I don't know how many people have looked up the plans for the proposed Animal Holding Area, for which the link was posted in 'Headline News' (sic) thread.
Along the eastern and southern borders will be five stable blocks, each linked to 2 paddocks. The two largest blocks will each have 10 stables. The smaller ones will have proportionately fewer stables and smaller paddocks.
There will be 4 aviary blocks. The largest to have 24 indoor compartments and 12 large flights. Two blocks will each have 18 indoor compartments, with 8 small and 10 medium-sized flights. The final block will have 8 fully enclosed aviaries.
The plans show 10 buildings for 'small' animals. The largest has 4 indoor compartments and 2 fully enclosed outdoor runs. There are 2 buildings with a similar design on a slightly smaller scale and 4 more that are smaller again. The other 4 blocks have 7 indoor areas each and 5 smaller runs.
The largest new building will be for Herpetology. There will also be 4 smaller buildings and 6 polytunnels in this area. There are already 3 barns and 5 containers used for herps and insects on the site and they will remain. The last new building is for Staff Support with facilities for 8 to 12 staff, offices etc, a food preparation area and a bird isolation unit.
It seems to me that this is a large scale development. There will be no frills of course, as there will be no public access; but this area could hold the stock of good sized zoo (except for the very largest species). If the plans are approved and the development goes ahead, virtually all of the animals that are currently off-show could be held there. The only exceptions would be the black rhinos, which I assume will be fine where they are, and the animals in the Health Centre for treatment or quarantine.
In consequence, for example, all the animals held off-show in the Tropical House could be moved out, and those on-show could go with them temporarily too. A few days ago I was looking at a photo I took in 1963, with the Tropical House half-built behind the old gorilla island. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that the building should have a lifespan of about 60 years.
These plans are well worth some study. The site is the large field to the east of the zoo, behind Cedar House, the Animal Health Centre and staff car park, the Education Centre and the jaguars. The total area is 7.6 hectares (18.8 acres for old folk like us). Parts will be visible in from the windows of RotRA, but it will be fenced off and screened with trees etc.
Along the eastern and southern borders will be five stable blocks, each linked to 2 paddocks. The two largest blocks will each have 10 stables. The smaller ones will have proportionately fewer stables and smaller paddocks.
There will be 4 aviary blocks. The largest to have 24 indoor compartments and 12 large flights. Two blocks will each have 18 indoor compartments, with 8 small and 10 medium-sized flights. The final block will have 8 fully enclosed aviaries.
The plans show 10 buildings for 'small' animals. The largest has 4 indoor compartments and 2 fully enclosed outdoor runs. There are 2 buildings with a similar design on a slightly smaller scale and 4 more that are smaller again. The other 4 blocks have 7 indoor areas each and 5 smaller runs.
The largest new building will be for Herpetology. There will also be 4 smaller buildings and 6 polytunnels in this area. There are already 3 barns and 5 containers used for herps and insects on the site and they will remain. The last new building is for Staff Support with facilities for 8 to 12 staff, offices etc, a food preparation area and a bird isolation unit.
It seems to me that this is a large scale development. There will be no frills of course, as there will be no public access; but this area could hold the stock of good sized zoo (except for the very largest species). If the plans are approved and the development goes ahead, virtually all of the animals that are currently off-show could be held there. The only exceptions would be the black rhinos, which I assume will be fine where they are, and the animals in the Health Centre for treatment or quarantine.
In consequence, for example, all the animals held off-show in the Tropical House could be moved out, and those on-show could go with them temporarily too. A few days ago I was looking at a photo I took in 1963, with the Tropical House half-built behind the old gorilla island. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that the building should have a lifespan of about 60 years.
. Although of course there may have been changes since that list was compiled at the end of 2016.
