Chester Zoo What Chester Zoo needs to make it World class

No zoo can claim to be perfect imo but id agree with Tuan on his list of things that could be improved. The cattle house, cats and so on are perfectly adequette just look a bit old when you see Realm Of The Red Ape next door.
The Lions and Tigers are at a bit of a loose end. Size wise the Lions enclosure is perfect but is a little bland looking. Its the complete opposite for the Tiger enclosure, size wise could be better but inside it looks amazing.
 
I would say that Chester lacks a speciality: it has a good general collection, with strengths in certain areas, such as parrots, rhinos, orang utans, hornbills and reptiles. I think it should build on one or two of these strengths, and if they could also strengthen links with foreign governments and collections, so much the better. How about a Philippines house with more hornbills, great-billed parrots and some Philippine reptiles?
I would also like to see the aquarium redeveloped and the elephant paddock extended - but I'm basically satisfied with the lion and tiger enclosures as they are.

Alan
 
ZooMania said:
The Lions and Tigers are at a bit of a loose end. Size wise the Lions enclosure is perfect but is a little bland looking. Its the complete opposite for the Tiger enclosure, size wise could be better but inside it looks amazing.
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A very good summary of the Lion & Tiger enclosures. I don't understand why they don't do the same for the lions re landscaping- not difficult.
 
I really love chester zoo, the conservation work they do is amazing. But i agree they are not a world class zoo yet, as they need to improve exisiting areas (as previously mentioned by others).
 
I would love to see polar bears back at Chester.
In the guide books for 2002-2004, it mentions that the zoo have looked at plans to build a "hippo lake", and that it may be a possibility for the future. It also said in the same article that they could not (at the time) keep polar bears in the way they would wish..... which doesn't sound like they have ruled them out altogether.(hopefully:)!)
I agree with Gentle Lemur's idea of a specialist area. The Philippines naturally suggest themselves, with the number of endemic species already kept. More hornbills would be fantastic, and, dare I dream it....Philippine Eagles !!
 
gentle lemur said:
How about a Philippines house with more hornbills, great-billed parrots and some Philippine reptiles?
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I was under the impression that Chester is constructing a new Philippines theme under the bat bridge, with spotted deer and two enclosures housing warty pigs.
 
redpanda said:
I was under the impression that Chester is constructing a new Philippines theme under the bat bridge, with spotted deer and two enclosures housing warty pigs.
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Yes indeed, but that's just rehousing some of the specimens they already have. That's fine, but it won't do much towards the aim of this thread. Chester have a fair number of Philippine species - but I would like to see more, so that Chester would become the best place to see Filipino fauna outside their native land: then it would be legitimate to think of Chester as a world-class zoo.

Alan
 
EmmaE said:
I really love chester zoo, the conservation work they do is amazing. But i agree they are not a world class zoo yet, as they need to improve exisiting areas (as previously mentioned by others).
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It`s closer than most of the others in the U.K.
 
:)
jde7582 said:
This has probally been done b4, but would like to c what others think and the problems with getting certain animals.

My list is:

1. Giant Pandas
2. Gorillas
3. Polar Bears (in a domed exhibit with like eden project but kept cold)
4. Hippos
5. New Lion and Tiger exhibits
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domed exhibit? see these photos

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/2035027433_03b71894fb.jpg

http://www.awesomeflorida.com/images/seaworld-wild-arctic-b.jpg

http://www.awesomeflorida.com/images/seaworld-wild-arctic-1b.jpg

http://www.zoochat.com/607/beluga-whale-sea-world-orlando-44091/

Wild aric, Seaworld orlando, fairly good exhibit, themed around an artic rescue centre. Keeps Beluga, Polar Bear, Walrus, Seal. Domed, climate controled, there you go!
 
Cat-Man said:
:)

domed exhibit? see these photos

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/2035027433_03b71894fb.jpg

http://www.awesomeflorida.com/images/seaworld-wild-arctic-b.jpg

http://www.awesomeflorida.com/images/seaworld-wild-arctic-1b.jpg

http://www.zoochat.com/607/beluga-whale-sea-world-orlando-44091/

Wild aric, Seaworld orlando, fairly good exhibit, themed around an artic rescue centre. Keeps Beluga, Polar Bear, Walrus, Seal. Domed, climate controled, there you go!
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Can someone help me translate this? As yet again I have no idea what he is on about, unless he has got domed and doomed mixed up?
 
gentle lemur said:
Yes indeed, but that's just rehousing some of the specimens they already have. That's fine, but it won't do much towards the aim of this thread. Chester have a fair number of Philippine species - but I would like to see more, so that Chester would become the best place to see Filipino fauna outside their native land: then it would be legitimate to think of Chester as a world-class zoo.

Alan
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Sorry, I went a little off-topic as it sounded as like wern't aware of the new enclosures. It would be nice to see a Philippine house, but for the cost I doubt it would do much to attract visitors. Perhaps somewhere with a few high profile animals would be better from a financial perspective.
 
taun said:
Can someone help me translate this? As yet again I have no idea what he is on about, unless he has got domed and doomed mixed up?
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i was refering to the domed polar bear exhibit in seaworld orlando
 
Why the ** would anyone want a zoo in middle Europe to keep polar bears indoors only? How terrible that must be for the bears, they need fresh air, sun and rain and an enclosure with mud, dirt and vegetation. I like the idea of Chester getting polar bears back, but please not in a domed exhibit.
 
I would have to agree that Chester Zoo is World Class however it certainly isnt in my top 10.

EDIT: I also think that Britain is too Northerly to keep Polar Bears in a completely indoor exhibit... Mid france and downwards maybe...
 
hmm chester is quite high but i think that most of the top 10 are in America where they have the things letting them keep dolphins etc... (or atelasat they are more common)
 
CiaranDUK said:
I would have to agree that Chester Zoo is World Class however it certainly isnt in my top 10.

EDIT: I also think that Britain is too Northerly to keep Polar Bears in a completely indoor exhibit... Mid france and downwards maybe...
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I would love to know what your top is then if you think Chester is world class but doesn't make the grade in your top ten.
 
taun said:
Where to start, the old orang-utan house needs to go (and hopefully will).
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They May Develop It In The Near Future Although, They Cannot Just Get Rid Of It, Chester Zoo Still Houses Some Of The Sumatran Orangutans In There,

I Know This A I Was In There This Summer (In The Old House)...

Aswell The Old Orangutan House Is Attached To The New Realm Of The Red Ape So The Sumatran Can Go To Either One...
 
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