Any ideas of designs for these areas?
ZSL London Zoo New London Tiger Exhibit
- Thread starter CountAlmaviva
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Any ideas of designs for these areas?
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
and, based on this information alone, its quite possible that the dot on the other side of the casson is meant to be an anoa.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
I believe the rockwork at the back has the preservation order, rather than the pool itself. I seem to remember the concrete lining the pool itself used to be more like the rockwork at the back, but by the time the sealions had gone (and a fur seal briefly made an appearance in the enclosure) in the early 90s it seemed to become this smooth, gently sloping affair which is what you see the hippos using today. So I imagine the rockwork won't be hard to incorporate.
I could only make out 2 separate tiger large exhibits (+ I guess a separation/maternity area off-exhibit) and a 3rd animal exhibit. Where does the Malayan tapir bit come in then?
Second: is the anoa bit pure speculation or based on drawings or renovation plan of the Casson Buildings?
Personally: I have always advocated an Asian theme for the entire area ... as the former Pachyderm House has warty pigs ... I would also hope for an Asian themed bird/reptile usage of the rest of the building (I understand part of the tiger exhibit is given over to an outside aviary).
Certainly, a good make-over for an otherwise sadly neglected space of the zoo. I would hope the pygmy hippos with bongos and okapis will be close to the gorillas and guerezas in future (leaving the other zoo side over to a African steppe/savannah enviro (with giraffe, zebra, hunting dogs and goodness knows what else they can have in there too ..).
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
The only reason people are discussing tapirs is because they are shown on the artists impression of the site. Based on that, the animal shown the other side of the casson could easily be an anoa in the same picture. My point was that, if people are going to assume that the tapirs will be featured, by the same rule they should examine what the other side of the casson appears to hold in the drawing.
It's not clear from the plans whether this is an aviary or a holding area. The 'African Bird Safari' is pictured also in the plans, but this is due to part of the indoor housing for this aviary being used in the tiger exhibit. I would be surprised if the existing flight was used for South east Asian species.
Thanks for the clarification. Now I can enlarge the artist's impression I can make out Malayan tapirs and to the back - one would expect the enclosure for anoa (and perhaps for babirusa too) where they are at present anyways.
It be a great idea to develop this part of the zoo into a totally convenient South-East Asia themed exhibit, including bird aviary (allthough recognising that the current African aviary serves its purpose well. Admittedly, in a revised set-up it could be the odd one out as the Komodo Dragon exhibit is also nearby and the Galapagos tortoise as in Islands in Danger ....).
It be a great idea to develop this part of the zoo into a totally convenient South-East Asia themed exhibit, including bird aviary (allthough recognising that the current African aviary serves its purpose well. Admittedly, in a revised set-up it could be the odd one out as the Komodo Dragon exhibit is also nearby and the Galapagos tortoise as in Islands in Danger ....).
My understanding is that they are anot a pure Bearded Pig subspecies but they are pure Bearded Pigs. Could be wrong.
I guess their idea of a 'lush indonesian forest' will be along the same lines as their idea of a 'lush african rainforest' as represented by Gorilla Kingdom.
Its easier to create a 'lush rainforest' for Tigers than Gorillas as they won't damage the planted vegetation and peel the bark of trees to eat. Cue lots of bamboo etc. They could make this one look good if they try.
It does appear from the plan as if the existing pool will become part of the new enclosure. Perhaps it will just be filled in with soil and planted out, rather than being dug up/demolished. The rocky backdrop/cave at one end could either be incorporated into the enclosure or left outside it.
Chris is concerned that the present tapir enclosure would not work for pigmy hippos but I think it could work quite well. Marwell has had breeding success over a number of years with an enclsure that is basically two small pools inside and a grass paddock. The London indoor enclosure would be much bigger and the hippos would have outside access to three sides of the enclosure. At Marwell, they are not at all timid and therfore once settled in, swimming in the moat is likely to work (the tapirs do at the moment). Hopefully, we don't need to worry that they are leaving. What about the servals in the 'other part' of the tiger block, though, given the current collection, it would be a shame if they went.
My main concern would be whether the hippos could be seperated- I think it's usually the case that pairs of pygmy hippos uhave seperate enclosures and are only mixed for part of the year (isn't that the case at London now?). As it is, the tapir house only has one pool. Don't get me wrong, I'd like the hippos to stay if possible.
Could the servals ever be moved over to that part of the zoo to become part of the African savannah section? The tapir enclosure would make a massive serval enclosure if it could be appropriately fenced.
At Marwell they are separated at times but the pools are right next to each other and only railings separte them when they are not underwater. I don't think the indoor pool in the tapir house at London was original, so there may be scope to create another, divide it or maybe even just rotate them. Are they split when they are in the Casson?
I can't imagine the servals moving to Out of Africa but I hope they don't leave. Their current enclosure is not bad and I suppose it is very unlikely that another smaller cat species would go into the existing tiger enclosure; clouded leopards used to put on a good show at London, even when they had a very small section of the Lion terraces.
I can't imagine the servals moving to Out of Africa but I hope they don't leave. Their current enclosure is not bad and I suppose it is very unlikely that another smaller cat species would go into the existing tiger enclosure; clouded leopards used to put on a good show at London, even when they had a very small section of the Lion terraces.
I think the Tapir enclosure on the Cotton Terraces would be just as suitable for the Pygmy Hippo as where they are now and I am sure they would use the Moat readily. But the main problem for Pygmy Hippo wherever they are in London is they have no grazing- Whipsnade's and Marwell's crop their grassy paddocks and keep it short. Hippos at London can't do this.
There is a single pool and a small land area, it is split down the middle with railings. I imagine a similar or better set-up could be established on the Cotton Terraces without too much difficulty.
Not especially then. I mean, it's hardly the ideal situation is it? Maybe they will go into the Cotton, but I'd be disappointed if it was anything other than a temporary solution.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
In winter the hippos rarely venture outside at most UK zoos, bar Marwell (where they are selectively let out and obviously have a reason to go out when there is grazing). Better and larger indoor facilities would benefit the london hippos for this reason.
I have no idea if they would be moved to the tapir enclosure on the Cotton Terraces, but there is no reason that a gate system could not be created to walk them, in summer, over the bridge to graze fenced areas of the North bank, or even the more wooded South Bank.
The steps into the current outside tapir pool/moat are manageable for tapirs, but don't hippos need a ramp? If my memory serves me right, the semi-aquatic mammal house at Marwell had ramps fitted into the indoor pools as the hippos found the steps difficult. Is this still the case at Marwell?
I have no idea if they would be moved to the tapir enclosure on the Cotton Terraces, but there is no reason that a gate system could not be created to walk them, in summer, over the bridge to graze fenced areas of the North bank, or even the more wooded South Bank.
The steps into the current outside tapir pool/moat are manageable for tapirs, but don't hippos need a ramp? If my memory serves me right, the semi-aquatic mammal house at Marwell had ramps fitted into the indoor pools as the hippos found the steps difficult. Is this still the case at Marwell?
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
This might be helpful, it is the plan posted earlier but in pdf form and quite large.
http://www.wka.org.uk/zoo/files/PROPOSED/Tiger upper level plan.pdf
Good news: this new exhibit appears to use a different design firm than the gorilla exhibit used.
Look here!!! :
WKA
http://www.wka.org.uk/zoo/files/PROPOSED/Tiger upper level plan.pdf
Good news: this new exhibit appears to use a different design firm than the gorilla exhibit used.
Look here!!! :
WKA
Zooplantman's clearer plans seem to show that the show animal enclosures are being maintained and will be made into one enclosure that will be an off-show outdoor tiger pen.
Yep, they use ramps now which are much easier for them. It's the case with hippos in general really of all species; Longleat's sea lion beach has a vertical bank in order to prevent their common hippos from going on it.