Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Discussion, Speculation & Questions 2019

Don't forget that with the Madagascar exhibits newly opened, the zoo is currently building a new Indian lion enclosure and a very large off-show complex, as well as repairing the damage to the Monsoon Forest. Other projects will be in various stages of preparation, but I don't think anything will be finalised for a while.

 

But from what I understand Chester are trying to do biomes not geographical regions? So there will be Asian and South American species in Grasslands as well right?

 

That was a plan a while back but who knows if that is still current (I believe it is with Asian lions being put next to what was planned to be the forest zone).

 

The Asian Lions have been stated as being the first phase of the 'Floodplains and Foothills' zone - on the face of it that would seem to be intended to also cover the other large Asian animals that are not in Islands (such as the elephants and Indian Rhinos). Forests (assuming it's still planned under that name) seems intended to be part African and part South American, though I wouldn't be surprised if it's split further under two different names by the time it's complete.

Islands itself actually contains basically nothing that couldn't have been in the Forest Zone in principle, and of course is solely Asian/Pacific despite the zoo having prominent island species from other locations (Madagascar most notably) so the zone themes seem to be intended as part biome and part geographic.

 

Add to that the island fauna found in Dragon In Danger (or whatever it's called now) and you could probably make another (equally) substantial exhibit called Islands elsewhere in the zoo.

 

How wrong can I get?

 

I presume the monorail’s day’s are numbered.

As an only-ever-occasional visitor, I have always rather liked - and appreciated - the monorail, and it’s always seemed at least reasonably busy.

If it is indeed going to be got rid of, why is that so?

 

It is life-expired, I think it was dsigned to last for 20 years, but not sure of the actual timeframe.

Also when they move the giraffes they won't fit under the track.

 

I remember visiting the zoo on a rather soggy holiday in Wales in 1993 and riding on the monorail then, so if that lifespan is correct its done pretty well! However I will be sad when/if it goes, could it not be refurbished? I certainly hope that the zoo has some other form of transport to replace it, as walking around the place is tiring enough as it is - something with a few more pick-up points would be much appreciated!

 

Instead of the monorail, I would like some kind of transportation system that will take you to different parts of the zoo, that you can get on and off in different places :-D

 

Maybe small driverless pods, just jump in and say the animal you want to see

 

The zoo had that in the form of the canal boats, which originally offered a number of hop-on/hop-off stops around East Zoo.

 

My nephew's wife says they already have a visitor transport system. It's called feet.

 

If you say 'Giant Panda' will they take you to Edinburgh?

 

I'm more intrigued what happens if you say 'Saola'.

Or 'Thylacine'..!

 

To the book section of the zoo shop of course

 

I've just seen a post on Twitter showing two young elephants outside in the paddock, so Indali is outside again and looks in great health. Wonderful to see!

 

She has been out and about for the past week.

 

If it can find it ...

 

Nice visit to the Zoo today which was absolutely packed.

Noticed that the Gaboon Viper was no longer displayed in the Okapi house and the Reticulated Pythons were not on display in Realm of the Red ape. Have both species left the collection or have they been moved/off show?