Chester Zoo Short news update from 30th July 09

CZJimmy

Well-Known Member
Not much to report I think but:

- The dik-diks are apparently going in the former Philippine Deer enclosure by the gemsbok. The information signs are up for them already, but i couldn't see any in the enclosure.
http://www.zoochat.com/42/dik-dik-information-sign-96207/

- There is a baby Buffy-Headed Capuchin which seemed only a few days old.

- There are 3 bush dog pups
http://www.zoochat.com/42/bush-dog-pups-96205/

- the tarpaulin has been removed from the Croc pool roof netting

- (as mentioned in the Raman thread) all the elephants were in the main paddock



oh and for any football fans, Robbie Savage was at the zoo today ;)
 
I visited today and have a few things to add to CZJimmy's review.

Aquarium
The Whiptailed Catfish are now on display in the Discus tank.

The Madagascan tank has been blocked out, it is undergoing emergency maintenance.

The African Lungfish is now in the Okapi house.

Tropical Realm
The Barbets and the Chats have been moved and the aviary is occupied by Orange-headed Ground Thrushes and Pekin Robins, some of this years young I expect.

Lables regarding the breedings of Socorro Doves and Montserrat Orioles have been placed on the aviary.

The Rhinocers hornbill aviary is being refurbished and is empty. The other Rhinoceros Hornbill aviary by the Snowy Owls appeared to be empty also.

Other news
The female Tapir is pregnant.

A new fence has been erected inside the zebra and oryx enclosure.

Another Roan Antelope has arrived.

A kiosk is under construction outside the zoo, in front of the ark shop.

The new babirusa and otter enclosure contained 2 otters and 3 keepers, with no sign of babirusa.

There is no access to The Rare Parrot Breeding Centre because of the landscape work on ths site of the old otter enclosure.

The free shuttle bus from Chester station to the zoo is well advertised on the railway station, but there are no timetables to be seen anywhere.

Jangoli is not pregnant.

Finally I spent around 15 minutes pointing out a female Sand Lizard to people who could not find it.
 
I visited today and have a few things to add to CZJimmy's review.

The free shuttle bus from Chester station to the zoo is well advertised on the railway station, but there are no timetables to be seen anywhere.

I perhaps should've mentioned that I used this service. It runs every 20mins from the station and the zoo and drops you off at the pedestrian entrance.

This is a massive bonus because I arrived at the zoo at about 10:10 so I pretty much had the entire East Zoo to myself for over an hour!! Places like RORA and the chimps were empty of people and the bush dogs, pudu and serval were all out and active.

I hope it becomes permanent.

(you have to have a train ticket otherwise you can not board the bus)
 
The Rhinocers hornbill aviary is being refurbished and is empty. The other Rhinoceros Hornbill aviary by the Snowy Owls appeared to be empty also.

Sorry but does Chester keep two pairs then? And where exactly is the other aviary?
 
Ah, thanks my have to see tmrw. That area is usaully quiet as well.

At least i think it's up there. I haven't been to that area for a while.

In terms of the large hornbills, which aviary contains which?

Elephant House: 1.0? G.I Hornbill

Tropical Realm: 1.1 G.I. Hornbill and 1.1 Rhinoceros Hornbill

Kestrel area: 0.1 Rhinoceros Hornbill

does that sound about right to any of Chester's bird enthusiasts?
 
At least i think it's up there. I haven't been to that area for a while.

In terms of the large hornbills, which aviary contains which?

Elephant House: 1.0? G.I Hornbill

Tropical Realm: 1.1 G.I. Hornbill and 1.1 Rhinoceros Hornbill

Kestrel area: 0.1 Rhinoceros Hornbill

does that sound about right to any of Chester's bird enthusiasts?

tropical realm seems right, so does the elepahnt house but I don't often go in there.
 
I was at the zoo today as well, when I looked in the Otter/Babirusa exhibit today I could see no Otters but I could see both Babirusa.

My review of the day:

Started off with the Elephants, tried to figure out which Elephant was which, and took photos of Sheba and Sithami. Jangoli was looking rather round.

Then went into the African Aviary on the way to Tsavo, where I could see only Malindi, who was standing in the corner in which is normally occupied by Kitani. Kitani and Asani were out in the paddock, and I could see Sammi from behind the Meerkat Statue. Did not see any Meerkats in their enclosure or Ema, Magadi or Bashira. Looked at enclosures with Przewalski's Horses, Roan Antelope, Lechwe, Gemsbok, Ostrich and Sitatunga, but couldn't figure out where they were building the Dik-Dik exhibit. Went round the Bears and surrounding exhibits, did not see Sangay but did see the Vicuna, Rhea and Tapirs, although the Capybara were not as easy to see.

Visited the Twighlight Zone before observing the new Warty Pig enclosure from the Bat's Bridge. Stopped for Lunch by the Anoa exhibit, watching Hubba, it was the first time I have seen him. Nobody seemed to know what he was, I heard Camel, Deer and Three-Headed Pig (Seriously, somebody said he was a three headed pig!)

Asha and Asoka were both asleep, as were the Servals. Still, I was rather happy to see the Servals, as I have also never seen these. Bush Dogs were very active, although I didn't see any pups. I saw one Red Panda asleep in a tree, barely visible. Have she had her cubs yet?

Could not access the Rare Parrot Breeding Centre, and went on to the tigers. Kirana was asleep, and Fabi was trying to sleep indoors, although seemed to be struggling to do so as there were several young children banging on the glass. Did not see the baby porcupine.

One of the Sealion Pools was being cleaned, and could only see the male in the second pool. What are the names of the current four?

Payed a visit to the penguin nursery, they came right up to the window I was looking through until a boy about the same age as me started banging on the glass.
Next stop was the Chimps, Cleo was outside, so of course, I heard several people saying "Wow, look at that Monkey! He's got a huge bottom!", which I found quite amusing (She's an ape, not a monkey, and she's not a he. It was adults calling her a monkey). Saw both Okapis and all five giraffes and then went to the Red River Hogs. I could only see two piglets, and all of the adults were there. It was amazing to see how much the piglets have grown since my last visit.

Briefly visited the Tropical Realm and saw the baby Buffy-Headed Capuchin. It was absolutely adorable, although very few people noticed it.

Did not enter Spirit of the Jaguar but visited both outdoor exhibits, saw the two in the Waterfall enclosure, they were causing quite a crowd.

Went into Realm of the Red Ape, but it was absolutely packed, so decided to get out as fast as I could, although I did see Subis and Kirana. Martha was asleep under a sack. Did not see any otters, but did see the Babirusa. Headed back over the Bat's Bridge (After I'd visited the Onagers, Camels, Lemurs and Cheetahs) before visiting Monkey Islands and Asian Plains. Paid another visit to the Elephants, and took photos of Upali, Tunga and Sundara.

And that was my visit to Chester Zoo.

P.S. I think I saw you Rob, I was wearing a Newcastle cap (with an Image of Shearer on it), an Adidas tracksuit top with my camera and notepad, which has a tiger pattern on the front. I was with my mum and sister.

Harry
 
but couldn't figure out where they were building the Dik-Dik exhibit.

It's behind the sitatunga/ostrich enclosure and adjacent to the gemsbok paddock. (it is attached to the same stable block as those paddocks I think)
 
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