Thanks for posting these- my first sight of the new arrangement for the Gorillas. On their blurb about this when it was opened it stated that 'Phase 2 would be completed by early 2014', I am not sure what Phase 2 involved- or does it look like its completed now?
Is the original 'Gorilla' half of the house still unchanged as far as the relative sizes of the animal/public areas are concerned?
I would guess that the work is now completed . As far as I can tell the original 'Gorilla' half of the house in unchanged . On the upper level , on the side facing the Pygmy Hippo House there are now a series of 'bedrooms' .
The mess of the Cassowary Paddocks is probably due to this area being used as part of the building site , which then had to be restored on very wet ground .
The mess of the Cassowary Paddocks is probably due to this area being used as part of the building site , which then had to be restored on very wet ground .
They did need some 'bedrooms' as the only facility for seperation previously was the little offshow room at the Hippo end of the house.
I guess some of the access for the renovation work was through the old tall 'Giraffe doors' and the big window put into that afterwards. The outdoor (cassowary) paddock in your other photo does look rather like its been levelled flat to 'make good' after the work was finished.
I do wonder that consideration wasn't given to linking the "Giraffe" paddock (an odd description, given that there have been none there for a good twenty years) with the outside area for Pigmy Hippo. The latter really is too small, even if it was holding Black Rhino up to 1980!
I do wonder that consideration wasn't given to linking the "Giraffe" paddock (an odd description, given that there have been none there for a good twenty years) with the outside area for Pigmy Hippo. The latter really is too small, even if it was holding Black Rhino up to 1980!
That would have been a good idea- more space for them and at least some opportunity- after it was reseeded and grass growing again- for the Hippos to graze also.
