Chester Zoo Islands display
- Thread starter jde7582
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I went, and Simon Mann, the zoo's Development Director walked me though the exhibit (on paper) and detailed some of its design goals. I was there for over an hour, so we discussed many different facets. I also chatted to a number of representatives from the various companies involved who will be tasked with construction and architectural plans.
Personally, I like the concept, I had a few concerns about the fauna, flow of visitors and the viewing (raising general points about the failings of RotRA) and most seem to have been addressed.
The plans that were on display will be posted on-line soon, so I didn't take any photographs. They will be formally submitted soon with the hope that they'll be passed quickly due to the outline permission from the Natural Vision application, and all being well work will begin by the end of this year.
Personally, I like the concept, I had a few concerns about the fauna, flow of visitors and the viewing (raising general points about the failings of RotRA) and most seem to have been addressed.
The plans that were on display will be posted on-line soon, so I didn't take any photographs. They will be formally submitted soon with the hope that they'll be passed quickly due to the outline permission from the Natural Vision application, and all being well work will begin by the end of this year.
Thanks for the heads-up!
Zoom in on the map at bottom-right of page 2 and there's a fully labelled map.
Including something labelled 'Kingbirds (sic) of Paradise', intruguingly.
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First thoughts on looking at the map:
1) it looks very good, in fact
2) I'm actually glad so many 'existing' species are included, in particular species like the anoas and cassowaries that it's good to see getting some well-deserved attention
1) it looks very good, in fact
2) I'm actually glad so many 'existing' species are included, in particular species like the anoas and cassowaries that it's good to see getting some well-deserved attention
ChesterZooFan
Well-Known Member
Having reviewed all the plans I am even more excited about seeing this come to fruition. This will clearly be a world class exhibit and I am very impressed with the entire layout!
A few questions and observations...
It mentions a future walkway from Islands to 'Forest Zone - Borenean Orangs, Gorillas, Chimpanzees' - is HOA totally out of the picture now? How will this impact on the immediate area adjacent to Islands?
Looking at the Madagascar Lemur Islands plans, and the fact the entrance to Islands wipes out one of the Zebra enclosures it appears there will be little space to create a Savannah zone in the future. It would be a shame not to proceed with this, and although it will not be on the scale of the original Natural Vision plans I think the geographical zoning should still happen. I can't see how the Giraffe could move over now and addition of Hippo etc. Maybe this will extend into the car park area when/if the new entrance road gets built??
Great to see Malayan Tapir appearing and a new house for the Komodo Dragon. Like the idea of Lorikeet feeding area too - although not something Chester has ever gone in for before I think that it's great for the public to have some kind of interaction with the animals! The Indonesian house looks spectacular - like the idea of free flight tree top walkthrough.
Only 3 years to se it all come to life!
A few questions and observations...
It mentions a future walkway from Islands to 'Forest Zone - Borenean Orangs, Gorillas, Chimpanzees' - is HOA totally out of the picture now? How will this impact on the immediate area adjacent to Islands?
Looking at the Madagascar Lemur Islands plans, and the fact the entrance to Islands wipes out one of the Zebra enclosures it appears there will be little space to create a Savannah zone in the future. It would be a shame not to proceed with this, and although it will not be on the scale of the original Natural Vision plans I think the geographical zoning should still happen. I can't see how the Giraffe could move over now and addition of Hippo etc. Maybe this will extend into the car park area when/if the new entrance road gets built??
Great to see Malayan Tapir appearing and a new house for the Komodo Dragon. Like the idea of Lorikeet feeding area too - although not something Chester has ever gone in for before I think that it's great for the public to have some kind of interaction with the animals! The Indonesian house looks spectacular - like the idea of free flight tree top walkthrough.
Only 3 years to se it all come to life!
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Any plans that you saw before seeing the plans for Islands,are best forgotten as they are now not likely to ever see the light of day in the form that you saw them in!
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Plans can change,just because they are not on it now doesn't mean that they might not be added at a later date!
Cheers, I guess if the "dome" isn't built, they could creat a savanna area on the land that side if the zoo, with a smaller rainforest exhibit(chimps, gorilla) in the area of the giraffes, chimp house and tropical house, just a thought.
Back t the island design, it is a very large Tiger area, do they plan on having just one or multiple sub species present?
Back t the island design, it is a very large Tiger area, do they plan on having just one or multiple sub species present?
Will only be Sumatran tigers as these are the only extant ssp. that would fit in with the area's themeing. I wouldn't be suprised however if they have multiple pairs, or at least more than just one pair [plus they will no doubt keep one of the enclosures vacant so that if they need to be separated for any reason then they have full access to a full enclosure, instead of having to rotate them.
Yes true, Looks like they will have 2 housing areas, maybe 2 pairs
There are many things to like in these plans. The Indonesian House looks very nice, but it will be interesting to see more details of the internal design. I was rather confused by the map showing the path for visitors going roughly north through the house, but then emerging at point shown as the entrance on a subsequent page.
The outside enclosures look fine, except that the tapir enclosures look very small (were they an afterthought? I hadn't seen them mentioned before) and the larger banteng enclosure may be difficult to see from the footpath.
The Bali starling & lorikeets aviary looks interesting. I had to Google Mitchell's lorikeet, but it would be right for a Bali aviary. I wonder which other two species of lorikeet they have in mind. I hope the ones for feeding won't be Swainson's like the ones in Bristol and previously in Edinburgh (because they are Aussies).
But I see a weakness in that the Philippines section is just one species (Visayan warty pig) and New Guinea is just two (cassowary & king bird of paradise) - there's nothing wrong with any of the species, but I can't help feeling that it would make more sense from an educational point of view to use the space for a greater variety of species from one place, rather than from two: the zoo has several other Philippine species that are just as rare and interesting as the cassowaries and king birds - move them and house New Guinea species elsewhere in the zoo.
Alan
The outside enclosures look fine, except that the tapir enclosures look very small (were they an afterthought? I hadn't seen them mentioned before) and the larger banteng enclosure may be difficult to see from the footpath.
The Bali starling & lorikeets aviary looks interesting. I had to Google Mitchell's lorikeet, but it would be right for a Bali aviary. I wonder which other two species of lorikeet they have in mind. I hope the ones for feeding won't be Swainson's like the ones in Bristol and previously in Edinburgh (because they are Aussies).
But I see a weakness in that the Philippines section is just one species (Visayan warty pig) and New Guinea is just two (cassowary & king bird of paradise) - there's nothing wrong with any of the species, but I can't help feeling that it would make more sense from an educational point of view to use the space for a greater variety of species from one place, rather than from two: the zoo has several other Philippine species that are just as rare and interesting as the cassowaries and king birds - move them and house New Guinea species elsewhere in the zoo.
Alan
I guess they are trying to highlight the great diversity of different Island faunas- but it does seem odd to have e.g. Warty pigs in the Phillipine section but not the Alfred's Deer(if they still have them by then).
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
They still have them,the zoo may yet mix them with the Warty Pigs,as they do have theset up to do it where they are both currently kept,they just haven't tried it yet.If they don't mix them I believe they could be added in another exhibit in the area at a later date.
adrian1963
Well-Known Member
Love the idea’s for this Islands project I think it’s great and can't wait to visit once finished but having a conversation with a ex-member of the site she did bring something up that I had over looked and myself are not bothered about but I think I should bring it up so people can see what she means.
Last year many members on here were having a right go at zoo’s allowing the public to Feed the animals no matter what species they were and now that Chester are going to have a feeding area for the Lorikeet’s do the members still feel the same way or have they changed their minds as I cannot see the outcry there was last year on here for other zoos allowing people to feed their animals.
Myself I could care less but just thought I would bring it up as it seems again there are double standards.
I would be very interested in how everyone now feels about feeding animals around a zoo any species that is no matter what size or location within the zoo.
Not having a go just want to know how people feel these days
Last year many members on here were having a right go at zoo’s allowing the public to Feed the animals no matter what species they were and now that Chester are going to have a feeding area for the Lorikeet’s do the members still feel the same way or have they changed their minds as I cannot see the outcry there was last year on here for other zoos allowing people to feed their animals.
Myself I could care less but just thought I would bring it up as it seems again there are double standards.
I would be very interested in how everyone now feels about feeding animals around a zoo any species that is no matter what size or location within the zoo.
Not having a go just want to know how people feel these days
Was the previous discussion not mostly relating to ungulates in safari parks? That's an entirely different animal group so people are fully entitled to hold different opinions on the public feeding each group.
Also, have any of the same people spoken in favour of the lorikeets that were against the ungulates? If not, hardly double standards, just differing opinions. (And indeed, this thread includes precisely one person who has specifically commented on liking the lorikeet feeding).
I honestly think you're seeing shadows where there are none.