I haven't noticed confirmation of the Giant otter birth, just rumours, but someone has posted a photo showing the parents with one pup on facebook
According to the Current holding on Zootierliste, Chester now has Red-bellied lemur in its collection. Anyone know which zoo these may have come from? I'm assuming they will be going into the new Madagascar exhibit, unless they are currently off-show at the moment?
I visited yesterday with my friend James, who doesn't get to Chester as much as he would like. Two new species were signed, although we saw neither. Australian Orb-web spider (Eriophora transmarina) in Realm of the Red Ape. Great green, (or for people of a certain age Buffon's) Macaw (Ara ambiguua) in the old hyacinth macaw aviary. An okapi is in the old wapiti/bongo/banteng enclosure. The bush dogs have been taken back to their own enclosure, and next door is a pair of red-billed blue magpies, others are still in the owl aviaries. No penguins are on show at the moment. The new adder enclosure is being planted out at the moment. The new lion enclosure is slightly delayed because of the weather, but it is hoped to have it open within the next few weeks.
Still no confirmed news on the giant otter pups, despite the sign at the enclosure still be there to say updates would be posted. However, I'm sure I saw two today, but none of the family appeared to come outside, so could only view them from the barrier still blocking off the window.
If you mean the Okapi, yes we spotted one through the bushes in the old Bongo paddock by the Parrot breeding centre. We couldn't seeing it clearly but I would guess its a male.
I visited Chester for the first time today and needless to say, that I was impressed . Weather was very favourable, but not the forecast and probably that's way was not so crowdy. Was very lucky to watch the old lady Aye aye in the second exhibit eating fennel almost 20 min. Saw also the two Giant otter pups behind the barrier, gorgeous baby Bongo, the Javan Green Magpie and the Tuatara. The Roan antelope was nice new ungulate for me, but I was not so lucky with the Muntjac. Madagascar zone is really remarkable, but the Lemurs are bit hard to spot, luckily catched Fossa's feeding time. The lions were off-show, cos they moving them in the new enclosure today. Islands are one of the best zoo sections, have ever seen, besides some of the species are bit limited in space compared with the Chester's standards. Assume that is the only way to make it look like one separate area. The indoor areas were not overpopulated and was great to look around and take pictures. All in all was pleasant day in a zoo with great conservation role, handpicked collection and "Star species " from all animal classes. It is very hard to be seen from 10:00 to 16:30, but tanks to @gentle lemur and the very friendly staff and volunteers I have managed to take most of it and will definitely come back.
From what I understand they are two of five young (three separate litters) living at the zoo that were born this year. When myself and Nisha visited a week ago we counted 13 babirusa across all the enclosures! Probably some offshow too...
I thought I was told by a volunteer last month that the red-bellied lemurs are planned to go with the Black lemurs, although I could be wrong or this may have changed since. Cameroon two-horned chameleon now in the former tomato frog exhibit in tropical realm. The zoo also now has a third Bactrian camel - looks quite young, maybe the calf from Welsh Mountain Zoo?
Nice one! I was there yesterday too but didn't spot the pups unfortunately. I did see though that they've added Gaboon vipers again to the viv by the okapis, although the vipers this time are a lot smaller than the ones from before. They've also removed signage for the Caribbean hermit crabs in the mountain chicken exhibit & a sign has been put up for blue land crabs instead.
The indoor viewing was open last Sunday (27th) and both the giant otter pups were visible (I hadn't realised they hadn't been reported on here).
Its well know they had pups but number has not really been confirmed... Ah ok, I think I went the week before which it was still closed off.
They have completed refitting the roof. Plastic roof goes back on Chester Zoo's giant dome following fire
