Thought I would start a thread for discussions about possible (likely/unlikely) changes to the zoo. Keeps it away form the main thread and means people who don't want to get involved don't have to Id like to start with the area near the Elephants, if this is to be an Asia area, I would rebuild the camel/cheetah and the canal and islands into new areas for the Borneo Orangs and the Indian Rhino, then, extend the elephant paddock into the current rhino area. Then I would convert the monkey islands into 2 islands for the Asian Lion and Sloth bears.
I believe a heart of Africa style project should still be considered. Giraffes over to the west side, mixed paddock with zebra, compliment tsavo and wild dogs themed areas. Giraffe house, cattle house, chimp house and tropical realm bulldozed. Malayan Tapir moved to islands. Immersive Congo/ African jungle themed area to comprise of new chimp enclosure, okapi, red river hogs, Congo buffalo. Bongo moved to this area, maybe sitatunga if space allows. New species introduced would be western lowland gorilla and pygmy hippo.
Agree with all this, the current Zebra plus Bongo's enclosure would make a large enclosure for both the Zebra and giraffes, may have to re-route the monorail a bit first. Id also use the coach car park to extend the Africa zone, bringing over the cheetahs, and ass Hippo, Hyenas and leopards. Id like to also see a Arctic area created on the land the other side of the public road behind Jaguars and Orangutan house. Big Polar bear exhibit similar to YWP with musk oxen, wolves and elk. Then Id convert the center of the zoo to a British zone, with red squirrels, Otters, beavers, pine martins and Scottish wild cats etc.. And very unlikely Id like the zoo to sign an agreement with China to become the worldwide holder of the studbook for Giant Panda, and have them in the area currently with the spectacled bears and tapirs/capybaras.
Very unlikely indeed, and something I actively hope they never do though I suspect the odds of Chester deliberately going into a species which would cripple their finances are about equal to the odds of their getting kouprey for Islands!
Chester... No such thing as a Pine Martin. Tropical Realm is a very important part of the zoo and could not be lightly 'bulldozed'.
No part of the zoo is that IMPORTANT apart from Oakfield House and the stable block,anything else in the zoo could be knocked down without any problem,and will be at somepoint in the future!
I agree it's very unlikely but suspect that Chester, with it's vast visitor numbers and revenues could afford Giant Pandas without that much of a struggle. Whether it would be worth it, compared with what else they might do with that money, or whether it would much further increase visitor numbers and revenues is a whole other question.
