Chester Zoo Islands - Opening and impressions

OK, its been open a while now, and I've resisted posting some of my impressions as I hate having to express anything negative about my favourite zoo.

The positives are plain to see, the new enclosures are clearly an improvement over the previous ones, but the needlessly narrow winding paths, scruffy and covered in stray bark, the almost cramped feel about the whole thing.. and above all its just not what Chester Zoo is all about.

Its possible to walk for miles in Chester Zoo without seeing many animals, but those walks were always pleasant, airy, plenty of space and always relaxing. Islands just doesn't share that atmosphere, and the theming isn't convincing enough to pull off the islands atmosphere either. Maybe in a while when the planting has grown above knee high.

On leaving islands, walking past the bears and onto the avenue between monkey house and Indian Rhino, I thought, "phew, now this is Chester Zoo".

Sadly, I do dread the outcome of this ongoing project to cut and paste the zoo contents into geographic zones. Even in a zoo the size of Chester there isn't the space to pull it off. It will never be Animal Kingdom.

And true to my prediction, just about everyone I know and there have been many, who've visited over the summer holidays seems to want to express their disappointment to me, knowing me to be a fan. And that grates after a while.

This is my final moaning post anyway, just wanted to get it off my chest :o

For fellow zoochatters my advice is don't believe the hype, but approach it with an open mind. And if you're travelling a distance to visit, to leave it until the Spring would do it more justice than going now.
 
bluetoffeezoo said:
haveto agreewith the narrow paths, completely underwhelmed with Monsoon Forest I just can't get excited about it, it feels so small and empty
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Respect your opinions ...... But have to totally disagree. Having spent the day in Islands I am loving it more an more with each visit. I am totally transported into another world and I was enthralled today at the level of detail, planting and sense of clam I felt by slowly wandering through the place, especially now the summer crowds have died down.

I think that If Islands is an indication of what the zoo is aspiring to achieve whith geographical zoning, then I am totally sold on it all. And I do think that Islands is very much 'Chester Zoo'. Yes it is a bit more 'polished' and 'themed', but above all it is clear the welfare of the animals comes first, with the education message a close second.

Every single animal in Islands today was a pleasure to observe, displaying natural and instinctive behaviours, clearly content in their surroundings.

In other news.....

I am lead to believe the tigers will be moving in within the next week or so.

The boat guides are finally no more.....so the Lazy River trip is a journey of self discovery. I do think it would be an idea to have some kind of 'guide book' or 'information sheet' - a way of educating the visitors on the boat about the different areas as they pass through, but have to say i much preferred the trip without the guide.

I was told Monsoon Forest will actually close to the public for several days whilst the transfer of birds is carried out, and possibly again when the orangs move over, but no firm indication of when
 
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ChesterZooFan said:
And I do think that Islands is very much 'Chester Zoo'. Yes it is a bit more 'polished' and 'themed', but above all it is clear the welfare of the animals comes first, with the education message a close second.
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There's no debating that welfare of animals has always been Chester Zoo's priority, but Islands is a very different type of exhibit with a completely different atmosphere to the rest of the zoo and currently for me at least, it jars somewhat.

Chester Zoo is the calm area around Oakfield House, the wide paths, the sandstone walls and the tall, native trees.
 
ChesterZooFan said:
...The boat guides are finally no more.....so the Lazy River trip is a journey of self discovery. I do think it would be an idea to have some kind of 'guide book' or 'information sheet' - a way of educating the visitors on the boat about the different areas as they pass through, but have to say i much preferred the trip without the guide...
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When I visited I liked having the boat guide, the gave correct information (I knew all of the animal information anyway), but they were useful in saying when we reached a new 'Island' and just generally helped to point things out.
 
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SMR said:
There's no debating that welfare of animals has always been Chester Zoo's priority, but Islands is a very different type of exhibit with a completely different atmosphere to the rest of the zoo and currently for me at least, it jars somewhat.

Chester Zoo is the calm area around Oakfield House, the wide paths, the sandstone walls and the tall, native trees.
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I kind of look at it that Chester Zoo is still the area around the old House, Still got the majority of wide paths, and then got the sandstone walls, all happening whilst the trees grew tall but Chester is also the zoo that has traditionally alwas been building, always trying things, usually the first to do so and always evolving.
I was talking to a member of substantial years who remembers the opening of the tropical house and feeling the reaction was similar to Islands such was the difference in what people where used to seeing. As odd as it may seem now, the change was as radical then as Islands is now but to him Islands is exactly the right direction the zoo, and the future of animals in captivity should be moving in.

Must also say i kind of agree with him. Whilst i hope the older parts remain as long as possible its exciting to see how the future will pan out and how many lesson will learn from a project that no-one else in this country has tried before.
 
swampy1967 said:
Must also say i kind of agree with him. Whilst i hope the older parts remain as long as possible its exciting to see how the future will pan out and how many lesson will learn from a project that no-one else in this country has tried before.
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I totally agree, Id like to see them expand islands into the field int he corner by the entrance roundabout (possibly Madagascar), also move the giraffes over into zebra/bongo paddocks, and have hippo's in the wetland aviary area and convert the coach car park for leopard or hyena.

Then leave the core of the zoo the same, but use land outside current zoo for large themed areas,starting with proposed HOA area, but include all that land down to the canal. and then use the old car park overflow and other fields opposite the ceder house admin buildings, with new foot bridges over the public roads.

Just an idea, but this keeps the nostalgic heart of the zoo and adds new modern large developments.
 
jde7582 said:
I totally agree, Id like to see them expand islands into the field int he corner by the entrance roundabout (possibly Madagascar), also move the giraffes over into zebra/bongo paddocks, and have hippo's in the wetland aviary area and convert the coach car park for leopard or hyena.

Then leave the core of the zoo the same, but use land outside current zoo for large themed areas,starting with proposed HOA area, but include all that land down to the canal. and then use the old car park overflow and other fields opposite the ceder house admin buildings, with new foot bridges over the public roads.

Just an idea, but this keeps the nostalgic heart of the zoo and adds new modern large developments.
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As eggs is eggs they wont please everyone.
I remember watching the Caughall road developements, Cedar, Rora and specifically the Jaguar house being built, on the old coach/car park and entrance area's, and by now people were using the new entrance area.... which by and by is far, far superior and there were a couple watching the frame work of the jag house going up and turned to me and said something lke.,
"for fourty years we've parked in caughall road, it's a bloody disgrace, now we got to park somewhere we never been before, and walk to see the chimpanzees"
So i asked if they never ventured over the bridle into the elephant, rhino, monkey house area's before ?/
"thats not the point" they replied,
Of course it wasnt i thought, if it was, they couldnt find something to moan at.
For years locals hated the traffic down caughall, since houses were built and the zoo got busier, they obliged and got slaughtered by some for doing so. When the news broke about the pedestrian entrance closing, the zoo were going to apply to tarmac the front area of the old coach overflow park, opposite side to Cedar house, just before the entrance, for members/users of the pedestrian entrance to park away from the houses,even included spaces for a bike park area, but where told not to waste theirs or council time as the council was pleased no visitor traffic down Caughall and they wouldnt get permisson.
There were even plans to put an enterance by the side of the library, through the cedar house gates in the corner of the cedar car park....

Now the locals have to walk down the bridle path, they still aint happy.
 
jde7582 said:
I totally agree, Id like to see them expand islands into the field int he corner by the entrance roundabout (possibly Madagascar), also move the giraffes over into zebra/bongo paddocks, and have hippo's in the wetland aviary area and convert the coach car park for leopard or hyena.

Then leave the core of the zoo the same, but use land outside current zoo for large themed areas,starting with proposed HOA area, but include all that land down to the canal. and then use the old car park overflow and other fields opposite the ceder house admin buildings, with new foot bridges over the public roads.

Just an idea, but this keeps the nostalgic heart of the zoo and adds new modern large developments.
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Agree with most if your suggestions...

I think the area adjacent to Islands and behind the sitatunga paddock should be used partly to expand Islands and partly to expand into the African Savannah zone. I don't think Madagascar fits in with the South East Asian theme of Islands.

I would actually re-work Monkey Islands into a Madagascar zone. The Islands would make a great lemur exhibit, the inside could be easily modified for indoor lemur viewing (including aye aye) with the current large keeper area converted to display herps etc. I could imagine fossa in the spider monkey side.

Long term the current giraffe paddock and tropical realm would be removed to create a South American zone to include Spirit of the Jaguar, and Heart of Africa would be developed as per the original master plan.

Of course this is all pie in the sky, but one thing we can all be certain of is that there will be major changes happening in the comings years.

One could argue that Islands is the epitome of what Chester is all about. Think about the ground breaking work George did 85 years ago and the reaction he had from the majority of residents. One could draw several parallels with the reaction to Islands.....
 
Have any of the free-flight birds been introduced to the Monsoon Forest yet? And if not does anybody have any idea when they will?
 
Am told they will move over within the nxt few weeks. A keeper told me that apparently Monsoon Forest will be closing whilst this process is carried out.

Some of the birds are still nesting / fledging which has been part of the delay, as well as there still being lots of snagging to complete inside the free flight area.

Tigers will be the next to move over (rumours this may be within the next week) and think the zoo are now working towards EVERYTHING being completed by October half term in 6 weeks.
 
ChesterZooFan said:
One could argue that Islands is the epitome of what Chester is all about. Think about the ground breaking work George did 85 years ago and the reaction he had from the majority of residents. One could draw several parallels with the reaction to Islands.....
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Those of us who have visited (and been members of) the zoo for a long time will undoubtedly support the "always building" sentiment, but we just have to be careful not to lose the 'spirit' of Chester Zoo, a careful balance maintained when the Tropical House, Spirit of the Jaguar and even RotRA were built. Chester Zoo still needs to 'feel' like Chester Zoo, otherwise some of the magic will be lost.
 
At the zoo now and there are now at least four Pied Imperial Pigeons in the second side aviary in Temple area.
 
SMR said:
Chester Zoo still needs to 'feel' like Chester Zoo, otherwise some of the magic will be lost.
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But what does that actually mean?

Maybe in time they can introduce a themed "Spirit of old Chester Zoo" area! ;)
 
OrangePerson said:
Maybe in time they can introduce a themed "Spirit of old Chester Zoo" area! ;)
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What a good idea! And a use for old Tuatara House at last! I can visualise it now.

A machine fills the space with a puff of mist, which clears to reveal a spotlit chip of old red sandstone from wall of the giraffe house. More mist, the display whirs as it rotates and then reveals a miniature concrete pillbox. Mist again, then one of Boris's baby teeth . . . .
What other marvels should go on show? :D

To be serious for a moment, Islands is very much a work in progress. It isn't right yet, but it is already greatly improved since the preview days. When all the stock has settled in and the little problems have been sorted, it will be very good. When the tapir house and the Komodo house have been added and the planting has had a couple of year to grow, it will be splendid. It will always be a distinct part of the zoo, but the zoo has several distinct parts already (Oakfield, the Whipsnade section around the servals, the enclosures visible from the bridge, Tsavo, the bats and bears etc). The zoo is enriched by this diversity.

Alan
 
SMR said:
Those of us who have visited (and been members of) the zoo for a long time will undoubtedly support the "always building" sentiment, but we just have to be careful not to lose the 'spirit' of Chester Zoo, a careful balance maintained when the Tropical House, Spirit of the Jaguar and even RotRA were built. Chester Zoo still needs to 'feel' like Chester Zoo, otherwise some of the magic will be lost.
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Agree it is a fine balance. I do however think that Islands very much retains the 'feel' of the zoo. The entire Islands site is clearly a step change. But when I consider the individual elements I think Islands is quite clever in using some of the styling and dressing that has already been used elsewhere in the zoo, albeit on a much bigger scale. This for me makes Islands feel part of the same zoo rather than a jarring bolt on.

E.G

To me the Bali aviary has a similar feel of the Tsavo aviary. Both Islands and Tsavo have winding paths, authentic planting, fake rock work, recreated ranger stations and ranger camps, vehicles to climb on and sound effects. .

The elephant house and RORA use a similar molded concrete to recreate tree trunks and lianas with dense lush planting. And as with Monsoon Forest they incorporate a number of different species (birds, fish, reptiles etc) to add to the geographic theme.

Even the new orang enclosures retain a similar 'look' with the fake trees indoors and the large telegraph poles outside.

Regarding retaining some older elements of the existing zoo I do think this really important as well. I think the entire Oakfiled area should be a homage to the old zoo, and a look to the future of the zoo and the work it does behind the scenes and in situ. There could be a re-imagining of the old sun bear exhibit, more info on the off show breeding (parrot centre, wild cats etc) and much more info or exhibits on conservation overseas and in the uk (sand lizards could move over and red pandas could stay as ambassadors for the projects in China etc)
 
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ChesterZooFan said:
To me the Bali aviary has a similar feel of the Tsavo aviary. Both Islands and Tsavo have winding paths, authentic planting, fake rock work, recreated ranger stations and ranger camps, vehicles to climb on and sound effects. .

The elephant house and RORA use a similar molded concrete to recreate tree trunks and lianas with dense lush planting. And as with Monsoon Forest they incorporate a number of different species (birds, fish, reptiles etc) to add to the geographic theme.
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But are either of these really representative of 'old Chester' or are they just not as new as Islands?
 
OrangePerson said:
But are either of these really representative of 'old Chester' or are they just not as new as Islands?
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There's a difference between "old" and what I'm trying to convey though, which is why I chose the word "spirit" earlier in the thread. Over the years there's always been something new, long before recent developments such as Tsavo and RotRA.
 
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