Join our zoo community

Chester Zoo "Bears of the World" random discussion

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Zooreviewsuk, 2 Nov 2017.

  1. Zooreviewsuk

    Zooreviewsuk Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    14 May 2017
    Posts:
    785
    Location:
    Somerset
    Heard through the grapevine when chatting to a keeper at Edinburgh on Saturday that Chester will be unveiling a plan to create a Bears Of The World development, which will open in 2020 - 2021 and they will house multiple species of bears, including Giant Panda which are likely to be the two from Edinburgh when their agreement ends in 2021.
     
  2. Fallax

    Fallax Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Mar 2017
    Posts:
    2,303
    Location:
    Wales
    Wait, what!? If this is true then this really doesn't seem to fit with the zoos plans. The two bear species at the zoo have well established enclosures already and I doubt the zoo would abandon them for another species. Do you have any more information on this?
     
  3. Zooreviewsuk

    Zooreviewsuk Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    14 May 2017
    Posts:
    785
    Location:
    Somerset
    Don't really know much. I was chatting to the Panda keeper at Edinburgh and I asked if they would try and breed with them again next year and he said no decision had been made but the Panda were no longer in the long term plan with the zoo. I asked how come and he explained that they were there on a 10 year deal which expires in 3 years and he said there was murmurings they will join Chester Zoo, as part of a Bears Of The World development.
     
  4. Charlie Simmomds

    Charlie Simmomds Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    6 Nov 2016
    Posts:
    917
    Location:
    Birmingham
    I find this plan highly unlikely and silly considering the zoos plans, it may just be gossip but it is still sillly gossip.
     
  5. bongorob

    bongorob Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    18 May 2007
    Posts:
    6,312
    Location:
    Stoke-on-Trent England
    If it is true, it must be a very recent development. I do not believe the story though.
     
  6. jde7582

    jde7582 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    29 Sep 2009
    Posts:
    481
    Location:
    Chester
    I don't believe it but an exhibit with g.panda, specticled, sloth, brown or black bears would fit in the forrest zone
     
    Last edited: 2 Nov 2017
  7. Maguari

    Maguari Never could get the hang of Thursdays. 15+ year member Premium Member

    Joined:
    12 Oct 2007
    Posts:
    5,387
    Location:
    Chesterfield, Derbyshire
    The cynic in me thinks that it sounds like an excellent thing to put about if you were trying to trace a leak..! Giant Panda gossip is bound to be passed on.

    On its own terms, the more bears the better - although I wouldn't be too keen on Chester getting involved in Rent-a-Panda.
     
    Brum, TeaLovingDave and pipaluk like this.
  8. Fallax

    Fallax Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Mar 2017
    Posts:
    2,303
    Location:
    Wales
    If Chester gets another bear species it will be sloth bears or moon bears.
     
    zoogiraffe likes this.
  9. ShonenJake13

    ShonenJake13 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    18 Mar 2014
    Posts:
    2,484
    Location:
    London
    Find this incredibly unlikely, considering the correlation between Edinburgh acquiring pandas and the significant drop in the number of species they hold ever since then, I highly doubt Chester would want them at all!
     
  10. redstarsmith

    redstarsmith Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    31 Aug 2008
    Posts:
    103
    Location:
    Douglas
    Ratio of profit to cost- would Chester make any money out of Pandas? I wouldn’t see sense in it. Maybe if Chester expanded to twice its size then you bring in Pandas.

    New third species of Orangutan just announced, from Sumatra called Tapanuli orangutan- in addition to existing Bornean and Sumatran Orangs. Would rather they acquired these than Pandas.
     
  11. gentle lemur

    gentle lemur Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    8 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    4,979
    Location:
    South Devon
    I am completely convinced by this story. Bears of the World will fit nicely between the flying pig aviary and the hippogriff stables.
     
    Birdsage, Brum, Macaw16 and 13 others like this.
  12. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    13 Jun 2007
    Posts:
    23,395
    Location:
    New Zealand
    I think the keeper was telling fibs (and by "fibs" I mean "blatant lies"). Panda rentals don't work that way - they don't just get handed on to another zoo. It has been said on here before that keepers at certain zoos tell lies to visitors to see them get repeated on Zoochat.
     
    Birdsage and bongorob like this.
  13. FBBird

    FBBird Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    15 Oct 2010
    Posts:
    3,617
    Location:
    Dorset, UK
    If they've found room for hippogriffs, can we hope to see unicorns (of the non-chubby variety) in the near future.
     
    zoogiraffe likes this.
  14. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    30 Apr 2010
    Posts:
    752
    Location:
    UK
    I find it hard to believe keepers give a monkeys what is said on Zoochat.
     
    FBBird likes this.
  15. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    12 Sep 2007
    Posts:
    6,338
    Location:
    Middlewich,Cheshire U.K
    Well keepers might not but senior management do in fact I know atleast one of Chesters has done alot of laughing at the rubbish been said tonight so far,but then you don't have to believe me on that,but those that know me personally know I am speaking the truth!
     
    Brum and ShonenJake13 like this.
  16. JoeDK14

    JoeDK14 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    23 Sep 2017
    Posts:
    276
    Location:
    Warrington
    the Bears of the world thing will never happen it just does not fit the zoos plans I’m not surprised people have been laughing at it zoogiraffe
     
  17. FBBird

    FBBird Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    15 Oct 2010
    Posts:
    3,617
    Location:
    Dorset, UK
    It's more than possible that your average monkey doesn't give a keeper's.......
     
    bongorob, Zia and gentle lemur like this.
  18. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    30 Apr 2010
    Posts:
    752
    Location:
    UK
    Are you seriously suggesting senior managers at Chester would intentionally lie to guests so they could have a good old laugh at them? Very professional.
     
    Birdsage likes this.
  19. Fallax

    Fallax Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Mar 2017
    Posts:
    2,303
    Location:
    Wales
    Say hi to senior management for us :p
     
    Zia likes this.
  20. Zia

    Zia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    30 Apr 2010
    Posts:
    752
    Location:
    UK
    But to get back to the point - I don't believe Chester will be getting Panda either. It doesn't fit with their plans and would be a colossal waste of money and resources. I credit them with better strategic planning than that.
     
    jde7582 likes this.