Chester Zoo Grasslands Zone Plans

[Valentin]

We have the plans of the grasslands area but do we have some information on the following area: forest?

 

[AmazonHippo]

On that note, all be it 5 years later, what animals other than the gorillas and chimps do you want/ think will be in the forest area

 

[jde7582]

No gorillas unfortunately are in the plans, think it will be new homes for existing animals, Bongo. Okapi. Chimps, Congo Buffalo

 

[AmazonHippo]

Yes that is unfortunate but upon chatting with various zookeepers they let on that the Tropical Realm will need to be reconstructed/demolished because of a roof issue (a shame), which could to construction of that area turning into an African Forest exhibit as there are many animals of that category in and around tropical realm already

 

[AmazonHippo]

The question was very speculative and almost like what you would wish to see

 

[jde7582]

Yes the tropical building being replaced has long been on the cards, plus replacing chimp house, Buffalo house and giraffee house

 

[AmazonHippo]

And what you reckon will come out of this plan, as I think after Heart of Africa, this should be the main thing to focus on?

 

[jde7582]

It's the next phase of the zoos masterplan, how long it will take or what shape it will take is anyone's guess apart from a few at the zoo, exciting to see what they come up with though

 

[AmazonHippo]

Yes absolutely

 

[Charles]

No gorillas unfortunately are in the plans, think it will be new homes for existing animals, Bongo. Okapi. Chimps, Congo Buffalo

I’m hoping for bonobos, mangabey maybe but I might be being overly optimistic

 

[derek]

I’m hoping for bonobos, mangabey maybe but I might be being overly optimistic

I think it is likely that the mandrills and roloway monkeys will be incorporated into this area. The only other animal I have heard mentioned is pygmy hippos. However, this is likely to be 2-3 years off so things can change.

 

[AmazonHippo]

I think it is likely that the mandrills and roloway monkeys will be incorporated into this area. The only other animal I have heard mentioned is pygmy hippos. However, this is likely to be 2-3 years off so things can change.

That was exactly what I was thinking: if they sort out the lemur over population then maybe the mandrills and roloway monkeys could go on the lemur islands. Also when they reconstruct the tropical realm (maybe into a greenhouse of some sorts) they could give the red river hogs a large indoor area so it would have enough space for them to live with pygmy hippos