10 Changes your local zoo is crying out for...

[johnstoni]

Inspired by the way in which Dartmoor and Dudley zoos are progressing, I wanted to start off a thread for contributors to list 10 changes your local or favorite zoo is crying out for (don't say elephants or pandas....). I'm thinking small modifications to enclosures, animal moves within or out of the collection, or new low-impact exhibits rather than major structural or landscaping work. I wasn't thinking about dream zoo lists of new arrivals, more like cost-effective ideas which, for example, could have a major positive impact on the welfare of the species mentioned.

For starters, here is mine for ZSL London Zoo. Please vehemently disagree if you feel differently:

10 CHANGES LONDON ZOO SHOULD MAKE:

(1) Build a raised platform with a corridor underneath linking the casson hippo enclosure with the hippos' former summer paddock.

(2) Create a rope bridge from the Tecton Roundhouse over the path to a hotwired section of the south bank for the gibbon pair.

(3) Attach gates which open out to form a corridor across the front of the okapi house linking the okapi paddock with the current zebra paddock allowing movement out of hours.

(4) Take down the fence at the back of the giraffe exhibit and add this area to the main giraffe paddock.

(5) Remove the dividing fence between the 2 zebra yards, creating one, larger area. Alternate access for this area between the giraffe and the okapi, allowing them side access from each of their respective main paddocks. Relocate the zebra to another collection where they can graze.

(6) Fill in a 3ft wide section of the tapir moat in between the two moat sections and create a gate corridor linking the tapir yard with the south bank.

(7) Fence off a portion of the south bank and use as a summer paddock, moving the animals between enclosures out of hours (in the same way Port Lympne does).

(8) Fence the North Bank slope to create a hotwired area and house for Sulawesi Macaques.

(9) Move the Tufted langurs into the macaque enclosure on the lion terraces.

(10) Combine the former tufted langur enclosure with the current diana monkey enclosure via mesh tunnels or access indoors.

I think most bird, reptile, fish, amphibian and invertebrate facilities are actually very good, hence the bias in this list towards mammals.

 

[nb123]

Here's my ideas for the already improving Dartmoor zoo:

1. Extend the cusimane enclosure so to give them outdoor access.
   
   
2. Build a new enclosure for the red foxes
   
   
3. Bring in Red panda to the collection and put them into the raccoon enclosure.
   
   
4. Bring in puma to the collection and put them in to Tazmin's enclosure, maybe with some modifications, and sadly move tazmin out. I think this extra cat species would really put dartmoor up there regarding cat collections.
   
   
5. Add a further african antelope or zebra species to the planned african savanna to go with the planned lechwe and ostrich.
   
   
6. Put the guinea fowl in to the african savanna exibit.
   
   
7. Build the reptile house they have been planning for a while.
   
   
8. I would move the birds in the bird walkthrough out and put the wallabies they are getting from porfell into there.
   
   
9. I would love to see an extra primate species brought to the park as that is what i think they are a bit light on at the moment.
   
   
10. And finally i would like them to make and sell guide books for the zoo like most other zoo's instead of the free map they give you, just a simple one with some info about the zoo and the species they have there. Im sure this could help bring in some extra revenue.

All comments welcome.

 

[adrian1963]

Some small upgrades for Dudley Zoo

1 Have a proper guide book with up to date zoo map

2 Get the chairlift working again

3 Make the Giraffe paddock larger by using the ground to the rear (used only to turn the vehicles in after cleaning or feeding)

4 Re Paint all the tecton buildings in there original colours (it may not satisfy everyone but it will look alot better then they do now)

5 Use the castle courtyard for more inter activities between humans and animals and more displays

6 The cabin/shop at the entrance to the chairlift could be used for the viewing of old photographs of the zoo and a display showing the history of the zoo

7 Use the Bear Ravine as it was meant to be used for a new species of Bear

8 Use the two Tecton kiosks for information about the animals in the zoo (leaflets and information on which websites you could visit to get information from)

9 Have management actually come down and work at least one day a month on the shop floor with the keepers to see the job from the ground level (This will give management a better view of the actual things that need doing)

10 Have information at hand about other zoos around the UK this could be done at all zoo

 

[procyonlotor]

Johnstoni- I like the idea for the hippos

Here's my ten for London Zoo...

1. Move the birds of prey to the large strip of land between the Mappin terrace and the children's zoo. If the animal encounter animals were moved backwards into the wildlife garden there would be plenty of space and the public would actually pay attention to these magnificent creatures.

2. The Aquarium. Return it to its former glory and repair the tanks. Its a disaster zone.

3. Move the emus to where they used to be opposite BUGS! whilst extending their closure back to the other nature garden which serves no use other than to house a moth trap.

4. Mappin terrace- Put something on there that's ENIGMATIC. At present you come out of the Komodo Dragons and are faced with a cafe/function room and some emus. If for example the lions were moved there, to an exhibit similar in appearance to Berlin Tierpark then the public would sit there for hours. Its a fantastic and sadly wasted piece of architecture.

5. The side of the aquarium leading to Mappin terrace needs something doing to it. I'm not entirely sure what, but part of the problem with Mappin is that people don't think there's anything down there as it looks like its a maintenance path.

6. Move the bushpigs away from the Hunting Dogs to give them a larger enclosure. Alternatively, move the Hunting Dogs to the North Bank.

7. The lion enclosure would be larger and encompass the existing macaque enclosure.

8. Move the macaques to the north bank- people need to be encouraged to visit that area!

9. The Snowdon aviary just needs to be knocked down...

10. Extend the tigers out into the Pelicans. Replace part of the lawns with a new-fangled Pelican exhibit.

This is an awful list- I'm too tired to think, but the limited use of the North Bank really irritates me (although the areas of foliage are useful to keepers looking for food for invertebrates or as enrichment material), as does the wild area in front of the Clore. Its a lovely idea to have wildlife gardens, but the public never pay this well-maintained areas any attention. Perhaps the Snowdon could be used as this if the zoo insists upon it, with some native species inside?

And then there's Mappin which is depressing as its a fantastic piece of architecture with the way it encorporates the mammoth aquarium.

Oh, and the old penguin enclosure. I understand they removed the penguins from it because of attacks by neighbourhood foxes, but some glass could restore its function as an exhibit whilst maintaining its character. (I'm aware that the structure is listed). Its just beginning to look... tarnished and worn.

 

[Zambar]

Right, here's my to-dos for Marwell, in no particular order.

1. Sort out the signage in the park. Too much has been spent on signs about donations, work as a charity, etc., and not enough on the animals themselves. And along with the improved exhibit signs, include more interactive interpretation that engages the visitor. Why the hell did they remove those brilliant yurts in 'Roof of the World'? And some recent exhibits that deserve good coverage, such as Life in the Trees, the African Valley and the Amphibian Ark only have basic animal labels as they're only form of interp.

2. Likewise, make a guidebook that contains decent facts about the animals and more depth to it than what it seems to present itself as a flick-through promotional pamphlet. In fact, the same could be said for over-doing appealing to the public in the rebrand, you have enough little precious money to use as it is.

3. Encounter Village. This has been little more than a playground pit stop since the reopening. Get this new aviary done soon and make it ENGAGING (say a lorikeet feeding area), more enclosures with ENGAGING animals like coatis, bring back a few domestics, more enclosures that don't go suddenly empty every week.

4. Get this animal collection review finished quickly. That's my polite complaint over all the empty enclosures. Aridlands, Tropical World, World of Lemurs, all over the zoo, there seems to be enclosures going empty only months after animals actually move into them.

5. Expand the collection of animals Marwell had in mind from the start, as an honour to the work of Mr Knowles: Cats. Lions, Clouded Leopards, Fishing Cats, Pallas Cats and Scottish Wildcats, would all be ones I'd suggest to help get the collection back to it's forner glory. The other target animals, Hoofstock, is still quite good, though the return of deer and asian antelope would help create a more diverse range.

6. Get the gorillas they've planning over the years here! Marwell needs a new charismatic species. The same could be said for the biomes masterplan as a whole, get that back on track.

7. Finally get around to doing the Emu/Kangaroo Exhibit that has been dropped three times in the last few years.

8. Either expand Cafe Graze and/or create another restaraunt elsewhere (ie. Marwell Hall) to help the huge numbers of diners Marwell copes with in a small environment.

9. Once the planting's done, expand the African Valley into the planned expansion zone and expand the scope of the animals there. This would include moving the rhino up here.

10. Make more use of Marwell's under-appreciated areas ie. the Southern Woodland.

Finally, can I say that Marwell is my favourite zoo.

 

[Shorts]

10 Have information at hand about other zoos around the UK this could be done at all zoo

That's a great idea, I've also been thinking this for years. Some zoos do it to a limited extent, but most don't (possibly fear of competition?).

 

[TriGB]

10 Changes/Improvements to Paignton

Paignton

1) Develop the paddock behind Gibbon Island Restaurant that is currently used to exhibit Geese, Guineafoul and Cranes. Either create an informative, attractive Crane exhibit or make use of an amazing piece of land, after all, it is often one of the first enclosures visitors see after the Tropical/Desert House or after lunch. Unfit visitors walk up hill to find the Red Pandas, why not makee the climb rewarding?
(Cheetah, Maned Wolves, Cranes, Gelada, Mandrill, Dhole)

2) Cheetah Exhibit - Inform the public that there is a generously sized off-show enclosure behind the small one on view. Most visitors have a fairly dis-engaging experience with these amazing animals.

3) Re-stock the Brook Aviary (entry to the Lion enclosure). Though bird fanatics and budding zoologists will appreciate the species on show, for most, they are 'just' ducks and pigeons! This amazing aviary is a chance either to impact visitors at the very beginning, or the very end of their visit! WOW THEM!

4) Inform the public of what is going on behind the scenes in Crocodile Swamp - the species signage is always wrong, the Lillies and/or Matamata (which was the perfect exhibit) is a mess and some crocs are off-show! They will have more empathy and will display more positive behaviour if they are empowered with basic facts.

5) Move the Echidna, Magpie Geese, Emu and Cockatoo, plus Kookaburra to the Kangaroo enclosure and landscape a walk-through immersion exhibit to rival any in the World! You have the space, the experience and it would not cost too much if done wisely!

6) Mix the Kafue Lechwe, Ostrich and Ground Hornbill with the Zebra. In front of these paddocks use the Meerkat and Porcupine to draw visitors in. I realise the Lechwe are nervous but I have seen it done in North American collections. Imagine the view from above the Elephant enclosure!
The current summer/winter policy for exhibiting Ostrich is hideous!

7) Sort out;
The Tapir/Capybara exhibit - it's a mess!
The Gibbons at the end of Orang-utan Island. It is a welfare issue now!
The space between the Tropical and Desert Houses.
The shabby aviary/cages above the meekats housing the beautiful and enigmatic Abbysian Hornbills and Marabou Storks,

8) Celebrate the work done with Native Species (Curl Bunting, Water-vole etc) - Big 'wordy' sign boards are not the way! Paignton has the Woodland Walk which is wonderful! 99.5% of visitors never go in! While that's good for people like us, the Zoo is missing an opportunity to get British people into native woodland once a year!

9) Move the Snowy and Hawk Owls to the Cassowary area and open up the current Owl flights. Create at least one long Parrot flight that is parallel to the visitor.

10) The badger hide is an incredible facility for locals to use. Could they show a video during the day of these zoo residents? What about adding Honey badgers to a nearby enclosure to highlight differences? From a zoo visitor point of view, it is an empty wooded area!

I love spending most of my spare time at Paignton and Living Coasts. These are just suggestions....cheers.

 

[taun]

Unfit visitors walk up hill to find the Red Pandas, why not makee the climb rewarding?
(Cheetah, Maned Wolves, Cranes, Gelada, Mandrill, Dhole)

Who says red panda are not rewarding? Or do you plan to give those animals to the public that make their way up the hill?

Also just a general note, you dont need to post every reply to a thread as a new thread after replying to said thread!

 

[TriGB]

Thanks for the advice. This is the first time doing this (I'm learning!)
The Red Panda exhibit is rewarding, in fact, it's one of the best out there. The point I was trying to make is that the enclosure paddock you have to walk past to get there does not encourage people to stop, look and observe. Unless that's the point....de-conditioned visitors are so fatigued they recover at the Pandas?

 

[redpanda]

Thanks for the advice. This is the first time doing this (I'm learning!)
The Red Panda exhibit is rewarding, in fact, it's one of the best out there. The point I was trying to make is that the enclosure paddock you have to walk past to get there does not encourage people to stop, look and observe. Unless that's the point....de-conditioned visitors are so fatigued they recover at the Pandas?

Actually, for visitors, I'd say it's one of the worst red panda exhibits out there, certainly good for the animals though. But, I completely agree about the paddock behind the island, it seems to be a melting pot of avian misfits from the rest of the zoo.

 

[Dom]

Right then....

Changes to Cotswolds....


1) Remove the llamas from the large paddock by the entrace, and put in water buffalo or bison. I just feel that nobobdy ever bothers going down to those opening paddocks (except me perhaps!) and that a large "intresting" species would get more peopled down there. (Not that llama are boring....)

2) In the back section of the walled garden, where the yellow mongoose and bammboo lemurs are, turn the now empty space where the squirrel monkeys used to live into an enclousure for a small mammal species.... (american porcupine, kinkajou or binterong)

3) Take the ostrich out of that large enclousure, and put them in with either the zebra and rhino, or with the giraffe once their enclousure is biult. Then with that paddock free, put in a pair of spotted hyeana.

4) Remove the macaws from that sad little island outside the tropical house....

5) "Spruce up" some of the signs on enclousures, some of those signs were there 16 years ago!

6) Expand the Seriema aviary. It just seems a little too small for a pair of large birds.

7) Put the banded mongoose back! Two meerkat enclousures is one too many!

8) Biuld at the bottom of the grass car park. There is so much land available! Maybe a nice big nocturnal house or house for bears?

And thats all i can think of! This was pretty difficult to do!

 

[Devi]

My ten for Dudley

1 - Lose the tectons!! I understand they are protected and stuff, but they look awful! I see no reason why they can't be taken elsewhere, it'd be a big job, but totally worth it!

2 - More enrichment for Sarah the tiger, either get an elderly friend for company or give her more to play with, she might be a little slower than she was, but she jumps about still so could easily play if given the chance.

3 - A bigger enclosure for the snow leopards, I know nothing about leopard care but I know that every other enclosure is twice the size. The old maned wolf enclosure was bigger than what the leopards get.

4 - More signage in the education centre, in the last few years the signs have gone missing, to the point that some are not labelled at all! Charlie the parrot has not had a sign for a long time.

5 - Deepen and widen the sealion pool, it was both deeper and wider when the whale was in it so I see no reason for the smaller pool now. Longleat gave their sealions a huge pool (lake actually) and they look impressive diving and acting naturally.

6 - A male chimp. I know the issues, I was about when the last male smashed the viewing glass so I saw the issues, but it would improve the dynamic of the group.

7 - Modernise and clean throughout, things are looking scruffy, the entrance, shop, fair, it's not important but would improve the look of the place loads.

8 - Orangutans! Scrap the current enclosure completely and rebuild. I'm sure you know why.

9 - Turn 'sensory garden' back to 'pets corner', the garden adds nothing and is always empty.

10 - This may be picky, but get a staff member to watch the farm, I have bought goats back to the enclosure quite a few times after an escape, guests are not responsible enough to not let them out, and as a guest to the park, I shouldn't be the one getting the free roaming animals back to their enclosure!
Surely any place where animals and guests are interacting should be supervised?

 

[johnstoni]

these are interesting ideas. I was thinking about having a perspective where you are limited in terms of funds, planning permission etc, to avoid just thinking up brand new exhibits you'd like to see, or new arrivals you'd quite like (as will 'personal vision of....' threads). But there are some interesting ideas on here so far.

 

[Maguari]

1 - Lose the tectons!! I understand they are protected and stuff, but they look awful! I see no reason why they can't be taken elsewhere, it'd be a big job, but totally worth it!

Aside from the fact that many of these buildings are built into the hillside as a fundamental part of the structure, and that preserving the context is part of preserving the buildings, and the massive cost and effort involved, and the likely damage to the structures involved in taking them apart (given that these are not simple brick buildings), and the simple logistical question of how you'd go about moving the buildings without distrubing the smooth surfaces and lines that are their main design features, not to mention the question of where you would put them, no reason at all they couldn't be moved!

Sorry to be a bit sarky, but there really is no way these will ever be moved. The zoo needs to find ways of making them work (and some source of funding to get them sorted out!).



EDIT: plus of course, some people do actually like them!

 

[Devi]

Aside from the fact that many of these buildings are built into the hillside as a fundamental part of the structure, and that preserving the context is part of preserving the buildings, and the massive cost and effort involved, and the likely damage to the structures involved in taking them apart (given that these are not simple brick buildings), and the simple logistical question of how you'd go about moving the buildings without distrubing the smooth surfaces and lines that are their main design features, not to mention the question of where you would put them, no reason at all they couldn't be moved!

Sorry to be a bit sarky, but there really is no way these will ever be moved. The zoo needs to find ways of making them work (and some source of funding to get them sorted out!).



EDIT: plus of course, some people do actually like them!

Hehe, I do know this. They have to stay, there is no question of moving or demolishing them in real life, but as this is a list about what I'd like to see, I'd like to see open natural enclosures that can be fully utilised instead of crumbly concrete structures that do nothing for the animals welfare.
It'd probably be easier to move the zoo instead than the tectons.
It's just my opinion, but I guess I put no value on man made structures, some people do and some come to the zoo simply to see them.

 

[Maguari]

Hehe, I do know this. They have to stay, there is no question of moving or demolishing them in real life, but as this is a list about what I'd like to see, I'd like to see open natural enclosures that can be fully utilised instead of crumbly concrete structures that do nothing for the animals welfare.
It'd probably be easier to move the zoo instead than the tectons.

Thanks for taking that in the spirit it was intended!

I'm intrigued by this though,

It's just my opinion, but I guess I put no value on man made structures, some people do and some come to the zoo simply to see them.

Is this becuase they are relatively recent buildings or does this apply more generally? What if the zoo suggested demolishing the Castle? That'd free up a load of valuable flat land for the zoo!

 

[Devi]

Is this becuase they are relatively recent buildings or does this apply more generally? What if the zoo suggested demolishing the Castle? That'd free up a load of valuable flat land for the zoo!

I'm rather fond of the castle, but its the history really not the bricks and mortar (are castles built with bricks and mortar?). I did spend a night there last year on halloween on a ghost hunt so got to explore it fully and I would be very sad to see it go, however, it wouldn't bother me as much as if they closed the zoo.
As for the flat land, there's loads of space in the courtyard and I'd rather like to see something there, not sure what could go in though as it would need both not to damage the castle and not impede viewing. Hmm..

 

[Maguari]

I'm rather fond of the castle, but its the history really not the bricks and mortar (are castles built with bricks and mortar?). I did spend a night there last year on halloween on a ghost hunt so got to explore it fully and I would be very sad to see it go, however, it wouldn't bother me as much as if they closed the zoo.

But without the bricks and mortar, how would we begin to appreciate the history? There'd be no indication of it. Anyway - fascinating discussion but not really for this thread!

As for the flat land, there's loads of space in the courtyard and I'd rather like to see something there, not sure what could go in though as it would need both not to damage the castle and not impede viewing. Hmm..

There was talk of moving the farm up there and switching to all old English breeds for a Mediaeval farm-type set-up, which I though was a great idea.

 

[foz]

10 for Newquay:

1) expand lion enclosure (possibly using up the space inbetween the lynx and lion enclosure)

2) expand fossa enclosure so it is alot taller, and uses up more space (possibly by using glass viewing instead of the wire-mesh+stand off barrier)

3) make the cages on monkey walk bigger

4) add a small primate to the tropical hall to liven it up (possibly a tamarin/marmoset or squirrel monkey, or titi monkey)

5) give the prevosts squirrel their own cage in the oriental garden, possibly mixed with a new asian bird species

6) improve lighting in the nocturnal house

7) get rid of the mice in the nocturnal house

8) expand the penguin enclosure...somehow

9) spruce up the farmyard area- just make it better

10) make the owl aviaries nicer, possibly bigger and taller (although if it was up to me i'd replace the owls)

 

[bugs]

10 For Colchester (Some are bigger changes than others)

1.) Removal of a lot of the fake rock that is such a hot topic on here, lol. Replace with more natural/realistic decoration.
2.) The redevelopment of the old bear cages. Heard rumours of an Australian themed section are in the pipe line for this area.
3.) Finishing off the extension/ path around the mixed African paddock.
4.) Redevelopment of the old walk through African aviary (space behind the vulture enclosure).
5.) Armadillos!!! Would make a great addition to the animal encounter show (Banham's always seem to be very popular).
6.) Interesting new smaller species for the redevelopment of the small mammal building. Naked mole rats would be a great addition.
7.) A butterfly or bat house, a simply but popular addition (obviously where to put it would be the issue).
8.) Make the paths near the anteaters/otters and down to the red pandas easier to use, lol.
9.) Fixing/cleaning/repainting some of the interactive exhibits/signage.
10.) The big one... Redevelop (or even a new) chimp house.