Marwell Wildlife Your personal vision of Marwell zoo
- Thread starter Cat-Man
- Start date
african zone
the vally will contain black and white rhino, giraffe, all 3 spieces of zebra, roan and sable antilope,gemsbok, blesbok, kudu and nyala, waterbuck
ostrich ankole and cape buffalo brontobok and gazelle
the current giraffe house also has monkeys in it. the monkey enclosures demolished and path runs right through them. it then become the african elephant house. the current girrafe paddok becomes the eles paddok, although mud wallow and pool added
the current cheetah venue has lots of rocks added and then becoms home to spotted hyena
current gemsbok enclosure by the leopards re-developed for african hunting dogs.
into africa becomes rhino house
leopard enclosure merged and amur leopards are replaced by african leopards
aridlands expands slightly into current camel enclosure and somali wild ass, scimitar horned oryx and arabian oryx put into the enclosure
a small portion of the remaning enclosure is fenced off and becomes a baboon enclosure. whats left of the enclosure is redeveloped for cheetah
bay eared fox enclosure stays the same and current ocelot enclosure is re-developed for caracle. there will be a nerby reptile hous with large crocs and a large enclosure for monkeys/birds
the current tiger enclosures are merged together and are re-developed for a small pride of african lions
congo area
the path between the 2 okapi enclosures become a raised walkway and the whole area becomes an enclosure for red river hogs, pigmy hippo and sitatunga. once at the top there will be a large forested area for okapi, bongo and congo buffalo. the walk-way will procede over the enclosure and will end at the other end. when off the walk way will be a large gorilla enclosure
south american area
the current gift shop to become a tropical house, with species such as aniconda and caimen. the current kangaroo enclosure becomes an expansion to the current anteater enclosure and tamandua are also added to it. pudu house demolished and a new one built. nerby will be enclosures for jaguar, maned wolf and bush dog. there will also be a brazillian tapir enclosure. the rest of the area will stay the same.
Asia
the current tropical house will become an enclosure for komodo dragons.
the current white rhino enclosure and the current scimitar horned oryx enclosures merge, and are re-developed to become more 'natural' which will become an asian plains area with blackbuck, nilgai, deer, indian rhino, water buffalo, guar and banteng
life in the trees
the anoa and otters are moved out to different area of the zoo (will explain later) all of the enclosures in the area are merged (ive been doing alot of merging!
) and a pair of orangutangs will be introduced. in this exhibit there will be alot more trees and climing structures put in.
aroung this area will be enclosures for malayan tapir, Anoa and babarusa. there will also be enclosures for Bengal tigers, asian elephants. also clouded leopards and sun bears
roof of the world will pretty much the same, but the tahkin enclosure will expand into the area behind the current exhibit and will have more climbing oppertunities and some saigi are introduced
Australia
the current bush walk will expand into the current play ground and field were the llama used to be keeped. auzi species alredy kept at the park (grey kangaroo and emu) will be moved into this area and some new species will be introduced (koala, cassowi, red kangaroo, more walliby species, tree kangaroo). the new exhibit will have a forested area aswell as the current open area. the current golen lion tamerin enclosure will become home to wombats
Eurasia
this will be situated were the old fun fair used to be, and its surrounding area. it will be like a bit of a trail, were the amur leopard, amur tiger, wild horse and camels will be re-sited here. new species there will include ongar, kulan, wolf, bison, deer and bears, aswell as a wetlands/woodlands aviary
the vally will contain black and white rhino, giraffe, all 3 spieces of zebra, roan and sable antilope,gemsbok, blesbok, kudu and nyala, waterbuck
ostrich ankole and cape buffalo brontobok and gazelle
the current giraffe house also has monkeys in it. the monkey enclosures demolished and path runs right through them. it then become the african elephant house. the current girrafe paddok becomes the eles paddok, although mud wallow and pool added
the current cheetah venue has lots of rocks added and then becoms home to spotted hyena
current gemsbok enclosure by the leopards re-developed for african hunting dogs.
into africa becomes rhino house
leopard enclosure merged and amur leopards are replaced by african leopards
aridlands expands slightly into current camel enclosure and somali wild ass, scimitar horned oryx and arabian oryx put into the enclosure
a small portion of the remaning enclosure is fenced off and becomes a baboon enclosure. whats left of the enclosure is redeveloped for cheetah
bay eared fox enclosure stays the same and current ocelot enclosure is re-developed for caracle. there will be a nerby reptile hous with large crocs and a large enclosure for monkeys/birds
the current tiger enclosures are merged together and are re-developed for a small pride of african lions
congo area
the path between the 2 okapi enclosures become a raised walkway and the whole area becomes an enclosure for red river hogs, pigmy hippo and sitatunga. once at the top there will be a large forested area for okapi, bongo and congo buffalo. the walk-way will procede over the enclosure and will end at the other end. when off the walk way will be a large gorilla enclosure
south american area
the current gift shop to become a tropical house, with species such as aniconda and caimen. the current kangaroo enclosure becomes an expansion to the current anteater enclosure and tamandua are also added to it. pudu house demolished and a new one built. nerby will be enclosures for jaguar, maned wolf and bush dog. there will also be a brazillian tapir enclosure. the rest of the area will stay the same.
Asia
the current tropical house will become an enclosure for komodo dragons.
the current white rhino enclosure and the current scimitar horned oryx enclosures merge, and are re-developed to become more 'natural' which will become an asian plains area with blackbuck, nilgai, deer, indian rhino, water buffalo, guar and banteng
life in the trees
the anoa and otters are moved out to different area of the zoo (will explain later) all of the enclosures in the area are merged (ive been doing alot of merging!
) and a pair of orangutangs will be introduced. in this exhibit there will be alot more trees and climing structures put in.aroung this area will be enclosures for malayan tapir, Anoa and babarusa. there will also be enclosures for Bengal tigers, asian elephants. also clouded leopards and sun bears
roof of the world will pretty much the same, but the tahkin enclosure will expand into the area behind the current exhibit and will have more climbing oppertunities and some saigi are introduced
Australia
the current bush walk will expand into the current play ground and field were the llama used to be keeped. auzi species alredy kept at the park (grey kangaroo and emu) will be moved into this area and some new species will be introduced (koala, cassowi, red kangaroo, more walliby species, tree kangaroo). the new exhibit will have a forested area aswell as the current open area. the current golen lion tamerin enclosure will become home to wombats
Eurasia
this will be situated were the old fun fair used to be, and its surrounding area. it will be like a bit of a trail, were the amur leopard, amur tiger, wild horse and camels will be re-sited here. new species there will include ongar, kulan, wolf, bison, deer and bears, aswell as a wetlands/woodlands aviary
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its only persinal, but i suppose your right
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
I can't be bothered to post a personal vision, but I do feel that Marwell need to move forward in terms of the visitor experience they provide. With the ascent of managed species in safari park settings, as well as the recent african reserve at Port Lympne, I think Marwell should really be combining much of their paddock space to mix large numbers of african hoofstock in a central reserve.
I think the vicugnas should be mixed with the maras with a new hardstand and house, there is absolutely no reason why this zoo insists on maintaining this species in yards.
The aridlands area should be extended to offer a large exhibit for the arabian oryx, if these animals are to be maintained at the park for any longer.
I also think that the rows of saki/tamarin cages should be replaced with some open-air, semi or free-ranging situations in some of the mature trees around the park.
I think the vicugnas should be mixed with the maras with a new hardstand and house, there is absolutely no reason why this zoo insists on maintaining this species in yards.
The aridlands area should be extended to offer a large exhibit for the arabian oryx, if these animals are to be maintained at the park for any longer.
I also think that the rows of saki/tamarin cages should be replaced with some open-air, semi or free-ranging situations in some of the mature trees around the park.
your right, my personal vision said that arabian oryx should move to the aridlands
if all of the savvana hoofstook move to the African vally then lots more, say asian species could move in
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johnstoni
Well-Known Member
I also feel the gorillas should not be housed on the site of the chapmans zebra/gnu paddock, but should be located either on the site of the red panda/aviary area or on the site of the current sitatunga paddock. This way, they will be more secluded and surrounded by mature trees. I don't think it's appropriate to house gorillas in an open field.
Argh, how I'd like to see Marwell has been stealing a lot of my thoughts recentley, so I just have to get it all out here! If you are an anti-fantasy, I'd look away now, but then, where would our world be without fiction? My vision follows the biomes plan set out by the cheif exec, with a few things already planned like the new entrance, though I've moved the Congo Forest biome to Horsham Copse (the wood adjacent to the African Valley) and added a new biome in the place where it's going in reality. I've also granted the zoo another 30 acres or so that isn't currently owned by the trust to the North, so a bit of cheating there. Anything not mentioned remains pretty much as it is. Anyway, without further ado:
Entrance:
Treetops is demolished and new entrance is created on the site including a bit behind: This a large building comprising of admission gates, a new gift shop, a new information desk, an interpretation area and toilet facilities.
British Woodland Biome:
In the wood next to the new entrance, a circular trail with the theme of British Habitats is created. A double gate allows fallow deer to free-range in the area and along the way there are man-made wildlife homes like ponds, composts, feeders, nest boxes etc., info points and activities like den building. Animal enclosures dotted along the trail house Scottish Wildcats, Pine Martens, Red Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Hazel Dormice and Barn Owls.
South American Coast:
- King and Rockhopper Penguins join the Humboldts.
- On the site of the mara paddock, a leveled enclosure for Patagonian Sea Lions is created, with tanks for small marine fish/invertabrates of the area, an underwater tunnel and raised viewing.
- Between the Sea Lions, an aviary housing Inca Terns, Megellan Geese and Sea Ducks is built.
South African Savannah:
- An enclosure for Hunting Dogs is made on the site of the old jaguar enclosure and a stretch of the lawn behind it.
- The cheetahs move to a new enclosure and it is then occupied by Warthogs and Yellow Mongooses.
- The Servals remain in one of their present enclosures, whilst the Bat-Eared Foxes take the other.
- The Sacred Ibis, Night Herons and Egrets move out of Marabou Mansions to elsewhere in the park, and the Marabou Storks and Waldrapp Ibis are joined by Cattle Egrets. A new avairy is built nearby for secratary birds. On a lighter note, as planned in reality a new toilet block is built on the site of the old tamarin house.
- Much of Into Africa remains the same; the hyrax enclosure is repopulated and the Colobus and Diana Monkeys move elsewhere in the park, and are replaced with Patas Monkeys.
- In Heart of Africa, the Buffalo and Bongo move to the Congo biome, so the Black Wildebeest move into where the bongos were and the Buffalo unit is renovated for the white rhinos to move in. Cusimanse occupy the old potto enclosure, the Nile Monitor is replaced with Bosc Monitor and the small animal displays house Striped Grass Mice, Locusts and Dung Beetles.
- The main paddock now has White Rhinos, Pure Rothschild Giraffes, the already current Sable Antelope and Chapman's Zebra (who have moved into the old warthog yard for housing/hardstand). The walkway extends to the right for the remaining length of the paddock, and looks into a new cheetah enclosure that has been created at the top of the paddock.
- A bridge over the black wildbeest paddock is built which ends in the empty space behind HOA that used to be overflow parking. But it is not this anymore: A path runs along the top of it, the right side looking into the lower end of the African Valley, the left looking into a new house and yard for African Elephants... but more on that later. As you pass the elephant house, it makes a sharp right into the Congo Forest Biome.
More coming up tonight!
Entrance:
Treetops is demolished and new entrance is created on the site including a bit behind: This a large building comprising of admission gates, a new gift shop, a new information desk, an interpretation area and toilet facilities.
British Woodland Biome:
In the wood next to the new entrance, a circular trail with the theme of British Habitats is created. A double gate allows fallow deer to free-range in the area and along the way there are man-made wildlife homes like ponds, composts, feeders, nest boxes etc., info points and activities like den building. Animal enclosures dotted along the trail house Scottish Wildcats, Pine Martens, Red Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Hazel Dormice and Barn Owls.
South American Coast:
- King and Rockhopper Penguins join the Humboldts.
- On the site of the mara paddock, a leveled enclosure for Patagonian Sea Lions is created, with tanks for small marine fish/invertabrates of the area, an underwater tunnel and raised viewing.
- Between the Sea Lions, an aviary housing Inca Terns, Megellan Geese and Sea Ducks is built.
South African Savannah:
- An enclosure for Hunting Dogs is made on the site of the old jaguar enclosure and a stretch of the lawn behind it.
- The cheetahs move to a new enclosure and it is then occupied by Warthogs and Yellow Mongooses.
- The Servals remain in one of their present enclosures, whilst the Bat-Eared Foxes take the other.
- The Sacred Ibis, Night Herons and Egrets move out of Marabou Mansions to elsewhere in the park, and the Marabou Storks and Waldrapp Ibis are joined by Cattle Egrets. A new avairy is built nearby for secratary birds. On a lighter note, as planned in reality a new toilet block is built on the site of the old tamarin house.
- Much of Into Africa remains the same; the hyrax enclosure is repopulated and the Colobus and Diana Monkeys move elsewhere in the park, and are replaced with Patas Monkeys.
- In Heart of Africa, the Buffalo and Bongo move to the Congo biome, so the Black Wildebeest move into where the bongos were and the Buffalo unit is renovated for the white rhinos to move in. Cusimanse occupy the old potto enclosure, the Nile Monitor is replaced with Bosc Monitor and the small animal displays house Striped Grass Mice, Locusts and Dung Beetles.
- The main paddock now has White Rhinos, Pure Rothschild Giraffes, the already current Sable Antelope and Chapman's Zebra (who have moved into the old warthog yard for housing/hardstand). The walkway extends to the right for the remaining length of the paddock, and looks into a new cheetah enclosure that has been created at the top of the paddock.
- A bridge over the black wildbeest paddock is built which ends in the empty space behind HOA that used to be overflow parking. But it is not this anymore: A path runs along the top of it, the right side looking into the lower end of the African Valley, the left looking into a new house and yard for African Elephants... but more on that later. As you pass the elephant house, it makes a sharp right into the Congo Forest Biome.
More coming up tonight!
Congo Forest Biome:
Entry to the biome is along a stretch of path near to the very western end of the African Valley, which is part of Cowleaze Copse. Two aviaries would be built to the left of this path to keep visitors interested, housing birds like Congo Peafowl, Trumpeter Hornbill and Touracos. Once within the biome set within Horsham Copse, the first paddock is a mixed exhibit for Bongo and Blue Duiker, and opposite this are two open-top monkey enclosures like the ones at the Aspinall Parks, one holding Mandrills and the other King Colobus Monkeys and Sooty Mangebeys. In the centre of the biome are two even larger open-top primate exhibits linking back to a house with public viewing and small animal displays featuring things like Potto, Gaboon Viper, etc. The first one is a mixed exhibit for Gorillas and De Brazza Monkeys and the other has Bonobos and Diana Monkeys. Finally, there are two more paddocks to the right of these, one with a large wallow holds the Congo Buffalo Herd, and the other houses Marwell's Okapi Breeding Group with the allowance to split it in two. As the whole biome is in a woodland setting, it creates a naturalistic, immersive and enriching atmosphere. Planting that can either be found or is similar to that in the Congo would be used where nessacary, and there would also be a kiosk and picnic tables near the gorillas.
That's all for tonight; getting tired!
Entry to the biome is along a stretch of path near to the very western end of the African Valley, which is part of Cowleaze Copse. Two aviaries would be built to the left of this path to keep visitors interested, housing birds like Congo Peafowl, Trumpeter Hornbill and Touracos. Once within the biome set within Horsham Copse, the first paddock is a mixed exhibit for Bongo and Blue Duiker, and opposite this are two open-top monkey enclosures like the ones at the Aspinall Parks, one holding Mandrills and the other King Colobus Monkeys and Sooty Mangebeys. In the centre of the biome are two even larger open-top primate exhibits linking back to a house with public viewing and small animal displays featuring things like Potto, Gaboon Viper, etc. The first one is a mixed exhibit for Gorillas and De Brazza Monkeys and the other has Bonobos and Diana Monkeys. Finally, there are two more paddocks to the right of these, one with a large wallow holds the Congo Buffalo Herd, and the other houses Marwell's Okapi Breeding Group with the allowance to split it in two. As the whole biome is in a woodland setting, it creates a naturalistic, immersive and enriching atmosphere. Planting that can either be found or is similar to that in the Congo would be used where nessacary, and there would also be a kiosk and picnic tables near the gorillas.
That's all for tonight; getting tired!
brill plan, can't wait for more!
East African Savannah Biome:
- The focus point of this biome is of course the African Valley, which has been increased in size not only by the additional 20 acres to the West that is already planned to happen, but also by including a field roughly 30 acres in size to the North which currently isn't owned by Marwell (see the aeriel map). Alongside the Giraffes, Grevy's Zebras, Waterbuck and Ostriches already present there, the valley would also house Cape Buffalo, Common Eland, Greater Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Roan Antelope, Thomson's Gazelles and African Elephants. Now the latter may seem radical, but Boras Zoo in Sweden keeps a group with buffalo, giraffes, zebra and antelope in a six acre exhibit with no problems for forty years, so surely it could work in one of 75? On the South Eastern corner of the valley, two paddocks fenced off from the rest of it will also keep Nile Hippos and Lions.
- The Elephant's house and sand paddock as I mentioned would be built on the site of the old overflow car park. A bull would be kept in the house and sand yard permanantley, and if trouble did arise with the elephant cows and the other valley residents a seperate paddock in the South-Western corner of the valley would be created. An extra waterhole, a sand bath, mud wallow and enrichment posts would also be added to the valley to suit their needs, and the fencing would be upgraded to contain them.
- All the other valley stock's housing except the giraffe's, who would remain in Into Africa, would be in three new stableblocks and yards built on the site of the current oryx and zebra yards opposite Into Africa.
- The hippo's paddock would be near to Cafe Graze, and their house and yard would be the one currently used by the waterbuck. A pool would be dug at the bottom of the paddock. The lions would be kept in an adjacent enclosure.
- The current viewing area would be extended to the loop in front of Cafe Graze, and another viewing area would be built by the lions and accessed from the Eurasian Boreal Forest biome. Another one that looks into the Northern Half would be built within the Congo Forest biome.
- A Port Lympne like safari tour using ex-army veichles would be boarded by the penguin enclosure. This would then go through the Rhino/Zebra/Sable Antelope/Nyala paddock, come out by Into Africa and drive along the main zoo road till it reaches a gate leading into the valley. Income from the safari would go towards Marwell's Grevy Zebra project in Kenya.
African Aridlands Biome:
- A new meerkat overlooking the Hall Paddock would be built.
- With all the Grevy's in the valley, they would be replaced in the large paddock by the Hartmann's Zebras. Dama Gazelle would also join them and the scimitars, and all the ostriches would be in the valley unless there were any surplus.
- The leopards would move to the boreal forest biome, and they're enclosure would instead house Hamadryas Baboons.
- The Bat House would be repopulated with Egyptian Fruit Bats.
- The Gemsbok Paddock would be split in two by a path running from the baboon enclosure to Cafe Graze. The larger half to the left, with a new house and yard, would house the Somali Wild Ass and the smaller half to the right would house the Gemsbok. They would also move to the former dama gazelle yard, and the Arabian Oryx would take the larger one they used to have.
- Fennec Foxes would inhabit the other half of Desert Carnivores.
Eurasian Boreal Forest Biome:
- The Camels and Przewalski Horses would move to the Mongolian Steppe biome, and half of their paddock would become a new enclosure for the Siberian Tigers with a path encircling the exhibit. The other half would be a mixed paddock of European Bison and Siberian Musk Deer.
- The old serval pens opposite the playground would become an aviary for Siberian Chipmunks. The ocelots would move to the South American Rainforest biome for their exhibit to become two aviaries for Great Grey and Ural Owls. The old Bat-Eared Fox enclosure would be netted so high climbing structures could be added, and it would hose a pair of Siberian Lynx.
- The area where the pheasantry used to be and part of the area behind it would become the new amur leopard enclosure, with another elevated viewing platform.
- The focus point of this biome is of course the African Valley, which has been increased in size not only by the additional 20 acres to the West that is already planned to happen, but also by including a field roughly 30 acres in size to the North which currently isn't owned by Marwell (see the aeriel map). Alongside the Giraffes, Grevy's Zebras, Waterbuck and Ostriches already present there, the valley would also house Cape Buffalo, Common Eland, Greater Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Roan Antelope, Thomson's Gazelles and African Elephants. Now the latter may seem radical, but Boras Zoo in Sweden keeps a group with buffalo, giraffes, zebra and antelope in a six acre exhibit with no problems for forty years, so surely it could work in one of 75? On the South Eastern corner of the valley, two paddocks fenced off from the rest of it will also keep Nile Hippos and Lions.
- The Elephant's house and sand paddock as I mentioned would be built on the site of the old overflow car park. A bull would be kept in the house and sand yard permanantley, and if trouble did arise with the elephant cows and the other valley residents a seperate paddock in the South-Western corner of the valley would be created. An extra waterhole, a sand bath, mud wallow and enrichment posts would also be added to the valley to suit their needs, and the fencing would be upgraded to contain them.
- All the other valley stock's housing except the giraffe's, who would remain in Into Africa, would be in three new stableblocks and yards built on the site of the current oryx and zebra yards opposite Into Africa.
- The hippo's paddock would be near to Cafe Graze, and their house and yard would be the one currently used by the waterbuck. A pool would be dug at the bottom of the paddock. The lions would be kept in an adjacent enclosure.
- The current viewing area would be extended to the loop in front of Cafe Graze, and another viewing area would be built by the lions and accessed from the Eurasian Boreal Forest biome. Another one that looks into the Northern Half would be built within the Congo Forest biome.
- A Port Lympne like safari tour using ex-army veichles would be boarded by the penguin enclosure. This would then go through the Rhino/Zebra/Sable Antelope/Nyala paddock, come out by Into Africa and drive along the main zoo road till it reaches a gate leading into the valley. Income from the safari would go towards Marwell's Grevy Zebra project in Kenya.
African Aridlands Biome:
- A new meerkat overlooking the Hall Paddock would be built.
- With all the Grevy's in the valley, they would be replaced in the large paddock by the Hartmann's Zebras. Dama Gazelle would also join them and the scimitars, and all the ostriches would be in the valley unless there were any surplus.
- The leopards would move to the boreal forest biome, and they're enclosure would instead house Hamadryas Baboons.
- The Bat House would be repopulated with Egyptian Fruit Bats.
- The Gemsbok Paddock would be split in two by a path running from the baboon enclosure to Cafe Graze. The larger half to the left, with a new house and yard, would house the Somali Wild Ass and the smaller half to the right would house the Gemsbok. They would also move to the former dama gazelle yard, and the Arabian Oryx would take the larger one they used to have.
- Fennec Foxes would inhabit the other half of Desert Carnivores.
Eurasian Boreal Forest Biome:
- The Camels and Przewalski Horses would move to the Mongolian Steppe biome, and half of their paddock would become a new enclosure for the Siberian Tigers with a path encircling the exhibit. The other half would be a mixed paddock of European Bison and Siberian Musk Deer.
- The old serval pens opposite the playground would become an aviary for Siberian Chipmunks. The ocelots would move to the South American Rainforest biome for their exhibit to become two aviaries for Great Grey and Ural Owls. The old Bat-Eared Fox enclosure would be netted so high climbing structures could be added, and it would hose a pair of Siberian Lynx.
- The area where the pheasantry used to be and part of the area behind it would become the new amur leopard enclosure, with another elevated viewing platform.