Editing Chester Zoo (section)

==Animal exhibits==

===Islands at Chester Zoo===
[[File:The Lazy River in the Islands at Chester Zoo - geograph.org.uk - 5355020.jpg|thumb|Riverboat ride in ''Islands''.]]
The zoo opened Islands at Chester Zoo in July 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-zoo-40m-islands-attraction-9645555|title=WATCH: Chester Zoo £40m Islands attraction opens to the public|first=Frances|last=Barrett|date=13 July 2015|website=chesterchronicle|access-date=16 December 2018}}</ref> a project extending the footprint of the zoo by 15 acres and built to the south of the west half of the current site.

Islands showcases areas where the zoo is involved in conservation programmes, including [[Sumatra]], the [[Philippines]] and [[Indonesia]].<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13012120
|title=Chester Zoo's £30m islands plan announced
|work=bbc.co.uk
|publisher=[[BBC]]
|date=8 April 2011
|access-date=12 August 2012
}}</ref> Visitors are able to walk between the islands via a series of bridges and can also view the animals whilst on a boat trip. The project also includes educational exhibits, play areas and a restaurant, the Manado Street Kitchen.<ref name="bbc_visitors">{{Cite web
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20507705
|title=Chester Zoo's £30m islands plan approved
|work=bbc.co.uk
|publisher=[[BBC]]
|date=27 November 2012
}}</ref>
The exhibit is opening in phases<ref name="chesterzoo.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.chesterzoo.org/explore-the-zoo/attractions-and-exhibits/animal-exhibits/islands-at-chester-zoo |title=Islands at Chester Zoo – Extraordinary discoveries, every day|website=www.chesterzoo.org |access-date=16 December 2018}}</ref> with phase one including a boat trip around the enclosures for visitors to view some of the zoo's key species from South East Asia, including [[Visayan warty pig]]s, [[southern cassowary]], [[banteng|Javan banteng]], [[lowland anoa]] and [[North Sulawesi babirusa]]; plus a walk-through bird aviary featuring the critically endangered [[Bali myna|Bali starling]], as well as [[Java sparrow]]s, [[pied imperial pigeon]]s and [[Purple-naped lory|purple-naped lories]] .

[[File:Sitting pretty (EXPLORE) (8939168780).jpg|thumb|Young female Sumatran tiger]]
Phase two opened later in the summer<ref name="chesterzoo.org"/> and includes [[Sumatran tiger]]s, [[false gharial|Sunda gharial]]s, and other reptiles (such as [[tentacled snake]]s and [[brown tortoise]]s), birds ([[rhinoceros hornbill|Javan rhinoceros hornbills]], and Indonesian songbirds) invertebrates and a variety of fish species. That phase including Monsoon Forest is now complete and open with the installation of the [[Sumatran orangutan]]s and the arrival of a breeding pair of [[silvery gibbon|Javan silvery gibbon]]s in December 2015.<ref name="chester-chronicle">{{Cite web
|url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/work-begins-chester-zoo-new-5892797
|title=Zoo's £30 million project gets underway with new Monsoon Forest
|work=chesterchronicle.co.uk
|publisher=Trinity Mirror Merseyside
|date=10 September 2013
}}</ref>

A third phase for Islands opened in summer 2017. The third phase included new exhibits for [[sun bear|Malayan sun bear]], [[Palawan binturong]]s, [[Malayan tapir]], and a new songbird aviary featuring various birds from Indonesia as well as the critically endangered [[Javan green magpie]]. The magpies are, sometimes, off-show and replaced by [[sumatran laughingthrush]].{{cn|date=January 2024}}
===Elephants of the Asian Forest===
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. The zoo has a breeding herd of eight elephants, composed of two males and six females – the breeding male Aung-Bo, ageing female Maya, her daughters Sithami and Nandita, and Sithami's son, Aayu who was born in January 2017 and daughter Sundara and her daughter Indali who was born in December 2016. The elephant house also used to house [[African elephant]]s, [[rhino]]s, [[hippo]]s and [[tapir]]s. [[Motty]], a [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] African-Asian elephant calf was born in July 1978, but died in infancy.

A £2 million breeding facility modelled on an Assam (India) rainforest called Elephants of the Asian Forest opened in Easter 2006, as a major alteration of the zoo's previous elephant house. Inside the elephant house, other indigenous Asian species are exhibited, including [[Great hornbill]]s, [[azure-winged magpie]]s, [[red-billed blue magpie]]s, [[prevost's squirrel]]s, [[belanger's tree shrew]]s and [[northern Luzon giant cloud rat]]s. There is also an aquarium housing [[clown loach]] and [[tiger barb]] fish.

On 10 February 2011, Sheba, the matriarch of Chester Zoo’s Asian elephant herd, had to be put down because of a digestive tract illness caused by an inability to chew her food because her last molar teeth were worn to stumps.

===Spirit of the Jaguar===
Sponsored by [[Jaguar Cars]], Spirit of the Jaguar opened in 2001 and was designed by McCormick Architecture. The exhibit is split into four sections. The two inside are modelled on a [[rainforest]] and a dry [[savannah]], and the two outside contain rivers and pools so that the jaguars can exercise their swimming skills. A new breeding pair of [[Jaguar]]s, Napo (Spotted male) and Goshi (Black female) arrived from separate French zoos in Spring 2013. Spirit of the Jaguar is also home to a colony of [[leaf-cutter ant]]s, [[Azara's agouti]]s, [[bush dog]]s, sloths, and an aquarium featuring numerous rainforest fish such as [[Discus (fish)|Discus]] fish and shoals of [[tetra]]. The exhibit went through another makeover in late 2011, and now has a theme focusing on human/wildlife conflict. An outdoor enclosure for [[two-toed sloth]]s is currently under-going construction.

===Realm of the Red Ape===
Realm of the Red Ape is a £3.5 million extension to the existing orangutan house, home to [[Bornean orangutan]]s, and was the most expensive capital project in the zoo's history before the construction of Islands. The exhibit opened to the public on 26 May 2007 after a two-year construction period. It comprises a new two-story 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 can be viewed from a first floor public gallery and feature mesh roofs supported by tree-like structures which act as climbing frames for the apes. A further enclosure houses a group of [[lar gibbon]]s.

Animals and plants from Indonesia are exhibited inside Realm of the Red Ape in a rainforest-themed setting. Birds on display include [[blue-crowned hanging parrot]]s, [[Timor sparrow]]s, [[chestnut-backed thrush]]es, [[Crested partridge|roul-roul partridge]]s, [[superb fruit dove]]s and [[black-naped fruit dove]]s. [[Crocodile monitor]]s, [[reticulated python]]s, [[Gonyosoma oxycephalum|red-tailed racer]]s, [[Gonocephalus bellii|Bell's Angle-Head Lizard]]s, [[Chinese water dragon]]s, [[emerald tree monitor]]s, [[white-lipped tree viper]]s and [[green tree python]]s feature among the reptiles. Invertebrates include [[Rhinoceros beetle]]s, [[Phryganistria|giant walking stick]]s, [[Euploea core|common crow butterflies]] [[jungle nymph]]s, [[praying mantis]]es, [[Arachnacris corporalis|Malaysian Katydid]]s and [[leaf insect]]s.

The zoo's [[Sumatran orangutan]]s were relocated from Realm of the Red Ape to a new exhibit in the Islands development during January 2016.

===The Chimpanzee Breeding Centre===
This pavilion was opened in 1989 by [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Diana, Princess of Wales and Countess of Chester]], and is home to 26 [[Western chimpanzee]]s. This is the largest colony of chimps in Europe, housed in the Roundhouse, a conical indoor enclosure linked to an outside moated island. The island is planted with many bushes and has large poles 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.

===Tsavo Rhino Experience===
The zoo's [[black rhinoceros]] exhibit, modelled on the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, opened in 2003 at a cost of £2 million. The zoo has a successful rhinoceros breeding programme and currently keeps eight rhinos. [[Meerkat]]s and [[crested porcupine]]s are kept in a co-habitated enclosure nearby, and a nearby paddock is home to [[warthog]]s.

===Tsavo Bird Safari===
In 2009, a walk-through bird safari with African bird species opened. It currently houses [[von der decken's hornbill]]s, [[lilac-breasted roller]]s, [[hammerkop]]s, [[weaver bird]]s and a variety of [[waterfowl]], amongst other species. At the other side of the Bird Safari is a Large pen for [[wattled crane]]s and [[Black Crowned Crane]]s.

===Latin American Wetland Aviary===
The former [[Caribbean flamingo]] exhibit has been redeveloped as a mixed-species netted aviary for [[Latin America]]n wetland birds. The new exhibit opened in June 2021, coinciding with the Zoo's 90th anniversary. Visitors enter the aviary along a walkway and viewing platform which project out over a lake, giving uninterrupted views of the birds. In addition to the 100-strong flock of flamingos, the aviary is home to [[scarlet ibis]]es, [[roseate spoonbill]]s, [[black-necked stilt]]s, [[Orinoco goose|Orinoco geese]], [[Muscovy duck]]s, [[ringed teal]]s, [[black-bellied whistling duck]]s, [[saffron finch]]es and other waterfowl species.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/five-things-coming-cheshire-2021-19306769|title=Five things coming to Cheshire in 2021|website=Cheshire Live|first=Bethan|last=Shufflebotham|date=31 December 2020|access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref>

===Fruit Bat Forest===
Fruit Bat Forest is the largest free-flying bat cave in Europe. The cave holds two species of bat: [[Rodrigues fruit bat]]s, and [[Seba's short-tailed bat]]s. It is also home to a varied collection of other species including, [[common tenrec]]s and [[blind cave fish]].

===Monkey Islands===
Monkey Islands was opened in 1997, replacing the old monkey house, and is currently home to four monkey species: [[Colombian spider monkey]]s, [[mandrill]]s, [[lion-tailed macaque]]s and [[Golden-bellied capuchin|Buffy-headed capuchin]]s. [[Campbell's mona monkey|Campbell's guenon]]s and [[porcupine]]s were formerly housed with the mandrills, and [[Sulawesi crested macaque]]s were kept here until they moved to 'Islands' in 2015. Visitors enter the monkey house and view the animals from a central corridor. Each species has a glass-fronted indoor enclosure with climbing apparatus and an outdoor enclosure, moated and heavily planted.

===Miniature Monkeys===
Miniature Monkeys, opened in May 2004, consists of two enclosures. The first is home to a pair of [[pied tamarin]]s with [[pygmy marmoset]]s, and the second is shared by three [[emperor tamarin]]s and three [[golden-headed lion tamarin]]s.  [[Geoffrey's marmoset]]s, [[black-tailed marmoset]]s, [[black lion tamarin]]s, [[Coppery titi monkey|red titi monkey]]s and [[white-faced saki]]s have also been housed here in the past but have been moved out for various reasons.

===Bears of the Cloud Forest===
Bears of the Cloud Forest opened in 2004 and is home to a pair of [[spectacled bear]]s 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. Nearby are paddocks housing [[capybara]]s, [[giant anteater]]s, and [[Brazilian tapir]]s. [[Guanaco]]s and [[vicuña]]s were previously housed in this section, along with [[Rhea (bird)|rhea]]s.

===Secret World of the Okapi===
Formerly the camel house, this enclosure adjoining the giraffe house was remodelled in 2006 to house [[okapi]]s. Initially two males were kept: Dicky arrived from [[Marwell Wildlife]] in 2005 and Mbuti came from [[Bristol Zoo]] in the same year. In 2006, Dicky left for [[London Zoo]] to make way for a female named Stuma from Germany. In 2009, Mbuti and Dicky were swapped back, with Mbuti going to London Zoo and Dicky coming back to Chester. Other animals that can be seen here include [[Red forest duiker]]s, [[Gambian pouched rat]]s, [[butterfly barb]]s, [[Gaboon viper]]s and [[short-eared elephant shrew]]s. Mount Kulal [[spiny mice]] and Mesic four-[[striped grass mice]] have also been kept here in the past along with various other small species. The Okapi bred for the first time in 2012, producing a female calf named Tafari. The success was repeated in 2014 with the birth of a new male calf.

===Dragons in Danger===
This exhibit is primarily a herpetarium for the zoo's [[Komodo dragon]]s, Jantan and Ora who arrived from Prague Zoo in 2014, 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 exhibit is built on the site of the zoo's former bird house. In 2007, several young baby Komodo dragons were put on display after one of the zoo's two females laid eggs which hatched although the female had not been mated; this is parthenogenesis, the first such case recorded in this species. The exhibit was revamped in 2009 to house Caribbean iguanas in one section of the building. It now currently houses [[spiny turtle]]s in one side and critically endangered [[Leptodactylus fallax|Mountain Chicken Frog]]s along with [[Caribbean Hermit Crab]]s in the other.

Dragons in Danger also houses various Indonesian and Philippine rainforest birds, such as [[Palawan peacock-pheasant]]s, [[pheasant pigeon]]s, [[Montserrat Oriole]]s and [[Visayan tarictic hornbill]]s. Recently added was a pair of [[Philippine Mouse Deer]] which have successfully bred. Also housed here are Montserrat tarantulas, which Chester bred in 2016 for the first time in captivity. Species formerly kept in the exhibit include [[Socorro dove]]s, [[Mindanao bleeding-heart]]s, [[Papuan lorikeet]]s and [[Saint Lucia parrot]]s.

===Mongoose Mania===
For some time, this small area on the eastern part of the zoo used to be a children's petting farm until 2001 when it permanently closed due to an [[2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak|outbreak]] of [[foot-and-mouth disease]]. The petting farm later became a picnic lawn, and a former [[kunekune pig]] enclosure has been demolished in favour of a food stall.

Mongoose Mania, which houses [[dwarf mongoose]]s features tunnels beneath the enclosure which allow children to crawl through, popping up their heads into plastic domes to give them a mongoose's eye view of the world. Previously, from opening in 2002 until 2009, the enclosure housed [[prairie dog]]s, which were originally housed in large enclosures near the rhinos (one of which was shared with the tapirs and capybaras) on the western part of the zoo.

===Giant otters and penguins===
In early 2010, the zoo's [[California sea lion]]s left the collection. During this time, the pool was converted to house a new species to the zoo. The [[giant otter]]s went on show for the first time on 26 March 2010. The zoo bred their first pups in 2013.

In the neighbouring enclosure, a large breeding group of over 50 [[Humboldt penguin]]s have their own pool, and visitors can watch the birds from an underwater viewing window.

===Tropical Realm===
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]]s and ground birds such as [[crested partridge]]s.

Aviaries and vivaria are arranged around the sides of the building; those on the upper level were originally designed for [[birds of paradise]] and the [[hornbill]] aviaries were originally made for gorillas. The aviaries currently house birds such as [[great Indian hornbill]]s, [[rhinoceros hornbill]]s, two pairs of [[tarictic hornbill]] (one pure-bred and one hybrid), [[writhed-billed hornbill]]s, [[red-crested turaco]]s, [[Palawan peacock-pheasant]]s, [[Congo peafowl]], [[Bali starling]]s, [[blue-crowned pigeon]]s, [[fairy-bluebird]]s, [[white-rumped shama]], [[white-crested turaco]]s, [[snowy-crowned robin chat]]s, [[Mindanao bleeding-heart]]s, [[Green aracari]] and [[Philippine scops owl]]s. At the entrance is an aviary for [[Sumatran laughingthrush]]es and [[grey-winged blackbird]]s.

The Tropical Realm is also the centre of the reptile collection. The [[crocodile]] pools (which formerly housed [[dwarf crocodile]]s, [[American alligator]]s and [[Philippine crocodile]]s) currently house [[spectacled caiman]]s in one and [[white-winged wood duck]]s in the other. Near the entrance is an enclosure for [[tuatara]]s. This lizard-like species from New Zealand is the last surviving [[sphenodont]], a prehistoric group of reptiles, and Chester is the only British zoo to exhibit them. In February 2016, a tuatara hatched for the first time outside of New Zealand, leading Chester Zoo to be the only zoo to have bred them anywhere else. There were many varieties of snakes and lizards in the past (many had to depart as a result) ; [[rhinoceros ratsnake]]s, [[emerald tree boa]]s and [[eyelash viper]]s now being the only remaining. The lizard collection is now made up of [[Laemanctus serratus|serrated casquehead iguana]]s, [[Bronchocela cristatella|green-crested Lizard]]s, [[northern caiman lizard]]s, and a [[Parson's chameleon]].

Tortoises are represented by [[Galápagos tortoise|Galápagos]] and [[radiated tortoise]]s with [[Indochinese box turtle|Vietnamese box turtle]]s. Amphibians include [[poison dart frog]]s, [[Golden mantella]]s, a [[Rio Cauca caecilian]], [[false tomato frog]]s and [[Morelet's tree frog]]s.

From late 2015 to early 2016, the former golden-bellied capuchin exhibit at the rear of Tropical Realm was converted to house a pair of [[aye-aye]]s and a group of [[Malagasy giant rat]]s.

===Madagascar===
Opened in 2019 as Madagascar Forest, this development exhibits endangered species from [[Madagascar]]. Themed displays also provide visitors with information on field conservation projects supported by the Zoo. The 5,875m<sup>2</sup> site is located in the centre of the zoo and was previously occupied by the Sumatran tiger exhibit and a large aviary for European birds (Europe on the Edge). Madagascar comprises three animal exhibits linked by winding visitor pathways. The first and second exhibits house [[Fossa (animal)|fossa]], which bred for the first time at the zoo in 2022, and critically endangered [[Coquerel's sifaka]]. The third and largest exhibit is a walkthrough lemur enclosure which houses [[ring tailed lemur]]s, [[red ruffed lemur]]s, [[crowned lemur]]s, [[red-bellied lemur]]s and [[black lemur]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zoolex.org/gallery/show/1999/|title=Chester Zoo - Madagascar Forest|first=James|last=Powell|date=4 July 2022|website=ZooLex|access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/new-madagascar-forest-you-can-16028464|title=New Madagascar forest where you can walk with animals coming to Chester Zoo|first=Ellen|last=Kirwin|date=26 March 2019|website=Liverpool Echo|access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref>

===Rare Parrot Breeding Centre===
Parrots on display here include [[red-vented cockatoo]]s, [[lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo]]s, [[Red-and-blue lory|red-and-blue lories]], [[Chattering lory|yellow-backed chattering lories]], [[Mount Apo lorikeet]]s and [[blue-and-yellow macaw]]s. The only ones on show are [[Ecuador Amazon]]s. 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 Realm of the Red Ape.

===Mythical Macaws===
This exhibit consists of three aviaries housing rare and endangered South American birds. In the aviary outside the Tropical Realm, a group of [[Great green macaw]]s are housed here. Two other aviaries further up house [[Red-billed Curassow]] in one, and the other [[Elegant crested tinamou]] and [[Blue-throated macaw]].

===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 fish|freshwater]] and [[marine fish]], [[aquatic invertebrate]]s and [[amphibian]]s. It has had notable success breeding [[seahorse]]s and achieved the first captive breeding of the [[Ocellate river stingray|freshwater motoro stingray]].

Other notable fish include [[Epaulette Shark]]s, [[Mudskipper]]s, [[coral reef|tropical reef]] fish and various [[Lake Malawi]] [[cichlid]]s. Invertebrates such as [[starfish]], [[sea urchin]]s and several species of [[coral]] and [[shrimp]]s are housed with the fish.

===Asian Plains and paddocks===
In 2008, Asian Plains received its official opening. Based around a mixed-species paddock featuring [[Eld's deer|Burmese brown-antlered deer]], the exhibit has recently been extended to include new enclosures for [[greater one-horned rhinoceros]]es and [[cheetah]]s. The male rhino was joined by a female in 2008 to form a pair which the zoo hoped would breed. Sadly, in November 2009, the zoo's male Indian rhino, Patna, was put down due to a longstanding leg injury. The zoo obtained a replacement male from [[Edinburgh Zoo]] in March 2010. Since they were closely related, the previous female departed for a zoo in Spain shortly after, and the zoo are in the progress of creating a breeding situation – Baabu has now been exchanged for Beni from [[Plzeň Zoo]]. The paddocks formerly housed [[barasingha]], [[Ankole cattle]] [[blackbuck]] and [[sitatunga]].

Other paddocks on the west side of the zoo support grazing herds of [[Grevy's zebra]]s, [[sitatunga]], [[Kirk's dik-dik]]s, [[scimitar-horned oryx]], [[eastern bongo]]s, [[lesser kudu]]s and [[roan antelope]]s.

The zoo's [[Przewalski's horse]]s left the collection in 2009 to make way for the new African hunting dog enclosure. Other animals previously housed here included [[Père David's deer]], [[red-necked wallaby|red-necked wallabies]], [[ostrich]]es and [[emu]]s.

===Mkomazi National Park Painted Dogs Conserve===
In 2011, a new exhibit housing [[African painted dog]]s on the site of the former Przewalski's horse paddock was opened. In the style of an African Research Station with an African Village, the exhibit has a dry landscape with fake [[kopje]] stones. A pack of four African painted dogs are the main exhibit, however [[aardvark]]s and [[rock hyrax]]es are nearby.

===Forest Zone and Butterfly Journey===
The northeast area of the zoo is where many forest-dwelling species are kept. As well as the [[chimpanzee]]s, [[okapi]]s, [[jaguar]]s, [[condor]]s and Tropical Realm, there are enclosures for [[Congo buffalo]]es, and [[red river hog]]s. Nearby, is a large paddock and house for the zoo's [[Rothschild giraffe]] herd. The area between the rear of Tropical Realm and the Spirit of the Jaguar has enclosures for various species including a group of native [[sand lizard]]s, and a mixed enclosure for [[red-billed curassow]]s and [[Inca Jay]]s.

An enclosure formerly housing [[maned wolves]] was demolished and replaced in 2008 by a heated butterfly house called Butterfly Journey, which is based around the life cycle of a butterfly, featuring free-flying butterflies and moths (The exotic species on show include [[Morpho peleides|blue morphos]], [[giant owl]]s, [[glasswing]]s, [[Swallowtail butterfly|swallowtail]]s and [[Atlas moth]]s), a cabinet of cocoons, and a caterpillar hatchery. Also featured in this exhibit is an area for a variety of different invertebrates and a mesh enclosure for [[panther chameleon]]s.

Animals formerly displayed in Forest Zone include [[maned wolf|maned wolves]], [[babirusa]], [[warthog]]s, [[Southern pudu|Chilean pudú]], [[Mallorcan midwife toad]]s, [[golden-bellied capuchin]]s, [[visayan warty pig]]s, [[ring-tailed coati]]s and [[bactrian camel]]s.

===Big cats===
As well as jaguars, Chester Zoo keeps [[lion]]s, [[tiger]]s and [[cheetah]]s in its big cat collection. The lions are the [[Asiatic lion|Asiatic subspecies]] found only in the Gir Forest in India in the wild. The zoo's former resident male Asoka was joined by a female, Asha, from [[Rome Zoo]] in 2006. The pair have bred on three occasions, but so far their only offspring to survive has been a male cub, Tejas, born and hand-reared in 2007. His upbringing was featured prominently in the first series of Zoo Days. Tejas left Chester Zoo for Besancon early in 2008 as part of the European breeding programme for this subspecies. Asoka left the zoo in early 2010 and was moved to Rome as part of the European breeding programme. His replacement is 3-year-old Iblis, who arrived from [[Planckendael Zoo]] in Belgium. In late summer 2011, Asha retired to Santillana Zoo and was replaced by four-year females Kiburi and Kumari.

In 2007, a male [[Sumatran tiger]] named Kepala arrived from [[Dudley Zoo]] to join the two resident female [[Bengal tiger]]s, who left in 2008. The same year, the zoo acquired a female tiger named Kirana, but unfortunately, it was discovered that the pair were related. Kepala departed to [[Dublin Zoo]] and a new male named Fabi was brought in from [[Prague Zoo]] to form a breeding pair of Sumatrans, a critically endangered subspecies in the wild. Kirana and Fabi bred and have so far bred successfully on three occasions since 2011.

The zoo welcomed its first ever cheetah cubs in June 2011. The cheetahs are the vulnerable [[Northeast African cheetah|Sudanese subspecies]]. A second litter was born in 2013.

===Asian Steppe===
[[Bactrian camel]]s and [[onager]]s in a large paddock in the centre of the zoo, formerly the zebra exhibit. A paddock which was only visible from the monorail but can now be seen from the Bats' Bridge holds a group of [[Philippine spotted deer]].

===Other exhibits===
Bordering the paddocks is a waterway running north-south along which the water bus formerly travelled, past island groups of [[white-faced saki]]s, [[Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur|Alaotran bamboo lemur]]s and [[howler monkey]]s. A variety of callitrichids, including [[cotton-top tamarin]]s, were formerly housed on the Bamboo lemur Island, whilst the howler monkey and white-faced saki exhibits were formerly home to [[black-and-white ruffed lemur]]s and [[red ruffed lemur]]s. A nearby island viewable from Bats Bridge was previously home to [[lowland anoa]] and is now home to babirusia. In the southeast corner of the zoo are enclosures housing an assortment of animals, including [[red panda]]s, [[Southern pudu]], [[Cabot's tragopan]]s and the wetland bird nursery. The former cassowary exhibit next to the anteaters was redeveloped in 2016.

Near the Rare Parrot Breeding Centre is an aviary currently housing [[spectacled owl]]s that was formerly home to macaws and [[kea]]s. The remainder of the zoo's owl collection are seen nearby. The owl aviaries were recently modified.