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

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karoocheetah said:
There is a cctv link to the wildcats. It's in the native species hut right at the entrance on the left as you pass through the staff ticket swipe, just at the foot of the elephant boardwalk
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Ah, you mean the one I always walk straight past or go behind on the bark path round the elephants :o
I stand corrected: the light is a bit brighter than I thought and the bushel isn't quite as light-proof, but there's still a case for banging the drum rather louder for our native species.

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
Ah, you mean the one I always walk straight past or go behind on the bark path round the elephants :o
I stand corrected: the light is a bit brighter than I thought and the bushel isn't quite as light-proof, but there's still a case for banging the drum rather louder for our native species.

Alan
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That's the one :D

agreed on the publicity though - it was mentioned via one of the members talks last year (the UK wildlife symposium) where Roisin from Highland Tiger the overseer project came and gave a intro to the project and a talk on genetic purity and how to ensure and maintain it through the project. Really very interesting.
The EAZA talk for this year is 'Biodiversity is us' so it's just possible it will be mentioned there too?
I have still only seen the one cat present in the enclosure too.
 
It has been mentioned that Malayan tapir will go into phase 2 of the islands project, is this a separate piece of land or within the boundaries of the current site or placement within the soon to open exhibit?
Have other species been mentioned alonside the tapirs for this phase 2?
 
kiang said:
Have other species been mentioned alongside the tapirs for this phase 2?
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Komodo Islands, Madagascar/Mascarenes and Borneo (although the latter has been largely speculation) have all been mentioned in some shape or form since the initial press release but didn't make the final plans for phase one.
 
kiang said:
It has been mentioned that Malayan tapir will go into phase 2 of the islands project, is this a separate piece of land or within the boundaries of the current site or placement within the soon to open exhibit?
Have other species been mentioned alonside the tapirs for this phase 2?
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There has been space left within the current area for other exhibits and species to be added,at a later date as time and funds permit!
 
A pleasant surprise came in the post this morning - details of the members previews for Islands which have finally been arranged. Unfortunately the only bit of bad news is that those previews aren't planned until mid July... Meaning the opening has once again been pushed back.

The previews will be done over three days - if you want to go then you have to book a date (via the website) THIS Tuesday (21st April) otherwise your aren't going. Will post the exact dates later on
 
The preview dates are: Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July

General tickets will be available to buy from 23rd April - however no general opening date is yet being confirmed on these invite tickets
 
Well that's dissapointing- both the date being pushed back and the preview dates; i'm visiting universities!
 
I'm not at all surprised at the slippage, its a massive project and all things considered, only slightly late.

I'm a little disappointed that the member preview days are so few, mainly on a weekend, and from a personal point of view bang in the high season of summer events. At the end of the day the zoo will be open every day from that weekend onwards, I'll pick a quiet late afternoon moment and pop in then.

I will still register, just in case I can make it. Probably Friday. Sigh.
 
NigeW said:
I'm not at all surprised at the slippage, its a massive project and all things considered, only slightly late.

I'm a little disappointed that the member preview days are so few, mainly on a weekend, and from a personal point of view bang in the high season of summer events. At the end of the day the zoo will be open every day from that weekend onwards, I'll pick a quiet late afternoon moment and pop in then.

I will still register, just in case I can make it. Probably Friday. Sigh.
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I suggest that the majority of the zoos members are working weekdays or in kids in school so to make it accessible to as many members as possible the weekend dates are the most friendly and I don't think they could do previews much earlier as they are working flat out now to get things ready - to organise members previews requires the site not only to to handed over to the zoo by the main contractor but also for it to be safe for the public to enter - that being said it would be easiest to do that as close as possible to the opening date, so the major snags and fettling will have to be sorted in potentially a narrow time frame never mind getting the animals moved across and settled - I'm just pleased they stuck to their promise of allowing members previews - they could quite easily have been kiboshed due to the time pressures.
Book it - come and enjoy yourself as a member of the public and who knows you might just actually have a good time!
 
gentle lemur said:
I'm Friday 11am :)
Perhaps I should add that there are 1 hour slots, so presumably we will be going at a pretty quick trot, perhaps we get to relax on the boat.

Alan
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The website specifies you can spend as long in Islands as you like (it's in the FAQ at the bottom of the page linked above) so I guess the slots are just to stagger people going in.
 
Maguari said:
The website specifies you can spend as long in Islands as you like (it's in the FAQ at the bottom of the page linked above) so I guess the slots are just to stagger people going in.
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Thank you :o I was too busy failing to remember my password to read the small print :o

Alan
 
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