Updated
August 30, 2007
Gambia Tourist Support - Reg Charity No 362/2003 & GETSUK No 1110998
1997 - Chester Zoo - 2008
It is hard not to have mixed feelings about keeping animals in captivity & even though this zoo is helping to make people aware of endangered species, some looked sad
GTS
1st 10 years
1997 to 2008
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Filly not very happy to see the animals without thier FREEDOM.
This little owl
caught our attention and was one of the few exhibits that might be seen
in Gambia
Peacock
Giraffe
Vulture from the
Andes, breed at the Zoo
A pretty little
pig
The UrangUtang was
less interested in seeing us than we were to see him, but the spider monkeys
- infact all of the other monkeys were eager to do things far to human
like for comfort, the chimps were totally charming so much so I forgot
to take pictures.
Zulu Nation
For almost an hour this group of 7 or 8 performers sung danced and joked
with the audience of adults and children.
It was a strange spectacle seeing this group of South Africans - former captives of the Apartheid regime so enjoying their lives in what amounts to an open prison for animals and as wonderful as it is to see the wide variety of captives at the Zoo - and we only saw the main attractions, there were plenty more to see and loads more to do - Chester Zoos campaign to use the zoo as a method of raising money and awareness for the plight of many of these animals in the wild is a good justification of the Zoos operation.
If you visit, have a great day out, you'll probably not see Zulu Nation, but there is plenty more to see and enjoy.
Comments to GTS
I have always enjoyed Chester Zoo, the animals are mainly not kept in small cages, their environment is made as pleasant and interesting as possible, but there were some very bored looking animals endlessly walking round and round in circles, the jaguar and tiger looked particularly sad.
Apart from those misgivings it was a brilliant day out, there was a real feeling that the Zoo is helping with conservation projects all around the world, they run breeding programs so animals can be returned to the wild, where man's activities have brought about the near extinction of various species - researchers need funds - these captive WILD animals were representing their FREE but endangered kinds around the world.
At GTS we have linked with PROJECT GAMBIA, a conservation team doing research and conservation work in Gambia each year. There is only a fraction of the wildlife left in Gambia after colonial trophy hunting of a 100 years ago BUT much of what is left, is hard pressed to share the landscape with us humans.
On entering the zoo we saw that a group called The Zulu Nation were performing at the zoo and made a note to see them during the afternoon
The day was just full of special moments a few caught on camera, the zoo has a fantastic variety of things to see, the large animal enclosures are spead about and inbetween there are smaller exhibits, information boards, regular talks and feeding times.
. 
The elephants, most of them breed at the zoo are a star attraction and
have a magnificant paddock.
The Giraffes are so much bigger than you can imagine without seeing them LIVE
The Rhino was happy to show us his rear end.
The Leopard looked something of a nut case endlessly and listlessly stomping
his boring indoor environment.
The Lion was fast asleep in the afternoon sunshine
The Tiger was magnificant.
The Camels, the monorail and RED Panda, were all entertaining
. 
. 
As always as closest animal relatives were the most fascinating, the monkeys and apes, so fascinating I forgot to take pictures
But the highlight of the day were the ZULU Nation, performing for the gathered crowds, dancing, singing, joking with us all. The troupe was from South Africa - simply WONDERFUL there in the midst of the captive animals - the very best argument for freedom over captivity that I have ever experienced.
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