Chester Zoo Wildebeest at Chester.

[Pertinax]

BongoRob, in the General Forum thread 'When did it die out' there's some discussion about Wildebeest in UK collections.

Can you tell us when Chester stopped keeping Wildebeest? Also do you know if they then went elsewhere in Uk. e.g. to West Midlands or Knowsley? I'm interested to know if Chester's group are still continuing somewhere else....

 

[bongorob]

The wildebeest left in 1994. Also in 1994 the common eland went to Knowsley, I expect the wildebeest went to the same place, but I am not certain.

West Midlands list theirs as C.t.taurinus. Knowsley and Lympne do not give a subspecific name for their wildebeest. Photos of the Knowsley animals show the white-bearded subspecies C.t.albojubatus formerly kept at Chester.

 

[Pertinax]

seems very likely Chester's went to Knowsley then... I wonder where West Midlands got theirs from? Port Lympne's group came from an Austrian zoo/sp that was closing.

 

[tahninial]

I just came across an old picture of Chester's herd, from the look of the walls I assume they were in West Zoo somewhere?

 

[CZJimmy]

I just came across an old picture of Chester's herd, from the look of the walls I assume they were in West Zoo somewhere?

Yes, I believe they were in the current rhea paddock...

 

[zoogiraffe]

Yes, I believe they were in the current rhea paddock...

Correct they were in that enclosure,the enclosure also housed a batchellor group of Sable after the wildebeest left.