Dik-Dik » Chester Zoo

Dik-Dik
22-11-2008

The small news thread is closed, so i started a thread for the dik-diks. Has anyone actually seen these animals and are they actually there? Also, where in the zoo would they be housed.

22-11-2008

If the zoo has them i would say that they are in the quarantine centre for the time been,if what i was told a few years ago is true they will be going in with the Okapi.Also if they have them they have got them to gain experience at keeping this type of Antelope.

22-11-2008

possibly for a rarer species???

22-11-2008

This year I have seen dik-dik housed in large aviaries at both Edinburgh ( African birds) and Paris Jardin-des-Plantes ( a walk-through with waterfowl etc. ) . Perhaps the new African Aviary is intended as their home ?

22-11-2008

Well plans do change at Chester alot so quite possible but still think they will go in with the Okapi.

23-11-2008

I agree with Zoogiraffe, it was the original plan to place them with the okapis. However knowing Chester, this plan could have been changed several times within the last few years. They must be a very recent arrival as no one mentioned dik-diks on my last visit on 1st November.

23-11-2008

Definitely a new arrival, and must be off show as there was no sign of them today anywhere.

Could they possible go where the Anoa used to be??

23-11-2008

yes thats a thought, what else might they do with the anoa island?

23-11-2008

Thought that it could be used to settle them in before trying to mix them with the Okapi.

23-11-2008

I would guess if they're not in the quarantine area, they're at the back of the giraffe house.

23-11-2008

whats really the point in mixing them with okapi when they can have their own large island encosure all to themselves

23-11-2008

True, one place I miss now again with the butterfly house being built and not being able to walk around that way

23-11-2008

Actually Taun, I meant the offshow part. I did not make this clear so I apologise for confusing you.

23-11-2008

I know what you mean, but I would of thought they would of allowed any species back there access to the small paddock??? Similar to when the Okapi first arrived

23-11-2008

I feel the choice of okapi to put in the dik dik is not a good one. It does not even fit with the central African rainforest biome theme.

Dikdik are a purely open Acacia foresty savannah or semi-arid scrub forest. For that reason, it would be perfect to add them onto a savannah exhibit. Giraffes might be a choice as they do not compete for space ... Even the savannah exhibit or a more challenging one as the rhino holding areas (even though these are more grassy rangeland).