Chester Zoo natural vision impact

C

chesterfan

Active Member
Hi. I am a new forum member who has enjoyed reading all the posts for the last few months. I thought i would finally get round to posting a thread...
...With the (hopefully) upcomming natural vision it got me wondering what do we think would be a good replacement for the current space occupied by the chimps/okapi/congo buffalo who will be moving into heart of africa. Also, the giraffe will be moving to savannah exhibit so there will be a generous space up for grabs.

I think there would be 2 options. Firstly (and more economically) the existing space/enclosures could be used for new species. Secondly (and more ambitiously) the area could be totally re-developed to create a new series of enclosures, possibly for another geo-zone. I think an 'Amazon' or 'Brazil' zone could incorporate a lot of exisitng and new species together in an immersive exhibit in the vain of heart of africa. Any ideas?
 
One thing that sprung into my mind straight away would be Hippos (common and pygmy), but some1 mentioned that there may be a place for hippos near the zebras but im not sure. Where did u find out that the buffalo will be moving to Heart-of-Africa?
 
As long as you're dreaming, why not think both short-term (once the animals do move the zoo may not be able to redevelop these areas completely for awhile) AND long term (Heart of Africa is the kick-off for Natural Vision. But the Vision is to re-invent the entire zoo.)

First thought: the zoo's Summer visitation is near capacity. The need is to build visitation during other seasons.

Thinking caps!
 
I'd say more space for the eles, but with the canal that really isn't possible.
 
ChesterGemsbok said:
One thing that sprung into my mind straight away would be Hippos (common and pygmy), but some1 mentioned that there may be a place for hippos near the zebras but im not sure. Where did u find out that the buffalo will be moving to Heart-of-Africa?
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common hippos would not make sense in the area that chesterfan describes. If the zoo does want them, they would build them an enclosure somewhere in the future savannah region.

I think I was the one who mentioned the buffalo a long time ago and this was something i overheard a keeper (or presenter) saying. I may have misheard or the plan may have changed
 
ashley-h said:
I'd say more space for the eles, but with the canal that really isn't possible.
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I guess that part of the current car park is pencilled in as a possible area for the elephants. I'd also like to suggest that they could go under the bridge into the Indian Rhino's area, which is not really fit for purpose at the moment - but might make a nice summer extension to the paddock, although it would need a lot of work.

Alan
 
re:congo buffalo...not sure where i have got that from, but i would be surprised if they didnt move to heart of africa as all the other animals so far mentioned for this exhibit are found in the congo so it would be odd to leave the buffalo out of this. Also, not sure if bongo feature for definite in heart of africa but again they would be an odd omission if not.

I still think a viable option for the area left behind would be to keep within a specific theme. The area could be split into 2 'geo zones' with visitors being taken on more of a journey through the exhibits..

'Brazil' could incorporate the existing tapirs/coatis/capybara/parrots/reptiles/capuchin and spider monkey with the addition of giant and lesser anteaters/smaller cat species/sloth/armadillo . All this could lead up to spirit of the jaguar.

'SE Asia' could see the relocation of sumatran tigers in a more immersive and interesting enclosure with the additon of malayan tapir and another monkey species - maybe langur or proboscis. I would also love to see clouded leopard in the zoo too!Again this could lead up to rotra.

All this would mean a lot of demolition of existing buildings (giraffe house, cattle house,tropical realm) but i am thinking long term!!
 
chesterfan said:
re:congo buffalo...not sure where i have got that from, but i would be surprised if they didnt move to heart of africa as all the other animals so far mentioned for this exhibit are found in the congo so it would be odd to leave the buffalo out of this. Also, not sure if bongo feature for definite in heart of africa but again they would be an odd omission if not.

I still think a viable option for the area left behind would be to keep within a specific theme. The area could be split into 2 'geo zones' with visitors being taken on more of a journey through the exhibits..

'Brazil' could incorporate the existing tapirs/coatis/capybara/parrots/reptiles/capuchin and spider monkey with the addition of giant and lesser anteaters/smaller cat species/sloth/armadillo . All this could lead up to spirit of the jaguar.

'SE Asia' could see the relocation of sumatran tigers in a more immersive and interesting enclosure with the additon of malayan tapir and another monkey species - maybe langur or proboscis. I would also love to see clouded leopard in the zoo too!Again this could lead up to rotra.

All this would mean a lot of demolition of existing buildings (giraffe house, cattle house,tropical realm) but i am thinking long term!!
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Nice idea's but with the RRHogs enclosure being new and Okapi (I know they want to keep a few female okapi and a breeding male), am thinking it will just be centred around the new HoA, with a few new species, maybe the mandrills moving over and the situnga's.
 
taun said:
Nice idea's but with the RRHogs enclosure being new and Okapi (I know they want to keep a few female okapi and a breeding male), am thinking it will just be centred around the new HoA, with a few new species, maybe the mandrills moving over and the situnga's.
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Well, yes, i hadn't thought about using the area as an extension of HoA. There is so much that could be added into HoA - even from the existing collection - that it does seem likely that there won't be enough space to put everything in there!! The plans i have seen just don't tell us anything about how many species are going into HoA.

As you may tell, I am a big fan of housing the animals based on their area of origin rather than, say, putting all the monkeys together just because they're monkeys!So i think Mandrills would work as they are forest dwellers as are sitatunga. That leaves monkey islands needing additional species. I rather think this could become home to non rain forest african species which again would lead nicely into the african zone next door..i would love to see gelada and colobus and even baboons would be interesting to watch. Only thing is non of these are particularly at high risk so chester may not want to entertain more common species?
 
chesterfan said:
As you may tell, I am a big fan of housing the animals based on their area of origin rather than, say, putting all the monkeys together just because they're monkeys!So i think Mandrills would work as they are forest dwellers as are sitatunga. That leaves monkey islands needing additional species. I rather think this could become home to non rain forest african species which again would lead nicely into the african zone next door..i would love to see gelada and colobus and even baboons would be interesting to watch. Only thing is non of these are particularly at high risk so chester may not want to entertain more common species?
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That is very true, however they could place some more asian species in there and add it to the elephant house and asain plains exhibit.
 
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