@Chatt Wolf The problem with this area is that its a long but very narrow strip of land with a steep bank running down to the canal-side, so it doesn't lend itself well to building larger enclosures, there isn't the room. Consequently its always housed less high-profile species and its location means many visitors just don't go into that area anyway, particularly as that entrance to the zoo has been shut a long while now..
@Pertinax I sort of think that is a failure of imagination rather than a real problem. For example, Basel's new bear 'pit' is situated in almost the same type of situation, albeit a little larger. Why not make a series of exhibits with viewing from outside the zoo as well as inside? Or how about suspending more viewing/zoo infrastructure above the canal to change the geography of the area completely?
At the moment the run-down nature of the North Bank is its own worst enemy; as Thylo says you could easily put in a Red Panda exhibit, a notable absence from the zoo at present, but then you'd have to deal with the fact that everyone would see the rest of the area and be mildly appalled.
The renovation of the Snowdon Aviary is going to cause exactly this problem in fact. It will be interesting to see how ZSL follows that development.
A quiet area of the zoo, facing south, should surely be an ideal situation. If you were starting afresh with a decent budget, wouldn't you move the path 5 metres towards the canal and build a range of enclosures for a mix of duikers, small carnivores, marsupials and perhaps an aviary or two, with dens along the line of the old buildings?
