Zoo News Feed

Royal Visit Streamed Live

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:01:47 +0100

The Queen and The Duke will visit the zoo on May 17 to officially open the Diamond Jubilee Quarter – the zoo’s £2m gateway to conservation.

For the first time in its 80-year history, the main entrance - the Diamond Jubilee Quarter - will be a public space where people can meet without going into the zoo.

Thousands of community groups and long-standing zoo members will be invited into to the zoo for the official opening. But for those who are unable to make the big day, the visit will be streamed live on our website and on Cheshire West and Chester Council’s homepage.

Barbara Smith, Managing Director of Chester Zoo, said: “We are very much looking forward to the visit by The Queen and The Duke and we will have thousands of people, including some of our long-standing members, celebrating with us. We also appreciate that some people may not be able to make it on the day and to thank them for their support and to enable them to share in this special occasion, we will be broadcasting live on our website. This is the first time we will have streamed an event of this kind live and we’re very much looking forward to it.”

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will be the first through the new, specially created gates that lead into the Diamond Jubilee Quarter on May 17.

They will be escorted by the zoo’s Director General Dr Mark Pilgrim, who will accompany The Queen and Barbara Smith, Managing Director, who will accompany The Duke of Edinburgh. The royal couple will take a trip on the zoo’s monorail, which will have been wrapped in a union flag for the occasion. The Queen will visit the rhino enclosure and The Duke will see conservation in action at the elephants.

Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Mike Jones, said: “We are, of course, delighted that The Queen has chosen to visit Chester during her jubilee year and as one of the country’s main attractions it is fitting that Her Majesty should visit Chester Zoo.

“We have worked together with the zoo to ensure that as many local residents as possible can take part in this memorable day, including making our Upton Park and Ride free of charge for the day.

“Of course there will still be many people who will not be able to attend and for this reason we were pleased to help fund a live streaming of the event over the internet.

“I am sure that the residents of Chester will accord The Queen and The Duke a right royal welcome.”

To say thank you to volunteers across the borough the council has invited community groups and those from the voluntary sector to the event.

Great British Monorail Train Unveiled

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:01:30 +0100

And to kick things off, work is well underway to re-skin one of our monorail trains with a GREAT new theme.

Visitors will soon be able to see some of the zoo’s GREAT WILDLIFE, such as Von der Deckens hornbills, Grevy’s Zebra, Scimitar-horned Oryx, Spectacled Bears, Northern Cheetahs, Asiatic Lions, Sumatran Tigers, Giant Otters, Humboldt’s Penguins, Caribbean and Chilean Flamingos, Congo Buffalo, Onagers, Camels, Greater One-horned Rhinos, Asian Elephants and Dinosaurs Bite Back! – an exhibition of 19 animatronic dinosaurs – from the new GREAT BRITISH monorail train.

The first to take a trip inside the train will be Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, when they visit to open the zoo’s new £2m gateway to conservation - the Diamond Jubilee Quarter – on May 17.

Tweddle the gymnast meets ‘Tweddle’ the penguin

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:13:38 +0100

Keepers have named the new chicks after top UK athletes as a show of support for our medal hopefuls, ahead of this year’s games.

First to hatch was Macey and the last to arrive will be called Gunnell. Also born so far are Wiggins, Hoy, Ennis, and Tweddle.

The penguins are an endangered South American species, which come from the coastal areas of Peru and Chile.

Each pair of penguins lays two eggs and will incubate them for 40 days up to hatching. Both parents are involved in the incubating and rearing of the young.

Keeper Karen Neech said:

"It will be around eight weeks before the youngsters leave the nests and so we’re keeping a very close eye on their development.

"So far we have had nine chicks hatch, making it a really, really busy time for us and the adult penguins.

"A lot more food is required with all these extra mouths to feed.

"We provide the parents with fish and they then turn it into a high-protein soup, which they then regurgitate to feed to the chicks. So it’s a real combined effort."

The new arrivals mean then zoo now has a colony of more than 40 Humboldt penguins.

In around eight weeks’ time, once the youngsters have developed enough to leave their nests, they will first learn how to swim in the zoo’s ‘baby pool’, before joining their parents on-show in the main pool.

Chester Zoo also funds conservation initiatives in the penguins’ homeland to help them in their natural habitat, where they are faced with many pressures including over fishing of their food and habitat loss.

Zoo Staff Go Animal Mad for Charity Run

Fri, 04 May 2012 17:06:37 +0100

The team of 20 is running the BUPA Great Manchester Run later this month in support of our Southeast Asia campaign, which is aiming to highlight the plight of endangered species in the region.

Southeast Asia is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and is home to iconic animals like Sumatran Tigers, Asian Elephants, Bornean and Sumatran Orangutans and the Sumatran Rhino.

However these species are all under severe threat from hunting, deforestation and illegal trading. Without awareness and funding to tackle the problems facing them, they could soon become extinct.

Cat Barton, Assistant Conservation Officer, said:

“The biodiversity of southeast Asia is at risk. Many species are on the brink of extinction and urgent action is desperately needed to save them.

“That’s why we’ve all decided to take on this exciting challenge – to raise awareness and funds for these amazing animals."

Animal Athletes: Some of the zoo staff running in the Manchester 10km to raise funds for critically endangered species.

Scott Wilson, Conservation Officer, added:

"I do a lot of running but it’s not often that I do so while dressed as a rhino! But I certainly won’t be alone. There will also be a few tigers, orangutans, gibbons and turtles amongst us, so keep an eye out for some animals charging around the streets of Manchester this month."

To support our 'Animal Athletes’ please visit our sponsorship page on the Everyday Hero website.

We would like to thank Save the Rhino International for the kind donation of two rhino suits.

Royal Visit

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:11:35 +0100

The news has been warmly welcomed by Dr Mark Pilgrim, the zoo’s Director General.

He said: “The Diamond Jubilee Quarter marks the start of a new, bright future for us, which will see significant development and change.

“To have Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh join us on this most special of days and in Her Majesty’s special year is fantastic and a wonderful testament to what we are achieving through our passionate and dedicated staff. We are very much looking forward to this wonderful celebration.”

The zoo will be closed to the general public until after the visit. The remainder of the day will be a celebration of the event and further details will be released nearer the time.

There will be opportunities for the general public to line the route into the zoo on a first come, first serve basis and where it is safe to do so.

UPDATE: Further details and FAQs can be viewed here.

Meet one of our new species... the tiny Red Duiker

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Eventually, you'll be able to see this small species of antelope alongside our Okapi.

The Red Duiker is found in parts of central and southern Africa (Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Nigeria) where they live in dense forests, amongst tall grasses.

They are on the ICUN red list of endangered species as, over time, they have disappeared from large parts of their former range, largely as a result of the loss of suitable habitat and hunting.

Inside Dinosaurs Bite Back!

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Featuring 19 animatronic dinosaurs from America, Dinosaurs Bite Back! takes you on an atmospheric trail through Jurassic-themed gardens in the biggest and most interactive exhibition to ever be staged in a UK zoo.

Now open until 4th November, entry is included in your zoo admission.

We're part of an international effort to assess the hearts of great apes

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Dylan - a 25-year-old chimpanzee - was assessed by leading cardio specialists Rob Shave and Eric Stohr from Cardiff Metropolitan University along with vets from the zoo, with the primate proving to have a very healthy heart for his age.

The team are part of a UK-wide group co-ordinating the project to find out what exactly is normal, healthy heart activity in a great apes and how best to best care for them in order to enable them to lead long heart-healthy lives.

Heart monitoring has already been taking place in US zoos for a decade, with evidence suggesting that - as with humans - cardiovascular disease is a problem in chimps.

However, early assessments on three/four of the primates at Chester Zoo have produced positive results - with all displaying healthy hearts for their ages.

Steve Unwin, our Zoo Vet said:

“The hearts of the chimps here at Chester Zoo would seem to be very good and we’d perhaps attribute that to things like the in-depth nutritional analysis we’ve done on their diets, the design of the exhibit and all the behavioural studies that have been carried out on the group.

“But it’s very early days and what we need to do is assess more chimpanzees here and lots more elsewhere. Much, much more data will need to be amassed and we’ll be looking at chimps in zoos all over the UK, Europe, as well as in the wild in Africa.

“What the project is doing is looking at how we can prevent health issues from taking hold, before they take hold.

“So, just as those working in the NHS do, we’re looking at prevention before cure - only our concern is with chimpanzees, not humans.

“The early signs would suggest the way we work with and look after the chimps at Chester Zoo, could be a model for zoos all over the world to follow.”

Islands Project Update

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Islands is a themed development which will showcase the zoo's conservation fieldwork on the islands of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi.

It will be based on real life, real people and real stories and will be themed and landscaped to be sympathetic to the environment.

Islands will not just showcase the areas where the zoo works, but will be a platform for some of the most endangered animals on the planet.

We held a public consultation event on Tuesday 27th March, showcasing an Islands presentation which can be downloaded here. (Note that it's a large PDF file, 10mb.)

We welcome your views, and invite you to complete our feedback form.

Our wildest ever visitors at the main entrance

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Designed and created by Cumbrian sculptor Chris Brammall, the eye-catching artwork is set to form part of our brand new main entrance, which is due to open in the very near future.

A message from our Director General, Mark Pilgrim

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

I am writing to invite you to attend a public consultation event being held on Tuesday 27 March 2012. This will provide an opportunity for us to update you on the progress of our planning application for the Natural Vision project for Chester Zoo.

You may recall that we received outline planning permission for the development in 2010. At that time many of you were kind enough to indicate your support for the project. Since that time we have been working up some of the plans into a fully-fledged project.

The first phase is Islands - a development which will showcase the zoo’s conservation fieldwork on the islands of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi.

Islands will also bring together a range of animals including Anoa, Banteng, Babirusa, Bali Starling, Cassowary, Indonesian Rhinoceros Hornbill, Indonesian Wrinkled Hornbill, Lorikeet, Sumatran Orangutan, Saltwater Crocodile, Sulawesi Macaque, Sumatran Tiger and the Visayan Warty Pig.

Our wildlife expedition will be based on real life, real people and real stories and will be themed and landscaped to be sympathetic to the environment.

Islands will not just showcase the areas where the zoo works but will be a platform for some of the most endangered animals on the planet.

Since we first received the outline planning permission, we have continued to work with numerous local, parish and community forums and have held direct meetings with a range of local organisations and interest groups.

We are now in a position where we are able to submit Reserved Matters in accordance with the outline consent for Islands to Cheshire West and Chester Council for their consideration.

Your feedback remains very important to us. Therefore we would like to invite you to a public consultation to be held at Cedar House, (Mottershead Suite), Caughall Road, Upton, on Tuesday March 27 between 3pm and 8pm.

This will give you the opportunity to see the detailed plans and proposals for Islands and to ask any questions you may have.

On behalf of the zoo’s directors, I do hope you can attend.

Yours sincerely

Mark Pilgrim, Director General

Dinosaurs Bite Back! The arrival...

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Opening on Sunday 1st April, this all-new exhibition is going to be even more ferocious!

Find out more.

Images courtesy of Peter Byrne, Bruce Adams and Keith Freeburn.

Islands Plan Unveiled

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The images show an artist’s impression of our £30 million Islands development – a conservation expedition bringing the islands of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi to the heart of Cheshire.

The development will showcase our conservation fieldwork and bring together a range of animals including Anoa, Banteng, Babirusa, Bali Starling, Cassowary, Indonesian Rhinoceros Hornbill, Indonesian Wrinkled Hornbill, Lorikeet, Sumatran Orangutan, Saltwater Crocodile, Sulawesi Macaque, Sumatran Tiger and the Visayan Warty Pig.

Dr Mark Pilgrim, Director General of Chester Zoo, said: “Our wildlife expedition will be based on real life, real people and real stories and will be unlike anything seen in a UK zoo. It’s big, it is ambitious and there will be nothing else like it in the UK and indeed on an international scale.

“These images show, for the first time, a flavour of what can be expected from our new development. Islands will not just showcase the areas where the zoo works but will be a platform for some of the most endangered animals on the planet.”

Some of the animals are already in the zoo but new species will include the Saltwater Crocodile, Banteng, a beautiful wild and endangered cattle species.

Visitors will travel through the Islands by boat or on foot and will navigate mangroves, swamps, bamboo and tropical forests.

Islands will also include a major new Indonesian tropical house which will be the largest indoor zoo exhibit in the UK and home to orangutans.

Designed by architects from the Dan Pearlman group in Germany, the whole project hones in on the different vegetation and architecture seen on the various islands – taking visitors on a highly themed, atmospheric and immersive journey which includes educational exhibits, play areas, restaurants and village-style food stands.

Kieran Stanley, CEO Experience Architecture at Dan Pearlman, said: “The islands project is about immersion, it is about taking you there, to experience the wild animals in their natural habitats.

"The details along the way tell authentic stories of the amazing things that happen on islands, the Chester Zoo conservation team and its work in the field.

“The challenge for us as architects is to create an holistic seamless experience for the visitors, whilst integrating over 25 buildings and facilities along a one and a half kilometre long jungle path through 50.000m2 of landscape. Some people tell stories, we like to build them."

Work is expected to start in Autumn this year with the entire zone planned to open to the public by Easter 2015.

Outline planning permission has already been received for the plans. The detailed plans will be put before Cheshire West and Chester Council in late May.

A public consultation will be held on March 27 at Cedar House, Caughall Road, Upton, between 3pm – 8pm.

We're England's Most Visited Attraction Outside of London

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The results, released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA), showed the zoo pulled in 1,425,319 visitors, bettered only by the Tower of London of all the attractions in the UK that charge for entry.

It marked an 11% increase on 2010, partly due to investment in new animal exhibits, major events and fully refurbishing our restaurants.

Chester Zoo’s Managing Director, Barbara Smith, said:

“We know visitors are mindful of getting value for money while experiencing great quality and we have worked, and continue to work, extremely hard to offer both in abundance.

“We’ve built new exhibits and refreshed older ones and created ways to get visitors closer than ever to our animals. We’ve put on high-profile, top-quality events, invested in new marketing, new catering offerings and new retail products and the visitor numbers we achieved last year are a reflection of all of that.

“The figures are proof that we’re doing things right we’re going to do even more to make sure Chester Zoo is a fantastic family day out.”

We're now hoping to build on the success of 2011 with a number of exciting developments and events in store for 2012.

Having recently opened the UK’s first ever underwater viewing zone for Giant Otters and spent £250,000 revamping our Jaguar House, we're now getting set to open our biggest ever exhibition on April 1.

Dinosaurs Bite Back! will feature 19 animatronic dinosaurs from America, set in Jurassic Park-style gardens.

“We hope the animatronic dinosaurs will really capture people’s imaginations,” added Barbara. “It’s going to be a fabulous exhibition.”

The Cream of British Tourism Meet at Chester Zoo

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Over fifty representatives from the top tourist attractions in the UK met to exchange ideas and plan ahead for what promises to be a major year for British tourism.

We were playing host to the 69th ALVA (Association of Leading Visitor Attractions) Council meeting.

Chester Zoo’s Managing Director, Barbara Smith, said:

“We were thrilled to host such a prestigious event and be able to showcase Chester Zoo in front of a very high profile audience, who are both our colleagues and competitors.

“It was great to see such a significant gathering of representatives from the UK’s leading attractions, all working to raise awareness of their venues and to improve the experiences they offer to visitors.

“The feedback I received about our zoo over the two days was quite exceptional, relating to the presentation of the zoo, the welfare of our animals, the quality of food and service, but most importantly, the friendliness of our staff. Everybody they came across exemplified the high standards that we set ourselves.”

Delegates enjoyed a tour of our newest exhibitions – including the UK’s first underwater viewing zone for Giant Otters - and dinner in the new June’s Pavilion restaurant.

The Crazy Frog Story

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

They have recorded the mating calls of the Green-eyed Frog - one of the world’s most endangered species - and made it available to download from our website here.

The species is so rare that the zoo in Cheshire is maintaining the world’s only population of Green-eyed Frogs, outside of its native Costa Rica.

Twenty-three of the frogs are kept in a purpose-built amphibian laboratory, which keepers call an ‘APod’ (Amphibian Pod) and is where they carry out important research and conservation breeding.

In the wild, we also works with the Monteverde Conservation League in Costa Rica to monitor the rare species, also known as the Rancho Redondo frog.

But following a prolonged dry period across the Central American country, recent surveys have only turned up very few frogs.

Ben Baker, Lead keeper of Herpetology at Chester Zoo, said:

“We’re very much hoping that when the rainy seasons come in June, that we’ll see more frogs come out of hiding. However, at this moment in time, we’re bracing ourselves for bad news. Only one small population - found in a tiny area of forest in all of Costa Rica - now exists.

"Sadly, in another area where they did once thrive, only one solitary male frog has been recorded in nearly six months.”

The species was thought to be completely “extinct” until as recently as 2002 when the population now being monitored at Chester Zoo was discovered.

“The frogs we have in the APod provide an invaluable safety net population in the event that our worst fears are realised and the species does once again vanish from the wild,” added Ben.

“We’ve been working with them daily for the last four years and have been constantly developing husbandry and reproductive techniques in that time.

“As yet they’ve only produced infertile spawn but we think we’re getting closer to generating the right environment for them to successfully breed now. With a bit of luck, that could be this year.

“We’re desperate to give this stunning frog a helping-hand with its recovery from near-extinction and ultimately, return eggs and tadpoles to suitable habitat in Costa Rica. That’s the dream.”

And Ben and the team hope to inspire an interest in the plight of the at risk amphibians by giving people the chance to hear their unusual calls every time their mobile phone rings.

“The noises that the frogs make when calling to one another are probably not quite what you’d expect. They almost sound like purring cats,” said Ben.

“Unfortunately, given their incredible rarity, 99.9% of the world’s population will never get to hear their calls for real. That’s why we wanted to give people the chance to do so with our ringtone and champion their perilous plight in the process.”

Click here to download your free Green-eyed Frog ringtone.

To support the our conservation work with amphibians in both the UK and overseas, and to find out more about how we Act for Wildlife to protect endangered species, please visit www.actforwildlife.org.uk/amphibian

Giant Otters underwater viewing zone - now OPEN

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Complete with underwater viewing zone, undercover seating, off-show cubbing dens and a crawl-in viewing dome we're excited to announce the exhibit is now open.

Photos courtesy of Peter Byrne / PA

Check Out Our New Exhibits This Half Term

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The £500k developments promise to breathe fresh life into the zoo and also sees a new species added to the zoo’s collection – a pair of sloths.

At a cost of £250k, the Giant Otter centre is one of the only places in Europe where you will be able to see the otters diving for food, through large underwater viewing windows.

The new exhibit also features an undercover seating area, a crawl-in viewing dome and state-of-the-art off-show cubbing dens.

Simon Mann, our Development Director, said “This new enclosure is at the absolute cutting-edge of design in terms of both animal welfare and the exciting viewing opportunities it offers the public.

“Giant Otters are charming animals and it’s fascinating to see them swimming underwater. We think people, and the otters, are going to love it.”

But that's not all, we will also unveil our new-look Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit following a £250k makeover.

The refreshed enclosure will ultimately feature a pair of sloths, which have just arrived from Germany, Agoutis and a colony of Leaf-cutter Ants, as well as four South American Jaguars.

It also includes an aquarium which will contain large shoals of fish - such as Cardinal Tetra, Altum Angel fish, Discus fish - and Amazonian Turtles.

A number of trees and plants native to South America have been brought in from a special nursery in Holland and a cinema, set inside a cattle ranch, to highlights our field conservation work in Brazil.

Simon Mann added: “This second exciting development will breathe yet more fresh life into the zoo.

“We’ve created a naturalistic environment, added new species and given it an authentic South American theme, all of which will really enhance the visitor experience.

"It aims to make people feel like they’re seeing these fantastic animals and plants from the Pantantal itself.”

Book your tickets now for Fast Track entry.

Cheetah Cub

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Photo courtesy of Phil Noble - Reuters

Cheetah cub Juba underwent surgery at the zoo’s animal health centre this afternoon (Friday 3 Feb) to mend a fracture in his right ankle.

The hour-long operation which was carried out by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Rob Pettitt from the University of Liverpool, together with the zoo’s own vets and nurses, will help the cub’s mobility in the long term.

The decision to operate followed an x-ray and examination days before.

Photo courtesy of Peter Byrne - Press Association

Juba was born at the zoo early last summer to mum KT. His sibling Rufaa remains unaffected.

Chester Zoo vet Steve Unwin said: “We believe the fracture has been caused by a weakness in Juba’s leg, which has been aggravated by the rough and tumble antics of young cubs.

“Cats are adept at hiding any discomfort but we are fortunate that we are able to keep a very close eye on our animals and so quickly picked up that something wasn’t quite right.

“Juba has been a model patient and we are pleased that, at this point in time, the operation seems to have gone well.

“Although Juba will need some rest off-show for the next few weeks, we are hopeful he will be back up on his paws again in no time.”

The operation saw surgeon Rob plate part of the ankle to stabilise the fracture and allow it to heal.

Juba’s post-operative wounds are small and he has been returned to the cheetah den along with the rest of his family.

- Read an amazing blog post and see more pictures from Phil Noble at Reuters, who covered Juba's operation on Friday. Read his story here.

Photos of the operation courtesy of Peter Byrne - Press Association

We pay tribute to the man who transformed Chester Zoo into an award-winning tourist attraction

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Fred was the husband of June Williams, George Mottershead’s youngest daughter. George set up the zoo in 1931.

Fred started work at the zoo in 1947, aged 22, and remained here for almost 40 years.

Dr Mark Pilgrim, Director General of Chester Zoo, said: “During Fred’s time with us and through hard work and ingenuity, Fred transformed the very fabric of the zoo.

“During the austere post-war years, he used whatever materials he could find and salvage to build innovative enclosures that were the first of their kind, always putting animal welfare first. These included the lions, polar bears and the aquarium, which was a collaboration between Fred and June.”

In June last year, Fred and June celebrated June’s 85th birthday with their family at the opening of the restaurant June’s Pavilion, named in her honour.

Fred and June were also the guests of honour at a dinner to celebrate the zoo’s 75th anniversary in 2009.

Dr Pilgrim added: “Fred was always very modest about his achievements but we owe him a great debt of gratitude for laying the foundations for us, both in terms of the setting up of the zoo but also in the physical building of it.

"Both he and June remain great friends of the zoo and everyone here is saddened at the loss of such an extraordinary gentleman. Fred will be greatly missed.”

Fred passed away peacefully at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Backford and his funeral service will be held at Blacon Crematorium at 10am on January 26.

Fred and June married in February 1949 and have lived in Upton all their lives. They have three children, George, Joy and Linda, and two grandchildren, Adam and Emma.

Rhino keeper Mark has pedalled a third of the way to the Moon

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Mark Cleave has cycled to work from his home in Broughton in Flintshire, every day for the last 17 years, pedalling 72,726 miles in the process - that’s equivalent to almost three times around the world, or nearly a third of the way to the moon.

Mark said: “I’ve ridden into work every single day for the last 17 years. Come rain, sleet, wind, snow, hail, fog or shine, I haven’t missed a day, nor used any other means of transport.”

But whereas the mere thought of getting the bike out of the shed and hitting the road at 6:25am every morning may be daunting to most, the rewards are well worth it for the committed keeper.

“I cycle 93 miles a week but it’s no problem at all. In truth, I’d cycle a heck of a lot further to work with Black Rhinos. They’re just incredible animals and it’s an absolute privilege to work with them day in, day out.” said Mark.

“We run a hugely successful breeding programme at Chester Zoo, which I’m delighted to be involved with. And with the species now massively threatened from poaching in the wild, I’m proud to be able to say that we’ve had several baby black rhinos born in my time here - providing a vital safety-net should wild populations become extinct.”

Rare piglets born at Chester Zoo

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The birth of a pair of babirusa piglets is being hailed as “positive news for the future of the species” - with wild populations in serious decline in their native Indonesia.

Their arrivals are also an important achievement for us as they are thought to be the only babirusa born in Europe in over a year.

Our Curator of Mammals, Tim Rowlands, said:

“Babirusa pigs are highly threatened and are said to be the rarest pig species in the world. That’s why these births are so important and are such a great achievement.

“Zoos provide the last insurance policy against extinction and we hope the duo will grow up to become a vital part of the international breeding programme to safeguard the species.

“This is certainly exciting and positive news for the future of the species.”

The two piglets were born eleven weeks ago to mum Majene and dad Sausu.

Tiger Cubs

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Ashme died this afternoon after a very short illness. The cause of the illness is not yet known and a post-mortem will be carried out.

Mum Kirana and the remaining siblings, Nila and Tila, are currently off-show as maintenance work is being carried out in their enclosure.

This time is also being used to give the 12-week-old cubs their second round of vaccinations and the family will be back out again later this week once work is complete. Both Nila and Tila seem in good health.

Our sympathies are with the carnivore and veterinary teams.

Baby Brazilian Tapir Makes Her Debut

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Little Talia was born just after Christmas to mum Jennifer and dad Cuzco, who are part of the European Breeding Programme aimed at creating a safety net population of the species in event that they become extinct in the wild.

Tapirs are currently listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of endangered species.

They are hunted illegally and threatened by the destruction of their rainforest habitat.

Our Curator of Mammals, Tim Rowlands, said: “It is a sad fact that the Tapir is in decline in the wild but the arrival of Talia is good news for the future of the species.

“When she grows up, she will hopefully go on to play a vital role in the worldwide breeding programme and help ensure the continuation of these wonderful animals.”

Tiger triplets have their first ever health check

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The rare cubs were checked by our vets and keepers who determined their sexes, wormed them, fitted them with microchips and gave them their vaccinations for cat flu.

Curator of Mammals, Tim Rowlands, said:

"They basically receive the same vaccines that a pet cat is given when it’s taken to the vets.

"The only difference is we're much more cautious about handling the cubs than we would be with domestic kittens."

Each of the cubs – which are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra in the wild - was also weighed and given a general check up.

Vetinary Officer, Livia Benato said:

"The cubs received a physical examination to check they are healthy and in good body condition.

"Happily, all three cubs – all girls - have been given a completely clean bill of health."

On news that the trio were all shown to be female, Keeper Alan Woodward added:

"It's fantastic that we have three little angels as opposed to three wise men this Christmas."

The cubs were born here on October 21 and are the offspring of mum Kirana and dad Fabi.

Their arrivals are a big success for us and good news for the future of the species - with only 400 Sumatran tigers thought to be left in the wild, where they are poached for traditional medicine.

They will now become part of European-wide breeding programme, providing an important safety-net in the event that wild populations become extinct.

We've Shattered Our All-time Attendance Record

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Over 1,400,000 people have flocked through the zoo’s turnstiles so far in 2011 - the very first time the conservation charity has broken the 1.4 million visitors mark. The numbers already surpass the previous best of 1,373,459, set in 2008.

Managing Director of Chester Zoo, Barbara Smith, said: "Never before in the zoo’s history have so many people visited us in a calendar year and so we’re absolutely delighted – it’s a fantastic feat.

"Our sincere thanks go to every single person that has come here because, as a registered charity, every visit helps us to carry out all of our vital conservation work – helping save species from extinction both here in the UK and overseas.

"The fact that we’ve had so many visitors in 2011 helps us to do more and more of this good work, which is fantastic.

"I’m extremely proud of the zoo and what it has achieved this year. The numbers are more proof that we are doing things right and we will continue to make improvements, for both animals and visitors."

We're now hoping to build on our success with a number of exciting developments planned.

The UK’s first ever breeding centre for endangered Giant Otters will be unveiled in the next few weeks and its main entrance and Jaguar house are also undergoing major re-vamps.

A "bigger and better" set of animatronic dinosaurs from America are also set to return in 2012, following the huge success of Dinosaurs at Large!, an exhibition that featured in the zoo earlier this year.

Your chance to re-name our Spirit of the Jaguar Exhibit

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The theme of the exhibit revolves around the relationship between the cattle ranchers and the jaguar.

It will focus heavily on tales of human/wildlife conflict and the conservation measures being used to mitigate against it (rather than the ancient beliefs of the Arara tribes and their spiritual relationship with the jaguar, as was the previous theme).

Inside, there will be a cowboy’s ‘bunk house’ with a veranda for guests to sit on and various items of cowboy paraphernalia.

A number of trees and plants native to South America will be brought in from a special nursery in Holland and a theatre, set inside a cattle ranch, will showcase our field conservation work in Brazil.

To complete this transformation, we’re giving the exhibit a new name and that’s where you come in. We want you to help us come up with it.

With a nice prize for the winner, this is a great opportunity to write your name into Chester Zoo history and come up with an evocative new title for our exciting new jaguar exhibit!

Please visit our Facebook or Twitter sites, find the thread that relates to the naming competition and send your suggestions to us by 5pm on Friday 16 December 2011.

Get naming and good luck!

Please note: this naming competition is also open to all Chester Zoo staff.

How giving a hen as present this Christmas can change lives, save Elephants and stop deforestation

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The life-changing gifts go to the needy people the zoo’s Act for Wildlife campaign is working with, in a deprived part of India. And what’s more, the hens are also saving wild elephants and preventing deforestation.

Act for Wildlife’s Michelle Duma explains:

“Right now, families in the Indian region of Assam are reliant on collecting firewood to make a living. This is resulting in large-scale deforestation, which is destroying the habitat of the Asian elephant.

“These elephants are subsequently left exposed and forced to go in search of new homes. This often takes them into villages and townships, where they come into contact with humans and cause all sorts of damage and sometimes, deaths. Villages retaliate by killing the elephants and the situation is one of compete disharmony.

“Giving a hen can change all of this.

“Having hens to rear provides families with an alternative way of earning a living – one which means forest are saved. And by protecting the forests, the elephants have a safe home. Ultimately, this means that people can live side-by-side with them, without conflict.”

The hens provide a host of services to their owners. They can be reared and sold on to other families, lay eggs and their dung can be used as fertiliser.

“These hens are not just for Christmas – they’re sure to be appreciated for years,” adds Michelle.

“They’re the perfect gift. You certainly don't need to worry about it being an unused or unwanted present - they can potentially change people's lives and save elephants.”

The impact of the hens will be monitored to ensure that they provide long-term benefits for the communities.

And Chester Zoo’s Act for Wildlife guarantees that 100% of the money goes to the project, with not a penny going towards admin fees.

To get your hen or to find out more, visit www.actforwildlife.org.uk/buy-a-hen

Aardvarks Tip The Scales

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Along with his older brother Tatsu, nine-month-old Scorch was given the once-over by Senior Keeper James Andrewes.

"We currently weigh our two aardvarks a couple of times a week,” James said.

“It’s important as it helps us monitor their health and general well-being.”

The results made happy reading with Scorch coming in at 43.8kgs and Tatsu a touch heavier, at 45.5kgs – ideal weights for their ages.

Both Aardvarks are set to make their public debut in the next few weeks when they move into their new home alongside the Meerkats.

Cheetah Cubs

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Two of four cubs born in June, Kinza and Shendi had been receiving veterinary treatment for an illness for a few weeks. Kinza died on 1 November and Shendi died on 12 November. The siblings had been suffering from cowpox.

The cub’s mother KT and the two male cubs, Rufaa and Juba, have also been undergoing veterinary treatment for the same illness. There is no risk to visitors or staff from this illness but the cheetah family is being kept in quarantine and off-show to enable their treatment to continue.

Our adult cheetahs – Matrah, Singa, Burba and Adaeze - remain unaffected and are separated from KT and her cubs. We have also been liaising with experts around the world to seek their advice.

Cowpox is a common virus throughout Europe carried by wild rodents and occasionally seen in domestic cats. We believe it is most likely that one of the cubs picked this up via a wild rodent.

Director General Dr Mark Pilgrim said: “This is very sad news for all of us at the zoo and for our visitors too, who have been so enamoured with our cheetah cubs. Cowpox is a common disease and we believe one of the cubs may have come into contact with a rodent which carries it.

"Kinza and Shendi received the best care possible from the veterinary and carnivore teams and our thoughts are with them. We are treating the remaining cubs and their mother and they are responding well to treatment.

"We would like to reassure visitors that there is no risk to them and these are isolated cases.”

Tiger Cubs Make Their Debut

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The trio of endangered Sumatran cubs are the offspring of five year old mother Kirana and four year old father Fabi.

The births are a big success for the zoo and good news for the future of the species, as it is thought that only 400 Sumatran tigers are now left in the wild, where they are poached for traditional medicine.

Tim Rowlands our Curator of Mammals, said:

“Sumatran tigers can only be found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra are one of the rarest big cat species in the world.

“It’s estimated that there are just a few hundred left in the wild and only around seven per cent of their original habitat remains, which is why these triplets are so, so important.

“To think they’re now part of a safety-net in case wild populations go extinct is pretty remarkable and quite humbling.

“We are thrilled, Kirana is very happy and we are sure our visitors will be equally delighted.”

Tim also said the cubs are “doing fine” and complemented mum Kirana on her parenting skills.

"Kirana is so far doing a great job.

“She has started to take the cubs out and about every now and then having looked after them inside her den for the last three weeks and is being a very attentive mum.”

It will be a few weeks until keepers can discover the sexes of the tiny tiger triplets and a decision can be made on their names.

We've Won Awards!

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

We took home awards for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and Best Tourism Event for Dinosaurs at Large!

And after some fantastic work from our very own internal 'Green team' we were nominated for the Sustainable Tourism Award.

We’re also pleased to pick up seven commendations at the BIAZA ACE Conference last week. The BIAZA commendations were for:

• Significant Advances in Husbandry and Welfare: The use of positive reinforcement training techniques to enable foot care in giraffes without the risk of sedation
• Conservation Breeding: Breeding and rearing the Denison’s barb Puntius denisonii, at Chester Zoo
• Best Field Conservation Project: Restoration and Reforestation of the Grande Montagne Nature Reserve, Rodrigues
• Best Education Project: public and general visitor: Vets – the inside story
• Best Education Project: schools and educational institutions: Chester Zoo: The Challenges of driving up quality in education
• Best PR Project: Dinosaurs at Large!
• Best Research Project: Does it matter if you are dull? How carotenoids affect fitness in frogs

Thank you to all the teams involved in our nominations, and a very special thank you for everyone who voted for Dinosaurs at Large! as the Best Tourism Event on Facebook.

Farewell to Salvador

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The 20-year-old has been with us since 2001, having moved here from Poland, but had recently encountered problems associated with old age.

Salvador was an amazing ambassador for his species and a much valued member of the collection.

Our thoughts very much go with the teams who have worked with him over the years.

Three Rare Sumatran Tiger Cubs Born

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

The footage - captured on CCTV cameras inside the tigers' den - shows mother Kirana and two of three endangered Sumatran cubs, born on 21st October.

The births are a success for the zoo and good news for the future of the species, as there are currently only around 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, where they are poached for traditional medicine.

Tim Rowlands, the our Curator of Mammals said: "Kirana is so far doing a brilliant job. She is keeping them inside their indoor den and is being a very attentive mum."

*Visitors to the zoo shouldn't expect to see the cubs just yet as Kirana is choosing to raise them inside in their cubbing area.

Corrie Star Helps Us Celebrate Record Memberships

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

There are over 38,500 of you enjoying all the benefits of zoo membership, including unlimited free entry, invitations to special Members' talks and events and discounts in our shops and cafes.

Our Memberships and Adoptions Manager Karolyn Curwell said:

“Never before have we had so many people signed up as members and so we’re absolutely delighted – it’s a fantastic feat.

“Our members are really important to us because, as a registered charity, their guaranteed, year-long support helps us to carry out all of our vital conservation work – helping save species from extinction both here in the UK and overseas.”

We're lucky enough to have a number of high-profile members, including actor Ian Puleston-Davies, who plays the tough-talking builder Owen Armstrong in Coronation Street.

Corrie star Ian Puleston-Davies and daughter Maggie (centre), with Zoo Keeper Belinda Porter and Memberships & Adoptions Manager Karolyn Curwell (right)

Ian's been a member at Chester Zoo for several years and said:

"I have been visiting Chester Zoo since I was a child and the anticipation and excitement each visit brings has never waned over the years.

“In fact, now I have my two children in tow, I have the added enjoyment of watching them react in exactly the same way - sheer joy that cannot be bettered anywhere else.

“We are so proud of our local zoo and 'flash' our membership cards with pride."

A special thank you to all our members who are part of our record numbers. And don't forget that giving a zoo membership is a fantastic gift idea for Christmas!

Health Check for Rare Reptiles Known as 'Living Fossils'

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:07 +0100

Keepers Isolde McGeorge and Karen Entwistle measure Red, a female tuatara, during a health check.

Often referred to as a ‘living fossil,’ the reptile is one of the oldest species on earth and must undergo bi-annual checks on their growth and development.

Chester Zoo is the only place in Europe that keeps the rare and unusual species and currently houses a breeding group of five females and one male.

Isolde said:

“We need to perform these checks to make sure they are healthy animals.

“The species has never before bred outside of its native New Zealand and so to try and make sure this group is the first to do so, we keep a very close watch on them”.

Tuatara can live for well over 100 years but now only occur on a few islands off the coast of New Zealand.

Isolde added:

“They really are amazing creatures as they belong to an order all of their own.

“Tuatara might look like lizards but they actually are not. Unlike lizards, they do not have ear holes and they have completely differently structured teeth, which are actually fused to their jaw bone.

"They have a third eye in the middle of their heads, which is equipped with a lens and a retina but is not used for sight but for taking in UV light.

“The males don’t have a reproductive organ and they are also incredibly slow creatures – taking only five breaths and eight heart beats a minute.”

The species has iconic status in its homeland because its ancestors were widespread at the time of the dinosaurs.

Blue Peter Films at the Zoo

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

UPDATE: Watch us on Blue Peter (available on iPlayer until 6th November)

Working alongside our own Zoo Nutritionist Andrea Fidgett, Helen discovered what goes into selecting the best possible diets for each of the zoo’s 7,000 animals.

She also prepared meals for four special ‘dinner guests’ – Eliza the great Indian hornbill, Flora the Komodo dragon, Sid the Visayan warty pig and Lushui the red panda.

First Pic of Our New Baby

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

The 11-week-old youngster, whose gender is not yet known, is the first of the species to be born at the zoo.

The baby will be named once keepers can get close enough to tell whether it is a boy or a girl.

Parents Pedro and Bliss, both aged two, arrived in 2010 as part of an international breeding programme.

All three have just moved into a new enclosure and will be visible in the coming weeks.

Anteater Facts

• The giant anteater is the world’s largest species of anteater.

• An individual may eat up to 30,000 ants in one day.

• It is one of only two types of mammals without any teeth even in adulthood.

• An anteater's tongue can reach two feet in length, and is covered in a sticky saliva, allowing it to trap ants. It can extend and withdraw it up to 150 times per minute.

• Giant anteaters are predominantly solitary, except for mothers and their offspring. A single offspring is produced after a gestation period of 190 days.

They are carried on their mother's back, aligned with the white stripe, so that they are very well camouflaged. Young are weaned after two months, although they may continue to be carried on their mother's back until they are nine months old.

• The species is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

We Got Gold!

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

The year kicked off with a target of reaching €9999. This is no easy task, and our staff had fun exercising their brains for innovative ideas to raise awareness and funds.

Our various activities included the well attended ‘Saving Apes: Frontline Conservation’ event, ‘Ape Week’ at the zoo during the Easter week and our staff running as ‘gorillas and keepers’ in the BUPA Great Manchester Run.

One of the four pre-selected projects which the campaign raised money for was HUTAN’s Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Programme (KOCP), part of our Realm of the Red Ape Programme.

Last month, Roger Wilkinson, Head of Field Conservation and Research, collected a cheque on behalf of HUTAN at the close of the campaign at the EAZA annual conference in Montpellier.

All in all, the ape campaign this year was a huge success, raising awareness about threatened apes and inspiring people to spread the word about ape conservation.

THANK YOU to all who supported our events, and watch this space for information on the 2012 Southeast Asia campaign.

Photo: Scott Wilson, Conservation Officer, with the cheque from EAZA to HUTAN

October Sunshine Draws Record Crowds

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

As the country bathed in sunshine, over 20,000 people passed through our gates on Saturday and Sunday – almost double the previous highest of 10,416 in 2007.

Elephants were seen cooling off by splashing about in pools as our keepers gave them extra hose downs, while the spectacled bears were spotted tucking into frozen water melon.

Managing Director Barbara Smith said: "Our animals like to make the most of the sunshine and our visitors certainly seemed to enjoy it too.

“It was about time we finally had some nice, warm weather and the more days we can have like that the better.

“When people visit the zoo, they’re actually supporting the huge number of conservation projects we are involved with - both in the UK and all around the world. So, to have had so many visitors last weekend helps us to do more and more good work, which is fantastic.”

We're all now hoping for another bumper week as our Dinosaurs at Large! exhibition – the biggest to ever take place in a UK zoo – draws to a close.

Barbara added: “This week offers the last chance people will have to come see our superb Dinosaurs at Large! exhibition before it becomes extinct.

“The dinosaurs have really captured people’s imaginations and offered something completely different. But, after Sunday 9th October, they’ll be dismantled, packed up and shipped back to the States. So if you’ve not yet had chance to come and see them yet, we’d urge to hurry before it’s too late.”

We welcomed our one millionth visitor four weeks earlier than in 2010, having seen attendance rocket since the opening of Dinosaurs at Large! in July.

We Need Your Vote

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

We've entered Quantum Leap in the NatWest CommunityForce programme and have a chance to be awarded £6,000 - but only if we have enough votes.

It won't cost you a penny to vote, but could make a £6,000 difference to children in our local area.

How To Vote

1. Click here to register on the CommunityForce website

2. Search for the Chester Zoo page and vote!

Up to 16,000 school visitors come to the zoo under the programme every year. We are now hoping, through NatWest’s CommunityForce project, to be able to fund transport for some of those who visit under Quantum Leap in 2012.

We've staked our claim for a £6,000 CommunityForce grant – but we need to achieve a high level of votes before the cash can be allocated.

Melanie Cowieson, the our Development Manager, said: “Chester Zoo is a fabulous educational resource and helps students of all ages engage with the world around them.

“For some schools, however, the cost is prohibitive. Through CommunityForce, we have the potential to connect with children and make a difference to their education.

“To vote for us takes just the click of a button but that one click has the potential to make a huge difference to many school children and we’d appeal to people to start voting.”

First Pics of Our New Lions

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

The four-year-old lionesses have arrived from Rotterdam Zoo, as part of a European breeding programme designed to safeguard the future of the species.

With only a few hundred Asiatic lions remaining, the species is faced with a serious threat of extinction.

Book your tickets online this weekend and be one of the first to see them.

Friends of Chester Zoo Raise Money for EAZA Campaign

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

The campaign's aim was to make a significant and lasting contribution to the survival of ape species - almost all of which are either endangered or critically endangered - and their habitats.

Event highlights included behind-the-scenes access to some of Chester Zoo's world-leading primate exhibits such as Realm of the Red Ape and Monkey Islands, and a summer barbecue, which included a private tour of the zoo and an auction of memorabilia, ape artwork and animal encounters, all donated by Chester Zoo.

The barbecue evening was sponsored by local accounting firms Philip Bates and Co. Ltd. and Phillip Bates and Co. Financial Services Ltd. who are based in nearby Neston on the Wirral.

"Our two businesses were delighted to jointly sponsor the recent barbecue for the EAZA Campaign at Chester Zoo," said Chairman Philip Bates.

"It was great to see such clear commitment and enthusiasm from those attending to, and for their cause. Our team and their families certainly enjoyed the evening enormously and were particularly excited to see the jaguars and spectacled bears.

"Thanks for a wonderful evening and well done for raising funds for such a worthy cause."

All the events were organised by NEZS member Stuart Robinson. "We would like to thank Philip Bates and his staff for their generosity and for embracing the campaign's important conservation message," Stuart commented.

"In addition, I couldn't have made this happen without the full support of Director General Dr. Mark Pilgrim and Curator of Mammals Tim Rowlands, who organised such privileged access to the zoo.

"I'd also like to thank Head of Discovery and Learning Stephen McKeown, Jane Redfern and Dominic Strange on the business and events team, conservation officers Scott Wilson and Catherine Barton, the Oakfield House staff and all the keepers who gave their valuable time to the cause and made the barbecue evening so enjoyable for everyone concerned."

www.eaza.net
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), represents and links more than three hundred institutions and organisations in thirty-six countries. Formed in 1992, EAZA’s mission is to facilitate cooperation within the European zoo and aquarium community towards the goals of education, research and conservation.

www.pbatesfs.co.uk
Phillip Bates and Co. Financial Services Ltd. are independent financial advisers based in Neston, Cheshire.

www.pbates.co.uk
Philip Bates and Co. Ltd. are independent chartered accountants, registered auditors and business development advisers located in Neston, Cheshire.

Our One Millionth Visitor

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

Our one millionth visitor is Dawn Islip from Holywell in North Wales.

Along with her family, she was given free entry and a VIP tour of the Dinosaurs at Large! exhibition by the zoo’s resident dinosaur keeper, Lauren Lochrie.

We're also excited to have welcomed our one millionth visitor almost four weeks earlier than in 2010, after seeing attendance rocket since the opening of Dinosaurs at Large! exhibition in July.

PHOTO: From left to right – Our Dinosaur Keeper Lauren Lochrie, Mia Kadar (9); Emma Islip (7); Jayden Kadar (5); Zara Islip (4) and Dawn Islip (one millionth visitor)

Barbara Smith, our Managing Director, said: "I am absolutely delighted that Chester Zoo has already welcomed its millionth visitor this year.

“Last year, it was late-September before we reached that mark – so this year's fantastic figures are testimony to the zoo's success as a tourist attraction.

"Chester Zoo, like all forward-thinking organisations, is always evolving and offering new, bigger and better experiences for visitors. We work hard to make each visit different to the last and as ever there has been a tremendous amount for people to see and do at the zoo this year, including the opening of the Dinosaurs at Large! exhibition - the biggest in the zoo’s history.

“To have already attracted one million visitors is more proof that we are doing things right and we will continue improving the zoo for both animals and visitors. Every visit also helps us add to the already huge number of conservation projects we support in the wild, both all over the world and in the UK.”

After a successful summer, we now have our sights set on the exciting developments planned for the coming months.

We're building an underwater viewing area at the giant otter enclosure and the Jaguar House is having a huge makeover – including a new aquarium with some exciting new animal species.

Keepers Hand-rearing Flamingo Chick

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

The four week old Caribbean flamingo chick is being hand-reared after it was rejected by its parents.

The chick is fed via a syringe at regular timed intervals, four times a day and will require such special attention for around another four months.

Trainee Keeper Alex Gray said: “It’s an intricately planned and time consuming job but we just want to make sure he becomes strong enough to be able re-join the others”.

When it is time, the chick will join back up with the rest of the flock – including 14 others that have also recently hatched – in the our Flamingo Lagoon.

Keeper Hand-Rearing 400 Endangered Spiders

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

Lead Keeper Karen Entwistle is hand-rearing 400 baby fen raft spiders in a purpose-built, bio-secure pod at the zoo.

Karen said: "The spiders are all kept in separate test tubes so they do not attack each other and I have to individually hand feed them with fruit flies. It’s a very, very time consuming job for that number of spiders but it’s vital for the future of the species."

The dedicated keeper spends four hours a day; four days a week, alone with the spiders in the special breeding facility – particularly surprising as she confesses to having suffered from arachnophobia until her early twenties.

“Up until about the age of 21 I was a huge arachnophobe. I’d run a mile at the sight of even a house spider,” she added.

“But as soon as I started working at Chester Zoo and began to learn about them, I soon realised what fascinating creatures they are and my fear just disappeared”.

Fen raft spiders are one of only two British spiders that are fully protected by law and are named after their ability to float on water in the fens and wetlands where they live – thanks to their hairy legs.

Chester Zoo is working with the government body Natural England, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and the BBC Wildlife Fund in attempt to boost their numbers in the wild.

Karen said: "Fen raft spiders have become isolated to just a few pockets of habitat in England and their numbers have declined to preciously low levels. It would be difficult for the remaining populations to recover on their own.

“I’m helping see them through to adulthood before they are released as that will give them a much better chance of survival.

The release of the spiders, which are one of the UK’s most endangered species and grow to have a 10cm leg-span, is planned for late September.

Top Scores for Chester Zoo in Prestigious Which? Report

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

Of the UK’s most-visited sites that charge for admission, the zoo was rated as the public’s favourite, receiving the highest customer score.

The Which? survey asked 3,001 members of the public for their views on the UK tourist attractions they visited between May 2009 and May 2011.

And the zoo achieved high marks with a score of 78%, based on overall satisfaction and the likelihood to recommend to friends and family.

The report rated the UK’s largest zoo highly for its ‘range and quality of facilities, along with the entertainment and engagement offered’.

Barbara Smith, Chester Zoo's Managing Director said, “Families come to us for a great value day out, all year round and we’re delighted the zoo has been recognised in this way.

“We’ve built lots of immersive exhibits, placing visitors really close to the animals and we regularly stage different events to create a highly entertaining, fun and educational experience for all of our visitors.

“Since the Which? survey has been concluded, we’ve also completely refurbished and re-themed our restaurants and food outlets to bring visitors a tastier food offering, in much more authentic and vibrant surroundings.

“And we’ve unveiled the biggest exhibition in the zoos history – Dinosaurs at Large! – bringing over 13 animatronic dinosaurs from the States in another UK-zoo first”.

The survey said the average time spent at the zoo was five hours with the average cost per hour being £3.40 – less than any other paid for attraction in the top 20 of the UK’s 20 most-visited.

Barbara added: “With over 7,000 animals to see across 110 acres of beautiful, landscaped gardens, Chester Zoo will certainly keep you busy for the whole day.

“And we offer great value for money, providing free parking alongside our very competitive ticket prices”.

“Chester Zoo, like all forward-thinking organisations, is always evolving and offering new, bigger and better experiences for visitors.

“We’re always striving to give our visitors more and more and we hope to share plans for other exciting developments in the not too distant future”.

Customer scores and star ratings for all 20 attractions appear in the August issue of Which? magazine.

Dinosaurs at Large! ...in Tatton Park?

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

The garden, designed to be a representation of the environment and plants during the Mesozoic era, also features an escapee from our Dinosaurs at Large! exhibition.

The pictures below show the exciting work in progress, ahead of the show which runs from 20th to 24th July.

Find out more about Dinosaurs at Large!, or visit the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park website.

Are you an Armchair Conservationist?

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

A poll conducted for Chester Zoo's new conservation campaign, Act for Wildlife, showed that 67 per cent of UK adults believe the average 10-year-old has more interest in technology than wildlife.

But although the overwhelming majority of UK adults – 94 per cent - feel conservation is important, only a small percentage help the cause (15 per cent).

Dr Mark Pilgrim, Director General of Chester Zoo, the organisation behind Act for Wildlife, said the survey proved that there were many ‘armchair conservationists.’

“The survey is a somewhat depressing summary of the world today – that the majority, although they believe conservation is important, are actually far more interested in gadgets.

“But while we are playing with games or chatting to our friends online, somewhere in the world at the same time, a rhino is being poached for its horn or a species is facing the battle for survival in its own territory.

“Act for Wildlife is unique in that we have married the best technological advances with positive action for conservation to create a ground-breaking online community that is taking positive action. Armchair conservationists can now actually make a real difference using the technology that so fascinates them and without having to sacrifice their interests.”

Act for Wildlife, who has television wildlife presenter and veterinary surgeon Steve Leonard as a patron, will support five major projects for orangutans, Asian elephants, black rhinos, threatened birds and UK wildlife.

Act for Wildlife will be run entirely online and supporters who donate to the projects will be able to engage with them, getting updates from the projects and meeting the people working directly at the heart of conservation. Blogs from the field and videos will provide a behind-the-scenes look at what is being achieved.

Dr Pilgrim added: “We’re passionate about protecting all wildlife, now and in to the future. For the first time, through this unique venture, we are able to connect the zoo’s work and the people that support it through social networks. What’s more, the funds that are raised through Act for Wildlife go straight to the projects. There are no hidden administrative costs – every penny raised is a penny for conservation.

“Funds that go into Act for Wildlife will give people the skills and resources to protect their animals and plants and make sure they can continue the zoo’s conservation work in the long term. With updates from the field people will be able to see where their money is going and the real difference it is making.”

Act for Wildlife will enable field workers to tell their story in their own words – but also enable the ‘armchair conservationists’ to do their bit. Every penny raised will go directly into the conservation work.

Michelle Duma, project manager for Act for Wildlife, said: “You don’t have to be a game ranger in Africa to help protect black rhinos. You don’t have to be a community outreach worker is Assam to help communities cope with elephants raiding crops. People can make a difference to conservation from wherever they are.

“Act for Wildlife and its supporters will bring together a community of people whose support will help us to provide these things and more to tackle the real needs of conservation.”

Steve Leonard said Act for Wildlife was a great way for people to get involved with ‘on the ground’ conservation.

He added: “You can really see where your much needed money is going and monitor the progress of these interesting projects as they help animals and people in peril."

Visit our new website led by Chester Zoo, www.actforwildlife.org.uk and Like Us on Facebook below.

Baby Parson's Chameleon Born

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:15:08 +0100

Although currently only a few inches long, the species of chameleon – from Madagascar – is the largest in the world.