THE UK’s first ever underwater viewing zone for giant otters and a new-look jaguar enclosure are to open at Chester Zoo this February half term.
The £500,000 developments promise to “breathe fresh life into the zoo” and also sees a new species added to the zoo’s collection.
The giant otter centre is one of the only places in Europe where people can see the otters diving for food, through large underwater viewing windows.
The new exhibit also features an undercover seating area, a crawl-in viewing dome and state-of-the-art off-show cubbing dens.
Chester Zoo’s development director, Simon Mann, said: “This new enclosure is at the absolute cutting-edge of design in terms of both animal welfare and the exciting viewing opportunities it offers the public.
“Giant otters are charming animals and it’s fascinating to see them swimming underwater. We think people, and the otters, are going to love it.”
Meanwhile, the zoo is to also unveil its new-look Spirit of the Jaguar exhibit following a £250,000 makeover.
The refreshed enclosure will ultimately feature a pair of sloths, which are set to arrive from Germany, agoutis and a colony leaf-cutter ants, as well as four South American jaguars.
It also includes an aquarium which will contain large shoals of fish and Amazonian turtles.
A number of trees and plants native to South America have been brought in from a special nursery in Holland and a cinema, set inside a cattle ranch, highlights the zoo’s field conservation work in Brazil.
Simon Mann added: “We’ve created a naturalistic environment, added new species and given it an authentic South American theme, all of which will really enhance the visitor experience. It aims to make people feel like they’re seeing these fantastic animals and plants from the Pantantal itself.”
