Chester Zoo opens its Painted Dogs exhibit

CHESTER Zoo’s latest exhibit has opened to the public.

Top conservationist Tony Fitzjohn flew in from Tanzania to open the Painted Dogs exhibit – home to seven of the charismatic species, endangered in the wild.

Tony is field director of the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust who has worked with the Government of Tanzania on the rehabilitation of Mkomazi National Park.

Mkomazi National Park is home to wild populations of the dogs and has been supported by the zoo in its role as a conservation charity for 11 years.

The national park has been used as the model for the design of the new enclosure.

Guests who attended the opening were entertained by children from Upton Heath Primary School who sang to them in Swahili.

The new exhibit includes a theatre and special viewing areas for visitors.

The seven dogs have arrived from Sweden and the females have all been given names through competitions.

Facebook visitors chose Azizi, Badrani, Diallo and Gamba while pupils from Ysgol Melyd in Meliden, near Prestatyn chose the name Ochi.