Chester Zoo

I recently visited Chester Zoo for my birthday, Animals and photography for me is a relatively new thing and so I am still learning. Ever since I was little I would watch David Attenborough documentaries with my grandad who had been brought up in India during the last days of ‘empire’. He and his brothers spent a great deal of time surrounded by nature and the animals that it brought with it so naturally I have followed his interest in that direction. For most, to see these amazing creatures in the wild is simply unattainable and so it is down to the likes of Chester Zoo to bring the sights and educational elements to us.

Chester have done some fantastic work in creating suitable environments for its animals including an array of Endangered and Critically Endangered species. This is classified under the IUCN scale (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

For me the following creatures were some of the stars of the day.  

Roloway Monkey – Critically Endangered

Native to Africa, they are mostly found in Côte d’lvoire and Ghana. Living for between 20-30 years these omnivores prefer to live in the trees right up in the canopy where they can forage for food. Like with many endangered species their main threats come from human intervention and hunting.    

Banteng – Critically Endangered

Predominantly found in Indonesia, Banteng can be found in countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. They live for between 16-26 years on diets consisting of grass and other vegetation. There are estimated to be less that 8,000 Banteng left in the wild with the main culprits being humans and inevitably climate change.   

Malayan Sun Bear – Vulnerable

Found in the rainforests and montane forests from Bangladesh to Borneo, these are the smallest bears on earth. These omnivores do not seem to hibernate unlike their counterparts and can live between 25-30 years. Unfortunately they have fallen victim to hunting and illegal wildlife trade despite having no medicinal value whatsoever.    

Sumatran Orangutan – Critically Endangered

These incredible creatures are truly awesome to see, in the wild they can be found in Southeast Asia and typically inhabit rainforest climates. They are known for their peaceful and intelligent nature,  living up to 45 years. The Sumatran Orangutan is up again a great deal in the wild including, human intervention, hunting, climate change and energy production & mining. Due to this they have been categorised at ‘Critically Endangered’.   

Lar Gibbon – Endangered

The Lar Gibbon can be found in Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, China and Thailand. There are thought to be between 15,000-20,000 in Thailand but there could be as few as 10 in China if at all. Living off fruit, leaves, insects and flowers they prefer to live in a tropical rainforest climate.   

Greater One-Horned Rhino – Endangered

The Greater One-Horned Rhino can be found between India and Nepal in the foothills of the Himalayas. Males can weigh up to 2.8 tonnes and is the largest of all the rhino species. They can live up to 40 years and tend to survive on eating twigs, shrubs and other foliage. Unfortunately Rhinos are famous for falling foul of human interactions and poaching, the Greater One-Horned Rhino is no exception.  

Asian Elephant – Endangered

The Asian Elephant can be found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, inhabiting scrub forest and grassy terrane. Asian Elephants can live between 60-70 years, the oldest known was between 95 and 105 years old. These incredibly intelligent creatures are at the mercy of many human factors which have put them in the endangered category.

Sumatran Tiger – Critically Endangered

These majestic mammals are found on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, they can typically be found wandering mangrove swamps, grasslands and tropical evergreen forests. Their main prey consist of deer, antelopes, wild pigs and water buffalo. Owing to many human factors they are designated as Critically Endangered with 3 of the 9 subspecies already extinct (Bali, Caspian & Javan).   

Cheetah – Vulnerable

Known for their speed, the Cheetah can reach up to 60mph in just 3 seconds, which exceeds most cars. Cheetahs possess exceptional eyesight, they can spot prey up to 500 meters away, with their prey consisting of mainly gazelles, impalas and wildebeest calves. Their natural habitat is open grassland and they can be found in Africa and parts of Iran.

Chimpanzee – Critically Endangered

Famously our closest relative sharing 98% of our DNA, the Chimpanzee is native to the tropical rainforests of Central Africa. They tend to live off a varied diet of fruits, plants, insects and meat. In the wild they can live for around 15 years but under human care they can live between 30-60 years. They are designated as Critically Endangered, just one stop away from ‘Extinct in the Wild’.

Snow Leopard – Vulnerable

These incredibly illusive mammals reside in the Himalayas, Central Asia and southern Siberia. They prey on goats, marmots, rodents and birds, they are incredibly solitary and elusive creatures. There are estimated to be just 3,500 left in the wild and are up against human threats and habitat destruction. The Snow Leopard is the jewel that many a wildlife camera person and photographer has yearned for, making it a true privilege to have seen.

If you are thinking of going to Chester Zoo, seriously, do it! It’s an incredible experience and quite frankly I wish that it could be open longer each day, there is so much to see and experience and the teams there do a great job of keeping the place presentable and fun for everyone. From a creatives point of view I have to also say I appreciated the simple and informative info boards with each of the enclosures.

It is predicted in the next few decades over 1 Million species will be at risk of extinction which is eye watering anyway you look at it. The other alarming fact is that since 1970 there has been a global decline of animal population by 69% , that's just 55 years.

These animals and their wild counterparts deserve our respect and our care, we have a duty to uphold their habitats and ensure their survival.