Dudley Zoological Gardens Baby gibbon and update

If it's right what other people have said on here and I've heard said also at the zoo then the moat is listed so I know this might be a bit of a stupid question but if they can fill in the moat if listed then why can't they do something with the other listed buildings.
When I go up thursday 19th I will ask them about the other buildings and if they are going to move the giraffes as the new male will be arriving early 2010 and a bigger enclosure will be needed as before there were only 4 giraffes in there current enclosure and with the male it will make 5 in the enclosure witch I personnally think maybe a bit small for 5 fully grown giraffes.
 
A listed moat can be filled in with earth or drained and filled with woodchip as long as it is not altered structurally - filling in pools can be tricky though as they are likely to flood eventually, when the drains become blocked with substrate. However, in the case of the orang utans, it will be possible to dig out the shallow moat or keep the amount of substrate in there to a minimum.
 
Thanks for the info :) and the photo Adrian!

Would be good if they could bring the enclosure forward, right into the viewing area and then they can still be viewed from the path above! I think this would mean the impact of the high white walls would not be so imposing but probably makes the enclosure very sheltered!

I wish we had spent more time with the orangs and got to see the ones on the left hand side, but I must say I found the enclosure very depressing - although the orangs were making full use of the frames and were very happily fishing and grooming!
 
Karen Zoo I to would like to see the moat filled in as this would make the viewing from the top path
by the gibbons much easier and it would give the orang's a much better space
Johnstoni thanks for that bit of info didn't relise they could actually fill it in without permission
 
adrian1963 said:
If it's right what other people have said on here and I've heard said also at the zoo then the moat is listed so I know this might be a bit of a stupid question but if they can fill in the moat if listed then why can't they do something with the other listed buildings.
When I go up thursday 19th I will ask them about the other buildings and if they are going to move the giraffes as the new male will be arriving early 2010 and a bigger enclosure will be needed as before there were only 4 giraffes in there current enclosure and with the male it will make 5 in the enclosure witch I personnally think maybe a bit small for 5 fully grown giraffes.
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Why would the moat be protected as I assume it was built at the same time as the rest of the nasty house. It's not as if it's part of the castle moat then I could understand it being protected, this looks like a 1960's hole with water in it.
 
chizlit said:
Why would the moat be protected as I assume it was built at the same time as the rest of the nasty house. It's not as if it's part of the castle moat then I could understand it being protected, this looks like a 1960's hole with water in it.
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The reasoning I have heard it that it is one of the earliest surviving all-concrete moats - not sure of the strict accuracy of that.

The important point is that being old or spectacular are not the only criteria that listing works on - being unique (or almost so) can be sufficient. And it's just as important to protect the architecture of recent times as mediaeval times.

As you can see from the developments at the zoo, the castle moat can be (and has been) built on with no particular problems.
 
Maguari said:
The reasoning I have heard it that it is one of the earliest surviving all-concrete moats - not sure of the strict accuracy of that.

The important point is that being old or spectacular are not the only criteria that listing works on - being unique (or almost so) can be sufficient. And it's just as important to protect the architecture of recent times as mediaeval times.

As you can see from the developments at the zoo, the castle moat can be (and has been) built on with no particular problems.
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if i remeber correct, it was also how it was built. :o
 
I can't see a problem expanding the enclosure even if they have to keep the moat!

Paignton's design of using bridges to cross their natural moat could make some interesting plus points to the enclosure!

If they enclosed the current viewing area (viewing from the path by the gibbons) and raised it up with say glass windows at the front, You could create several crossing points over the moat, a small bridge with rope support, a large decking like platform, a rope connected to a platform in the new area for them to swing across (maybe over the decking area). The new area could then be planted out, to make a separate enrichment to the starkness of the walls and frame.

They could extend the wall design to make a division between the 2 separate enclosures? But this may create a pit effect?? This all is just an idea - I have only visited the once :p lol I am sure the 'regulars' have far better ideas :D
 
Really, this could shape up to be a very significant improvement to their lives, depending on how much extra space they get inside and how far they extend the outside area.
 
Does anyone have any idea's as to what they are going to put in the primate house (at the back of the Queen Mary Ballroom Resturant) as they are going to complete the building's updating after they have completed the Orang's house
Where are they going to put the Malagassy Jumping Rats new exhibit as they are off show awaiting a new exhibit at present
 
There is a big article in the Travel Section of yesterday's 'Daily Telegraph' on Dudley Zoo , specifically on the Tecton Buildings being on the World Monuments Fund's 2010 Watch List - of world-class buildings threatened by 'neglect , demolition or disaster' .

The article is very positive about the zoo and explains why the Tecton enclosures are generally not now suitable for the animals they originally held . The zoo is planning a Heritage Lottery Fund bid to repair the buildings . A Tecton buildings Trail is also planned to go ahead .
 
Just to let you all know the 2 lionesses from Twycross arrived this lunch time
and are doing fine
the baby Gibbon was again out in the enclosure with both parents, speaking to a keeper about the Orang's house and apparently the Moat is NOT listed as the back of the moat is made of house bricks along with the rest of the building.
The alterations to the inside are coming on well but there will be no indoor viewing area as the whole of the building will be for the orang's and we will only be able to view them through the windows at the rear.
A new out door enclosure is to be built to the side of the orang house this will encrouch on the African Wild Dog enclosure slightly but will give the orang's a much bigger area outdoors
The moat was to be filled in but that has now been put on hold for the time being as the enclosure to the side will be done first.
 
adrian1963 said:
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The alterations to the inside are coming on well but there will be no indoor viewing area as the whole of the building will be for the orang's and we will only be able to view them through the windows at the rear.
A new out door enclosure is to be built to the side of the orang house this will encrouch on the African Wild Dog enclosure slightly but will give the orang's a much bigger area outdoors
The moat was to be filled in but that has now been put on hold for the time being as the enclosure to the side will be done first.
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The inside viewing is as I guessed it would be- it will give the Orangutans a vastly increased indoor area by doing that.:)

You say a 'new outdoor enclosure' is to be built. Do you know if it will replace the existing 'yards' or be an additional area?
 
It will be an additional one it will run down the side of the Orang's house nearest to the African Wild Dog enclosure, they will be making the AWD enclosure a little smaller
and there will be 2 groups of Orang's in the total enclosure
 
I asked someone who works there (trying not to get them into trouble) they also told me other things as well
the same source who told me the lionesses would arrive today.
 
adrian1963 said:
I asked someone who works there (trying not to get them into trouble) they also told me other things as well
the same source who told me the lionesses would arrive today.
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Adrian, I'm sure it wouldn't get them into trouble, they are telling you positive things about an improving zoo.
 
I understand that but I would still like not to say but the zoo is definately moving forward
now that they seem to have the Orang House underway let's hope the Bear Ravine and Bear Pits are next.
What will they adapt them into I wonder
 
adrian1963 said:
I understand that but I would still like not to say but the zoo is definately moving forward
now that they seem to have the Orang House underway let's hope the Bear Ravine and Bear Pits are next.
What will they adapt them into I wonder
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I think you misunderstood me, I don't want you to name them at all, just saying that from what you've said so far nobody will get into any trouble, it would be bad of the zoo if keepers didn't answer questions asked by the public (within reason of course).
 
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