To be honest, it's been in a very sad state for some considerable time, so making it external to the zoo and handing it over to whatever turns up there is probably for the best. Maybe a (non-animal) feature can be made of it to enhance that approach area.
I've said it before, but Marwell remains in the throws of an identity crisis - largely a hang-over from the Cretney era, so I still have hope that the new management may be able to improve things, given time and money. The new entrance has long been required and will inevitably soak up funds, but once it's done...we might gradually see things improving. The Tropical House has, for example, come on leaps and bounds and is now one of the best things there (despite the waste space in the middle), and the Hyrax House (despite its ridiculous title) is an excellent re-development. Ultimately, big fields need filling with something...currently there is still an 'empty' feel about much of the park. The 'leopard' enclosure seemed very well suited to Clouded Leopards - they were always visible on my visits with a bit of effort. I'm not sure why they couldn't stuck with that species - maybe there was a reason to do with the enclosure that contributed to their demise? But, a new Red Panda enclosure might be argued to be the least pressing requirement (since there are now 3 empty ones). Granted the current one wasn't actually built for them, but still....
In the current Zoo Standards, and echoed by the new Standards that will shortly come into force, the perimeter fence and access points need to be designed not only to prevent unauthorised entry but to be able to confine the animals. By removing the old perimeter fence/gates to create a new zoo boundary alongside the Shop, and having the area in front of the shop with access to the public outside of zoo opening hours, makes this technically, at least, outside the "zoo's perimeter" for legislative purposes. There are a number of other reasons why it would not be good practice to keep non-native animals in the area outside of the entrance gates, just one being increasing the risk of escape into the wild, as covered by the Wildlife and Countryside Act. So, while a zoo COULD locate some animals external to the perimeter fence, most would decide that is a risk they would not be prepared to take.
Perhaps - as a suggestion - management would do well to expand on the native species recovery with other British wildlife and recovery programs. Dormice, badger (strictly not recovery, but essential for native species conservation), wild cat, pine Marten, red squirrel .... all in this one place.
We do not know how Marwell intends to re-landscape this area when a new entrance is built - scheduled for next year. Meanwhile the area in front of the shop is open to visitors before and after the zoo is open, A new fence with gates has been installed to span the road and footpaths where the old entrance had been, but this is not the height of the zoo's perimeter fence.
When I commented on the disused pond I was unaware about the new entrance plans. I'm sure they will do something about that entire area at the same time to give a proper entrance area.
@okapis 
They are still both there sometimes they are changed over with there parents in the main enclosure.
I believe the mature male, along with a younger male, were moved to an enclosure across the South Road from the Macacque Island. They're not officially on show, but they can be seen behind the red-painted building.
