Well karoocheetah, I read an article a couple of years ago in which the writer (I shall not say who it was, but he is well known in British zoo circles) said he hoped that Chester was not becoming too "self-congratulatory". I think it is. My feeling is it has grown too big for its boots. A few years ago a keeper at another zoo in the north of England said to me that Chester was "too good". I agree. I just think it has lost character with so many of its new exhibits. To say I do not like the new Elephant house is an understatement. I know most places are giving new exhibits silly names and I don't like it at all. Chester seems to be very eager to do this. On the subject of names I see a new Chester thread on this site refers to "African Painted Dogs" - aaagh! Trendy new names for animal species are guaranteed to have me foaming at the mouth with rage! I probably give the impression of being a grumpy old man (at 49 I'd prefer middle-aged), and I suppose I am. I preferred the zoo world of my youth and Chester today is a ling way from that. I am appalled by the prospect of "Natural Vision" and not only because Gorillas, the world's least interesting mammals, are on the menu!. I much prefer smaller zoos these days. For example Tropiquaria has a collection a fraction of the size of Chester's, but on my annual visit I am usually first through the gates in the morning and the last to leave in the evening; but then the opportunities for photographing Parrots are excellent. I've no intention of giving up my Chester membership though as I've had plenty of good days there. Oh, then there's the fact that the magazine is called "Z" (ludicrous) and is far too full of news of in situ conservation projects etc instead of concentrating on news from the zoo. Bring back the "Chester Zoo News" of the 1970s!!!!
Who is your friend? Is he/she a member of this site?
x
