Chester Zoo Visits Late July/August

Were they mixed with the original 1.3?

The newly arrived 3 were being mixed with the original 3 females. Yet the male was seperated in the small right hand (hard standing) paddock.

So the Male Onager was in the smaller right hand (hard standing) paddock, the 6 females were on the larger (hard standing) paddock and sand paddock. And the 4 Camels were on the Grass Paddock.
 
I was the one who met Paix at the Zoo today and I can confirm his observations on the onagers.
The well-grown ducklings that I saw in the Tsavo aviary were white-faced whistling duck. I wished I'd had my binoculars in there, because I think I saw a couple of newly fledged weavers too. The shamas in an upper aviary in the Tropical Realm have 3 fledglings.
I have just posted a photo of Upali in the Gallery because I think he is in musth, can anyone confirm this? If so, is it his first time? He looked quite uneasy in his bull pen in the morning as he was pacing in a very stereotyped way - each foot going down in precisely the same place, so he had worn himself a track up and down the pen. I was very pleased to see that when the keepers had brought in the herd (perhaps earlier than normal) they let Upali into the main enclosure by 4.30 pm, where he seemed happier. In the past year or so he has definitely developed a bull elephant physique, much more massive about the shoulders and now his temporal glands are active too.

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Alan
 
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The newly arrived 3 were being mixed with the original 3 females. Yet the male was seperated in the small right hand (hard standing) paddock.

So the Male Onager was in the smaller right hand (hard standing) paddock, the 6 females were on the larger (hard standing) paddock and sand paddock. And the 4 Camels were on the Grass Paddock.

I am SERIOUSLY happy over this. Chester Zoo has always had a nice information board up over the Western Asia/Onager exhibit.

Any idea where the newly arrived female onagers originated from? :confused:
(I presume outside the UK as Whipsnade do not keep that many)
 
Visited the zoo today (having rather stupidly forgotten it was a public holiday), not a huge amount to report on. I did however get to see my first Cabot's Tragopan but no such luck with the Temminck's.
In less exiting news I also spotted the Pygmy Marmosets for the first time, and also the Crestless Firebacks for the first time in the Elephant House (I was quite pleased with this one).
A few movements in the bird collection which I dont think has been noted yet on the forum. The Green Peafowl has been moved in with the Rhino Hornbills in the old Kestrel aviary, Pheasant Pigeons which were free-flight are now in with the Tanagers and Bleeding Heart Doves.
There's also a Great Indian Hornbill in the aviary next to the Tarictic's on the bottom floor of the realm, which is presumably where the Go-away birds were (anoyingly with the go-away birds, despite being housed in about four different aviaries since their arrival I'm yet to see them).
 
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Unusual visit today. I went deliberately because I knew it would be busy (don't ask), and indeed it was, too bloomin' busy!

The only interesting events to report were the sightings of all three tragopans, so my Asian Aviary black thumb has turned to gold. Standing by the hornbills I asked a keeper how to spot the Cabot's and she said "He's right there, by the wire." In truth, I think she was the one with the magic touch. The Tremminck's are still incredibly hard to see, hence the lousy photographs. The male was right at the back of the enclosure under a fern, and the female buried in the middle of a bush.



As an aside, while standing by the tragopan aviaries an inside source divulged some interesting facts about ZooChat forum member EvilKittie. Quite shocking stuff. ;)

Another special event involved the two guys who were drunk as skunks, one of whom literally fell over on his face. One for the "What people do that irritates you" thread.

As reported by ZooMania, the onager were all together except for the male, who is still separated from the group. There was still no sign of the new female cheetah.



I tried the new seats around the Fountain Lawns and can't decide if they look like modern art or junk, but they're definitely the most uncomfortable seats ever created. It's more relaxing sitting on a fence post, except a fence post doesn't have random undulations that make your bum numb and lumps that dig in your back.

 
Unusual visit today. I went deliberately because I knew it would be busy (don't ask), and indeed it was, too bloomin' busy!

The only interesting events to report were the sightings of all three tragopans, so my Asian Aviary black thumb has turned to gold. Standing by the hornbills I asked a keeper how to spot the Cabot's and she said "He's right there, by the wire." In truth, I think she was the one with the magic touch. The Tremminck's are still incredibly hard to see, hence the lousy photographs. The male was right at the back of the enclosure under a fern, and the female buried in the middle of a bush.

As an aside, while standing by the tragopan aviaries an inside source divulged some interesting facts about ZooChat forum member. Quite shocking stuff. ;)

Another special event involved the two guys who were drunk as skunks, one of whom literally fell over on his face. One for the "What people do that irritates you" thread.

As reported by ZooMania, the onager were all together except for the male, who is still separated from the group. There was still no sign of the new female cheetah.

I tried the new seats around the Fountain Lawns and can't decide if they look like modern art or junk, but they're definitely the most uncomfortable seats ever created. It's more relaxing sitting on a fence post, except a fence post doesn't have random undulations that make your bum numb and lumps that dig in your back.

Nice. The Temminck's Tragopans look very nice, though I've officially lost my bragging rights over the Cabot's :p (a beautiful bird that I'd never have looked at twice had you not pointed it out). Going on the 11th September, so hopefully might get to see the Temminck's then :).
 
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