Here is the first part of the description:
BUDAPEST ZOO 2030
the unofficial masterplan by HungarianBison
MOTTO
’One of the most frequent misconceptions which is constantly met in the zoo is the business of regarding the animals as prisoners. This is as false and old-fashioned as if in these days everybody still thought that radio and television sets contained little men who talked, sang and danced inside the sets.’
Heini Hediger, founder of zoo biology
INTRODUCTION
CURRENT ZONES OF THE ZOO
-SAVANNA ZONE
The parts of this zone are Savanna House and its outdoor exhibits, Buffalo House, Old Giraffe House, the Elephant House and the enclosure of Sacred baboons and Aoudads. This zone probably has the most problems, for instance the baboon enclosure (full of concrete, hot in summer, no living plants, insufficient size of indoors), the White rhino enclosures, which are not big enough, the putrid wood fences of the Savanna outdoors, and the large (and even increasing) fluctuation of keepers. The outdated elephant enclosures could be treated as a problem, because on completion of the Biodome they will get a new enclosure complex.
-INDIAN ZONE
This zone’s belongings are the India House, the carnivore enclosures on the northern side of the Great Rock and the exhibits of tigers and leopards. The main problem is the insufficient size of most exhibits (especially Brown bear, Siberian tiger and Dholes). Carnivores are moved frequently between enclosures because of the changing of collection. This causes extra labour to the keepers, increasing quantity of stress for the animals, even though the carnivores could treat it like some enrichment.
-MONKEY WORLD
The parts of this zone are the Ape House, the Madagascar House and their surroundings. There are almost no problems, maybe the orangutan enclosure could be a bit larger, and the Ape House needs a reconstruction.
-MAGIC MOUNTAIN
This part is relatively new (finished in 2013), so it looks relatively good, not outdated. Generally, the area is less-visited, because there are almost no ABC animals.
-AUSTRALIA ZONE
This area is well-known even internationally because of its rarities and rich collection. The sewery system is especially old and in poor condition.
-XANTUS HOUSE
This building will be converted soon for South American taxa, after the majority of current inhabitants will be exhibited in the Biodome. Now the main problem is the outdoor of the Javan lutungs: it’s very small and too close to the railway.
-LITTLE ROCK
I don’t have any information about its condition, but well, the last reconstruction happened around 15 years ago… The polar bear enclosure is horrible.
-OTHERS
I could say almost nothing about them, so I wouldn’t go into useless explanations.
MAIN PROBLEMS
-PROBLEMS WITH THE BIODOME PROJECT
The idea of biodome was good, but the increasing costs took money from many other developments. Conflicting plans and a suspicion of corruption occured under the construction. The recognized director of the zoo, Prof. Miklós Persányi also forwented – probably because of these issues. According to a study, that ordered by the Municipality of Budapest, the biodome has been already constructed to such an extent, that it now must be completed.
-THE ZOO BECAME A POLITICAL THEATRE OF WAR
This case started with the growing budget of the biodome, the inauguration of the new director who plagiarized his degree just increased the tensions. The new director, Roland Szabó probably got the job because of his political relations. (He is a friend of a vice-mayor of Budapest.) After the scandal broke out on his degree, Szabó forwented from his position of director, but he is still a vice-director. The new competition for the job is undone yet, so Szabó de facto stayed in the director’s position.
-LOW WAGES, LACK OF EXPERTS
In 2019, the last year for which we have data, 41 employers resigned out of approx. 300. Out of the 10 skilled workmen of the Zoo (plumber, electrician etc.) 3 workplace remained empty for months and years because of the low wages. The solving of this problem is not the Zoo’s reach, this is the Municipal’s function. But the Municipal doesn’t have enough money to rise.
-OLD, BAD UTILITIES
This problem appeared two times in 2019: both the old boilers of America Tropicana and a sewery nearby the Australia House ruined. These cases had been solved at the last minutes.
-SLEAZY BUILDINGS
The big reconstruction ended ten years ago. The condition of buildings is getting worse. Rotten woodwork (Crocodile House, Australian Night, Savanna House and outdoor exhibit) can cause dangerous situations.
MAIN THINGS TO DO UNTIL 2030
-completion of the Biodome
-relocation of the Capital Circus, its place should be bought by the Zoo
-rebuilding of the sewery system
-installation of a noise barrier on the rail side
THE ZOO’S OWN DEVELOPMENTS UNTIL 2030
-Biodome, deadline is 2025 now
-reconstruction of the former Coati enclosure behind the South American mixed exhibit (Tapir, Capybara etc.) for Tasmanian devils, deadline is the end of 2022
-reconstruction of the Owl Castle, deadline is early 2022
-rebuilding of the Xantus House for some South American species, reconstruction could only start after the Biodome gets ready, so deadline is unknown yet
Next part is about my plans by zones.
), a description (the proper masterplan) and a species list. I'll upload the map either to ZooChat Gallery and here. The two text documents will be shared in this thread.
