After several weeks of discussions around replacements for the elephants, I thought it’d be interesting to summarise our three leading concepts to date.
To be clear, they’re not ordered in order of preference or likelihood (which we can debate endlessly). All three ideas have pluses and minuses are are subject to factors we don’t have the privilege to be made aware of.
Original Concept:
Three paddocks housing Indian rhinoceros (bull), Indian rhinoceros (cow) and Sri Lankan leopard; with Malayan tapir housed in the barn.
Factored into this idea was the concept of relocating Indian rhinoceros to Werribee long term to be replaced by a pair of Okapi.
Variations to this idea included a small exhibit to house Clouded leopard and the possibility of a shared species exhibit with the Indian rhinoceros - including smaller ungulates such as Indian antelope.
Sloth Bear Mountain:
A terraced exhibit, where Sloth bears are the main character, occupying the middle terrace. Sri Lankan leopard occupy this terrace (seperate exhibit); with the upper terrace/cliff occupied by Himalayan tahr and Hanuman langur; and Dhole occupying the lower terrace. The follow interior of the mountain will include an aquarium and viewing window into the Dhole burrow.
Variations to this idea include an ungulate species on the lower terrace (Nilgai or Indian antelope); Bonnet macaque instead of Hanuman langur; and Gharial exhibited in the aquarium.
The Islands:
The primary objective of the islands is to offer the orangutans and expansion; with additional exhibits for species native to the islands of Indonesia including Siamang and White-cheeked gibbons and Komodo dragon.
Variations to this idea include exhibits for Binturong and a tropical dome housing either False gharial or Philippine crocodile.
