Chester Zoo The Islands development - planning, development and build (2012-2015)

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Never Unhappy Bongo - always great to see a new species I really want the zoo to keep - but whatever I get I'll be happy with - I've decided to buy my own clouded leopard anyway - and walk around the zoo with it sitting happily on my shoulder :O)

again too far?
 
mukisi said:
Our local bus company [North Yorkshire] is advertising trips to Islands in June; theres confidence .
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A similar promotion appeared in The Sentinel, for the Stoke area this morning. £119 for a two day trip.
 
Probably because the zoo are openly promoting it:

Taken from the website:

Group visitors to Chester Zoo can begin planning for a special expedition that will transport them to far-flung islands.

Our new experience of 6 south east Asian islands including Monsoon Forest, the largest indoor zoo exhibit in the UK, will be opening in spring 2015.

Groups, tour operators, coach companies and travel agents will be able to ensure their parties are amongst the first through the door with bookings now being taken.

An exclusive advance rate is available for groups of 15 or more who book before December 2014.

Be one of the first groups to discover Islands and book your advance tickets today.

Group Visits | Book now for groups of 15 or more | Islands at Chester Zoo
 
Loads of new pics on the Islands mini site showing aerial view and shots of progress so far. Looks even more incredible than I expected - the scale is just incredible and quality of work seems very high.
 
Wow! I've had a good look at those pictures and they look great. I'm really excited to see what how this will look when finished. Still really excited about the core of the zoo and the animals that will be brought in to replace those that move to Islands. I've heard of one possible snake species that I am hoping that they do bring in.

Any further news on the Heart Of Africa? If that development goes ahead to the same size and standard then Chester Zoo will be a two day experience.
 
Ickbur said:
Wow! I've had a good look at those pictures and they look great. I'm really excited to see what how this will look when finished. Still really excited about the core of the zoo and the animals that will be brought in to replace those that move to Islands. I've heard of one possible snake species that I am hoping that they do bring in.

Any further news on the Heart Of Africa? If that development goes ahead to the same size and standard then Chester Zoo will be a two day experience.
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Don't expect too many new species arriving in the core zoo once Islands is done,also if its a venomous species of snake I wouldn't believe it too much!

As for Heart of Africa the zoo hasn't decided whats next after Islands,but IF they did HOA it will be very different to the original plan!
 
Ickbur said:
Wow! I've had a good look at those pictures and they look great. I'm really excited to see what how this will look when finished. Still really excited about the core of the zoo and the animals that will be brought in to replace those that move to Islands.
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Speculation and educated guessing suggests the following...

RORA- Bornean orangs will replace the Sumatrans.
Tigers- speculation on a previous thread that they will be replaced by sun bears (zoo has advertised for a new keeper who's duties include looking after sun bears).
Sulawesi maquaques - likely replaced with another monkey species from within the zoo.
Babirusa- otters will keep this enclosure to themselves or it will be used for the babirusa offspring who currently live behind the giraffe house.

Just the warty pigs, banteng and cassowary with no obvious back fill. However, I reckon only about 2% of visitors ever go as far as the cassowary so no immediate solution required - these could even be fenced off and used as off show until back fill is found. Banteng also in an obscure low footfall corner of the zoo so no immediate issue if nothing replaced them. Warty pig enclosure is only the footprint of the bat bridge so again not an obvious gap even if it remains empty.
 
Does anyone have any idea of which birds species will be included in the Islands project and again which bird species will fill the gaps if any are from the outside aviaries or walk throughs.
 
adrian1963 said:
Does anyone have any idea of which birds species will be included in the Islands project and again which bird species will fill the gaps if any are from the outside aviaries or walk throughs.
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Don't believe any new species are coming in but the zoo has been breeding a few species up to fill Islands so just expect no changes!
 
ChesterZooFan said:
Babirusa- otters will keep this enclosure to themselves or it will be used for the babirusa offspring who currently live behind the giraffe house.

Just the warty pigs, banteng and cassowary with no obvious back fill. However, I reckon only about 2% of visitors ever go as far as the cassowary so no immediate solution required - these could even be fenced off and used as off show until back fill is found. Banteng also in an obscure low footfall corner of the zoo so no immediate issue if nothing replaced them. Warty pig enclosure is only the footprint of the bat bridge so again not an obvious gap even if it remains empty.
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Purely speculation on my behalf here - but it would make some sense if the Congo Buffalo were to move across to where the Banteng are now and the Malayan Tapir to one of the pig enclosures so that the cattle house can finally be pulled down.
 
HGibbins said:
Purely speculation on my behalf here - but it would make some sense if the Congo Buffalo were to move across to where the Banteng are now and the Malayan Tapir to one of the pig enclosures so that the cattle house can finally be pulled down.
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How many congo buffalo are there? that banteng enclosure isn't the biggest...
 
Swampy said:
How many congo buffalo are there? that banteng enclosure isn't the biggest...
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The herds are pretty similar in size nowadays, I think there's about six of each, maybe a couple more Congo Buffalo with this year's offspring.
 
Do you not think that the sun bears could be housed within ROTRA, being a bornean species this would be nice theming.
 
Waddi said:
Do you not think that the sun bears could be housed within ROTRA, being a bornean species this would be nice theming.
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I agree it would be a fantastic addition, my only issue would be the viewing opportunity they would offer. I think one of the indoor enclosures would be ok, with some more planting and additional climbing / levels. However the outside would perhaps need opening up a little? Maybe by lowering the left side barrier on the exit ramp so they could be viewed from above?
 
ChesterZooFan said:
I agree it would be a fantastic addition,
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I think they might have a hard job making ROTRA a good exhibit with just the Bornean Orangs, even with an increased number. They are not the best/most active animals to display. So an additional major species to add more interest to the area might eventually prove necessary.
 
From standing by the Oryx the other day looking across at The Islands building site, I saw a fair amount of fake black rock. Personally I hope its kept to a minimum, its not my cup of tea, but I do understand its use and how it ticks boxes.
 
Pootle said:
From standing by the Oryx the other day looking across at The Islands building site, I saw a fair amount of fake black rock. Personally I hope its kept to a minimum, its not my cup of tea, but I do understand its use and how it ticks boxes.
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Sorry .... But almost every single exhibit has an element of or is bounded by the fake rock or 'river bank'. It will mostly be planted up to soften the appearance but still forms the basis for most of the boundaries.

The boundaries for every exhibit have been designed to look 100% 'natural' and are either rock work, water, or bamboo screening. Where chain link is used this will be heavily planted in front of to obscure the unnatural look. I guess this is the fully immersive experience that Islands is all about.

I actually like it.....looks more natural than most I have seen!
 
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