Chester Zoo My Chester Zoo Visits

Indlovu

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Hi all,
Since I have stopped playing for my football team, I've found a way to spend that time. I will now be visiting the zoo every (or almost every) Sunday, starting from tomorrow. Any questions that need asking or anything that needs finding out?

Harry
 
Could you have a look and see if the sign has been put up for the species now being kept in the old Pied Tamarin enclosure.
 
Right I shall note that down. That is quite convenient as our 'focus' for tomorrow's visit is primates.
 
02/05/2010 - Adventure, Romance and a naughty Onager

Another Zoo visit today... here are my notes:
We were in at ten and our first stop was Asian Plains. At first, Indian Rhinoceros Baabu had the paddock to himself. He is darker in colour than the previous pair but has a few lighter marks on his face.

No signs of life within Miniature Monkeys, there is no new signage on the old pied tamarin enclosure.

Next was the Spectacled Bears. Sangay and Franka were mating and two happy looking keepers watched on.

My next observation was that an Onager had got over the 'rocks and logs' barrier and was happily eating the longer grass on that side of the barrier.

There was no sign of the Komodo Dragons but I finally got my first sighting of Iblis at the 12:00 feeding. He is now dominant over Asha and looking very well.

The Orang-Utans was a highlight, and despite not seeing the Borneans (no surprise there) all eight Sumatran Orang-Utans were either having a rest, exploring the world or just having a swing around.

The Giant Otters were being very playful again, and going all around the enclosure and generally pleasing the crowds. A keeper said that the pair are getting on very well, and there may well be some not-so-Giant Otters next year.

My final stop was the Meerkats, and as the pups tried out new techniques such as digging and playfighting, crowds gathered to see the youngsters.

We will be visiting again next Sunday and possibly again the week after that.

Harry
 
The Orang-Utans was a highlight, and despite not seeing the Borneans (no surprise there)

I've seen this a lot of times and it always surprises me - I think I've seen Borneans every time I've been through the house, usually in the very first exhibit when you enter. Obviously their indoor areas are off-show but I've not found this to impact on their visibility as a species (though of course you don't tend to see all the individuals as you do with the Sumatrans).
 
The Orang-Utans was a highlight, and despite not seeing the Borneans (no surprise there) all eight Sumatran Orang-Utans were either having a rest, exploring the world or just having a swing around.

I watched them all by myself for half an hour this morning, you really do have to go early if you want to see the Bornean Orangutans.
 
Visited today, Both of the Giant Otters where visible today seemingly inseperable with the male calling for the female everytime she went out of view. Incase you ever need to tell them apart the female has a v shaped pattern on her chest. Apparently there are plans to develop the exhibit further in the near future.
Both Tigers were on show alot today spending lots of time together and even following each other around their enclosure eventually resting together for a good amount of time.
As mentioned previously Iblis is showing more dominance to Asha especially when it comes to food. Good news in term of possibly breeding. Tried to catch a glimpse of the Anteater today but to no avail as the doors to the outdoor area where closed and remained so for the rest of the day. Noticed that Margardi has been moved into the pen where Ema & Bashira were housed have they now been moved offshow permantly?
Does anybody know if any of the Chimps have been moved on as they seems to be less of them lately?

Work also seems to be coming along on the outdoor Elephant enclosure hopefully will be ready in time for the two calves arriving.
 
Tried to catch a glimpse of the Anteater today but to no avail as the doors to the outdoor area where closed and remained so for the rest of the day.

The Anteaters are not yet on display so you will not of been able to seem them anyway.

Noticed that Margardi has been moved into the pen where Ema & Bashira were housed have they now been moved offshow permantly?

Which enclosures are you talking about?

And can someone tell me which Sumatran Orangutan it is that has a finger missing again, I really should write this information down as my memory is terrible sometimes! :(
 
I could have missed the Borneans last week because there was no sign of them when I arrived (first person in RotRA) but a kind Zoochatter called us over s while later and we saw both females and infants.
 
Noticed that Margardi has been moved into the pen where Ema & Bashira were housed have they now been moved offshow permantly?
I'm terrible with names, perhaps if you could remind us of the species?
Does anybody know if any of the Chimps have been moved on as they seems to be less of them lately?
There were two losses over the winter to rhinovirus, essentially complications from really bad colds, so the group is a little depleted.
The Anteaters are not yet on display so you will not of been able to seem them anyway.
It's sometimes possible to see the animals off-show behind the giraffes, either with a zoom lens or binoculars from the bridge outside the Tropical Realm or from the canal.
And can someone tell me which Sumatran Orangutan it is that has a finger missing again, I really should write this information down as my memory is terrible sometimes!
It is Subis.
 
It is Subis.

Thanks SMR.

Couple of things, does anyone know where the two additional Visayan Taricitic Hornbills in Island of danger have come from? Are these the 2.0 that were bred at the zoo?

And is the Rhinoscerous Hornbill pair in the old chinese aviary (I think that was what the aviary was) the pair that were in the tropical realm?
 
Not sure of an exact answer re the rhino but one of the things Tim said last week was that it is very easy to swap and change them all for a variety of reasons and so one shouldn't read too much into any rhino's location at any particular time (and that it might not always even be the one you think it is!)
 
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margardi and ema+bashira have swapped enclosure just to clarify

That may be but bear in mind OrangePerson's post above:

of the things Tim said last week was that it is very easy to swap and change them all for a variety of reasons and so one shouldn't read too much into any rhino's location at any particular time (and that it might not always even be the one you think it is!)
 
There were two losses over the winter to rhinovirus, essentially complications from really bad colds, so the group is a little depleted.

Do you by any change no which individuals these were?
 
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