Member's Day and the Mysterious Case of the Missing Memory Card - Chester Zoo [09/04/2011]

A brief piece of background before I start, and you'll see my plight. Last night I was stopping at my girlfriends and when I was getting my things together, I couldn't find my bigger memory card anywhere. I considered getting a new one, but looking around town I couldn't find anywhere open that sold Compact Flash (that was because it was around 7pm though, and all I had to look through were a couple of supermarkets). Anyway, let's start with the zoo visit...


As today was member's day, we had a special guest with us: My girlfriend's sister. We arrived somewhere between 10am and 10:30am, when we had to park quite a way from the entrance - already it was looking exceptionally busy. And it was busy - the queues at the entrance stretched to the car park and several other entrances had been opened to cope with the number of people. Of course, it was a 3-pronged attack at getting visitors in: A brand new exhibit only just opened, very nice weather and members' day.

So, we got in after very little time in a queue, which amazed me from the start and the 'overflow' entrance [can't think of a better term] brought us into the zoo right near my joint favourite 'old' building, and that's the old rhino house. We headed towards elephants and I can say I'm getting ever more confidant in identifying each one in the flesh.

After looking at the elephants for a few moments [but taking no photos], we headed over the Elephants' Bridge past Condor Cliffs, having a quick look into the Andean condors and American black vulture along the way. We went across the next bridge and around to the Congo buffalo paddock. They were on the paddock, and it looked like some had even used the pool (this was confirmed later on).

Congo buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) on the paddock.

Congo buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) grazing.

Learning from our mistake from a couple of weeks ago, we decided that Realm of the Red Ape was the best port of call first rather than leaving it until mid-afternoon. From what I heard later on this was a very wise decision. So, we went from the Congo buffalo paddock, past the Chimp Island and up the ramp to the entrance of the building. The two Bornean orangutan babies were in one hammock, Sarikei was in another and Leia was wandering around on the ground. I've noticed that photos and orangutans result in an embarrassed-looking orangutan, as was shown when I was taking pictures of Sarikei.

Sarikei, Western Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus
pygmaeus) female goes shy for the camera.

Going through Realm of the Red Ape, I had my compulsory look in the mountain horned dragon vivarium for the Asian tree toad, but to no success. However, both horned dragons were at the front and one was hunting the live-foods, which was quite good to see. Unfortunately, it was too quick for a decent photograph but got some pictures of it stood still.

Mountain horned dragon.

Going through Realm of the Red Ape, we looked quickly through the various vivariums and aviaries at the green tree pythons, the crocodile monitors, the ratsnake and the Timor sparrows and scissor-billed starlings. The Sumatran orangutans were all quite active, with Subis swinging around indoors [in the enclosure closest to the exit] and Emma going from the waterfall outdoor enclosure to the other, semi-circle one that can only be seen from inside the building. Puluh went outside as well, but hid himself in a corner at the back.

From exit of Realm of the Red Ape, we went past the American and Chilean flamingos, back down to Chimp Island and around to Spirit of the Jaguar. One of the spotted jaguars was eating with their back to us in the savanna side, but was really close to the window.

One of the jaguars (Panthera onca)  in the Savannah side
of Spirit of the Jaguar, enjoying what looks like it was once
a chicken.

We looked in Spirit of the Jaguar's amphibian enclosures and eyelash viper vivarium. Again, the mission-golden-eyed tree frog was posing wonderfully, and I also got my first picture of a caecilian. The eyelash viper was facing us for a change, but was still in an awkward corner. The Chacoan horned frog was visible but was in such a position that the camera couldn't reach it.

The back-end of a caecilian (Typhlonectes natans) in Spirit of the Jaguar.

Mission golden-eyed tree frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix).
These frogs have to be the biggest posers in the zoo.

Had a quick look for Pele the black jaguar in the rainforest side of Spirit of the Jaguar, but to no success. My girlfriend's sister made a wish by throwing a penny into the pool of the old leaf-cutter ant exhibit (and indeed many people were, I'd never noticed before but at least two other people did it while we were there).

After leaving Spirit of the Jaguar, we did 'forgotten corner.' Like usual, there was no sign of the midwife toads but that's nothing new - however I was hoping to see my first sand lizard of the year, which didn't happen. I've heard they are out and about, but maybe over the next few visits. Both red-billed curassows were out and I saw one green jay in the corner. The blue-throated macaws and the Azara's agouti were nowhere to be seen. Likewise, there was no sign of the Hyacinth macaws, which is a shame since they are a species I want to photograph again soon. A few of the buffy-headed capuchinscapuchins out. For no apparent reason, I also took a photograph of a flower by the stand-off to the canal here.

Buffy-headed capuchin (Cebus xanthosternos) having fun
in the sun.

Random flower by the buffy-headed capuchins' island.

We went into the Tropical Realm via the back (the capuchin's indoor area), deciding to look through there, coming out the front and going around the giaffes and okapi. Looking at the vivariums at the back, the emerald tree boa was quite near the front and there was no condensation on the windows, however like normal its head was tucked away out of sight. The rhinoceros ratsnake was up in the top corner of their vivarium, the beaded lizards were under the heat lamps and the caiman lizards were having a spray as the keeper cleaned their enclosure out.

Northern caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis) in the Tropical Realm.

Both Philippine crocodiles were clearly visible on land for a change. Heading up the 'Ramp of Requirement' we saw the Taveta weaver in his usual spot in the conifer-like tree. The turaco in the Congo peafowl aviary was right near the front. Some birds had moved aviary upstairs, the red-and-yellow barbets had swapped aviaries with the green woodhoopoes. I also managed to get my first decent picture of a Socorro dove. Heading back down, we saw all four tuatara out of their burrows (it wasn't even late). The blue-spiny lizards are no longer in the old Gila monster vivarium, which was dark and empty.

Taveta weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps) in his usual conifer.

Great Indian hornbill (Buceros bicornis) in the Tropical Realm.



Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni) in the Tropical Realm.


Afterward seeing everything there was to see in the Tropical Realm, we left via the main entrance/exit near the tuatara and headed past the red river hogs and okapi, towards the giraffe. On the okapi paddock, both Dicky and Stuma were out and mixed together.

Dicky - male okapi (Okapia johnstoni).

All the Rothschild giraffes were out on the paddock, with Tula taking an interest in the building of the feeding bridge, and Faida and Orla looking like twins at the doors of the house.

Rothschild giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) Faida (front)
and Orla (back) pretending to be twins.

We passed straight through the giraffe house and into Secret World of the Okapi to look in on the rodents and Gaboon vipers. There was no sign of the Gambian pouched rats, but I managed to get some decent pictures of the grass mouse and the Mount Kulal spiny mouse [both firsts for pictures]. We did see the Gaboon viper, but only at a passing glance as we left.

Typical striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys striatus) in
Secret World of the Okapi.

Mount Kulal spiny mouse in Secret World of the Okapi.

After leaving Secret World of the Okapi, we crossed the bridge over the canal, heading towards Butterfly Journey. Along the way we looked over to see if the pudu or the anteaters were out, but both disappointed us this time. Also looked across the canal to see how the developments for the giraffe feeding platform were going.

Giraffe feeding platform under construction - the Rothschild
giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) to the left is
the adult male, Thorn.

We went through Butterfly Journey which was exceptionally busy. One good thing is because it was hot outside, my camera didn't fog up in the slightest so I could get photos straight away, however the amount of human traffic meant stopping or lining up shots was not that easy (I had one shot I wanted to get, but by the time I could back far enough to get the butterfly in focus it had flown off). I was going for a mix of shots, and got some nice close ups. Several of the Peleides blue morphos and the paper kites seemed intent on landing on everybody's caps, which was worrying when a nervous child freaked out at this and tried swatting it. Luckily the parent managed to get the butterfly off safely before one of the child's hits were accurate. There are currently no atlas moths in Butterfly Journey, however there are caterpillars for them in the breeding room. Looking into the breeding room, we also caught a glimpse of the off-show Parson's chameleon that I was told is due to go on-show soon in the Tropical Realm.

Interior of Butterfly Journey.

Close-up of Owl butterfly.

Close-up of Peleides blue morpho (Morpho peleides)
in Butterfly Journey.

Waterfall in the Butterfly Journey.

Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii) 'off-show' in Butterfly Journey.
You could however see him by looking into the caterpillar room and into the mesh
vivariums on the right-hand side. Photo taken through glass and mesh.

We left Butterfly Journey and headed back over the bridge to the Glorious Grasses and to the lions, where Asha was half-asleep on the top platform and Iblis was flat out on the ground. We also saw the Himalayan monal but took no photographs.

A pair of the bush dogs were mating (or at least attempting to), having a good scrap afterwards [particularly when he tried mounting her from the front, there were some squeals from her].

Bush dog (Speothos venaticus) fights back as the male attempts
to mate her.

The cheeky bush dog (Speothos venaticus) sticks his tongue out.

The male bush dog (Speothos venaticus) gives it
another go.

There was no sign of the remaining serval, so we went to see the kangaroos, at least one of which had young. I missed my chance at a photo of the joey in the pouch though as I went off to photograph the nearby cassowary. I was informed I'd missed seeing the joey when I got back.

Although I didn't see a joey mainland Western grey kangaroo
(Macropus fuliginosus melanops) in the pouch, I saw one out.

Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius). One of
my first pictures of these guys since they are rarely in a good
position. However, I missed a kangaroo joey in-pouch to photograph these.

We walked around the yellow mongoose enclosure believing that we'd see nothing, however they were both asleep in the shade of a log at the back. The female was awoken when our carrier bag accidentally rustled and she got up, watched us for a moment and ran around before having a good scratch.

Yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata) having a rest in the shade.

Female yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata).

Circling around the back of the yellow mongoose and kangaroos, and back past the Southern cassowary, we headed over past the Elizabeth Mottershead memorial garden and has a fleeting glance at the red panda, which looked like it had only just got up for a scratch. What was more interesting is that the Eastern bongo were out on the paddock. The Japanese cranes, however, were again awkwardly positioned for photographs. We briefly went into the parrot breeding centre to take a couple of photographs.

Eastern bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) on the paddock.

Ecuadorian Amazon parrot (Amazona autumnalis lilacina).

We passed through between the owl aviaries to come out at the tigers, one of which was sat atop the resting platform. I would have had a really nice picture if the wire was focused out a touch more.

Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae).

We headed around to the giant otters but there was no sign of them and we headed for a brief look at the tragopans, but took no photos since I have so many already and memory space was getting low. Afterwards we headed back past the otters and to the penguins, where we decided to get an ice-lolly (my first 'zoo ice cream' of the year - I had a fruit pastille one). Whilst queuing at the kiosk (for some time, they must have shifted a fair few refreshments on such a hot, busy day) we did hear the giant otters, but we didn't see them all day.
After seeing the penguins, we headed down back to the Coati Lawn, past Asian Steppe and to the cheetahs. We saw a lone female cheetah and I wondered which it was, and she turned out to be Adaze. She's been out of quarantine for about 6 weeks, and I got my first photographs of her. Due to laziness and already being halfway up the ramp, I didn't take the 60 second walk back down to the Yurt where I could have gotten better pictures.

Adaze - female Sudan cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii).

Adaze, the female Sudan cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii)
looking through the glass of the yurt at the free-ranging Homo sapiens.

We headed quickly over the Bats' Bridge, seeing the Philippine spotted deer and Visayan warty piglets along the way. We bypassed the tapir and straight to the spectacled bears, however I backtracked when I noticed the tapir heading forwards towards the water through the chain link. Into the water he went.

Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in the water.

We headed through Bears of the Cloud Forest and saw both bears out and about at the front, and several of the coati were on the ground but asleep and mostly hidden behind the slope. We also saw Ashley the leucistic jackdaw in the vicuna and rhea paddock.

From Bears of the Cloud Forest, we headed around between the zebra and sitatunga paddocks. The ostrich was quite close which was unusual. Both zebras were out on the paddock and the scimitar-horned oryx were in the old zebra paddock immediately after their own regular paddock.

Female ostrich (Struthio camelus).

Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) stallions. 

Now, after months of waiting, we stepped into a whole new experience. African wild dogs [or Painted dogs as they are known by the zoo]. The first thing seen were porcupines, then we headed over the bridge [which has a speaker playing creaking sounds] past the first wild dog paddock. Here, we went into the research station which has a cinema and various displays.

General view of the crested porcupine enclosure.

A 'skull' in the wild dog enclosure.

A view of one of the African wild dog paddocks.

ID board for Chester Zoo's wild dogs, obviously
before the names were assigned to the boys.

A sign for the cinema area in the research station.

The cinema area of the research station.

Display board in the research station.

We went out of the research station and around the other paddock where the wild dogs were all lying in a heap, so unfortunately I couldn't get any good photos. I took photos of enclosure however, and a couple of the dogs sleeping before walking out of the wild dog area next to the Tsavo paddock. Both Sammy and Kitani the black rhinos were out.

African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) sleeping.

Sammy (lying) and Kitani (standing), Eastern black rhinoceros
(Diceros bicornis michaeli) in the Tsavo paddock.

Finally, we followed the path straight back to the entrance (seeing the lion-tailed macaques along the way) and left the zoo.