@TeaLovingDave You are completely right about the birds. Unfortunately they don't seem to rank high for the new administration. But I'm still confident there will be more than two species eventually. I think they even still have some fitting ones in the park.
As to the mammals I still think the new mix will be far more attractive.
The wolverines were awesome but have been gone for a long time now and I hardly ever managed to see the wild cats at all. Pikas and white-lipped deer were not displayed like an official part of the collection.
So apart from birds it was pretty much down to (allbeit interesting) sheep/goats/takins, of course the impressive moose and lynx/palas's cats.
I still enjoyed the mountain zoo area as it always kind of felt like entering another zoo.
But I'm sure the Himalaya area will give a still stronger impression of a complete collection.
Besides goats/sheep/takins there will be small and large deer as well as kiangs and probably also yaks which I forgot to mention. I think this mix of ungulates will be more interesting for most visitors.
And besides small cats (palas's cats) there will be big cats (snow leopards), red pandas and even monkeys. The pikas are not as spectacular of course but they could still be well received (small and cuddly-looking). I am also curious, if they will implement further existing species such as Himalaya striped squirrel (I don't even know where they are now but apparently they are still somewhere in the park).
I can well imagine they will keep adding exhibits and aviaries to keep the area attractive.
Looking at it from another perspective: Several Zoos in Germany and Europe display European alpine animals, including some great displays set in actual alpine regions (just as there often is a clear focus on seals, sea birds etc at the northern part of Germany as with Bremerhaven).
On the other hand, only few zoos have a Himalaya area and if so, it is usually neither large nor very hilly. In most cases you will find snow leopard and red panda - and then hardly any more than that. Neither of these impressive species guarantees activity and around the next corner you already hear some tropical monkeys, parrots etc.
So an entire mountain zoo area dedicated to Himalaya is quite a unique and exclusive experience (perhaps as much so as providing a still larger and more diverse Africa complex than other zoos).
I still believe the overall concept for Berlin Zoo and Tierpark is exactly the right strategy: A high density of highlights in the city zoo and a relaxing trip through the continents of the world and their most characteristic habitats in the landscape zoo. Berlin Tierpark will never beat Berlin Zoo when it comes to spectacular species. But they have a whole lot of space and a good strategy to make use of it. And they continue to display (and sometimes even add) some very rare and interesting animals (I'm looking forward to Francois langurs or yaks as well as to pikas and Himalayan monals in their new enclosures).
So even when the park adds/returns lions, rhinos, apes, seals etc they can integrate them into habitats that have been attractive or even unique in the first place. Besides that they put a whole lot of effort into planting and landscaping to make the park more attractive as a landscape zoo.
I hope they do go on-display in the fullness of time, as they are very appealing animals.