Chester Zoo How successful is Chester zoo?

Mr T

Mr T

Well-Known Member
Chester is undoubtedly my favourite zoo in the UK with a great variety of different species in fantastic exhibits. I was thinking the other day though, how successful is the zoo with their breeding programs?

I am no expert on the matter and don't know all the ins and outs of animals in terms of age and suitability for breeding but it seems that some of the big name species the zoo holds struggle to breed successfully.

For example they have a large crash of rhinos but from what I understand (and I may be completely wrong) they haven't had a great deal of success with their breeding and only bred a few individuals.

Also the spectacled bears and jaguars have been given brilliant exhibits but again, as far as I'm aware have not produced any surviving young.

The tigers and lions have also not produced many surviving litters in recent years(I know the lions were very successful for a period but not recently).

How does Chester compare with other zoo in these areas? I appreciate that they do a fantastic job and have had many successes in lots of other areas but I just wonder why they maybe haven't been so successful with the species I've mentioned.

Please remember I am no expert here and don't give me an ear-bashing if my comments are way off the mark.
 
In terms of tigers they havent been in a position to breed for a while (not sure if this is the case now). I would say that Chester zoos (just like other zoos) is not just for breeding, many zoos offer 'retirement' for non-breeding animals or simply provide space for surplus without the intention to breed. Breeding is not everything.

However i would also like to know more on the subject
 
Thanks Foz,

I'm aware that some zoos do act as holding or retirement places for animals but from what I have heard about the zoo, the species I have mentioned are there primarily for breeding. Of course I could be completely wrong! Any info an future breeding plans would be great from anyone in the know.
 
Mr T said:
Also the spectacled bears and jaguars have been given brilliant exhibits but again, as far as I'm aware have not produced any surviving young......The tigers and lions have also not produced many surviving litters in recent years(I know the lions were very successful for a period but not recently).
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In order...

1) The spectacled bears might not breed for a while, considering the known aggressive streak of the male it could be that they are deliberately not breeding from him - this is a pure guess, I must emphasize.

2) If I recall correctly, as a result of prior lack of success steps have been taken to ensure the jaguars cannot breed.

3) Both tigers are young, which might be part of the reason they have not successfully bred despite several matings. The last time any tigers bred at Chester, I believe, was in the days of Amur tigers remaining in the collection.

4) Despite regular attempts, the advanced age of the female lion may make any further offspring for the lions unlikely until a new female arrives in the fullness of time.
 
Thanks for all the info!

With the bears would it not make sense for them to try and get in a new friendlier male?

I don't really understand why they would take steps to stop the jaguars from breeding. Surely any arrivals, however unlikely or unexpected, would be welcome?

Does anyone have any info on the rhinos?
 
Mr T said:
Thanks for all the info!

With the bears would it not make sense for them to try and get in a new friendlier male?

I don't really understand why they would take steps to stop the jaguars from breeding. Surely any arrivals, however unlikely or unexpected, would be welcome?
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As regards the bears, it could just be that spare males are hard to source? As I said, all of this is just my guesswork.

With the jaguars, I think I recall reading here that both of the females are recommended not to be bred from by the studbook holder, which might be suggestive either of a high risk of genetic problems with the current jaguar bloodlines, or that the bloodlines are already too well represented in the studbook.
 
Thanks for that.

I think your probably correct about the jaguars as this is the only reason I can think of. It's a shame they can't source any new jaguars as the exhibit is brilliant and would look even better with some cubs bounding around the place.
 
To balance things out onto a more cheerful note, let us remember that Chester have a pretty good record of elephant and giraffe births, and seem to have a particularly successful breeding batch of bush dogs and red pandas at the present time :D in fact, I believe that Lushui and Pali are the first red panda pair in some decades to be successful breeders at Chester, so there is always hope for those species which are going through a dry patch at present!
 
TeaLovingDave said:
To balance things out onto a more cheerful note, let us remember that Chester have a pretty good record of elephant and giraffe births, and seem to have a particularly successful breeding batch of bush dogs and red pandas at the present time :D in fact, I believe that Lushui and Pali are the first red panda pair in some decades to be successful breeders at Chester, so there is always hope for those species which are going through a dry patch at present!
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Although Pali and Lushui are a good breeding pair they have only produced one female cub Lily.
Asian Elephants have been brilliant at breeding although the Herpus virus killing young Raman at aged 2.
The Giraffes were also good although only producing one Pure bred Rothschild being Tula.
The Bears have mated although results dont know whether Franka is pregnant.
 
Guessing is not a particularly good thing, and it's one reason why we have been organising events with the zoo's curators.

The spectacled bears are a breeding pair, they mated last year and again when they were re-introduced for the summer just a few weeks ago. Unfortunately the female didn't conceive last year, but that wasn't through a lack of trying and apart from a short introductory period when there was some predictable posturing, the two get along really well.
 
Don't get me wrong guys, I think its a fantastic zoo and I know they have great success with the ellies, giraffes and other animals and just though it was strange they hadn't been able to breed the animals I have mentioned but it sounds as though some of the individuals they hold aren't suitable for breeding.

Again any info on the rhinos?
 
SMR said:
The spectacled bears are a breeding pair, they mated last year and again when they were re-introduced for the summer just a few weeks ago. Unfortunately the female didn't conceive last year, but that wasn't through a lack of trying and apart from a short introductory period when there was some predictable posturing, the two get along really well.
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Glad to hear that I was wrong :) It's a bit of an embuggerance that Chester is the nearest decent zoo to me, but still *just* far enough that I can never attend any of the events organised here, or afford to visit often enough that I don't need to guess - so I am always happy to be informed by those who know otherwise!

Not to mention that seeing baby spectacled bears would be very good!

*crosses fingers for the future*
 
Mr T said:
Don't get me wrong guys, I think its a fantastic zoo and I know they have great success with the ellies, giraffes and other animals and just though it was strange they hadn't been able to breed the animals I have mentioned but it sounds as though some of the individuals they hold aren't suitable for breeding.

Again any info on the rhinos?
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The Rhinos have not bred this year but 2008 and 2009 had Asani and Bashira.Bashira is with her mother Ema and Asani with Malindi.
 
Kirana is not to young to breed. She is now 4 years old. As they become sexually mature at 3 to 4 years she is ready to start.

For Chester to bring in an infertile female, when the whole point was to start a breeding programme would have been stupid and not happened. She would have already been moved to a retirement group if that was the case.

Hopefully it is just a case of when a successful mating takes place.
 
I would have thought Chester are relatively successful. There seem to be regular elephant and giraffe births. The black rhino's seem to be reproducing, although I am sure the staff and conservation teams would like to have a higher birth rate.

When we have been there over the past 4 summers, we see new arrivals. Not always from the big animals but many of the smaller species seem to breed well. Last summer we saw new meerkats, warty pigs, and congo buffalo amongst others.

We would love to see some new arrivals from the lions or the tigers. But you can't always get what you wish for.

Although as someone else has posted. Asha is starting to get on in years. Zoogiraffe, SMR or bongorob, will probably be able to correct me if I am wrong, but I think she was born in 1994/5? So she is a fair age.
 
With the Lions Asha is 13 or 14 years old(I think) so if Chester are lucky she can have another litter at least hopefully. Both the Tigers are young animals so hopefully they have alot of time to get things right. With the Jags I think Salvador is a senior so he maybe to old to bred from and the only other male that's enclosed with a female is in fact her son so that's not a breeding situation. The only potential breeding male Chester has at the minute unless they can source new females is Pele and I don't know how many kid's other then Coro(who is in with his mother Bonita next door) he has.

How ever round the rest of the zoo they are very successful in breeding terms. At the minute I know of at least 2 baby Porcupines, 3 Joey's and the fact that the female dwarf mongoose looked bigger again on my last visit so hopefully there new den will get more use. There are no doubt more but thats the animals I know of.
 
Let's not forget regular breedings from the orangs (at least the Sumatrans). Also, I could be wrong but I believe the bears specifically give birth over winter - so obviously they seem to have missed this year, hopefully next winter will be different but only time will tell.
 
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