Chester Zoo New Exhibit @ Chester???

Bwassa

Bwassa

Well-Known Member
Just got back from a visit for my wife's birthday today, and there is building work in front of Miniature Monkeys that looks like it could be a new exhibit. Only small, you can see where they are making a small island and have the moat dug out. Does anybody know what they are building? Is it just an extension of the Tamarin exhibit?:confused:
 
Don't get your hopes up animal-wise - I'm pretty sure it'll be this...

Case File

...in which case its a conservation-themed miniature/crazy golf course.
 
Paradise Wildlife Park has got one but in generall its not really a zoo has its own seperate Theme park area ish but very small scale.
 
Mini-golf and zoo history.

I'm probably over-reacting, but I find this trend a little worrying. One of the best things about Chester Zoo, in my opinion anyway, is that it's entirely animal focused without any attatched theme park or similar that make the animals start to feel like a side-show.

I began to feel that this emphasis - something that George Mottershead insisted upon - was being lost when the Frost Fair started, (did anyone else wonder about the siting of the loud carousel right next to the elephants?), and though this is only a tiny step further in that direction, I still find it worrying.

(Incidentally, when I read 'Zoo Without Bars' I was amazed to see what a pioneer Mr Mottershead was in removing the bars and designing enclosures in such a natural way. I'm even more amazed that the zoo now seems to have no pride in this history - no displays or explanations about the many 'firsts' for animal welfare acheived in the early days. I emailed the zoo some time ago to ask about this and they answered that they'd probably make a dispaly about it in the near future - but haven't! Does anyone else feel that this is a pity? :confused: )
 
I agree completely!
George mottershead was a pioneer of the modern zoo everywhere!
The 'zoo without bars' wouldnt be here without him and yet the zoo have seemed to of forgotten him completely?
Chester should have a day in remembrance for him every year so the zoos history is known and his legacy will continue.
The zoo should be kept in the ideas of its creator always! would he of wanted these sorts of things to be occcuring? An emphasis on Animals and Plant life was something he always wanted the zoo to be and it should remain.
Regards
 
Woodbine said:
did anyone else wonder about the siting of the loud carousel right next to the elephants?), and though this is only a tiny step further in that direction, I still find it worrying.
Click to expand...

I did.

I also noticed on my last two visits loud 'tribal' music coming from the visitor services kiosk.

A zoo rule used to prohibit the use of transistor radios within the grounds, in case the animals were disturbed.

I don't like the way the zoo is going at the moment, and I am concerned as well Woodbine.

Also there is no indication of the zoo's history, someone mentioned the plaque commemorating Miss Tomkyns-Grafton is no longer on the Euriope on the Edge aviary. When it was built in the 1950s it was probably the best polar bear enclosure in the world.

Another thing I have noticed lately is the shrubs growing alongside the animal enclosures. In some cases they will soon restrict the viewing of the exhibit.
 
We are at risk of sounding like old fogies, but I agree with you completely. I have made my feelings clear about the miniature golf course in another thread. There's no real harm in the idea, but I'm sure that's the wrong place for it.

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
We are at risk of sounding like old fogies, but I agree with you completely. I have made my feelings clear about the miniature golf course in another thread. There's no real harm in the idea, but I'm sure that's the wrong place for it.

Alan
Click to expand...

i agree, shocked about this plan i am
 
Bwassa said:
A miniature golf course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad: WHY!?!?!
Click to expand...

To attract kids, therefore when you visit the twilight zone , tropical realm or elephant house it with a little luck might be a little quieter:p

I think we all have to take into account that a day at the zoo is for everyone not serious zoo people like ourselves, and children need to be catered for, and if this conservation based experience can make an impact on a child then it should be applauded, and another weapon to win the hearts and minds of young impressionable children, has been added to Chesters already impressive armoury.
It should also be remembered that this attraction, no matter how big will not be hijacking valuable land for animals, the zoo is on the verge of developing 100's of acres, plenty of room to share.
 
easytigger said:
one word MONEY!!!!
Click to expand...

agree, i do

with the introduction of this miniature golfcourse, more money the zoo will take in, giving it more money for the natural vision plan.

right you are, the new attraction, money it will bring
 
kiang said:
To attract kids, therefore when you visit the twilight zone , tropical realm or elephant house it with a little luck might be a little quieter:p

I think we all have to take into account that a day at the zoo is for everyone not serious zoo people like ourselves, and children need to be catered for, and if this conservation based experience can make an impact on a child then it should be applauded, and another weapon to win the hearts and minds of young impressionable children, has been added to Chesters already impressive armoury.
It should also be remembered that this attraction, no matter how big will not be hijacking valuable land for animals, the zoo is on the verge of developing 100's of acres, plenty of room to share.
Click to expand...

I appreciate that die hard zoo enthusiasts will dissapprove of this move towards a more commercial direction, and I take onboard what has been said in other posts, however times are hard and wages, feed bills, research and developments still have to be paid for, yes a crazy golf course won't attract new visitors to the zoo, but but if it screws an extra £3 out of 10-20% of the zoo visitors that are already in the zoo than is that really a bad thing, when that revenue can then be ploughed into worthwhile causes.

Its not like they are building 'the chester eye' with panoramic views of the zoo at £10 a go, its a small bit of land being but to use to generate extra income in these testing times
 
Chester are heading in a worrying direction at the moment, I can only think of one thing that may have caused this and I don't like it.
 
As I've not visitied Chester for a while I cannot comment on this direction they are taking.
However they are still the no.1 zoo in the country?
Are they still contributing to conservation both internally and externaly?
Are they building world class exhibits?
Are they planning a multi million pound expansion?

So they are commiting to a few more revenue generating options like this 'miniture' golf course, a possible hotel (big money, when it comes to conferences and wedding etc, on top of zoo guest revenues) and a few other things.

It could be worse....

Are they rebranding themselves (at great cost) in a totally pointless manner?
Do they window dress their exbits making them look really natural etc, then hotwiring them to keep the animals on show like some collections do?
Do they train animals to sit by windows for 'guest enjoyment'?
Do they have waterslides going through aquatic exhibits?
Are they wasting millions on pointless things like model dinosaurs?

NO!!!

They are taking steps to generate revenue to make sure they continue to florish during the credit crunch and develop in the future.
 
bongorob said:
I did.

I also noticed on my last two visits loud 'tribal' music coming from the visitor services kiosk.

A zoo rule used to prohibit the use of transistor radios within the grounds, in case the animals were disturbed.

I don't like the way the zoo is going at the moment, and I am concerned as well Woodbine.

Also there is no indication of the zoo's history, someone mentioned the plaque commemorating Miss Tomkyns-Grafton is no longer on the Euriope on the Edge aviary. When it was built in the 1950s it was probably the best polar bear enclosure in the world.

Another thing I have noticed lately is the shrubs growing alongside the animal enclosures. In some cases they will soon restrict the viewing of the exhibit.
Click to expand...

I too have noticed the tribul music Rob, and the noise from the carousel at the Frost Fair it is really loud. I worry that this may be causing the animals especially the Elephants distress especially as the Elephants would be able to feel the vibrations aswell.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top