Christmas Crossword

Well played Rob, well played!

 

Well KevinVar is one, you and Dave can work out between you who's furthest removed from the English language! "Fush & chups" or "Haway the lads"?

To be honest I've never been able to tell a Kiwi from an Ozzie by accent but apparently you can't say fish and chips. It's not me being racist, I'm just following stereotypes!

 

I know they're not, I was trying to make light of my inability to finish the crossword by taking out my frustration on those who have beaten me! Let's call it a micro aggression!

 

54 across, only one I can't solve.

 

It is one of the harder clues. Start with the 3 letter word.

 

Unless it causes anyone a problem, I intend to publish the solution here at this time tomorrow.

 

Here are the answers.

ACROSS
1 Photo specialist from Ohio (he likes a vignette) (8) MOEBELLE
3 Mobula or Satanoperca? (9) DEVILFISH
6 see 10 Across
8 see 15 Across
10 & 6 Across Related to the elephant (6,3) DASSIE RAT
12 & 21 Across Tall bird (5,5) SARUS CRANE
13 & 18 Across Song and dance ape (5,6) FUNKY GIBBON
15 & 8 Across South African speedster (5,7) KAROO CHEETAH
16 & 7 Down Dark diver (5,6) BLACK DUIKER
18 see 13 Across
19 He knows more than he can tell (3,7) ZOOGIRAFFE
21 see 12 Across
25 Island hopper (3) HIX
26 & 40 Down Dry country guide (7,6) ARIZONA DOCENT
28 Named after a parasite (8) LINTWORM
29 Well travelled photographer (5) TOMEK
31 The animal's head gardener (3,5,3) ZOOPLANTMAN
33 see 30 Down
35 More Experiences than Jimi Hendrix (6) MIGDOG
37 Summer plumage for 43 Down (6) SHORTS
39 see 14 Down
40 see 42 Down
41 L'homme au Camellia sinensis (1,1,1) TLD
45 A useful card (3) SIM
46 & 17 Down Soldier bird (5,8) VOGELCOMMANDO
47 Cool 'cat' or hot drink? (5) TODDY
49 Funny toes (10) ZYGODACTYL
51 & 4 Down Scarily rare (5,5) JAVAN RHINO
52 In the heart of Africa (5) ITURI
53 Fairy blue? (1,1,4) FBBIRD
54 Mr M's first location (10,3) SHAVINGTON ZOO

DOWN
2 CA lady (5) BETSY
3 & 44 Down Oriental image maker (4,6) DEER FOREST
4 see 51 Across
5 ZSL bear cub (7) PIPALUK
7 see 16 Across
9 & 32 Down Striped survivor? (9,5) THYLACINE ALIVE
11 see 33 Down
14 & 39 Across From the shore of Lake Michigan (9,3) MILWAUKEE MAN
17 see 46 Across
20 In memory of a mother orang (5) GIGIT
22 Tiny lad (7) NANOBOY
23 A flying kiwi? (10) CHLIDONIAS
24 see 42 Down
27 His zoo? (6) ZOOISH
30 & 33 Across Might support Holland or Blackpool (6,6) ORANGE PERSON
31 Almost maize (3) ZIA
32 see 9 Down
33 & 11 Down The champion the 'old school' (7,6) PARROTS ANDREW
34 Short Midlander (4) BRUM
36 & 24 Down Mr Aston Martin? (5,5) DAVID BROWN
38 Rather wet and boggy (6) SWAMPY
40 see 26 Across
42 & 40 Across Coo! Found from Africa to India! He-he! (8,4) LAUGHING DOVE
43 Drummer man? (5,3) BONGOROB
44 see 3 Down
48 Sounds like a boat, to some people (5) BATTO
50 What a big pigeon! (5) GOURA

I hope no-one is too frustrated by seeing these answers. I was pleased that so many people had a go. I will post a pdf version in the Resources area as well.

 

Now that the answers are posted, you ought to explain that Mr. M clue for #54 because I still have no idea how that relates to the answer.

 

Alan you continue to amaze me with your smarts, this is awesome!

 

Mr M is a reference to George Mottershead, who opened his animal collection in Shavington to the public, before he bought Oakfield House and opened Chester Zoo, see George Mottershead Biography - Founder of Chester Zoo.
The nice thing about a crossword like this is that all the answers are in our list of members (except for SIM and TLD, strictly speaking), and of course, you have three letters of the answer from the Down clues.
I think it's also nice to have a little insight into some of our usernames.

 

Now I see the answer then 54a makes sense!

 

Nope, not even with hints from other ZooChatters!

 

I'm sorry you didn't get it. I realised that this was one of the harder clues and I could have made it easier by putting in the name Mottershead but there's no point in compiling a crossword or a quiz which just has easy clues. That's no fun for the compiler and not much satisfaction for the contestants either. I hope you got all the others right - especially 34 Down

 

I did, it was one of the first I got because I'm that vain!

On a more serious note, I thoroughly enjoyed this crossword and I raise my hat to you GL for putting the time, effort and brain power in to your quizzes. Thanks for the entertainment. Hope your break isn't for too long!