Chester Zoo Visits Winter

If he was in the paddock on the other side of the Monorail from where KT(Female Cheetah) is most often kept(small enclosure with the den and log facing the wooden walkway) then I haven't seen him in a while either.
 
It sure sounds like it i think the Zoo was happy with him mating with the female's and if one or more became pregnant and one was a young male perhaps they may keep him at the Zoo to breed with the other female's?
 
Okapi introductions

On my last two visits (first and second saturdays of December) Stuma and Dicky the okapi were together in a fully open paddockin an attempt to mate. As usual, Dicky followed Stuma everywhere but alas, she would not stand still. Both of these seem to be the norm between those two, but does anybody know if any matings between the two have been observed, and if they have what are the chances of a successful pregnancy and subsequent pitter-patter of okapi hooves?

Other than the spectacled bears (and in the future, Indian rhino), Okapi are THE species I would like to see Chester successfully breed, and since the species (although in fairness, not the individuals) have been in the collection since 2006 I'm wondering if we could expect any steps forward to a successful breeding any time soon. Obviously, with such a long gestation (65 weeks?), we won't see babies in 2011, but could this species breed successfully at Chester by the end of 2012? What are your opinions?
 
OrangePerson said:
They were seen mating by a zoochtter on the day of the first walk & talk!
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:(, me guessing not successful then unless something is being kept VERY quiet. Fingers crossed for the future :)
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Unrelated edit to save from double-posting. In the following link it mentions the 'new giraffe viewing platform' - is this actually a public raised platform somewhere, if so I don't think it was there a couple of weeks ago, and I've not heard any other info on it :S

http://www.chesterzoo.org/support-us/gifts-and-experiences/experience-days/giraffe-encounter
 
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Javan Rhino said:
In the following link it mentions the 'new giraffe viewing platform' - is this actually a public raised platform somewhere...
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Apparently it will be, once they get around to building it. This is something of a change of policy from Chester, as they've previously not been exactly approving of similar experiences at other zoos.
 
I visited today, even in the miserable weather I had a good day. Saw the Golden-headed lion tamarins for the first time, the Dicky and Stuma were still together but nothing came of it while I was there, the Gaboon viper actually moved which put paid to my theory that it was just a toy in there :D. Can probably think of more soon, but I'm typing in a hurry so will edit later with pics and any more info if I think of any.


And happy 1,000 post to me :D
 
I visited today and not much news really. There are now Brown Wood Owls in the Aviary closest to the Red Panda's(On the side with the Hawk Owl).
 

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Cheetah fan said:
I couldn't see them and havent on the visits since. May have been due to no signs though. Fair play if it was just me not noticing till today.
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They are not the easiest Bird to see as they tend to sit at the back and been a dark Brown colour,makes them very hard to see.But something I`ve learn`t over the years is always look in an enclosure even if it has no sign as it could have something in it!Have to admit today is the first time that I have seen a sign on the enclosure,nice to see that they have gone back to the old style of Chester signs that ended up in so many other UK collections!
 
zoogiraffe said:
They are not the easiest Bird to see as they tend to sit at the back and been a dark Brown colour,makes them very hard to see.But something I`ve learn`t over the years is always look in an enclosure even if it has no sign as it could have something in it!Have to admit today is the first time that I have seen a sign on the enclosure,nice to see that they have gone back to the old style of Chester signs that ended up in so many other UK collections!
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To be fair I was on my way from the Pandas to the Tigers and only tend to take notice of the Hawk Owl so seeing the sign I paid them some attention. And yeah there colour doesnt help with where they hide in the nest boxes. I have to say though they do look like cracking birds and I hope when the weather warms up a bit they will take to sitting on the tree's in the aviary.
 
Visting tomorrow for the first time in a while. Any info or pics anybody would like me to try and get?
 
The okapi were together today, showing a bit of interest but apparently have been mating successfully earlier this week.
Giraffes were mating, from the pictures I'd have guessed at it being Aiofe but might be wrong because I'm not familiar with them.
Didn't see the Bornean orangutans again sadly although I think they could have come out.
We heard Gromit the female gibbon singing! Budi the young Sumatran male was tormenting one of the male gibbons. Puluh was being whacked on the head by one of his younger daughters, probably Indah.
One of the cheetah males was doing lots of calling, KT was showing some interest but soon got fed up and wandered off. We could also see the new female who may be the cause of all the excitement!
Both the bears were in evidence and 5 or 6 coati up the tree!
 
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OrangePerson said:
The okapi were together today, showing a bit of interest but apparently have been mating successfully earlier this week.
Giraffes were mating, from the pictures I'd have guessed at it being Aiofe but might be wrong because I'm not familiar with them.
Didn't see the Bornean orangutans again sadly although I think they could have come out.
We heard Gromit the female gibbon singing! Budi the young Sumatran male was tormenting one of the male gibbons. Puluh was being whacked on the head by one of his younger daughters, probably Indah.
One of the cheetah males was doing lots of calling, KT was showing some interest but soon got fed up and wandered off. We could also see the new female who may be the cause of all the excitement!
Both the bears were in evidence and 5 or 6 coati up the tree!
Click to expand...

Well, fingers crossed for the okapi, as you can see I've been showing a particular interest in how things are going with those two. As for the giraffes, then Aoife won't get pregnant again will she? What with Tula only been two months old? This is going to sound perverted, but did you take any pictures of the particular giraffe that you saw, because I can identify Aoife from the others.

Thanks for the report, I'll be there on the 15th so some time yet :D
 
I think I have got a picture of the lady in question being pursued across the paddock, I'll try uploading I tomorrow.
 
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