HEAD-TO-HEAD PROTOTYPE: Chester vs Prague (TEMPERATE FOREST)

[TeaLovingDave]

As the title suggests, this one will focus on the TEMPERATE FOREST 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!

 

[amur leopard]

What exactly counts in this category for Chester? I can think of a few bits and bobs but really nothing substantial? Would love an overview. From what I can see Prague isn't far from sweeping this one really.

 

[Kalaw]

I am stunned that anyone is giving Chester two points here. I really can't think of anything relevant except the offshow wildcats which don't even count (though their breeding success does), unless the adders and Spectacled Bears would qualify?

Prague on the other hand has:

• Sichuan, possibly the most extensive exhibit in Europe devoted to temperate birds, providing a large indoor free flight space that is very well-vegetated and equipped with a rarity-packed species list.
• Some excellent native species exhibits, such as the gorgeously landscaped Czech reptile enclosures on the cliff face and a closter of native species aviaries, some of which walkthrough, in the lower half of the zoo, as well as a third European aviary elsewhere (in Bird Wetlands).
• The entire Northern Forest complex, with excellent enclosures for the likes of Moose and European Forest Reindeer, a lovely rarity in Oriental Bay-owl, and an exquisite wolf enclosure.
• Various other miscellaneous exhibits of relevance, such as North American River Otters, North American Porcupine and European Bison.

Unless I'm missing something, I struggle to see this as anything other than a 5-0, or at least 4-1.

 

[pipaluk]

I am stunned that anyone is giving Chester two points here. I really can't think of anything relevant except the offshow wildcats which don't even count (though their breeding success does), unless the adders and Spectacled Bears would qualify?

Prague on the other hand has:

• Sichuan, possibly the most extensive exhibit in Europe devoted to temperate birds, providing a large indoor free flight space that is very well-vegetated and equipped with a rarity-packed species list.
• Some excellent native species exhibits, such as the gorgeously landscaped Czech reptile enclosures on the cliff face and a closter of native species aviaries, some of which walkthrough, in the lower half of the zoo, as well as a third European aviary elsewhere (in Bird Wetlands).
• The entire Northern Forest complex, with excellent enclosures for the likes of Moose and European Forest Reindeer, a lovely rarity in Oriental Bay-owl, and an exquisite wolf enclosure.
• Various other miscellaneous exhibits of relevance, such as North American River Otters, North American Porcupine and European Bison.

Unless I'm missing something, I struggle to see this as anything other than a 5-0, or at least 4-1.

You are right, this is one of if not Chester's weakest category of the lot!

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I am stunned that anyone is giving Chester two points here. I really can't think of anything relevant except the offshow wildcats which don't even count (though their breeding success does), unless the adders and Spectacled Bears would qualify?

It's not that offshow species don't count at all - if that were the case, the "species-count-is-everything" contingent would have even fewer legs to stand on than is already the case, given how many offshow species Prague has for any given category - and more that their enclosures are excluded from consideration, which is why offshow species tend only to come up in discussion when there are active programmes relating to them, or when someone is playing the species-count game.

Along with the three species you've cited, the red panda exhibit would also count per prior precedent - recall that you and @pipaluk were among the main people arguing (successfully, in the end) that the giant panda and snub-nosed monkey exhibits at Beauval counted for this category, with both species being endemic to the same montane forest biomes as the red panda. For my part, the main reason I've given Chester two points is because of the superlative quality of the bear exhibit, the high quality of the red panda exhibit, and (even if I personally think it is futile at this point) the important role that Chester plays in the captive programme for Scottish Wildcat.

You are right, this is one of if not Chester's weakest category of the lot!

We are definitely in full agreement there, I reckon

 

[Paul.Haerle]

Would the laughingthrushes and grosbeaks count for Chester?

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Would the laughingthrushes and grosbeaks count for Chester?

Some, I think - but certainly not all.

 

[Paul.Haerle]

So: Chester has some birds that live in temperate forests (or at least what I would call a temperate forest)

- Collared Finchbill (rare in zoos, but some should be kept in private hands still)
- Collared Grosbeak (same goes for them)
- Black-naped Oriole (and for them too)
- Oriental Magpie-robin (rare in zoos, but a stabile population is left in private hands)
- Grey-winged Blackbird (only one in public collections in Europe, don’t know how many are kept in private collections)
- Blue-crowned Laughingthrush (no rarity in zoos, unlike in their wild home)
- Emei Shan Liochicla (same goes for them)
- Red-billed Leiothrix (common (at least for softbills))
- Spotted Laughingthrush (one of the laughingthush species more common in European public collections)
- Cabot‘s Tragopan (uncommon in European public collections, but they’re getting more)
- Satyr Tragopan (common)

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Chester -- 16/70 points - 22.857%
Prague - 54/70 points - 77.143%