Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2023

haydn said:
It seems the lodges are actually intended for the researchers, and not actually “visitors” as I initially thought. Which is better but I suspect it’s only a matter of time

They’re planning for October 2025. It seems they’ve also had lots of pre-planning meetings and extensive consultation with locals already - so I suspect this will get green lit very quickly. Can’t imagine the council will want to slow it down, especially as this was a levelling up project!
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I believe the lodges around the new site are for visitors. The ones in the campus area is for researchers and students. But I may be wrong. I’m excited for the new area. It will be a massive upgrade for Twycross. Hopefully bringing in multiple new species of birds and mammals for the new area to promote conservation of Sumatra and Borneo. As a massive Primate and Bird Fan I am excited for this. I’m already speculating what might live in the walkthrough and side aviaries. It will be a huge change for the Orangs too. Never having this much height and space before.

I am hoping when they come to build the new Gorilla and Bonobo enclosures we can see the same type of theming of a Central African Forest with more than just primates.

The theming of this new area looks like it will be the quality of Chester Zoos islands area. Im happy the zoo is bringing in more animals for this new area. Zoo and animal fans like us love seeing all 4 great apes. But the average zoo visitor would get bored of just seeing monkeys in the same area. Bringing in mammals and birds will give the visitors more to see and it will help promote conservation for the Orangutans and the other species in the wild. Sorry if I’m rambling on. I’m very excited for this project haha.
 
ZooNut23 said:
I'm going all mystic Meg here but I think Twycross Zoo will be the best zoo in the country in ten years time once all the new ape exhibits have been built. If they continue to match the standards of the gibbon forest, chimpanzee eden, tiger trails and the rhino exhibit. Exciting times indeed!
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Agreed! I am really looking forward to seeing it evolve. I think Chimpanzee Eden is excellent.
 
Is there one map that shows the overall area/plan of development etc? I've only found ones that show various individual buildings etc and its not marked exactly what they are. But this does seem all rather different from the previous plans that showed new buildings for all the Great Apes apart from the Chimps.
 
I agree, this seems like quite the deviation from the original plans from a few years that showed all 3 planned Great Ape enclosures alongside Chimp Eden as well as the National Science and Conservation Centre. The older plans just showed the new Great Ape enclosures, this appears to be as others have said more of a whole Indonesian area with a lot of extensive theming and other exhibits for species from this part of the world to pair with the capacious new orangutan complex.

This is definitely a different path to go down for this section of the masterplan, but I have no doubt it has the potential to prove to be the right choice. It will most likely be more expensive and take quite a bit longer than what this development (Orangs+NSCC) was originally shown to be (as I interpreted it) but with the good publicity from the Science and Conservation Centre it could massively appeal to visitors as well as promoting the conservation for the species featured in the wild as mentioned by @Pandaboi and through this bring a lot of success for Twycross.
 
I did find some more overall maps finally... it does seems very different from the previous plans in so much as it now seems to encompass a new entrance, car park etc as well as all the buildings. But the main difference animal-wise seems to be this will be an Asian-themed area with Orangutans as the centrepiece and that new developments for the Gorillas and Bonobos are nowhere in sight now.
 
It will be a shame if the gorillas and bonobo developments don’t progress.

However this does seem more like a statement change to introduce one new very different exhibit and if they want to have more visitors to a new area they do need to think about the entrance and how they get people in efficiently.
 
I think the other apes will still get new homes, just plans and ideas evolve. There was a stark change between initial concepts for Chimp Eden and what was ultimately delivered, and prison wall aside (which I still firmly believe could be fixed with a simple green paint job!), that’s a very impressive exhibit.

There’s still lots of prime real-estate begging for redevelopment that could easily accommodate equally substantial enclosures for the gorilla and bonobo in the near future.
 
Lafone said:
It will be a shame if the gorillas and bonobo developments don’t progress.

However this does seem more like a statement change to introduce one new very different exhibit and if they want to have more visitors to a new area they do need to think about the entrance and how they get people in efficiently.
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I believe the Gorilla and Bonobo enclosures will start after they finish this area. I think it wouldn’t just be the great apes but it could also feature buffalo, Diana monkeys, a mix of birds etc. Times are changing for the better at Twycross in my opinion. This CEO really wants to move Twycross into having the best great ape enclosures in the UK and maybe even Europe.
 
Anyone know what is happening to the walk though lemur exhibit? Last few times i have been fully closed, seen a statement saying it closed.
 
KJ said:
Anyone know what is happening to the walk though lemur exhibit? Last few times i have been fully closed, seen a statement saying it closed.
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It’s being demolished for the new orangutan enclosure if the planning permission is granted.
 
Pandaboi said:
I believe the Gorilla and Bonobo enclosures will start after they finish this area. I think it wouldn’t just be the great apes but it could also feature buffalo, Diana monkeys, a mix of birds etc. Times are changing for the better at Twycross in my opinion. This CEO really wants to move Twycross into having the best great ape enclosures in the UK and maybe even Europe.
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I look forward to Twycross improving I’d say though it’s a standing start from where they are. But looks like a good opportunity. I think saying they want to be the best in Europe sets them up for too many comparators. Among the best or just excellent would do.
 
Lafone said:
I look forward to Twycross improving I’d say though it’s a standing start from where they are. But looks like a good opportunity. I think saying they want to be the best in Europe sets them up for too many comparators. Among the best or just excellent would do.
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Sorry I meant one of the 10 top best in Europe haha, I was just coming off my break when I replied.

I am hopeful they will get planning permission granted soon so they can start working on the new NSCC and Orangutan enclosure. I can imagine Twycross will bring in a new female Bornean Orangutan in the upcoming years to join Maliku and Batu in the new facility. It will be a massive improvement for them. I’m hoping that the siamangs near the meerkats will be moved into the new facility to give them a better enclosure.
 
I love how short term some people’s memories are around here. The new CEO is simply continuing the plan set out by the previous one. The one that took the zoo from the verge of bankruptcy to financially sustainable with significant year on year visitor growth (pre-pandemic) and the same CEO that delivered several significant developments including Gibbon Forest, Chimp Eden, the Giraffes, Tigers, Rhinos and more! With the exception of perhaps Chester, Twycross developed faster and more than any other UK zoo in the 2010-2020 period.

Anyway, here’s some better visuals of the planned development. The detailed design statement specifically calls out the two smaller animal exhibits are designed to accommodate a range of species as no decisions are yet made on what will be housed there. It could be something relocated from elsewhere in the zoo or new to the zoo. It will confirmed nearer the time as it will be subject to breeding/conservation needs nearer the time.
 

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Pandaboi said:
According to the plans. The zoo is looking to get Babirusa and Tree Kangaroo for this new area. Hopefully it all works out. They would be a great species for Twycross to bring in.
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I don't know about Tree kangaroos, but Twycross did use to hold Babirusa until 2010. Still, that's nice to see them bringing back species from their past.
 
Animallover1998 said:
I don't know about Tree kangaroos, but Twycross did use to hold Babirusa until 2010. Still, that's nice to see them bringing back species from their past.
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When i saw that Tree Kangaroos were planned I'm not too confident that they will get them. The Babirusa seem possible and im excited to see if they do come to TZ or not.
 
haydn said:
I love how short term some people’s memories are around here. The new CEO is simply continuing the plan set out by the previous one. The one that took the zoo from the verge of bankruptcy to financially sustainable with significant year on year visitor growth (pre-pandemic) and the same CEO that delivered several significant developments including Gibbon Forest, Chimp Eden, the Giraffes, Tigers, Rhinos and more! With the exception of perhaps Chester, Twycross developed faster and more than any other UK zoo in the 2010-2020 period.

Anyway, here’s some better visuals of the planned development. The detailed design statement specifically calls out the two smaller animal exhibits are designed to accommodate a range of species as no decisions are yet made on what will be housed there. It could be something relocated from elsewhere in the zoo or new to the zoo. It will confirmed nearer the time as it will be subject to breeding/conservation needs nearer the time.
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Completely agree with you. I doubt there would still even be a TZ if it wasn’t for Dr Redrobe, let alone the changes and developments she oversaw.
 
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