As has been mentioned elsewhere, Tallinn is raising funds for a new and much needed polar bear enclosure. Here you can find more about the campaign in English and here is a comprehensive set of pictures showing the design and a model of the enclosure In terms of location, it is planned to be on part of the large Père David's deer paddock at the entrance to the zoo. I think it looks very good although I would like to see some elevation offering the polar bears views and sensory stimulation from beyond the enclosure.
This is desperately needed, but these plans have been around for a while. Is there any actual progress towards meeting financial goals or is this just a new year funding push? (which would not be a bad thing in and of itself of course).
They need about €4 million and as far as I know they are nowhere near this figure. Last I heard they had about €100,000 but they are stepping up the campaign - an auction and charity dinner were held in November and they are continuing to collaborate with variuous businesses and the plans are more substantial and public than they were previously. An application was made for EU funding but it wasn't successful.
Well given those numbers they should scrap this plan and build something along the lines of HWP/YWP's wire fence paddocks. They've got plenty of space to make it work and it would be far cheaper. Not to mention actually possible.
The project "Polarium" will start this Spring. The construction work will take about 12 months. Summer 2017 Polarium will welcome its habitants. Tallinn City grants the funding in two parts during this year and next. Jääkarud kolivad uude polaariumisse 2017. aasta suvel - Eesti uudised - Postimees.ee
That's great news. If I understand correctly, the Amur tigers are the zoo's next priority and the Polarium will, in the long term, include seals and penguins.
Seriously?! These plans look so outdated, this is not going to be a good polar bear enclosure. It seems too small and way too open, no places for the bears to hide, no vegetation (exept the golf course lawn). And it`s a terrible idea to surround an enclosure with high walls, fences would be so much better because the bears could see what happens around them. The current enclosure must be AWFUL if this is going to be an improvement. I just hope that someone will come to his senses and stop this waste of money. They could build something much better much cheaper, like HWP.
It is awful: http://www.zoochat.com/1445/tallinn-zoo-estonia-338200/ http://www.zoochat.com/1445/tallinn-zoo-314181/ I agree about the walls and would like them to be able to see and smell beyond the enclosure. I'm not sure if it is fair to judge the vegetation by these designs, the final construction often varies quite a bit.
Yes, you got it quite right. All cold climate animals are moving to the Polarium when it's completed. And tiger project is the next big thing after the Polarium.
Hey! This page updates the new polar bear plant with pictures about every 14 days. Tallinna Loomaaia Polaariumi jääkarude ekspositsiooni projekteerimis-ehitustööde 2. ehitusetapp - Astlanda Ehitus
