ZooBorns

Check Ups For Chester Zoo's Sumatran Tiger Cubs

Chester Zoo's three nine-week-old Tiger cubs have had their first ever health check ups. Last week, the rare cubs were checked by zoo 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."

First Four Cheetah Cubs Show The Sun Their Spots

The first litter of cheetah cubs to ever be born at Chester Zoo have stepped outside for the first time. Born five weeks ago, in late June, the four rare Northern cheetah cubs ventured into the great outdoors.

Tim Rowlands, Curator of Mammals, said: “This is a first for Chester Zoo and we are delighted to say all four youngsters and mum are doing really well.” Tim added: “This subspecies is Endangered in its native northeast Africa. That’s largely because they have increasingly found themselves coming into conflict with larger predators and also farmers, as both their habitat and access to prey has reduced."

“They exist only in a handful of zoos in Europe," Rowlands continued, "and we are the only collection to have bred them in the last twelve months. So this is a great achievement for KT, her cubs and everyone here at the zoo. It’s also really positive news for the future of the species.”

Photo Credit: Lee McCarthy

Cockahoop About Rare Cockatoo Chicks

After 19 years of trying,  Keepers at Chester Zoo in the UK have finally succeeded in the breeding of an extremely rare parrot. These three Philippine Cockatoo chicks are the first to be born at the zoo and are being hand-reared after recently hatching in incubators. The chicks, which look a bit like tiny dinosaurs, are now receiving round-the-clock care in their precious early days - and yes, they are nestled in a Walls ice cream tub!

Andy Woolham, Team Manager of Parrots and Penguins, said, “The species has a very aggressive nature and that makes successful breeding a very rare occurrence. That’s why this is incredibly significant for their conservation."

"We have been trying to persuade them to breed since the first birds arrived at the zoo in 1992, Woolham continued. "During this time there has been a program of dietary and environmental review, which has helped us to make changes to how we look after them and ultimately resulted in this success. It has been a long burning ambition of mine and I just can’t stop smiling! It is so important that a secure safety net population of this species is established in zoos.”

Photo Credit: Chester Zoo

Also known as the Red Vented Cockatoo, the species is critically endangered in the wild due to a combination of illegal trapping for the pet trade and habitat loss.Chester Zoo supports conservation programs for the species in its natural home and works closely with organisations in the Philippines. These efforts have seen numbers increase over recent years but the species still remains under threat.

Teeny Tiny Mongeese

Two Dwarf Mongoose Pups, each the size of a chocolate bar, have been spotted enjoying the September sunshine in Chester Zoo. Squeaks were heard by the keepers three weeks ago but the pups were not seen until they ventured outside in the Mongoose Mania enclosure. With a diet of mice, locusts and meal worms, this species normally live to about 10 years old and can grow up to 12 inches long. Dwarf Mongoose Pups are the smallest of all African carnivores and normally deliver one to six pups. The adult pair has been in the zoo since 2009.  They were moved to the Mongoose Mania enclosure in March this year. 

Photo credits: Chester Zoo / Stuart Robinson

Red Panda Cub Gets a Check-up

Vets at the UK's Chester Zoo got their fist opportunity to get a proper look at their new Red Panda cub, who has been kept away from prying eyes by its doting mum (except for these awesome pictures). The cub’s check-up went well with a clean bill of health and a snazzy new microchip (just in case). But the real excitement came when they discovered that the cub was female, a first for Chester Zoo! Keepers are now thinking of a suitable name for the newcomer.

It is expected that the cub will become more independent from September onwards.  She is the sixth cub for nine year old mother Lushui and father is Pali who came to the Zoo from Germany.

 

Red Panda Mom Shows Her Skills at Chester Zoo

New photos by David Evans from the UK's Chester Zoo reveal just how agile a Red Panda mom has to be. Mom has a tight grip on her tiny cub as she navigates the veritable obstacle course that is the red panda cub enclosure. Expert climbers, Red Pandas are catlike in many of their behaviors including grooming, lying outstretched when it's hot, and curling up with tails over their snouts in colder weather.

Photo Credits: David Evans

Baby Bush Dogs!

In late May, Chester Zoo welcomed a litter of seven Bush Dog pups, which were photographed by Gary Wilson. Like wolves and domestic dogs, the Bush Dog is a member of the canine family (Canidae) but the relationship is distant and they developed to look very different. In fact, Bush Dogs descended from Maned Wolves which are themselves not closely related to any other living wolf or fox. Small and shy, Bush Dogs were first discovered as fossils in Brazilian caves in the 1800s and scientists were suprised when they discovered living Bush Dogs years later. They are found in the wet forests and grasslands of Central and South America, where specialized skin between their toes makes them excellent swimmers.

Photo Credits: Gary Wilson

More pics below the fold...

Chester Zoo's Elephant Calf Charms the Crowds

A new baby elephant at the UK's Chester Zoo has caused a stir of excitement among keepers, visitors and the other elephants alike. The male calf has been named Nayan meaning "eye" in Hindi. Born close to midnight on Sunday, July 18th, the little elephant has been exploring his new home while staying close to his mother, Sithami.

Photo Credits: Chester Zoo (1-3)

Photo Credits: Brian McKay (4 - 5)

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Three Little Visayan Pigs

The Chester Zoo in the U.K. has 3 little Visayan Warty Piglets to be proud of. Critically endangered in the wild, Visayan Warty Pigs are endemic to two islands in the central Philippines. Named for what scientists believe to be protective tissue covering three areas on its face, the species is maintained by only 6 zoos in Europe.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Chester Zoo

Mini Meerkat and Mum Enjoy the Sun

This baby Meerkat and its mum make the most of a ray of sunshine at Chester Zoo on Tuesday. The new arrival is one of three born at the zoo and has taken its first glimpse of its new surroundings after spending the first three weeks of its life in a burrow with its parents.