Chessington Zoo Chessington - Future Plans

[John Dineley]

Chessington have now abandon plans to move the gorillas to the 22 ache site according to a recent Zoo Inspection Report. According to some material I have found they are going to extend the current gorilla enclosure and there is also mention of a African Savannah exhibit and, of course, the new bird exhibit in the new Wild Asia themed area.

Plans submitted can be found here:

ISIS Planning Summary

 

[James27]

There's a bit of land next to the gorilla cage, they may use that.

 

[mhale]

A very interesting turn of events!

 

[Pertinax]

From these plans it seems the new enclosure will be located between the existing one and the Tigers and will be pretty much the same size as the existing enclosure. Having the old and new enclosures adjoining is a good idea in so much as they can interchange animals between the enclosures when the need arises.

The 2nd plan for retaining the 'existing Gorilla House' for five years presumably relates not to the whole of the old enclosure, but just to the newer indoor building?

Overall I think the cage design is probably more suitable for them than a large open enclosure with the usual insufficient cover, which they probably would be loathe to come out into.

This new enclosure will allow both of the current 'groups' to have outside living space all day again though when the old male 'Kumba' eventually dies, they could well revert to having a single group again.

I can't open the plans for the 'Safari Trail' at present but will try again. I wonder if it will be a 'drive-in' affair, perhaps with their own transport or monorail system?

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I am well pleased that finally some definite plans for the new Gorilla House are on the board. Also, a little perturbed that Chessington Zoo did not meet the deadline set in 2006.

I suppose that the Gorilla House termed old will be the complete indoor facility and will be retained to regroup the entire family once former breeding male Kumba will have died.

It is equally commendable that in the new building project, room is made to accomodate the welfare concerns for ailing Kumba.

 

[MARK]

Is there any time line as the when they start building?

 

[Pertinax]

I suppose that the Gorilla House termed old will be the complete indoor facility and will be retained to regroup the entire family once former breeding male Kumba will have died.

It is equally commendable that in the new building project, room is made to accomodate the welfare concerns for ailing Kumba.

1. The retention of the 'existing Gorilla House' refers only to the most recent indoor building, constructed in 2006 as additional indoor space to accomodate the larger number of animals, and not to the rest of the Enclosure as a whole which has stood for many years and for which no additional planning would be required for it to remain as it is.

2. Although his small group was offshow when I visited, and despite two debilitating strokes a few years back, I've heard that the old male Kumba is still in reasonable(even good) health. He lives with his original(nonbreeding) partner 'Baffia' and his two last( now juvenile) offspring from females in the main group (the other older female Kaja was in this group too but died recently). Obviously he won't live for ever though (he is the next oldest male in UK after Longleat Nico).

3. I imagine the new enclosure will be constructed initially to allow more space for the current two groups, though in the longterm future there might again be one larger one.

4. Overall I think its a better outcome than yet another big moated open air enclosure elsewhere on the site, which they won't use properly.

5. The plans for the 'Safari Trail' involve the large open area opposite the Hotel. It seems there will be a boardwalk and outlook point for pedestrian visitors. Not sure from perusing these plans if there will be some smaller enclosures near the Hotel, or just the one large area. Anyone know what species are planned for this?

 

[Pertinax]

Is there any time line as the when they start building?

According to these plans, they are currently awaiting the planning consent to go-ahead with it. Perhaps they will begin this spring if given the okay.

 

[John Dineley]

1. I believe the 'existing Gorilla House' refers to the most recent indoor building, constructed in 2006 as additional indoor space to accomodate the larger number of animals, and not the rest of the Enclosure as a whole which has stood for many years and for which no additional planning would be required for it to remain as it is.

This is correct. This building was time limited which I think ran out this year. I have a feeling that it was granted planning permission in 2006 but may have not been built until the following year.

I am still rather puzzled that Merlin decided not to go ahead with the original plans for the 22 ache field citing to zoo inspectors in October 2009 the current ‘financial situation’ when the company has spent huge amounts on money elsewhere and could find enough money to demolish Beanoland and construct Wild Asia.

Remember, Merlin bought the London Aquarium in 2008 for an undisclosed sum and invested 5 million pounds in a refit so they could have raised the money.

It also brings into question what actual power the Zoo Licensing Act when an Inspection Reports recommends in October 2006 moving the gorillas to a new exhibit to the 22 ache site by no later than December 2009 something that has clearly been ignored.

Merlin took ownership of the Tussauds Group that owns Chessington in May 2007 and therefore would have been fully aware of their obligations regrading this.

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_Entertainments]Merlin Entertainments - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

 

[Pertinax]

It also brings into question what actual power the Zoo Licensing Act when an Inspection Reports recommends in October 2006 moving the gorillas to a new exhibit to the 22 ache site by no later than December 2009 something that has clearly been ignored.

Putting in this application for the new enclosure right at the end of that period presumably signifies their intention to actually build it now- maybe this is sufficient appeasement for the Inspectors perhaps?

 

[Zambar]

I've wondered whether this 'Care for the Rare' is what Chessington is planning for the 22 acre site, given it's the right shape for the area and includes visitor accomodation amongst other things.

 

[John Dineley]

Putting in this application for the new enclosure right at the end of that period presumably signifies their intention to actually build it now- maybe this is sufficient appeasement for the Inspectors perhaps?

Maybe. And perhaps they, the Zoo Inspectors, are giving Merlin the benefit of the doubt having newly acquired the park. Kingston Council have had a very up and down relationship with the various owners of Chessington which is why they inspect the zoo every year rather than the normal three years. Reading some of the Zoo Inspection reports one does the impression that the inspectors have had their patiences tested regarding Chessington making plans to improve or develop the zoo only to abandon these plans at a later date.

The use of the 22 ache site is a case in point with the Safari Trail actually being as far as the detailed planning application stage some years ago. The original plan was to move all of Trail Of The Kings with new enclosures for the cats and gorillas with the addition of the monkeys and primates currently displayed and to be complimented by the ‘Safari’ hotel.

What in fact happened is the management at the time decided build the hotel first which meant the demolition of Monkey Walk and the relocation of the primates to part of the bird garden in modified existing cages. The only part of the plan that was constructed was ‘Creatures Features. The extensively themed Safari Hotel turned into a basic Holiday Inn and bears no relation to the original plans.

 

[Pertinax]

I've wondered whether this 'Care for the Rare' is what Chessington is planning for the 22 acre site, given it's the right shape for the area and includes visitor accomodation amongst other things.

I don't know about the 'right shape' and it seems a very 'futuristic' representation but the part about the Hotel rings true so I think maybe it is. I think the reality, if in fact it ever happens(!) will be more like an enclosed 'golf course' type area with a mix of African savanah animals- perhaps like Marwell's new valley area?

 

[Pertinax]

The use of the 22 ache site is a case in point with the Safari Trail actually being as far as the detailed planning application stage some years ago.... The extensively themed Safari Hotel turned into a basic Holiday Inn and bears no relation to the original plans.

So even the planning applications don't necessarily mean things will get built!

I can't imagine how they could get away with any further delay at this juncture though.

Any idea what species are/were planned for the 22 acre site now?

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

So even the planning applications don't necessarily mean things will get built!

I can't imagine how they could get away with any further delay at this juncture though.

Any idea what species are/were planned for the 22 acre site now?

Exactly, my concern that a complete private enterprise is not the best operator of a serious conservation minded zoo. It all sounds to much theme park style without the Disney AK savoire faire (I have to give Disney that credit). In Chessington's case (as has happened with both Blackpool and Dudley) has seen a succession of new owners all with their own agendas and "investment" plans for which one can seriously question their relevance or validity for a zoo facility like Chessington WoA.

What - to my mind - is equally at fault is that a municipality rules on whether, when and under what conditions an animal exhibit is to be built. The Zoo Inspection Act should be executed by a national authority in close cooperation with the relevant BIAZA/EAZA affiliation (both of whom have firm criteria on minimum standards of animal management, husbandry and exhibitry and can uphold these).

Too often, the current type of executive power with a political quango has led to unbelievably complex and sometimes down-right absurd trade-offs. The Gorilla Exhibit and other projects at Chessington WoA just go to the heart of it ....

 

[JamesB]

As far as I know there is no official time scale but the plans have been submitted and I imagine they will get started on these in the very near future 2011/2012 I expect.

It is exciting stuff, the zoo is well over due some refurbishment and some proper exhibits.

I havent heard much from the people I know from inside chessington, but I will see what I can find out.

 

[Pertinax]

Exactly, my concern that a complete private enterprise is not the best operator of a serious conservation minded zoo.

Chessington has never really been that. Throughout its history it was first a funfair with a quite extensive zoo collection(in largely atrocious settings) combined on the site. In more recent times this has developed into a major Amusement Park with the animal collection as almost a 'sideline'. There has been a succession of ownership companies, all from the Leisure Industry sector, and with no real interest or knowledge of animal conservation. Coupled with this have also been changes of policy/direction, most of which appear to put the animal collection firmly in second place to more positive profit-making developments (The Adventure Park).

I presume most zoos have to have major building developments approved by local authority. I believe particularly in Chessington's case, that the regular zoo license inspections, albeit somewhat inneffective given that their recommendations appear to be largely ignored/overlooked, are a good thing. Regarding the development of the new Gorilla enclosure, without this form of pressure I fear it might never get built, so at least it may finally produce a result in this direction.

 

[John Dineley]

Chessington has never really been that. Throughout its history it was first a funfair with a quite extensive zoo attatched but in more recent times this has developed into a major Amusement Park with the animal collection as almost a 'sideline'. There have been numerous ownership companies, all from the Leisure Industry sector, and with no real interest or knowledge of animal conservation. There have also been a number of changes of policy/direction, most of which appear to put the animal collection firmly in second place to more positive profit-making developments (The Adventure Park).

Chessington actually started as a private animal collection in the early 1930s by Reginald Goddard. He later added things like a fun fair and a circus.

It continued to run as private company until it was bought in 1978 by The Peasons Group (owners of Thames Television at that time) and later owners of the Tussauds Group. There was then a ‘management buy out’ in 1998 funded by venture capitalists Charterhouse Development Capital and later the Tussuads Group was taken over by Dubai International. Finally it was then taken over by Merlin Entertainments in 2007 who where themselves owned by the investment company Blackstone who ironically now own the US SeaWorld Parks and associated zoos. Tussauds Group has now become Merlin Entertainments Group.

My association with the park started in 1996 when I was employed as a consultant for the animal shows and the aquatic system of the sea lion exhibit. This was during the time it was owned by Peasons. More recently I worked there for two years until 2006 in various animal management roles prior to Merlin’s takeover.

I agree with the sentiment that the park has real problems as to its role as a modern zoological collection rather than an ‘attraction’. IMHO: It hasn’t really gone beyond the menagerie stage and the zoo is looked upon as just another attraction within the park. Issues like conservation, education, etc only get undertaken because they have to under the terms of the Zoo Licensing Act but Chessington isn’t unique in this within the UK zoo community.

In fairness I have to say the park did have excellent veterinary support and the zoo department’s management and staff have always got excellent praise in Zoo Inspection Reports in the recent years. I have no idea what the situation is since Merlin took over but as they also own other zoos, e.g. the Sea Centres, one would hope to see progressive improvement.

I have heard that there is some form of agreement that for the park to exist it must maintain an animal collection, e.g. it can’t just be an amusement park. This maybe just an urban myth but also might explain why the park has retained the animals over the years.

 

[Pertinax]

Indeed, if that is true it would explain why the animals, particularly nowadays, do seem largely incidental to the main 'business' of Chessington.

 

[Nanook]

Indeed, if that is true it would explain why the animals, particularly nowadays, do seem largely incidental to the main 'business' of Chessington.

Yes I believe this is the case. It should also be remembered that to have animals on the site gives Chessington something that Thorpe Park does not have which has been important historically. On the conservation issue , in the past Chessington have contributed to various conservation programmes , though admittedly on a limited basis , Chessingtons main reason for being has always been primarily "entertainment".