This signage board is further broken down into maps of each precinct at the entrance point to those areas.
It appears the signage board was designed around six months ago, as the second Brolga exhibit (opened late 2020) is not included on this map. It’s the only noticeable addition and located opposite the Emu and Red-necked wallaby exhibit.
I think this new map is an interesting design & layout,
I do wonder if they get new hippopotamus whether they are Pygmy Hippopotamus, Common Hippopotamus or Nile Hippopotamus, if they would go in the Elephant enclosure once the Elephants have been rehomed & the enclosure would have construction to make it a more suitable enclosure for Hippopotamus,
or if they would turn Hippo River back into a Hippo enclosure, its nice that Hippo River go some new decorations and made it a themed enclosure.
@Escher Nicholls My guess of an ideal situation would be Nile hippos going into the old elephant enclosure, which is retrofitted to have underwater viewing, significant grazing areas at night, and a state of the art filtration system (maybe even some cichlids and/or catfish if the NZ government allows).
@Wyman@Escher Nicholls The rhino exhibit will never be redivided back into a hippo and rhino exhibit. It’s now an acceptable sized rhino exhibit, which two herds of rhino rotate use of (and share with Waterbuck and a large herd of Nyala). Anything smaller would be inadequate for all species concerned.
The site of the current elephant exhibit is adjacent to Western Springs. There was previously talk of expanding beyond the current boundary, which could happen. If not, the elephant exhibit (once remodelled) could comfortably house a small pod of Common hippopotamus. They’d be the natural fit for the continuation of the African Savannah theme (as oppose to an African Rainforest theme with Pygmy hippos).
