Today the Rotterdam Zoo had its annual 'new years lecture', which is one of the main moments for the zoo to talk about its plans for the future. The main priorities for 2023 remain the enlargement of the elephant enclosure and the new South American aviaries, though there is still much uncertain about both.
With regard to the elephants, their new enclosure is still meant to be situated on the current location of the camel enclosure, which has been the only constant in their planning so far. On the newest sketch (included in source) the Indian rhino enclosure is excluded (again), whereas the 'outdoor' portion of the swamp biotope (crested macaques, red-crowned cranes) is included (again). It sounds like they're finally settling on this version though. The large Asian aviary will also be torn down, so a connection can be made between the old and new enclosure. It's possible there will also be a small 'bonus enclosure' in this area, reusing the current waterfall and bridge. The future of the Pallas cat enclosure is still uncertain. A new indoor enclosure for the elephants will be made adjecent to the old 'Bat Cave', which is deemed too expensive to demolish/renovate itself and most likely won't change that much with this whole project.
As for the South American avaries, it looks like it will just be the construction of new aviaries on the spot of the existing ones, no increase in size. No detailed plans available yet. This also means that the future of the old bird show is theater is fully uncertain again (there used to be a plan to build a spectacular macaw aviary here). Neighbouring Amazonica is also becoming a big challange. The air cushions that make up its roof are doing very poorly atm (picture in source article), to the point where the zoo has decided to drastically reduce the number of butterflies for now. The installation of new ones is hampered by extensive water damage to the wooden skeleton of the structure.
TL;DR: the future of the entire Amazonica/bird show area is up in the air for now. There also isn't much to report on all other future plans in Rotterdam (Rivièrahal, small enclosures like those of the polar bears / tigers / servals, climate neutral by 2030...), other than that it has been confirmed that the ringtailed lemur enclosure at the Oceanium will indeed be altered so that its no longer a walkthrough enclosure. Contact between the animals and visitors is just too constant in terms of zoonosis, feeding, chasing, you name it. Most likely it will be a bit of a 'balcony' sticking into the enclosure, with a window or mesh. Sounds an awful lot like what they did to the old bat cave in 1997, doesnt it?
Dutch source article: Nieuwjaarslezing 2023!
With regard to the elephants, their new enclosure is still meant to be situated on the current location of the camel enclosure, which has been the only constant in their planning so far. On the newest sketch (included in source) the Indian rhino enclosure is excluded (again), whereas the 'outdoor' portion of the swamp biotope (crested macaques, red-crowned cranes) is included (again). It sounds like they're finally settling on this version though. The large Asian aviary will also be torn down, so a connection can be made between the old and new enclosure. It's possible there will also be a small 'bonus enclosure' in this area, reusing the current waterfall and bridge. The future of the Pallas cat enclosure is still uncertain. A new indoor enclosure for the elephants will be made adjecent to the old 'Bat Cave', which is deemed too expensive to demolish/renovate itself and most likely won't change that much with this whole project.
As for the South American avaries, it looks like it will just be the construction of new aviaries on the spot of the existing ones, no increase in size. No detailed plans available yet. This also means that the future of the old bird show is theater is fully uncertain again (there used to be a plan to build a spectacular macaw aviary here). Neighbouring Amazonica is also becoming a big challange. The air cushions that make up its roof are doing very poorly atm (picture in source article), to the point where the zoo has decided to drastically reduce the number of butterflies for now. The installation of new ones is hampered by extensive water damage to the wooden skeleton of the structure.
TL;DR: the future of the entire Amazonica/bird show area is up in the air for now. There also isn't much to report on all other future plans in Rotterdam (Rivièrahal, small enclosures like those of the polar bears / tigers / servals, climate neutral by 2030...), other than that it has been confirmed that the ringtailed lemur enclosure at the Oceanium will indeed be altered so that its no longer a walkthrough enclosure. Contact between the animals and visitors is just too constant in terms of zoonosis, feeding, chasing, you name it. Most likely it will be a bit of a 'balcony' sticking into the enclosure, with a window or mesh. Sounds an awful lot like what they did to the old bat cave in 1997, doesnt it?
Dutch source article: Nieuwjaarslezing 2023!
The state of the roof is... bad. There's bits and pieces hanging off everywhere, and as it was quite windy yesterday, the roof was clappering loud and hard as the wind got under the roof. There was a sign up that there will be maintanance after the summer.
)
