ZSL London Zoo Personal Vision Of London
- Thread starter ZooMania
- Start date
Well, ironically I used my vision based within the zoo's current boundries! For example, if you look on microsoft maps and imagine my proposed elephant paddock which includes the west side of the S&O House, it's actually quite large. Thanks anyway though. 
How large would you estimate?
A really good set of plans: hopefully someone from the zoo is on this site and can read them for a few hints...
Thanks, sounds like a good size.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
Well done for reviving this thread. The only issue is space, as many of Londons enclosures are very small, and the land around them is minimal.
Cotton Terraces - I like the idea of one large paddock. In fact, the tapir and okapi houses should be demolished, and the perimeter planted into a living hedge that the giraffe can browse on (like Belfast), also the semi-circular car park opposite the current entrance could be closed to extend this paddock over the tunnel entrance. It would be able to safely maintain giraffe, as well as zebra and at least another antelope species. My understanding is that all past attempts to mix the giraffe other species in the current enclosure have failed as there just isn't the room.
Lower cottons - the general consensus seems to be that the wild dogs need a bit more space, a sentiment expressed by ZSL also, although the extension may have been temporary in order to carry out maintenance on the main exhibit.....I wouldn't be surprised if the river hogs return there. It isn't a large strip of land and certainly if the pack is extended in number at any point they should have the entire row of enclosures.
South bank woods - this is one of the spaces at ZSL with the most potential. If the old beaver pool was redeveloped into a tapir house, half this stretch of land could be used for tapir with the proper overhead cover that these animals need in order to avoid eye problems.
The roundhouse is a bit of a difficult old building, but having seen Dudley's gibbon exhibit, I think an overhead tunnel connecting this building with a wooded stretch of the canal bank could create a fantastic gibbon exhibit.
The clore rainforest lookout is good but the 'cases' still remain, and it would be good to open out the whole area for tamarins and other south american species, with some outdoor access too for all the arboreal mammals (and birds) in the biome. The meerkats should really stay in the children's zoo, and the otters are really the only suitable candidates for the old penguin pool, and I think the space around the clore would be best used giving the clore inhabitants outdoor access..
The North bank is smaller than people think, the problem with using that strip of land is that there would need to be some stand off space between the bank and the public walking the canalside below outside the zoo perimeter. I previously thought this would be the best place for tigers, but in reality the only option London has is to extend over three island pond. The mappins would be a eyesore with the necessary fencing to house big cats.
The snowdon is really not in good shape, and may only be suitable for hardy bird species.
The education centre has great potential to become a new exhibit, there are places this facility could be moved to, and the land around it could form a lemur complex or similar to create a pavilion of some kind, ie for madagascan wildlife or just endangered primates..
The casson would be most suitable if extended out over the paths and surrounding lawns to house some hoofstock, such as the okapis and anoas. The hippos should use the casson pool as permanent indoor quarters, with the area outside permanently linked to the summer paddock.
I think geladas, barbary sheep and hyrax would be fantastic if given the run of the mappin terraces.
Cotton Terraces - I like the idea of one large paddock. In fact, the tapir and okapi houses should be demolished, and the perimeter planted into a living hedge that the giraffe can browse on (like Belfast), also the semi-circular car park opposite the current entrance could be closed to extend this paddock over the tunnel entrance. It would be able to safely maintain giraffe, as well as zebra and at least another antelope species. My understanding is that all past attempts to mix the giraffe other species in the current enclosure have failed as there just isn't the room.
Lower cottons - the general consensus seems to be that the wild dogs need a bit more space, a sentiment expressed by ZSL also, although the extension may have been temporary in order to carry out maintenance on the main exhibit.....I wouldn't be surprised if the river hogs return there. It isn't a large strip of land and certainly if the pack is extended in number at any point they should have the entire row of enclosures.
South bank woods - this is one of the spaces at ZSL with the most potential. If the old beaver pool was redeveloped into a tapir house, half this stretch of land could be used for tapir with the proper overhead cover that these animals need in order to avoid eye problems.
The roundhouse is a bit of a difficult old building, but having seen Dudley's gibbon exhibit, I think an overhead tunnel connecting this building with a wooded stretch of the canal bank could create a fantastic gibbon exhibit.
The clore rainforest lookout is good but the 'cases' still remain, and it would be good to open out the whole area for tamarins and other south american species, with some outdoor access too for all the arboreal mammals (and birds) in the biome. The meerkats should really stay in the children's zoo, and the otters are really the only suitable candidates for the old penguin pool, and I think the space around the clore would be best used giving the clore inhabitants outdoor access..
The North bank is smaller than people think, the problem with using that strip of land is that there would need to be some stand off space between the bank and the public walking the canalside below outside the zoo perimeter. I previously thought this would be the best place for tigers, but in reality the only option London has is to extend over three island pond. The mappins would be a eyesore with the necessary fencing to house big cats.
The snowdon is really not in good shape, and may only be suitable for hardy bird species.
The education centre has great potential to become a new exhibit, there are places this facility could be moved to, and the land around it could form a lemur complex or similar to create a pavilion of some kind, ie for madagascan wildlife or just endangered primates..
The casson would be most suitable if extended out over the paths and surrounding lawns to house some hoofstock, such as the okapis and anoas. The hippos should use the casson pool as permanent indoor quarters, with the area outside permanently linked to the summer paddock.
I think geladas, barbary sheep and hyrax would be fantastic if given the run of the mappin terraces.
Sorry for digging up this ancient nine-month old thread, but it's a subject I've been thinking about for a while which I'd like to show my take on. Basically, my vision also resolves around a biome and immersion, though the more critical side to it I suppose is the reintroduction of some large species. Still, remember it's personal, and try not to get to mad at me about it.Anything not mentioned remains mostly the same as now.
African Savannah
Consists entirely of 'Into Africa' (AKA the Cotton Terraces).
- Move the tapirs to the North Bank and the Okapi to the main zoo, then combine every single paddock on the south side (this includes the paths leading to two of the of the houses, they would then be publiclly entered from the north side of the terraces) to create one single large paddock, with a minature waterhole dug in the centre. The already present giraffe and zebra would have this paddock, and white rhino, bontebok and ostrich would also be introduced to share. The elevated platform would be relocated to the visitor path.
- The two small unused enclosures on either side of the giraffe houuse would become high-roofed avairies, one housing savannah birds like Von Der Decken's Hornbills and Sacred Ibis, the other white-headed vultures from the Eastern Avairy.
- The red river hogs would be relocated to gorilla kingdom, and the servals would move into their enclosure.
INDONESIAN FOREST
Would consist entirely of the North Bank.
- The Snowdon Avairy would house indonesian birds only with lowland anoa on the ground.
- The education centre would be redeveloped into a house for orangutans, gibbons and the komodo dragons would also move here. The Gibbons and Orangutans would have outdoor access to the whole bank between the Snowdon Avairy and west end of the North bank, allowing the use of trees to climb for both species'. In summer the Komodo Dragons would have an outdoor enclosure on the grass bank opposite the orangs/gibbons.
- The East side of the North Bank would consist of outdoor enclosures for Malayan Tapirs and Sumatran Tigers, the tiger enclosures being able to divide to better suit their needs. A stream would run through both paddocks, falling as waterfalls into pools for both species'. There would be two houses themed as longhouses; the first house would be indoor quaters for tapirs, with indoor enclosures for Sulawelsi Maquaqes and Francois Langurs, with outdoor enclosures on site of old owl/hornbill avairies. The tiger house would also contain some Indonesian reptiles.
- Near the North Bank exit gate, the lovebird avairy would be redeveloped for binturong.
AUSTRALIAN BUSH
Consists of the round house and 'happy families' area behind clore.
- The Ayes-ayes would be moved to the NightZone and the ring-tailed lemurs to Animal Adventure. The round house would once more become home to koalas, having both the outdoor cage and the old aye-aye pens. In the two indoor enclosures, there would also be short-beaked echidna on one and long-nosed pootoroo in the other.
- The meerkats and gentle lemurs would be moved to Animal Adventure, and the otters to the lubetkin pool. The gentle lemur enclosure would house Australian birds like kookaburra, frogmouth and cockatoo. The meerkat enclosure, otter enclosure and the green space behind the latter would then become the new 'outback' exhibit, using the same style of the mappins to house emus and red kangaroos.
SOUTH AFRICAN COAST
Would consist of the penguin enclosure and the service area behind it.
- An enclosure for cape fur seals built behind the penguin enclosure in part of the service area, with underwater viewing and seating.
- The Masterplan states the entrance will be relocated to Barclay Court, and is still the case here.
SOUTH AMERICAN RAINFOREST/PAMPAS[/b[
Consists of the Parrot House, Broadwalk avairy row, anteater/rhea paddock and Meet the Monkeys.
- South American birds only in the avairies (though this is mostly the case now) with enclosures for spider monkeys, howler monkeys and coatis nearby.
CHINESE FOREST
Consists of the Lion Terraces (redeveloped and renamed as 'Wild China').
- Wild China starts with a walk-through avairy of chinese pheasants and other birds, as well as a pond for mandarin ducks and red-crowned cranes, then enters onto a red panda enclosure where the tigers used to be. This then reveals into a rockfaced enclosure for snow leopards, with a similar, smaller chinese goral enclosure after this. Visitors then pass through a bamboo thicket into 'Czechuan Panda Station, a bamboo house designed to teach visitors about giant pandas and how ZSL is helping them in the field, with plenty of interpretation and TV screens, as well as some chinese reptiles and amphibians. Finally, vistors will come to the expected, large giant panda exhibit, planted as a recreated bamboo forest with waterfalls, thickets, etc. There would be both ariel viewing platforms and large glass viewing. The panda house would be visible for one section, the rest left private to encourage breeding (a section of the enclosure would be able to be cut-off if there was a mother with cubs. Finally, there is the inevitable Bamboo Coffee Hut, Panda Shop and Face Painting, over-looking the enclosure.
CONGO RAINFOREST
Includes Gorilla Kingdom, the Eastern Aviary and new enclosures for pygmy hippos and okapi built on either side of the kingdom.
- Add a bit more planting and climbing to the gorilla island, with the gibbons moved out to the North Bank redevelop the enclosure for mangabeys, and replace all remaining Sobells with modern enclosures. Mandrills move into former mangabey exhibit. Send all birds in the walk-through to the Eastern aviary, and build a new enclosure there for the red river hogs from the Cottons.
- Make the Eastern Aviary for Congo birds, including refugees from the African Bird Safari and Gorilla Kingdom.
- Build a new pygmy hippo exhibit on the old entrance site.
- Create a new okapi paddock in the service area behind the amphitheatre, also mixing blue duikers with the okapi.
INDIAN FOREST
Consists of the Casson Pavillion, Stork & Ostrich House and Mappin Terraces.
- Move the camels and bearded pigs to Whipsnade. Merge the East side paddock of the Casson with the display lawn to create a paddock for Gaur, aswell as moving out the enclosures in one of the indoor 'pods' on their side to give them more house room. Move the hippos to the old entrance site and the komodos and anoa to the North Bank as mentioned, and demolish all buildings behind the reptile house and stork and ostrich house, creating a large space previously occupied by the hippo and anoa paddocks, the komodo dragon house, the kiosk and the performing animal pens. Merge the west side Casson paddock with this space (as well as the bit in front) to create a much larger paddock for asian elephant cows, deepening and extending the hippo pool for them too. Like with the gaur, demolish the indoor enclosures in one of their pods to make more room. (The bit I was dreading, as it is a controversial and highly unlikely idea. But remember, personal.)
- Move out all the birds in the African Bird Safari to the Cotton Terraces or Eastern Avairy, renaming it (guess what?) the 'Asian Bird Safari', keeping Indian birds along with muntjac on the ground.
- Divide the Mappin Terraces in two, creating a bridge down the middle which goes into a house in the middle, before going back up to the upper level. Redevelop the enclosure as an Indian forest with temple ruins, with Asiatic Lions on the North side and Sloth Bears on the South (If the bears prove inactive again, at least the lions hopefully make up for it). The house would contain indoor quaters for the animals along with interpretation and floor-to-celing windows into the enclosures. The upper level would be reopened, the mountains housing Hanuman Langurs and Lion-Tailed Macaques. Their houses would be built on the lion/bear enclosures as mock temples, with tunnels leading into them from the mountains. The Mappin Cafe would also reopen as, um, a cafe.
Areas that would stay reasonably the same and not included in the biomes would be:
- Animal Adventure (with otters in the lubetkin pool)
- Three-Island Pond
- Clore Rainforest Lookout & NightZone
- Blackburn Pavillion
- Reptile House (refurbished)
- Frog World (whenever it opens)
- Aquarium (refurbished)
- B.U.G.S!
on the congo area could congo buffaloes be a good idea maybe get some from marwell
superfurry
Member
Really enjoy these threads.As much as the ideas are excellent and well thought out i sometimes prefer a more short term approach as well as a long term vision.
I personally think the most dissapointing exhibit is the gibbons,therefore i would net the casson pavillion for gibbons and sulawelsi maquaqes forming a SE Asia pavillion.
Either the tigers or the lions go to the Mappins with the other occupying an enclosure on a redeveloped lion terraces.
Tapirs swap with pygmy hippos.
The Clore boxes are opend up for South American reptiles with the roundhouse housing tamarins with indoor and outdoor enclosures-a mini enchanted forest.
Move the giraffe and zebra to allow a large enclosure for mixed primates making the upper cotton more West African based.
I really think London gets a raw deal as it is restricted by its size and its history and i do think with a few more decent developments it could become a blueprint for a small urban zoo.
I personally think the most dissapointing exhibit is the gibbons,therefore i would net the casson pavillion for gibbons and sulawelsi maquaqes forming a SE Asia pavillion.
Either the tigers or the lions go to the Mappins with the other occupying an enclosure on a redeveloped lion terraces.
Tapirs swap with pygmy hippos.
The Clore boxes are opend up for South American reptiles with the roundhouse housing tamarins with indoor and outdoor enclosures-a mini enchanted forest.
Move the giraffe and zebra to allow a large enclosure for mixed primates making the upper cotton more West African based.
I really think London gets a raw deal as it is restricted by its size and its history and i do think with a few more decent developments it could become a blueprint for a small urban zoo.
doing my personal vision map and will be having Asiatic lions and sloth bears in the front of the mappins terrance and deffinatley snow leopards on one of the mountains with either Amur leopard or asiatic black bear on the other. what do you think i should have?
which ever one isn't on the mountains will be exhibited in a enclosure near the pandas behind the terrance
which ever one isn't on the mountains will be exhibited in a enclosure near the pandas behind the terrance
will start with the top bit agross the river. where the current snowdon aviary is and expanding towards the education centre will be a ROTRA type exhibit, with Sumartran Oragutangs and siamang gibbon, with a ajent eclosure for lar gibbon. the path will go on to like a south east asia trail, with a new enclosure for sumartran tiger. a small path comes of for Komodo dragon. then to the left will be the bearded pigs, to the right, a south east asia aviary, with a breeding pair of anoa on the ground. the final enclosure will be for Malayan Tapir and Moloch Gibbon
INTO AFRICA
The current mixed species are will become a large savvanah for Giraffe, Zebra, Gazzelle and White Rhino. the African Wild Dog get the whole strip of land on the opposite side, exept for a small are at the ento for wart hogs, the woodland walk becomes the new african bird safari. the clore become "Clore Madagascar Word", with enclosures for lemurs (havn't decided wich species yet) aye aye and fossa. the meerkat area is expanded slightly and is split in two, one side for Wombat, and the other side for NUmbat. there is a small auzi buch walk for Kangaroo and emu, with viewing to a cassawari paddok,, also a dingo and tazi devil paddock, as well as an aviary.
will cover the main part of the zoo later
INTO AFRICA
The current mixed species are will become a large savvanah for Giraffe, Zebra, Gazzelle and White Rhino. the African Wild Dog get the whole strip of land on the opposite side, exept for a small are at the ento for wart hogs, the woodland walk becomes the new african bird safari. the clore become "Clore Madagascar Word", with enclosures for lemurs (havn't decided wich species yet) aye aye and fossa. the meerkat area is expanded slightly and is split in two, one side for Wombat, and the other side for NUmbat. there is a small auzi buch walk for Kangaroo and emu, with viewing to a cassawari paddok,, also a dingo and tazi devil paddock, as well as an aviary.
will cover the main part of the zoo later
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I think bears could work really well on the Mappins, especially now the lower part is all one level. I just think Sloth bears were the wrong choice, they slept too much. I think they should get Sun bears and open that walkway back up. They could even use the mountains for something then.
thanks, just thought, bears = crowds
The Gorilla Kingdom is split into three paddoks (caved path separating each), the first for bonobos, second for okapi and third for Bongo. The mappins terrance front is split into 2 paddocks the first for The Asiatic lions and he second for either sloth or sun bear (will start a poll for this) there are four mountins on the back of the terannce, 2 will be for a pair of snow leopard and the second for asiatic black bear. behind the terrance will be public enclosures for Amur Leopards and Giant panda.
the Hippo, current african bird safari, current komodo dragon enclosure and all the space in between are tuned into an asian elephant enclosure. the zoo world is tuned into one, large gaur paddock. the current lion enclosure now houses Jaguar, ti8ger enclosure now with maned wolf, spider monkey now with bush dog and display lawn near maned wolves for for spectecled bear
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the Hippo, current african bird safari, current komodo dragon enclosure and all the space in between are tuned into an asian elephant enclosure. the zoo world is tuned into one, large gaur paddock. the current lion enclosure now houses Jaguar, ti8ger enclosure now with maned wolf, spider monkey now with bush dog and display lawn near maned wolves for for spectecled bear
more comments
elephant400
Well-Known Member
my pearsonal vision for london would be to create the worlds largest elephant enclosure, baisicly make regents park a masive elephant enclosure, for African and Asians witha a large common and pygmy Hippo lake at the side, other than that i think the zoo is great!