There are two adorable new arrivals at Chester Zoo, with one of the world’s hardest-to-see big cats now in residence for the first time.
The beloved northern attraction has just welcomed a pair of snow leopards for the first time in its 93-year history.
The highly threatened big cats have just moved into a huge new Himalayan habitat at the zoo, which has used more than 600 tonnes of scree and rocks to recreate mountainous terrain.
In the wild, snow leopards are one of nature’s most elusive animals, living in high-altitude areas where climate change is threatening to erode their natural habitat. They’re also under threat from poaching and retaliatory killings following cases of human-wildlife conflict.
Sightings of these majestic mammals are now so rare that they are nicknamed the ‘ghost of the mountains’.
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But now a gorgeous pair of snow leopards have moved into Chester Zoo – male Yashin and female Nubra.
They have been carefully matched through a conservation breeding programme and it’s hoped that (now they’ve ‘hit if off’ straight away) they may go on to have cubs.
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The zoo has today released the first images of the animals exploring their new home, ahead of it opening to the public on Monday 25 March.
Chester Zoo has welcomed a pair of snow leopards for the first time in its 93-year history. Credit: Chester Zoo
Mike Jordan, Director of Animals and Plants at the zoo, said: “The arrival of snow leopards is a huge milestone in our zoo’s long history and signifies our commitment to protecting another of the world’s most threatened big cat species.
“Yashin and Nubra are both just over 18 months old, so they’re incredibly playful, inquisitive and full of energy. They’re also both now at the age where they’d naturally start to leave their mother and become independent, which is why they’ve been paired up here at Chester Zoo as part of a European conservation breeding programme, which is working to safeguard the species from becoming extinct.
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“Now that they’ve had some time to settle in and explore their new home here in Chester, the pair appear to have really hit it off and, in time, we’re hopeful that they’ll go on to have cubs together.
“This incredible new habitat not only offers visitors spectacular viewing opportunities and a fascinating glimpse into the harsh, yet beautiful world that snow leopards inhabit. It’ll also help conservationists here to learn more about the lives of these iconic cats, helping to further support global conservation efforts for the species.”
Mayukh Chatterjee, Regional Field Programme Manager for Asia at the zoo, added: “Not only have we created a fantastic new home for Yashin and Nubra here at Chester, we’re also joining forces with fellow conservation charity, the Snow Leopard Trust, to contribute to vital efforts to conserve snow leopards and safeguard communities that live alongside them, to foster coexistence.
Yashin and Nubra, a pair of snow leopards, have arrived at Chester Zoo. Chester Zoo has created a habitat that mimics their natural home in the HimalayasSnow leopards have arrived at Chester Zoo
“The keeping of goats, chickens, sheep and cows is a major source of income for local communities living in Kyrgyzstan. Snow leopards can sometimes wander into communities in search of prey and kill farmers’ livestock, which often results in retaliatory persecution of the big cats. By working alongside these communities, we hope to safely build up their resilience to snow leopards while also helping them generate income through a range of other sustainable livelihood initiatives which are also ‘snow leopard friendly’.
“We’ve seen huge success with this in other areas of the world with communities in Bolivia that live alongside Andean bears, and villagers in India that live in close proximity to Asian elephants, and we’re confident we can similarly improve the co-existence between people and these highly threatened cats.
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“We’re hopeful that these efforts in Kyrgyzstan, in conjunction with our conservation breeding efforts here at the zoo, will play a positive role in creating a future where snow leopards not only survive, but go on to thrive.”
The new snow leopard habitat will open to the public from Monday 25 March. Entry is free, with normal zoo admission and tickets can be booked at chesterzoo.org.
You can watch the video of Yashin and Nubra in their new home below.
Neighbourhood restaurant slams lack of ‘common decency’ after huge booking no-shows
Daisy Jackson
A neighbourhood restaurant with rave reviews has been forced to speak out and change its booking system after a huge table didn’t show up for their reservation.
Anello, a pizzeria and small plate restaurant, said that it was left with a large empty table for two hours on a busy Saturday night because a group of 10 people failed to honour their booking.
The restaurant, which comes from the original founders of Rudy’s, said they received ‘no call, no email, no notice, no chance of us filling the space’.
They’d accepted the large booking for 10 people with no deposit, which had always been the system in place.
Anello said: “We’ve always wanted to go off trust when taking bookings for tables. It’s common decency to let someone know you’re not coming – right?
“Life is busy and plans change and I’ve never been comfortable with the idea of punishing people financially for that.”
However, losing that amount of potential revenue on a Saturday night when the hospitality is ‘in a state’ has left the business with no choice.
They wrote: “I could bang on and on about the state of the hospitality industry, but we are where we are with that. But with that and the amount of times this has happened, we’re now going to take a booking deposit for groups of 6+.
“Sorry folks. It doesn’t sit quite right but we just don’t have a choice at the moment.”
The Anello team and family outside the restaurant. Credit: Instagram, @anellopizzeria
Anello opened in the heart of Slaithwaite, a pretty town halfway between Manchester and Leeds, back in 2022, taking over a former library.
Not only does it have serious pizza credentials (again – Rudy’s founders Jim Morgan and Kate Wilson are at the helm), but real local produce credentials too.
A lot of the ingredients used at Anello have been grown in their very own kitchen garden, where they also host occasional open days with wood-fired butties.
And as well as Neapolitan pizza, you’ll find excellent seasonal small plates and starters, plus homemade ice cream.
Their necessary change to their reservation policy has been welcomed by customers.
One person commented: “I think that’s fair and reasonable, it’s not on to ghost a small business like that.”
Another said: “That’s so frustrating! Deposits are a great idea – will always happily pay a deposit.”
And someone else wrote: “Sorry to hear this keeps happening. Not sure what sort of bubble of ignorance people exist in to not be considerate to providers. Hope the deposit system helps.”
Manchester Airport unveils brand-new Terminal 3 sports bar, plus 250 more seats
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Airport’s new-look Terminal 3 is officially open to the public, bringing a brand-new sports bar plus more than 250 extra seats.
The airport’s smallest terminal is one of those that Mancs sort of love to hate, with significantly less choice for food and drink.
The £1.3bn investment into Terminal 2 has made T3 look even less impressive – until now.
Manchester Airport has now launched a new section of Terminal 3, including Sporting Chance, a brand-new 470-seat sports bar.
The bar has airfield views from one of the highest points in the airport, plus 69 television screens showing a range of sports, including screens in booths that can be controlled by the guests.
It does mean that the Lion and Antelope, which operates right in the centre of Terminal 3, will close, so that there can be more capacity for passengers.
This is all part of Manchester Airport’s ongoing project to expand and enhance Terminal 3, which now services just Ryanair.
Terminal 1 has now closed, with Terminal 2 catering for around 75% of the airport’s traffic. As the work goes on, Terminal 3 will expand into the former T1 building.
The new bar, Sporting Chance, has opened in a section of Terminal 3 that was previously occupied by private lounges and a viewing area.
Still to come will be a new entrance and security hall, plus extra new spaces.
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said: “Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the world with a route network of more than 200 destinations through upwards of 50 airlines.
“It means we have something for everyone in terms of where you can go – but that’s matched by what we offer right here at the airport.
“We’ve talked a lot about our £1.3bn investment in Terminal 2 but a key thing that has enabled is our work to improve Terminal 3 – and the opening of Sporting Chance is a huge step forward in that project.
“Sporting Chance is a fantastic new bar – perfect for watching your favourite team before your flight, eating a great meal or just enjoying a spectacular view – but it’s also in a whole new area for most passengers adding more seats and space to the terminal.
“It means even passengers who don’t use the bar will be able to enjoy the extra space and capacity in the Terminal. I’m looking forward to sampling the bar myself and hearing people’s feedback.”
Beth Brewster, Senior Coordinating Director F&B & Essentials UK, Avolta said: “Sporting Chance represents a further evolution of Avolta’s UK F&B portfolio and responds to continued passenger demand for premium hospitality spaces and access to live sport while travelling.
“The ability to integrate brand activation and retail selling within the bar environment is an important step in bringing retail and F&B closer together. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our colleagues at MAG for their valued partnership and support. Together we have delivered a space that combines operational excellence with an engaging, all-day offer.”
Richard Jackson, retail director at Manchester Airport, said: “Everything we’re doing in Terminal 3 is focused on improving the passenger experience – our new bar, Sporting Chance, will be a great addition to the terminal and will provide more than 200 extra seats.
“But that doesn’t mean we’re not really sad to see last orders the Lion and Antelope. It’s been here since 2015 and I know that it’s got a special place in a lot of people’s hearts; it’s been the starting point for people’s first holidays, a place for newlyweds to raise a toast before they go on honeymoon, it’s where business travellers have relaxed ahead of long trips and much more.
“So people can feel assured that we know how special it is – and we wouldn’t be closing it if we didn’t know that what we’re putting in its place will be brilliant.”
Daisy Jackson -
21st March 2024 
