brow-antlered Deer

Although nowhere near as good as the Black Rhinoceros complex, the mixed exhibit for Indian Rhinoceros and Brow-antlered Deer is nonetheless very good, being spacious, well-vegetated and containing a large pool for the rhinoceros to bathe within:

Congo Buffalo

This exhibit comprises a large, spacious and wooded outdoor paddock containing a wallow for the inhabitants, along with an outdoor hardstanding and offshow indoor stalls; in my opinion the overall "feel" of the exhibit benefits greatly from the large amount of shade and tree cover available.

Chester exhibits for Onager and Bactrian Camel

These two species were - until recently - mixed together within the first of the exhibits pictured here; although the exhibit was already very good, the fact that the camels have been moved to the old giraffe house and outdoor exhibit has increased the quality of housing for both taxa. I would argue that these exhibits are far superior to their equivalents at Prague both in terms of quality and scale.

Onager

Camel

Main Savannah exhibit within Grasslands / Heart of Africa

One of the newest exhibits at Chester, this exhibit for Rothschild's Giraffe, Roan Antelope and Grevy's Zebra (plus non-category Ostrich) is *significantly* larger than the much-lauded equivalent exhibit at Prague, and moreover it is significantly easier to view the inhabitants.

A second smaller savannah exhibit containing a batchelor group of Rothschild's Giraffe and Blesbok is also present, and visible to those staying within the paid lodges at the zoo:



---

I'll get photographs and discussion of further exhibits posted tomorrow - in particular the various hoofstock exhibits within Islands, the Asian Elephant exhibit, the Okapi exhibit complex, and the assorted Babirusa exhibits found throughout the zoo - but for now I will reproduce my past remarks relating to how significant Chester's achievements with Sulawesi Babirusa have been:

...the breeding successes with Babirusa at Chester (along with the collection later orchestrating the import of new blood from the USA) are pretty much the sole reason the species is still present within European collections - not all that much more than a decade ago, the entire European population was elderly and post-reproductive with the exception of the animals at South Lakes and Chester, largely due to the fact that the species had traditionally been kept in single-pair groups.... which, as Chester discovered, is ill-suited to the husbandry and breeding behaviour of the species, which fares rather better with a harem situation.

Now, the species is successfully breeding at a total of eight collections, with a number of other collections holding potential breeding groups. I would call that pretty remarkable.

To repeat my prior statements within this thread - Prague may have the edge where number of species is concerned, and the mountain ungulate cliffs are truly world-class, but Chester has several world-class hoofstock exhibits of its own, more significant captive-breeding achievements, and a higher level of consistent quality overall with no sub-par exhibits (unlike Chester).

 

[EliasNys]

I'll start off with some of the particular highlights....

Tsavo Rhino House and Black Rhinoceros paddocks

The massive complex of paddocks for Eastern Black Rhinoceros at Chester has been a particular highlight of the zoo for many years prior to the recent redevelopment of that area of the zoo - and they have been retained more or less "as is" within the Grasslands complex, with the only real change being a reduction in public footpaths between the paddocks. The onshow paddocks cover a total of around 18,000 m², with a further 10,000 m² of offshow breeding paddocks.

I would argue that the quality and scale of this exhibit complex *alone* is sufficient to demonstrate why it is egregiously unfair for anyone to suggest that Chester merits only a single point, and when taken alongside the other exhibits present at the zoo very much serve as evidence that Chester merits the win in this category despite the higher number of species at Prague. It is also worth noting that Prague has no equivalent counter to this exhibit whatsoever.

View attachment 832936

Indian Rhinoceros and Brow-antlered Deer

Although nowhere near as good as the Black Rhinoceros complex, the mixed exhibit for Indian Rhinoceros and Brow-antlered Deer is nonetheless very good, being spacious, well-vegetated and containing a large pool for the rhinoceros to bathe within:

View attachment 832937

Congo Buffalo

This exhibit comprises a large, spacious and wooded outdoor paddock containing a wallow for the inhabitants, along with an outdoor hardstanding and offshow indoor stalls; in my opinion the overall "feel" of the exhibit benefits greatly from the large amount of shade and tree cover available.

View attachment 832938

Chester exhibits for Onager and Bactrian Camel

These two species were - until recently - mixed together within the first of the exhibits pictured here; although the exhibit was already very good, the fact that the camels have been moved to the old giraffe house and outdoor exhibit has increased the quality of housing for both taxa. I would argue that these exhibits are far superior to their equivalents at Prague both in terms of quality and scale.

Onager

View attachment 832939

Camel

View attachment 832940

Main Savannah exhibit within Grasslands / Heart of Africa

One of the newest exhibits at Chester, this exhibit for Rothschild's Giraffe, Roan Antelope and Grevy's Zebra (plus non-category Ostrich) is *significantly* larger than the much-lauded equivalent exhibit at Prague, and moreover it is significantly easier to view the inhabitants.

View attachment 832941

A second smaller savannah exhibit containing a batchelor group of Rothschild's Giraffe and Blesbok is also present, and visible to those staying within the paid lodges at the zoo:

View attachment 832942

---

I'll get photographs and discussion of further exhibits posted tomorrow - in particular the various hoofstock exhibits within Islands, the Asian Elephant exhibit, the Okapi exhibit complex, and the assorted Babirusa exhibits found throughout the zoo - but for now I will reproduce my past remarks relating to how significant Chester's achievements with Sulawesi Babirusa have been:

...the breeding successes with Babirusa at Chester (along with the collection later orchestrating the import of new blood from the USA) are pretty much the sole reason the species is still present within European collections - not all that much more than a decade ago, the entire European population was elderly and post-reproductive with the exception of the animals at South Lakes and Chester, largely due to the fact that the species had traditionally been kept in single-pair groups.... which, as Chester discovered, is ill-suited to the husbandry and breeding behaviour of the species, which fares rather better with a harem situation.

Now, the species is successfully breeding at a total of eight collections, with a number of other collections holding potential breeding groups. I would call that pretty remarkable.

To repeat my prior statements within this thread - Prague may have the edge where number of species is concerned, and the mountain ungulate cliffs are truly world-class, but Chester has several world-class hoofstock exhibits of its own, more significant captive-breeding achievements, and a higher level of consistent quality overall with no sub-par exhibits (unlike Chester).

Prague might indeed have one exhibit of lesser quality, but many exhibits are of very good quantity: the sitatunga exhibit, the anoa exhibit, gobi exhibit with prewalski's horse. And i do actually like Prague's savanna better: it doesn't have those weird wooden barriers and is more grassier. It also might be larger, but i am not certain about that. The elephant complex at Prague is also of high quality. And Prague also has a conservation project with no match at Chester here: the Prewalski's horses. Without Prague, this species might have not been able to recover or be reintroduced to its native habitat! Prague also has the cliffs exhibits, which are huge and have no match at any zoo, Chester included. Prague also has a lot of deer species and more European fauna Chester lacks. Overall, this is more a 4-1 than a 2-3 for me.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Prague might indeed have one exhibit of lesser quality, but many exhibits are of very good quantity: the sitatunga exhibit, the anoa exhibit, gobi exhibit with prewalski's horse.

The sitatunga and anoa exhibits are good - although the exhibit for the latter is at Chester is superior as I'll discuss anon - but I'd struggle to call the Przewalski's paddock anything beyond "okay" to be honest; certainly it is far smaller than the closest equivalent (onager) at Chester. It's worth noting that the Gobi exhibit overall is not relevant for the discussion - only the specific aspects pertaining to hoofstock.

And i do actually like Prague's savanna better: it doesn't have those weird wooden barriers and is more grassier. It also might be larger, but i am not certain about that.

I've actually demonstrated that it's substantially smaller in a prior discussion; compare the above maps of the Chester exhibit to the below map of the Prague exhibit:



And of course, the significantly more awkward viewing of the exhibit at Prague also plays a significant part.

The elephant complex at Prague is also of high quality.

As is the one at Chester - I'll discuss this topic more anon

Prague also has the cliffs exhibits, which are huge and have no match at any zoo, Chester included.

Perhaps not a one-for-one match, being different kinds of exhibit for different kinds of species, but I'll again repeat that the Black Rhinoceros complex at Chester is very much a match in quality and sheer scale for the cliff exhibits, and in my opinion surpass them by far - it is worth considering that it is not much smaller than the Chester and Prague savannah exhibits combined.

And Prague also has a conservation project with no match at Chester here: the Prewalski's horses.

I see your (slightly overblown) suggestion that Prague is solely responsible for saving the Przewalski's Horse and that Chester has no match for this claimed achievement, and counter with a three-pronged rebuttal:

• Chester has been working alongside several scientific partners for many years on the development of a vaccine for EEHV - which, it goes without saying, is a massive threat to both wild and captive populations of Asian Elephant (and to a lesser extent African Bush Elephant) worldwide - and within the last week has announced that these efforts have been successful, with a vaccine having now been produced and demonstrated by peer-reviewed research in Nature to be effective.
• Chester is the EEP manager for Black Rhinoceros, has been breeding the species regularly since 1967 (with only Dvur Kralove managing to do so with similar success and regularity) and has the best exhibit complex for the species in the world bar none.
• Chester - as previously discussed - is very much solely responsible for saving the European captive population of Sulawesi Babirusa, which a mere 15 years or so ago was down to a half-dozen elderly non-breeding holders and two sporadically-breeding collections, and now boasts thirteen holders in total of which eight are regularly-breeding.

-----

Generally speaking I think that even with the bulk of the Chester exhibits yet to be discussed - something I'll rectify shortly - the scale and high quality of those exhibits I've already highlighted renders a 4-1 vote for Prague a gross disservice to the UK collection and pushes things pretty close to a 50-50 split... so naturally, my next objective is to demonstrate the high quality of the exhibits I have yet to discuss!

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I might as well continue by looking at the exhibits within the Islands complex:

Javan Banteng

This exhibit for a large breeding group of Javan Banteng - a species for which Chester manages the EEP studbook - is both attractive and spacious, comprising a pair of large enclosures joined by indoor housing and associated hardstanding area, with the inhabitants able to access a large pond within the main exhibit:

Visayan Warty Pig

A large and very attractive complex of connected exhibits for a breeding group of Visayan Warty Pig viewed from a walkway which bisects the largest exhibit, with access to the water and a variety of different substrate areas within the exhibit complex itself:

View of visayan warty pig enclosure from riverboat 29.6.24 - ZooChat



Lowland Anoa

Sulawesi Babirusa

There are multiple exhibits for this species at Chester - this is partially due to the high level of breeding success which the collection has enjoyed, as previously discussed, but the existence of multiple exhibits is also partially responsible *for* the aforementioned breeding success by periodically moving the breeding boar between exhibits, facilitating the "harem" situation which seems to suit this species best.

The "main" exhibit for the species is located within the Islands exhibit complex, and comprises multiple large and thickly-vegetated enclosures which can be linked or separated as required:

Another exhibit for the species is viewed from the bridge crossing Flag Lane just after one passes the Fruit Bat Forest house:

A smaller exhibit is partially-visible further along the bridge on one of the islands:

..and finally, there is a mixed-exhibit for Sulawesi Babirusa and Asian Short-clawed Otter immediately next to the Realm of the Red Ape house:

----

I'll deal with the remaining highlight exhibits anon as I've hit the photo limit - but I think I've provided further solid rebuttal to the idea that Chester has nothing to offer in comparison to Prague. I have the strong suspicion that many people are giving the latter collection the win based on the cliff exhibits alone when, as I've said before, the exhibits at Prague are otherwise solidly below the standard found at Chester or (in a few cases) their equal - albeit in the vast majority of cases still good - and just as Chester has nothing akin to the cliff exhibits in scope or quality, Prague has nothing akin to the Black Rhinoceros complex nor the series of Sulawesi Babirusa exhibits when seen as an overall complex spread throughout the zoo.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Any last-minute thoughts from @merlin as our resident Prague afficionado?