Chester Zoo, the most well known zoo in the UK! If you had the money, what would you do to change the zoo? I want to see what the other ZooChatters think! (I think this may be in the wrong board for some reason)
I think that London and Bristol might have something to say about it being the best known,give that they are the oldest and 5th oldest in the world respectively!!
In order for me: 1. Renovate (preferable) or demolish the Tropical Realm. A shadow of its former glory with well established trees that would be a shame to destroy but an area with a lot of hidden areas inaccessible to the public. This is crying out for attention. If budget wasn’t an option then this area could be spectacular again. 2. Return of the Gorillia, Pinnipeds and Hippo- two of them are already on long term plans they are the big omissions for me. 3. Extension to the elephant paddock. Maybe even an additional massive mixed species paddock on some of the of the vast unused land the zoo own. 4. Display some more hot herps- whilst most Zoos are going out of venomous snakes London proves that it can be done on a budget and safely. Would potentially fit in renovated Tropical Realm. 5. UK wildlife section on display. This would include current UK animals such as slow worm and adder and ones which have historically vanished such as wolves and lynx. 6. Small cats- if Twycross was the monkey zoo then I saw Chester as the cat zoo. Would like a few more small cat species such as Cloudies or another big cat in Snow Leopards. I didn’t put the reorganisation of the collection into zones because that is already happening. I would balance new animal species between conservation status, genral visability of the species in capativity (as in can you see the animals when you visit a zoo or do they just hide) and charisma of the species.
Given one of the major issues seems to be heating, in an ideal world it'd make a wonderful temperate free-flight, along the lines of Prague's Sichuan Pavilion.
I would argue that that this is a bonus, given the fact that these inaccessible areas are part of what makes it so well-suited to the freeflying birds present, and that the building is still spectacular despite its age and condition.
1. Tone down the commercialism (no, I don't want a photograph taken of me ...) 2. Build enclosures where the public can actually see the animals (i.e. don't block viewing areas with extraneous stuff; don't put viewing areas at dead ends - e.g. gharial) 3. After decades of use it surely isn't beyond the wit of man to design glass-fronted enclosures which give you a view of the animals rather than of your own reflection ... 4. More species. More, more ... 5. Treasure your history
10 (realistic) mammals to make Chester the best collection in Europe : Gorilla Hippo / Pygmy Hippo Cape Fur Seal Brown Hyaena Polar Bear ( Any zoo missing these can't be the best!) Snow Leopard Wombat Tasmanian Devil Golden Takin A rarely seen smaller cat species ( or Ratel would be good) What I would like to see, which won't fit in with the modern obsession everywhere with zoogeography would be a top drawer small mammal / nocturnal house ( kiwi too?)
Ok my ideas: Bring in maned wolves for the savanna side of SOTJ and bring in tamandua to join the sloths. Also restock the fish tank in there and add some fresh water rays Convert the old bongo enclosure to he suutsble for Congo buffalo, remove the anoa from the that house, demolish it to create an enclosure for bearded pig or another species of hoved mammal. Move the panther Chameleons off show to be put on show in a converted Komodo house. The komodos will have a new house in an extended islands ( behind the sitatunga) as well as moving the species from Montserrat to tropical realm and those from Indonesia to islands ( mouse dear will move to tropical realm) Most Madagascan species will move into the house, all the birds in the old aviarys that will be converted to a whole one, and the old Komodo area turned intoned an area full of small vivariums for the lower species of animal. Get rid of the nissan hut and expand the bus dog enclosure. Move Burt and put caracal into that exhibit. Once the current species have moved from it, in the old anteater enclosure bring in species from Australia, some rock kangaroo. Though not a part of the zoo's master plan they are missing a lot without Australia.
I would remove the more regular birds species and bring in more rare species as most of the bird collection can be seen in many zoo's around the UK.
I'd love Chester to get this species; sadly I suspect it is only a matter of a few years before it disappears from Europe entirely given the tiny and decreasing population...... Am I the only person who *likes* that aviary?
Many of these apparently commoner species are part of self sustaining captive populations. There are plenty of rarities at Chester, including Short-tailed Green Magpies and Sumatran Laughingthrushes, which will hopefully lead to self sustaining captive populations.
I'm flattered to sound like Alan truly but after finally getting to see it outside it looks awful and is better gone, inside isn't so bad but I feel it should go out that magpie by the elephants and you're sorted.
Along with free flight birds you could also continue to keep a few herp species such as Chinese alligators and giant salamanders. Taking it a bit further though... Convert one of the hornbill aviaries to house Francois langurs inside and build a large mesh tent outside. The nocturnal hall could house giant flying squirrels and hog badger and the island behind could house red pandas. That would then just leave the issue of what to do with the bird choices and which aviaries to leave.
My wishes are simple. A guide book and a map that cn actually be understood by the visitors. Well that and more bongos
