A baby red panda has been born at the zoo . A first for the collection!
Banham Zoo could host its own version of the Eden Project one day, as outlined in a new vision for the establishment’s future.
More details emerged this week for a large biodome environment, under the working title of ‘Germinal’, intended for construction at the Kenninghall Road-based zoo – one of five different zoological projects planned across the UK as part of the ‘New Zoo’ initiative.
Although still in the early conceptual phases, it proposes the biodome would contain a habitat replicating part of the South American rainforest, providing unique opportunities for both visitors and research organisations in the region.
Martin Goymour, chief executive officer of Zoological Society East Anglia, which operates Banham Zoo, said "The ‘New Zoo’ project seeks to move zoos forward in the perception of people, as indeed zoos themselves already have done, making great strides forward and evolving markedly to be coordinated cogs in a much larger, aware and active force.
“I do not know and cannot say whether Germinal will become a reality. I hope that it does so, for all the right reasons, however such a large project, not only in size and cost but also in its implications and connections, will require much nurturing and of course funding.”
Plans have suggested the biodome could serve as a social programme embracing training, volunteering and individual challenge opportunities, and could also be used for bioscience research work, in collaboration with Norfolk Research Park and the University of East Anglia.
Haven't seen this posted anywhere on here yet, so:
Banham Zoo outlines ambitious bio-dome project - Link
Was this one of their original females- or one born there?
Ruhuna arrived at Banham with his brother in February 1997, from Cerza Zoo in Normandy where he was born,
Thanks for the updateThey are two in June.
The cubs will move onto other collections at the end of this year.![]()