I have been reflecting on my visit to Chester two days ago. I think that when the new entrance is completed and spring has arrived, with fresh greenery and migrant dinosaurs, the Zoo will look well. The giant otter indoor housing is good. The bat house looks better and the jag house has been improved considerably, although I wish they would do some gardening in the waterfall enclosure. The tropical house is showing its age, of course, but the small changes over the winter should help.
But the Realm of the Red Ape is a different story. The first enclosure viewed from the entrance is in a terrible condition - the Borneans have totally destroyed the planting so there are just weeds and a few dead uprooted bushes on view. It could be replanted of course, but if the females and infants are to have outdoor access they must use this enclosure, so how could new plants establish themselves? The planting in the matching enclosure, viewed from the exit, is in much better condition - I presume it has been allowed to recuperate since the orangs used it in the summer.
Likewise all the planting in the Sumatran indoor exhibits has long since died, which may not matter so much as the outdoor exhibits are in pretty good condition, considering the time of year, although the enclosures are not attractive. The current problem is the two broken windows that mean that only one of the indoor enclosures is serviceable. I understand that replacing the windows is a major task, but I hope it can be completed soon.
This means that a building that was once one of the Zoo's crown jewels is now rather an eyesore. What sort of future does RotRA have?
Orang utans are obvious candidates for the Islands theme and I hope that the Zoo will continue to keep both species because they are doing so well. Do they plan to build a new exhibit or can both species stay in RotRA? Will the house need modifications? Could they switch the Borneans around to allow the females and infants access to the old island opposite the chimps and lemurs - and cut some viewing windows in the fence around it? Could they modify an enclosure to let Tuan (the Bornean male) go on show? Can they refurbish the indoor enclosures to make them a little more attractive - and perhaps to make it harder for the Sumatrans to get so close to the windows? That would improve visitor flow and might reduce breakages, although some visitors would miss the close views.
I am sure that the Zoo's team are thinking about questions like these and I hope they have some good answers.
Alan
But the Realm of the Red Ape is a different story. The first enclosure viewed from the entrance is in a terrible condition - the Borneans have totally destroyed the planting so there are just weeds and a few dead uprooted bushes on view. It could be replanted of course, but if the females and infants are to have outdoor access they must use this enclosure, so how could new plants establish themselves? The planting in the matching enclosure, viewed from the exit, is in much better condition - I presume it has been allowed to recuperate since the orangs used it in the summer.
Likewise all the planting in the Sumatran indoor exhibits has long since died, which may not matter so much as the outdoor exhibits are in pretty good condition, considering the time of year, although the enclosures are not attractive. The current problem is the two broken windows that mean that only one of the indoor enclosures is serviceable. I understand that replacing the windows is a major task, but I hope it can be completed soon.
This means that a building that was once one of the Zoo's crown jewels is now rather an eyesore. What sort of future does RotRA have?
Orang utans are obvious candidates for the Islands theme and I hope that the Zoo will continue to keep both species because they are doing so well. Do they plan to build a new exhibit or can both species stay in RotRA? Will the house need modifications? Could they switch the Borneans around to allow the females and infants access to the old island opposite the chimps and lemurs - and cut some viewing windows in the fence around it? Could they modify an enclosure to let Tuan (the Bornean male) go on show? Can they refurbish the indoor enclosures to make them a little more attractive - and perhaps to make it harder for the Sumatrans to get so close to the windows? That would improve visitor flow and might reduce breakages, although some visitors would miss the close views.
I am sure that the Zoo's team are thinking about questions like these and I hope they have some good answers.
Alan
), Bali, Sumatra, Sumba and Sulawesi. Borneo is not mentioned 
