Marwell Wildlife Something I'd like to see...

G

Gary

Well-Known Member
I've always thought the large enclosure behind the shop was underused, as it was a hollow containing llamas and rheas for many years, and I believe now holds capybara (have'nt been able to visit recently due to illness).

Why not flood it out, and turn into an area for:

a) Indian Rhino, which need a swampy area rather than hard-standing due to foot problems.

b) Common Hippo, which would tie in with the Flamingos on one side (or they could possibly be integrated) and the Pygmy Hippos on the far side.

Both of these animals would be significant assets-"charismatic mega-fauna" as they're called. It would make an immediate impact on visitors,who often complain, "But there are no elephants, etc, etc".

IMO, obviously!
 
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It's very unlikely: That area has been earmarked as the South American Grassland Biome since the masterplan begun, and with the giant anteater enclosure being built on the site last year it's unlikely to change. But look at the positives: With later additions of vicuna, peccary, mara and possibly maned wolves to the area in the future, it should create quite a large dynamic. The masterplan map in the science and learning centre foyer marks this biome as 'mixed south american accomodation' to further the point.

And common hippos aren't far off; they were in original drafts of the masterplan as being earmarked for a section of the valley, though I'm not sure what's become of this. I agree that I would love to see indian rhinos in the current rhino paddock, as it would link in to the Roof of the World opposite and they would benefit from the lake that's going to be dug in the paddock according to various masterplan maps, but unfortunately it seems the whites are set to remain there (I would much rather see them in the valley). That's the problem with zoo management; we ZooChatters can think up brilliant exhibitry ideas, but the big bosses are the ones behind it all and we just have to dream. :rolleyes:
 
Cat-Man said:
hey, lets get our selves in a life or deth situation (like on gunpoint with the prime minister holding the gun), get rescued and to make us feel better, they give us whatever we want, we take control of every zoo in the world!
Click to expand...

I can appreciate a "sick" joke more than most, but your remark is stupid, crass and tasteless (there are people around the world in bad situations like this you know). You should think before you post and watch the news a bit more.
 
Jokes are sometimes meaningless and offensive. It's over the top for what it was mean't to 'humour' and I have to agree with Shorts.
 
Did I miss something? Please don't tell me I've upset someone already?!

Marwell Dalek, thanks for the info-I had no idea Common Hippos were a possibility-they seem under-represented in UK collections.

I never saw them at Longleat or Whipsnade when I went there-for big animals they seem to hide easily!
 
No, don't worry, wasn't you, and it's in the past now.

And as I say, I don't know what the plan regarding common hippos in the masterplan is now, so no guarantees. And I've seen the hippos on all but one occasion when I went to Longleat, apparentley they hide themselves well under their mud wallow. I half expected to see them wandering around the house gardens. :)
 
Mr Dalek, wasn't hippos always part of the masterplan, as with lions (which the latter now arn't)?

Gary, you have some good ideas for the caybara and rhea paddock which none of us had thought about using the paddock for, the master plan states for it to be a mixed South American paddock. Also the fence wouldn't hold An Angry Indian Rhino or Hippo. You might say for them to make the fence bigger and stronger, but that would block public viewing, that has already been discused before, im sure your aware about the situation with the kangaroos in there concreat paddock, the only reason that they can't be allowed into the Rhea and capybara paddock is beacus the fence is to short, and if they made it taller it would obstruct public viewing.
 
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Things can change very quickly depending on funds, etc. The masterplan was revised last year and the only new species I know about that's still part of it are gorillas. You can't guarantee a species will stay part of it for you're own personal hopes.
 
really, its not part of my personal hopes, they already have pygmy so the general public really shouldn't be bothered about getting common, of course, if they were to get cmmon hippos, it's not to say i wouldn't be happy.

Gary, have you chcked out that link yet?
 
I agree with you Gary and I also think the whole entrance area of Marwell could be presented a bit better. There's nothing that grabs your eye when you enter apart from the Giraffes. I think some flamingos in the entrance pond would look good rather than the odd monkey which is incredibly hard to spot! As with the capybara field it does seem a bit of a waste and obviously not the most exciting exhibit in the world but as MD has said its unlikely to change due to the master plan.
 
It won't be the entrance for much longer though: A new visitor centre with a new gift shop and interpretation area will be built on the top of Treetops Hill, just behind where Treetops itself is and to the right of the upcoming British Woodland Biome. The entrance route will therefore be going down the hill from where you can look out onto the (former) shop and pond, the South American Paddock, etc. The new entrance is joint with the gorilla exhibit in the place of the next 'big' development.
 
That sounds a lot better in my opinion. I assume the Gorilla exhibit will be of a good size?
 
From what MD has said before, it will take up the enclosure currently housing zebras between the okapis and coati. But isnt this also where the wildebeest will be when they finally go on show?
 
Yes, but I imagine they can easilly be moved elsewhere in the park when work on the Congo Forest Biome finally takes place.
 
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