Chester Zoo
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The Chester Zoo was the first zoo in the UK to successfully breed Asian Elephants in captivity. The most famous of these was "Jubilee" (1977-2003), so named as he was born in 1977, the year of the Queen's Silver Jubilee. At the moment the zoo has nine Asian Elephant the newest arrivals are Tunga and Sundara, two baby elephants.
One of the most famous sights in the zoo is the Chimpanzees. Some have lived there for over 30 years, and it is a well-established colony of 28 and still growing.
The zoo has a monorail transportation system, two restaurants, a children's playing park an new ARK (huge outdoor playing centre), several picnic lawns and educational notices for visitors.
As one of Europe's, and indeed the world's, foremost conservation-minded zoos, Chester Zoo has many important breeding programs - for example, its Galapagos Giant Tortoise (their collection is the only one in the UK), the Socorro Doves (currently extinct in the wild, and a world population of less than 50), the critically endangered Sumatran Orangutan, Eastern Black Rhinoceros (whose Western relative recently became extinct) and the Aruba Island Rattlesnake. They are constantly looking for new ways to enhance their endangered residents' numbers, and have recently phased out their common Zebras for their more endangered cousins, the Grevy's Zebra (who only number a couple of thousand) and unlike more traditional zoos, like London, have even opted for the most endangered species of penguin, the Humboldt Penguin.
see also Chester zoo exhibits
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[edit] Bears of the Cloud Forest
The zoo's Spectacled Bear exhibit. Less than 2,400 roam the Andes today and Chester's collection are vitally important for the preservation of the species. This purpose-built exhibit is designed to mimic the bear's natural habitat, by providing trees, mountainous terrain and a canopy full of Coatis. Nearby is a paddock home to Vicuna (distant relatives of the Llama), Capybara (the worlds biggest rodent) and Brazilian Tapirs (who have recently breed). Another nearby paddock houses Guanaco (yet another relative of the llama) as well as Rhea. This enclosure was opened in 2004.
[edit] Islands in Danger
Though primarily a huge herpetarium for the zoo's Komodo Dragons (the world's largest lizard) the Islands in Danger exhibit also houses various endangered and beautiful Indonesian rainforests birds (e.g. Red Bird of Paradise, Victoria Crowned Pigeon) and also an aviary, based around a wrecked fishing-boat, housing the Palawan Peacock Pheasant, Socorro Dove and the critically endangered St. Lucia Parrot. Komodo Dragons originate in the Lesser Sunda Islands, and at Chester they have recently been given an outdoor enclosure for the warmer months of the year. It was opened in 1998 and the extention was opened in 2003
[edit] Tsavo Black Rhino Experience
The zoo's Black Rhinoceros exhibit, based on the Tsavo East National Park in Kenya - visitors are taught various words of Swahili, can listen to the daily rhino talk and enjoy the busy antics of the local Meerkat colony in their huge Termite mound home. Chester zoo has eight Black Rhinoceros, and has bred them successfully in the past. There are only 400 Black Rhinoceros left in Kenya today. This exhibit cost the zoo £2 million to build and was opened in 2003. Lechwe, Mongooses and Warthogs were added in 2006 to surrounding paddocks. Also the Tsavo Cafe was opened in 2006 replacing the outdated Oasis Cafe. The enclosures with there African style look stunning.
[edit] Spirit of the Jaguar
The most spectacular exhibit to date at Chester, and probably all of Britain, Spirit of the Jaguar was opened in 2001, and is the biggest and best jaguar exhibit in the world. Their exhibit is split in four, the two inside are a massive and very well-planted rainforest, and a dry and arid savannah, and the two outside contain large rivers and deep pools so that the cats can excercise their swimming skills. As well as Jaguars, the exhibit also contains a large colony of Leafcutter ants, Poison dart frogs and numerous rainforest fish (which can be viewed by an underwater, personally-controlled camera). There are five Jaguars (4 spotted Jaguars and one black Jaguar).
[edit] Twilight Zone Bat Cave
The largest free-flying bat cave in Europe, is not for the squeemish. Though bats will not collide with visitors (who travel inside the enclosure to view the bats) due to their excellent echolocation, the 'cave' is dark, and full of shifty movement and darting eyes. The Cave holds 2 species of bat, the critically endangered Rodrigues Fruit Bat and Seba's Fruit Bat, various species of freshwater fish (rays, catfish etc.) Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, Turkish Spiny Mice and Blind cave fish (who have evolved no eyes as they live in total darkness).
[edit] Secret World of the Okapi
One of the many new enclosures for Chester Zoo opened in 2006 housing the endangered and beautiful relative of the Giraffe, The Okapi. There is a male and a female. Other animals at the enclosure are Giant pouched rats, African dormice, Lake Mbo Cichilds, Gaboon Vipers and Shrews. Secret World of the Okapis location is the old Camel house.
[edit] Elephants of the Asian Forest
A brand new, state of the art breeding facility for the zoo's 9 Asian Elephants. Designed to replicate an Assam rainforest, this £2 million exhibit also holds Great Hornbills (who have their own rainforest aviary), a large aviary for Azure-winged Magpies and the Green Peafowls, Asian squirrels, Elongated Tortoises, and a large aquarium for asian carp-like fish and Northern Treeshrews. This is a great example of Chester Zoo's commitment to education - how many guests would have heard of a Northern Treeshrew before their visit? - but by linking them to a 'wow' species like the Asian Elephant, Chester has enlightened the public to the plight of the other residents of the Assam rainforest, that in any other zoo would have gone unnoticed.
[edit] Realm of the Red Ape
Opening in Easter 2007, this world-class £3 million Orangutan house is Chester zoo's most ambitious project to date. The current house is outdated and, along with the aquarium are the zoo's only weaknesses. However, the creation of a new rainforest to add to Chester's collection was a temptation too great, and several new species (including Gibbons, Mangrove snakes and Praying mantis) are to be added to the already 7000 strong menagerie. This new enclosure is to have over 1,150 new plants (as well as tall, artificial trees) and 10 times as much space as before. Disabled access will be provided to guests who were unable to access the old house.
Future exhibits include a massive new aquarium to replace their old (and frankly disappointing) one. They also plan to include Sumatran Tigers to their already substantial collection. They are the most endangered subspecies of tiger, numbering only about 300 in the wild.
[edit] Membership and Adoption
At Chester you are allowed to adopt a animal of your choice or become a zoo member by doing this you are given free zoo tickets and every three months you will receive the zoo magazine called Z which gives you an update of what's happening at the zoo.
[edit] List of Animals at Chester Zoo
see main article list of animals at chester zoo.
[edit] Gallery
 Chester Zoo's overhead railway |
[edit] External links
| Zoos |
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List of zoos | List of zoo associations | Zoological Garden | Menagerie | Aquarium | Tourist attraction | Wildlife Conservation | Endangered species |
