Campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Chester Zoo: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox zoo

|zoo_name=Chester Zoo

|logo=Chester-zoo-logo.png

|logo_width=70

|logo_caption=Chester Zoological Gardens

|date_opened=[[1931]]

|___location=[[Chester]], [[Cheshire]], [[England]]

|area=111 [[acre]]s (0.449 [[square kilometers|km²]])

|coordinates={{coor dms|53|13|36|N|2|53|3|W|type:landmark_region:GB}}

|num_species=424 (2006)

|num_animals=7602 (2006)

|exhibits = Elephants of the Asian Forest, Realm of the Red Ape, Tsavo Black Rhino Experience, Spirit of the Jaguar

|website=http://www.chesterzoo.org.uk

}}

'''Chester Zoo''' is a Zoological Garden located in the North of England. It was opened in [[1934]] by George Mottershead<ref>{{cite web | title= About Us | work = Chester Zoo website | url = http://www.chesterzoo.co.uk/corporate.asp| accessdate=2007-02-27}}</ref> and is the UK's largest zoo at 111 acres.<ref>{{cite web | title = Chester Zoo | work = Goodzoos website | url = http://www.goodzoos.com/UK%20Zoos/chester.htm | accessdate=2007-02-27}}</ref> The zoo has a total land holding of approximately 400 acres.

The [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]'s [[Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]] campus has a diverse and varied architecture, reflecting its [[History of MIT|one-hundred-forty year history]].

The zoo is currently operated by the North of England Zoological Society, a [[registered charity]] founded in [[1934]]. The zoo receives no government funding. The current zoo director is Gordon McGregor Reid.

The organization of building numbers on campus may appear random, but there is some order to it and it is believed to roughly correspond to the order in which the buildings were built. Buildings 1-10 were the original main campus, with building 10, the ___location of the Great Dome, designed to be the main entrance. Buildings 1-8 are arranged symmetrically around building 10, with odd-numbered buildings to the west and even-numbered buildings to the east.

==History==

The east side of campus has "the 6s", several connecting buildings that end with the digit 6 (buildings 6, 16, 26, 36, 56 and 66, with building 46 across the street from 36). The 30s buildings run along Vassar street on the north side of main campus. Buildings that are East of Ames Street are prefixed with an E (e.g. E52, the Sloan Bulding); those West of Massachusetts Avenue generally start with a W (e.g., W20, the Stratton Student Center).

===Early history===

The Cheese family market garden business was based in [[Shavington]], Crewe. George Mottershead would collect the animals - lizards and insects - that arrived with exotic plants from abroad to the market garden. In [[1903]] his interest in creating a zoo was further developed by a visit to [[Belle Vue Zoo]] in [[Manchester]].

Mottershead was injured in [[World War I]] and spent several years in a wheel chair. Despite this, his collection of animals grew and he began to search for a suitable home for the zoo. He chose Oakfield House in [[Upton, Cheshire|Upton]], a suburb of Chester. The house had nine acres of gardens and provided easy access to the railways and to Manchester and [[Liverpool]]. There were local objections, but Mottershead prevailed, and Chester Zoo had its public opening in [[1931]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Chester Zoo | work = Goodzoos website | url = http://www.goodzoos.com/UK%20Zoos/chester.htm | accessdate=2007-02-27}}</ref>

==Boston Tech)==

[[Image:Rogers-building.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Rogers Building, MIT's first building under construction in 1863.]]

MIT's was founded and first held classes in the [[Back Bay]] of [[Boston]]. The original building, not too far from Copley Sq. - and pictured to the left -, was designed by William G. Preston. The campus eventually expanded into other buildings in the Copley Sq. area. By the turn of the century it was clear that MIT had outgrown its campus and in 1913 [[William Welles Bosworth]] was called in to design a campus on the new site in Cambridge.

Rapid expansion followed after [[World War II]]. ''Always Building'' was the zoo's slogan of the time. Mottershead received the [[OBE]], an honorary degree of MSc, and served as President of the International Union of Zoo Directors. He died in [[1978]] aged 84.

==Cambridge Campus==

===Maclaurin Buildings===

[[Image:MIT-newton-tower.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Frieze on Building 2 dedicated to [[Isaac Newton|Newton]]]]

The first buildings constructed on the Cambridge campus are known officially as the ''Maclaurin buildings'', completed in 1916, after Institute president [[Richard Maclaurin]] who oversaw their construction. Designed by [[William Welles Bosworth]], who based his plans to some extent on studies developed by the noted alumnus and hydraulic engineer [[John Ripley Freeman]], these imposing buildings (Buildings 1-10) in a restrained [[Neo-classical]] style, were built of concrete, a first for a non-industrial — much less university — building in the U.S.<ref>[[Mark Jarzombek]], ''Designing MIT: Bosworth's New Tech'' (Northeastern University Press, 2004. pp.50-51</ref> Bosworth's design was drawn so as to admit large amounts of light through exceptionally large windows on the first and second floors, many internal windows—not only on office doors but above door-level, and skylights over huge stairwells. The buildings were designed as a single ensemble unlike the convention at the time to design campuses with separate builings. The structure, at the time, formed the largest continuous non-governmental building in the US.

=== Zoo design ===

Killian Court, which is at the center of the Bosworth's design, was originally paved, but was converted into a park-like area of grass and trees in the late 1920s. Killian Court is used for the annual Commencement ceremoney.

Mottershead wanted to build a zoo without the traditional Victorian iron bars to cage the animals. Mottershead was influenced by the ideas of Carl Hagenback, who invented the modem zoo concept, and by Heine Hediger, a pioneer of [[ethology]].

At Chester Mottershead took Hagenback's idea for moats and ditches as an alternative to ironwork, and extended their use throughout the zoo, often with species that Hagenback had not considered. For example, when [[chimpanzee]]s were released into their new enclosure at Chester in [[1956]], a group of grassy islands separated the apes from visitors by no more than a 12 foot (3.6 metre) strip of water. Nobody knew then if chimps could swim. It turned out that they could not, and today the chimp islands are a centrepiece of Chester Zoo.

The friezes of the marble-clad buildings are carved in large Roman letters with the names of [[Aristotle]], [[Isaac Newton|Newton]], [[Benjamin Franklin|Franklin]], [[Louis Pasteur|Pasteur]], [[Antoine Lavoisier|Lavoisier]], [[Michael Faraday|Faraday]], [[Archimedes]], [[Leonardo da Vinci|da Vinci]], [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]], and [[Copernicus]]; each of these names is surmounted by a cluster of appropriately related names in smaller letters. Lavoisier, for example, is placed in the company of Boyle, Cavendish, Priestley, Dalton, Gay Lussac, Berzelius, Woehler, Liebig, Bunsen, Mendelejeff [sic], Perkin, and van't Hoff.

In [[1986]] the zoo was enclosed with a fence in line with the [[Zoo Licensing Act 1981]].<ref>{{cite web | title = The Zoo Estate | work = Chester Zoo website | url = http://www.chesterzoo.co.uk/corporate.asp?Page=130 | accessdate = 2007-02-28}}</ref>

The great dome, which is featured in most publicity shots, is modeled on the [[Pantheon]] in Rome. Bosworth noted that the columns of the Pantheon's porch are not placed along a straight line but bow out a bit toward the central axis. He replicated this at MIT, but to observe it, one has to lie down and look along the front of the steps.<ref>Mark Jarzombek, Ibid.</ref> The dome - accessed on the fifth floor - was to house the Institute's library and still today is the home of the Barker Library.

==Management structure==

On the north side of Killian Court is the so-called [[Infinite Corridor]]. It connects Building 7, with its smaller dome, surmounting what is known as "Lobby 7" (after its building number) to Building 8 and serves as a main artery connecting east campus with west campus. Building 7, which is adjacent to Massachusetts Avenue, is a popular entrance as well as the official address of the entire Institute.

The zoo is split into three separate directorates under the management of the Director General, Gordon McGregor Reid:

===Walker Memorial, East Campus Dormitory and the President's House===

Bosworth's designs for the east part of the campus never came into complete fruition. Bits and pieces of it were built, however, including Walker Memorial, the East Dormitories and the President's House. Walker Memorial, dedicated to a former MIT president, Francis Amasa Walker), was intended as place for students to meet. Furthter to the east is the elegant neo-classical aedifice of the President's House.

*Conservation and Education

==Post-WWII Expansion)==

*Corporate Services

[[Image:MIT-Green-Building.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The Green Building behind a sculpture, The Great Sail.]]

*Commercial Services

Over the years, MIT has made an effort to bring noted architects to campus for particular commissions.

==Species and animals==

===Dormitories===

{{Main|List of MIT undergraduate dormitories}}

From [http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/mithistory/housing.html MIT Housing Chronology]

*[[Alvar Aalto]], the Finish architect, designed Baker House (commissioned in 1946, occupied 1949)

*1945: Institute purchases 120 Bay State Road, in Boston, for use as a dormitory for women

*1945: Decision to provide veterans housing for postwar student boom. Housing Bureau opened to help students find housing and 100 units of temporary housing for veterans and their families (Westgate) were planned.

*1946: First Westgate units occupied in spring; naval huts were brought from Rhode Island, rebuilt, and occupied as Westgate West.

*1946: During the academic year, the Institute converted The Barracks (Building 22 - a temporary war research laboratory) into housing for 600 students.

*1950: Riverside Apartment Hotel (420 Memorial Drive) purchased by MIT on 8 March 1950. Would become Burton-Connor (W51).

*1963: McCormick Hall (W4) west wing completed. Women undergraduate (and graduate students initially).

*1963: Westgate (W85) completed and first occupied in August 1963. Replacement for temporary married student housing.

*1967: Eastgate (E55) completed and first occupied in August 1967. Married student and staff housing.

*1968: McCormick Hall II - East Wing completed and occupied. Undergraduate and Graduate housing.

*1968: Random Hall (NW61) opened. Undergraduate and graduate housing.

*1970: MacGregor House (W61) first occupied in September 1970. Undergraduate housing.

*1973: Tang Hall (W84) first occupied in 1973. Single graduate housing.

*1976: New West Campus Houses (W78 - 471-476 Memorial Drive) completed and first occupied in 1976. Undergraduate housing includes Spanish, Russian, German and French Houses.

*1981: 500 Memorial Drive (W71) Next House completed and first occupied in August 1981. Undergraduate housing.

*1982: Green Hall (W5) was the MIT Infirmary until February 1982, then renovated to serve as undergraduate dormitory.

The following information is valid at the end of [[2006]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Chester Zoo Annual Review 2006 - Livestock Summary | work = Chester Zoo | url = http://www.chesterzoo.org/downloads/012%20Livestock%202006%20Summary%20-%20SECTION%204.pdf | accessdate = 2007-06-13}}</ref>

===Student Life===

[[Eero Saarinen]] designed the [[MIT Chapel]] and [[Kresge Auditorium]](1955). The Auditorium was intended as a type of university meeting hall, those words being, in fact, inscribed over the entrance. The Chapel, which is non-denominational is an excellent example of early modernist style in the US. The chapel consists on the outside of a plain brick cylinder 33 feet tall, topped with an aluminum bell tower. The building is encircled by a shallow moat, that defines it as an island of serenity. Reflections from the water bounce up into the interior of the chapel through hidden windows. On the interior, Saarinen created undulating walls that focus on the chapel's altar.

{| class="wikitable"

The [[Stratton Student Center]] was completed in the mid 1960s.

|-

!

! Number of species

! Number of animals

|-

| Mammals

| 69

| 1553

|-

| Birds

| 166

| 1118

|-

| Reptiles

| 55

| 258

|-

| Amphibians

| 20

| 571

|-

| Fishes

| 84

| 2902

|-

| Invertebrates

| 30

| 1200

|-

| '''Total'''

| '''424'''

| '''7602'''

|}

===I.M.Animal Pei=exhibits==

[[I. M. Pei]], a graduate from MIT's Department of Architecture (class of '40), designed a number of MIT buildings, including the [[Green Building (MIT)|Green Building]] (Building 54), headquarters of the Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science Department and the tallest building on campus; the Dreyfus Building (Building 18), the Chemistry Department; the Landau Building (Building 66), the Chemical Engineering Department; the Weisner Building (Building E15), the Media Laboratory, whose tiled exterior was designed by [[Kenneth Noland]]; and the master plan for the southeast corner of the central campus.

=== Elephants of the Asian Forest ===

===Building 20===

Building 20 was erected hastily during World War II as a temporary building that housed the historic [[Radiation Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology|Radiation Laboratory]]. Over the course of fifty-five years, its "temporary" nature allowed research groups to have more space, and to make more creative use of that space, than was possible in more respectable buildings. Professor [[Jerome Lettvin|Jerome Y. Lettvin]] once quipped, "You might regard it as the womb of the Institute. It is kind of messy, but by God it is procreative!"<ref>{{cite journal

|last=Garfinkel

|first=Simpson

|title=Building 20: The Procreative Eyesore

|journal=Technology Review

|volume=94

|issue=November/December 1991

|pages=MIT11}}</ref><ref>

[http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/mithistory/building20/quotes.html#lettvin Quotes and Stories about Building 20]</ref>

Chester was the first [[zoo]] in the UK to successfully [[breed]] [[Asian elephant]]s in captivity. The most famous of these was "Jubilee" ([[1977]]-[[2003]]), so named as he was born in [[1977]], the year of the Queen's [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Silver Jubilee]]. The zoo has a breeding herd of ten elephants<ref>{{cite web | title = Elephant calf makes debut | work = Chester Zoo website | url = http://www.chesterzoo.org/newsitem.asp?ID=254 | accessdate = 2007-03-03}}</ref>, including three calfs: Tunga (male, born [[2004]]), Sundara (female, born [[2004]]) and Raman (male, born [[2006]]).

==Evolving Campus (1990-present)==

A major building effort has been underway for several years in the wake of a $2 billion development campaign.

In MIT's tradition of bringing in top architects, the Institute hired [[Steven Holl]] to design [[Simmons Hall]], which opened in 2002. [[Frank Gehry]] designed the [[Stata Center]]. The [[Zesiger sports and fitness center]] (Z-Center), featuring an Olympic-class swimming pool, also opened in 2002.

A £2 million breeding facility modelled on an [[Assam]] rainforest called ''Elephants of the Asian Forest'' opened at Easter [[2006]]. In the elephant house other indigenous species are exhibited, including [[Great Hornbill|great Indian hornbills]], [[azure-winged magpie]]s, [[green peafowl]], [[Callosciurus|Prevost's squirrels]], [[red-bellied squirrel]]s, [[spiny turtle]]s and [[Northern treeshrew|northern tree shrews]]. There is an aquarium for [[Barb (fish species)|Pla Eesok]] , [[Australasian Pig-nose Turtle|Fly River turtles]] and [[Asian arowana]] fish<ref>{{cite web | title = Elephants of the Asian Forest | work = Zoolex website | url = http://www.zoolex.org/zoolexcgi/view.py?id=859 | accessdate = 2007-06-13}}</ref>.

=== Spirit of the Jaguar ===

The new buildings have created a good deal of debate. Critics have both hailed and assailed the prominence of "starchitecture" on campus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Starchitecture on Campus |url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2004/02/22/starchitecture_on_campus/ |accessdate=2006-10-24}}</ref>

''Spirit of the Jaguar''<ref>{{cite web | title = Spirit of the Jaguar | work = Zoolex website | url = http://www.zoolex.org/zoolexcgi/view.py?id=864 | accessdate = 2007-06-13}}</ref> was opened in [[2001]] and is sponsored by [[Jaguar (car)|Jaguar cars]]. The exhibit is split in four sections. The two inside are a rainforest, and a dry and arid savannah, and the two outside contain rivers and pools so that the cats can exercise their swimming skills. There are five [[jaguar]]s - four spotted and one black. A male and female named Salvador and Sophia had cubs in [[2005]] that died soon after birth. As well as jaguars, the exhibit also contains a colony of [[leaf-cutter ants]], [[poison arrow frogs]], [[emerald tree boa]]s and numerous [[rainforest]] [[fish]] including [[Ameca splendens|butterfly goodeid]].

===Recent Architecture===

===Research Realm of the Red Ape ===

Building 46 (designed by [[Charles Correa]]) which houses the [[Picower Institute for Learning and Memory]], the Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, and the [[McGovern Institute for Brain Research]] opened in November 2005. The [[Broad Institute]] opened its new headquarters in [[May 2006]]. The [[Frank Gehry]]-designed [[Stata Center]] opened in March, 2004.

''Realm of the Red Ape'' is a £3.5 million extension to the existing orangutan house, home to [[Bornean Orangutan|Bornean]] and [[Sumatran orangutan]]s, and is the most expensive capital project in the zoo's history. The exhibit opened to the public on 26 May [[2007]] after a two-year construction period. It comprises a new two-storey building linked to the existing orangutan house with three indoor and two outdoor enclosures, providing accommodation for a larger number of apes. The outdoor areas have a mesh roof supported by tree-like structures which act as climbing frames for the orangutans. Two outdoor enclosures can be viewed from a first floor public gallery as well as from other outside vantage points. Inside, the exhibit has been themed as an Indonesian rainforest and also houses a wide variety of invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals such as [[lar gibbon]]s as well as indigenous plants, trees and shrubs. Reptiles on display include the [[Papua monitor|crocodile monitor]], mangrove monitor, [[reticulated python]], red tailed racer, [[emerald tree monitor]] and [[Green Tree Python|green tree python]]. Birds include the scissor billed starling, [[Timor Sparrow|Timor sparrow]], chestnut-backed thrush, [[orange-headed thrush]] and [[Bali Starling|Bali starling]]. Others include surplus male [[tree shrews]] from the elephant house, [[White's tree frog]]s, giant walking sticks, [[leaf insect]]s, giant orb-weaving spiders and [[Elaphe carinata|king ratsnakes]].

===Technology Square===

===Whitaker School & Medical Center===

==Artwork==

Like many colleges and universities, the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] has sculptures and other art-related installations scattered across its campus.

=== The Chimpanzee Breeding Centre ===

<gallery>

Image:Henry Moore, Three Piece Reclining Figure Draped (1976), MIT Campus - detail.JPG|[[Henry Moore]], Three Piece Reclining Figure Draped (1976)

Image:Jacques Lipchitz, Birth of the Muses), MIT Campus.JPG|[[Jacques Lipchitz]], Birth of the Muses)

Image:Louise Nevelson, Transparent Horizon (1975), MIT Campus.JPG|[[Louise Nevelson]], Transparent Horizon (1975)

</gallery>

This pavilion was opened in [[1989]] by HRH the [[Princess of Wales]] and is home to 30 [[chimpanzee]]s. This is the largest colony of chimps in Europe, housed in a conical indoor enclosure (the Roundhouse) linked to an outside moated island. The island is planted with many bushes and has large pole for the chimps to climb on. The inside area has a climbing frame that allows the chimps to stay close together on several levels of platform. There are seven interconnected off-show dens. Dylan is the current dominant male of the Chester Zoo colony.

==References==

<div class="references-1column"><references/></div>

=== Tsavo Rhino Experience ===

{{MITtemplate}}

The zoo's [[black rhinoceros]] exhibit, modelled on the [[Tsavo]] national park in [[Kenya]], was opened in [[2003]] at a cost of £2 million. The zoo has a successful rhinoceros breeding programme and currently keeps a herd of 7 animals. [[Meerkat]]s are kept in a small enclosure nearby, and the surrounding paddocks are home to [[lechwe|red lechwe]], [[banded mongoose]] and [[warthog]].

[[Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]

=== Twilight Zone Bat Cave ===

''Twilight Zone Bat Cave'' is the largest free-flying [[bat]] cave in Europe. The cave holds three species of bat: [[Rodrigues fruit bat]], [[Livingstone's Fruit Bat|Livingstone's fruit bat]] and [[Seba's short-tailed bat]]. It is also home to together with various species of freshwater fish, [[Madagascar hissing cockroach]]es, [[spiny mouse|Turkish spiny mice]], and [[blind cave fish]].

=== Monkey Islands ===

''Monkey Islands'' was opened in [[1997]] (replacing the old monkey house) and is currently home to five monkey species: Colombian black [[spider monkey]]s, [[mandrill]]s, [[lion-tailed macaque]]s, [[Celebes Crested Macaque|Sulawesi crested macaques]] and [[guenon|Campbell's guenons]]. [[Porcupines]] were housed with the guenons and mandrills until [[2001]]. Visitors enter the monkey house and view the animals from a central corridor. Each species has a glass-fronted indoor enclosure with climbing apparuatus and an outdoor enclosure, moated and heavily planted. The lion-tailed macaques are currently off-show because of the arrival of a new breeding male.

=== Miniature Monkeys ===

''Miniature Monkeys'', opened in May [[2004]], is a walk-through exhibit consisting of two enclosures. The first is home to two female [[pied tamarin]]s and the second is shared by a family of [[White-headed marmoset|Geoffroy's marmosets]] and a pair of [[Black Lion Tamarin|black lion tamarins]]. Both of the latter species have successfully bred. Until [[2006]] a male [[Azara's Agouti|Azara's agouti]] was also housed here.

=== Bears of the Cloud Forest ===

''Bears of the Cloud Forest'' opened in [[2004]] and is home to a pair of [[spectacled bear|spectacled bears]] and other South American animals. The purpose-built exhibit is designed to mimic the bear's natural habitat by providing trees and a rocky terrain. Sharing the bears' enclosure with them are a group of [[Coatimundi|ring-tailed coatis]]. Nearby are paddocks housing [[vicuña]] and [[guanaco]] (wild relatives of the [[llama]]), [[capybara]], [[Brazilian tapir]]s and [[Rhea (bird)|common rheas]].

=== Secret World of the Okapi ===

Formerly the camel house, this enclosure was remodelled in [[2006]] to house [[okapi]]. Initially two males were kept, but one has since left and been replaced by a female as part of a breeding programme. Other animals that can be seen here include the [[giant pouched rat]], [[dormouse|African dormouse]], several species of [[cichlid]] from Lake Barombi Mbo in [[Cameroon]], [[gaboon viper]] and a group of [[shrew]]s.

=== Islands in Danger ===

[[Image:fountain chester zoo.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The fountain and gardens in front of ''Islands in Danger'']]

This exhibit is primarily a [[herpetarium]] for the zoo's [[Komodo dragon]]s, originating from the [[Lesser Sunda Islands]]. It was opened in [[1998]] and extended in [[2003]] to include an outdoor enclosure used by the dragons in the warmer summer months.

The ''Islands in Danger'' exhibit also houses various Indonesian and Philippine rainforest birds, such as [[Red Bird of Paradise|red birds of paradise]], [[Socorro Dove|Socorro doves]], [[Palawan Peacock-pheasant|Palawan peacock-pheasants]] and [[Victoria Crowned Pigeon|Victoria crowned pigeons]]. Another aviary, based around a wrecked fishing-boat, houses the critically endangered [[Amazon parrot|St Lucia amazon]]. Recently added was a small group of Mindanao bleeding heart [[dove]]s which have successfully bred.

=== Childrens Farm and Marmot Mania ===

This includes a collection of domestic animals such as [[goat]]s, [[rabbit]]s, [[pig]]s, [[sheep]], [[guinea pig]]s and [[poultry]] to be met and petted. The nearby ''Marmot Mania'' houses [[Black-Tailed Prairie Dog|black-tailed prairie marmots]], and features tunnels beneath the enclosure which allow children to crawl through, popping up thir heads into plastic domes to give them a marmot's eye view of the world.

=== Sea Lion Beach and Penguins ===

The pool for [[California sea lion]]s was recently restyled ''Sea Lion Beach''. There is now a larger 'beach' area, more naturalistic planting and softer barriers. In the summer of [[2006]] a pup named Sophia was born.

In the neighbouring enclosure a large group of breeding [[Humboldt penguin]]s have their own pool, and visitors can watch the birds from an underwater viewing window.

=== Tropical Realm ===

Chester's ''Tropical Realm'' is Britain's largest tropical house at over 26,000 cubic metres. Opened in 1964, most of the interior is an open-plan space extending to roof level and themed with pools and mature tropical plants, with pathways for visitors through the undergrowth. Here, more than 30 species of birds are free-flying, including [[Nicobar pigeon]]s, various species of [[starling]] and ground birds such as [[Crested Wood Partridge|roul-roul partridges]]. Aviaries and vivaria are arranged around the sides of the building.

The aviaries are on two levels and house birds such as the [[great Indian hornbill]], [[Rhinoceros Hornbill|rhinoceros hornbill]], [[tarictic hornbill]], [[writhed-billed hornbill]], [[Wrinkled Hornbill|wrinkled hornbill]], [[Red-crested Turaco|red-crested turaco]], [[Palawan Peacock-pheasant|Palawan peacock-pheasant]], [[Congo Peafowl|Congo peafowl]], [[Bali Starling|Bali starling]], [[Western Crowned Pigeon|blue crowned pigeon]], [[White-rumped Shama|white-rumped shama]], [[Montserrat Oriole|Montserrat oriole]] and [[Curassow|red-billed curassow]].

The ''Tropical Realm'' is also the centre of the reptile collection. There are [[dwarf crocodile|West African dwarf crocodiles]] in the jungle pools. Close to the entrance and with access to an outside pen, are the [[tuatara]] from [[New Zealand]]. This lizard-like animal is the last surviving species of sphenodont, a prehistoric group of reptiles. There are also many varieties of snake; [[anaconda]], [[boa constrictor]], snouted [[cobra]], [[rat snake]], [[Jamaican Boa|Jamaican boa]] and [[green mamba]] to name a few. Lizards include the [[rhinoceros iguana]]s, [[gila monster]]s and various species of [[monitor]] and [[gecko]].

Tortoises are represented by the [[Galápagos tortoise|Galápagos]], [[pancake tortoise|pancake]], [[radiated tortoise|radiated]], [[Egyptian Tortoise|Egyptian]] and yellow-footed species. There are more than ten kinds of [[poison dart frog]] and the highly unusual [[Puerto Rican crested toad]], plus invertebrates such as the [[partula]] snail.

=== Europe on the Edge ===

This is the zoo's largest aviary, and is one of the biggest in the UK. It was opened in [[1993]] on the site of the former polar bear enclosure. It houses a variety of European birds, including the [[European black vulture|European black]] and [[griffon vulture]]s and the rarer of the two European storks, the [[black stork]]. There are [[spoonbill|spoonbills]], [[ibis]] and [[egret]]s as well as a selection of waterfowl. Smaller birds include the [[rock dove]], [[northern lapwing]], [[red-legged partridge]] and the native but rare [[chough|red-billed chough]].

=== Condor Cliffs ===

This aviary was constructed to rehouse the zoo's breeding pair of [[Andean condor]]s, who have since parent-reared a chick for the first time. It is now also home for the [[American black vulture]] from South America and several species of waterfowl. The aviary is dominated by a large sandstone waterfall, and a fake llama skeleton is used at feeding time.

=== Rare Parrot Breeding Centre ===

Parrots on display here include [[Blue-eyed Cockatoo|blue-eyed cockatoos]], [[Red-vented Cockatoo|red-vented cockatoo]]s, [[palm cockatoo]]s, [[Short-billed Black-Cockatoo|short-billed black cockatoos]], [[Red-and-blue Lory|red-and-blue lories]], [[Chattering Lory|yellow-backed chattering lories]], Mount Apo lorikeets and [[Blue-and-yellow Macaw|blue and yellow macaws]]. Most of the birds were moved to the ''Rare Parrot Breeding Centre'' from the old parrot house when it was demolished in [[2005]] to make way for the ''Realm of the Red Ape'' development.

=== Mythical Macaws ===

This enclosure consits of several aviaries housing rare and endangered South American parrots and macaws. These include the [[hyacinth macaw]], [[Blue-winged Macaw|blue-winged macaw]], [[Blue-throated Macaw|blue-throated macaw]], [[golden conure]], [[golden-capped parakeet]], [[Blue-chested Parakeet|blue-throated conure]], [[Red-crowned Amazon|green-cheeked amazon]] and [[red-tailed amazon]]. The first aviary was opened in [[2001]] and the remainder in [[2004]]. The male [[Azara's Agouti|Azara's agouti]] that used to reside in the ''Miniature Monkeys'' exhibit has now taken up residence here.

=== Aquarium ===

The aquarium is a small and traditional building (one of the oldest at the zoo, built by George Mottershead's daughter and son-in-law in the 1950s) housing a varied collection of freshwater and marine fish, aquatic invertebrates and amphibians. It has had notable success breeding [[Seahorse|seahorses]] and achieved the first captive breeding of the freshwater motoro stingray.

Other notable fish include the [[electric eel]], [[African lungfish]], tropical reef fishes and various [[Lake Malawi]] [[cichlid]]s. Amphibians include the [[Surinam toad]], [[Japanese Fire Belly Newt|Japanese fire belly newt]] and [[axolotl]].

=== Asian Plains and Paddocks ===

In the 1990s the zoo opened a new enclosure called ''Asian Plains'' which housed [[blackbuck]], Burmese brow-antlered [[deer]] and [[barasingha]], the latter departing in [[2003]]. In [[2007]] the enclosure was re-modelled and the deer and [[antelope]] were joined by a male [[Indian rhinoceros]].

Other paddocks on the west side of the zoo support grazing herds of [[Grevy's zebra]], [[sitatunga]], [[scimitar-horned oryx]], [[gemsbok]], [[Pere David's deer]] and [[Przewalski's horse]]. The sitatunga share their paddock with [[ostrich]]. Australian fauna is represented by [[emu]]s and [[red-necked wallaby|red-necked wallabies]] in a mixed exhibit.

=== Forest Zone ===

The north-east area of the zoo is where many forest-dwelling species are kept. As well as the chimpanzees, okapi, jaguar and ''Tropical Realm'' there are enclosures for [[African Forest Buffalo|Congo buffalo]], [[red river hog]]s and endangered [[Visayan warty pig|Negros Island warty pigs]]. Nearby is a large paddock for the zoo's [[giraffe|giraffes]]. [[Golden-bellied capuchin|Buffy-headed capuchins]] are housed near the exit of the ''Tropical Realm'' as well as a group of native [[sand lizard]]s.

=== Lions and Tigers ===

As well as jaguars, Chester keeps [[lion]]s and [[tiger]]s in its big cat collection. The [[Asiatic Lion|lions]] are the Asiatic [[subspecies]] found only in the [[Gir Forest]] in [[India]] in the wild.

In [[2007]] a male [[Sumatran tiger]] called Kepala arrived from [[Dudley Zoo]] to join the two female [[Bengal tiger]]s. The zoo hopes to acquire a female within the next year to form a breeding pair of Sumatrans, the rarest subspecies of tiger in the wild.

=== Other Exhibits ===

Other animals exhibited at Chester Zoo include [[Bactrian camel]] and [[onager]] in a large paddock in the centre of the zoo. Bordering the paddock is a waterway running north-south along which the water bus travels, past island groups of Black and White Ruffed Lemurs, Aloatran Gentle Lemurs and [[Red Ruffed Lemur|red ruffed lemurs]]. In the south east corner of the zoo is a second pedestrian entrance, and nearby enclosures housing an assortment of animals including [[bongo]]s, [[Pudú|Chilean pudú]], [[bush dog]]s, [[red panda]]s, [[Oriental Small-clawed Otter|Asian small-clawed otters]], [[western grey kangaroo]]s, [[Southern Cassowary|southern cassowaries]] Red Crowned Cranes and [[anoa|lowland anoa]].

Near the ''Rare Parrot Breeding Centre'' are aviaries holding [[kea]] parrots from New Zealand, a variety of Bird species such as Derbyan Parakeets and the zoo’s [[owl]] collection. Aviarys for Snowy Owls and [[Mauritius kestrel]]s are located behind ''Sea Lion Beach''. Flocks of [[Chilean flamingo|Chilean]] and [[Caribbean flamingo]]s live in shallow water alongside a large Island housing a group of Ring tailed Lemurs. Pelicans, Storks, Cranes and a variety of Waterfowl are housed in large pens alongside Tsavo the Rhino Experiance.

== Future Developments ==

Chester Zoo is working with consultants and local government on its masterplan for development and expansion called 'SuperZoo', with the aspiration of becoming a world-class visitor attraction<ref>{{cite web | title = Chester Zoo Annual Review 2006 - Part 4 | work = Chester Zoo website | url = http://www.chesterzoo.org/downloads/NEZS%202006%20Annual%20Review%20Part%204.pdf | accessdate = 2007-06-13 }}</ref>. The SuperZoo will be constructed in four phases totalling over £300 million of capital investment, with phase one being in the region of £100 million, and will treble the size of the existing zoo. The plan will divide the zoo into four zones representing African savannah, grassland, forest and island and wetland habitats. The estimated completion date is 2020.

''Realm of the Red Ape'' (expansion of the orangutan exhibit, opened May [[2007]]) and ''Beginnings'' (redevelopment of the main entrance, opened Easter [[2007]])<ref>{{cite web | title = £1 million face lift for zoo | work = Chester Zoo website | url = http://www.chesterzoo.co.uk/newsitem.asp?ID=268 | accessdate = 2007-02-28 }}</ref> both form part of the long-term SuperZoo project.

Over the next 18 months, Chester will be embarking on its next major development, a new aquarium building called ''Origins''. It is scheduled to open late 2008.

==Facilities==

[[Image:chester zoo train.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Chester Zoo Monorail]]

The zoo has a [[monorail]] transportation system called the Zoofari Railway. A water bus operates on a canal network within the zoo in peak season.

Chester's catering facilities include the Tsavo Café near the main entrance which opened in 2006. The Ark restaurant is located in the middle of the zoo. The Oakfield Restaurant, located in a Victorian mansion house near the lion enclosure, and the Acorn Bar are both used for private functions as well as catering to zoo visitors.

There are children's play areas, shops, kiosks and several picnic lawns sited around the zoo.

== Membership and Adoption ==

The zoo has a scheme whereby people can adopt an animal of their choice. They can also become zoo members. Every three months members and adopters receive the zoo magazine, called Z, which provides updates and information about what is happening at the zoo.

== External links ==

*[http://www.chesterzoo.org/ Chester Zoo Website]

*[http://www.goodzoos.com/UK%20Zoos/chester.htm Goodzoos Website]

== References ==

<references/>

{{Zoos}}

[[Category:Zoos in England]]

[[Category:Visitor attractions in Cheshire]]

[[Category:Chester]]