Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone has, since its opening in 1998 by the late Douglas Adams (well known author and committed conservationist), become one of Chester Zoo’s most popular exhibits.

It houses, amongst other things, two species of Bat. Nothing unusual in that, we housed those same species since the 1980’s, in our now demolished small mammal house. What is unusual is that here one is in with the Bats, sharing their space. We move (unnecessarily nervously in some cases) through their section of darkened forest as they go, deftly avoiding us, about their nightly business.

The two species in the Twilight Zone are the Rodrigues Fruit Bat (Pteropus rodricensis) and Seba’s Bat (Carollia perspicillata). The Rodrigues Fruit Bats come from Rodrigues Island, part of the country of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. Good luck finding it on the map – it’s just a speck, and in the 1970’s it was the only speck in the world where this species of Bat could be found, all seventy odd of them.


Owing to the precariousness of their existence, the world famous Gerald Durrell, one of the pioneers of conservation breeding in zoos, acquired a small group to start a breeding programme. In 1984 the first Rodrigues Fruit Bats arrived at Chester, where they have been breeding well ever since.

Seba’s Bats (from the tropical forests of central and south America), on the other hand, are not endangered and are found in several zoos. Being so well represented in collections means their requirements are well known and so they make an ideal contrast to the Rodrigues.

While the large (around 80+ cm wingspan, 300+g) Rodrigues will find a good tree in which to feed and spend a good deal of time clambering round it in search of fruit, the little (25cm, 15g) Seba’s whiz here, there and everywhere – they land directly on a favoured piece of fruit, snatch a couple of mouthfuls and then whizz on to the next. This is because the Rodrigues Bats are used to feeding largely unmolested, the Seba’s evolved in the competitive world of a continental rainforest – linger too long and you’re lunch!


On a side issue – Seba’s Bats, although fruit-eaters, are not fruit bats. At the time of writing we have 58 Rodrigues Fruit Bat (although three of the females are soon to start a new life in Prague) and around 210-220 Seba’s.

As well as the bats we also house a newly acquired group of Turkish Spiny Mice (look out for them in one of the tanks in the entrance cave), some delightful Madagascan Giant Hissing Cockroaches (other tank in cave) and an assortment of fish.