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Colwood City Zoo
- Thread starter ralphthestick
- Start date
Hope you all enjoyed the seals last week. Let's check out their neighbours.
The recently renovated "Frozen Shores" area of Colwood features the expanded seal house (previously featured) and a new, state of the art Penguin Pool - one of the largest in Europe.
The zoo features both African and King penguins: however, the King Penguin colony (descended from the zoos original penguin colony) is slowly being allowed to expire as breeding efforts have been largely unsuccessful at the zoo and the enclosure is not really intended to keep such birds.
The pebble beach, which makes up the majority of the enclosure, mimics the penguins’ natural environment, and helps prevent bumblefoot; a common ailment in these birds. It also features a number of nesting boxes for the the penguins to sleep inside.
Next to the main enclosure is a smaller nursery pool where fledgling penguins can build their strength and skills before joining the colony of boisterous adults. This is also away from the busy guest areas, preventing the infants from getting stressed out by over-excited visitors!
Also in the Frozen Shores area is the Original 1934 Penguin Pool, designed by Berthold Lubetkin: an icon of British modernist architecture. Not only did it demonstrate a new direction for British design, it was also one of the first buildings to make extensive use of reinforced concrete. The building was innovative in that it featured ramps for penguins to climb up and slide down - however, the penguins rarely used these slopes without being encouraged by keepers with a fishy treat!
The Penguin Pool is a listed building, and has been given a new life as The Penguin Café, named after 90’s music group 'Penguin Café Orchestra'. The Café interior features a quote from Simon Jeffes - founder of the orchestra - who died in 1997. The Penguin Cafe is a favoured lunchtime spot of Colwood regulars - it offers views of camels, penguins and the savannah enclosure from the terrace, as well as a 'unique' menu!
This area is heavily based on the Penguin pools at London Zoo.
You might want to help yourself to one of those coffees. We've got a bit of a trek ahead of us next time...
The recently renovated "Frozen Shores" area of Colwood features the expanded seal house (previously featured) and a new, state of the art Penguin Pool - one of the largest in Europe.
The zoo features both African and King penguins: however, the King Penguin colony (descended from the zoos original penguin colony) is slowly being allowed to expire as breeding efforts have been largely unsuccessful at the zoo and the enclosure is not really intended to keep such birds.
The pebble beach, which makes up the majority of the enclosure, mimics the penguins’ natural environment, and helps prevent bumblefoot; a common ailment in these birds. It also features a number of nesting boxes for the the penguins to sleep inside.
Next to the main enclosure is a smaller nursery pool where fledgling penguins can build their strength and skills before joining the colony of boisterous adults. This is also away from the busy guest areas, preventing the infants from getting stressed out by over-excited visitors!
Also in the Frozen Shores area is the Original 1934 Penguin Pool, designed by Berthold Lubetkin: an icon of British modernist architecture. Not only did it demonstrate a new direction for British design, it was also one of the first buildings to make extensive use of reinforced concrete. The building was innovative in that it featured ramps for penguins to climb up and slide down - however, the penguins rarely used these slopes without being encouraged by keepers with a fishy treat!
The Penguin Pool is a listed building, and has been given a new life as The Penguin Café, named after 90’s music group 'Penguin Café Orchestra'. The Café interior features a quote from Simon Jeffes - founder of the orchestra - who died in 1997. The Penguin Cafe is a favoured lunchtime spot of Colwood regulars - it offers views of camels, penguins and the savannah enclosure from the terrace, as well as a 'unique' menu!
This area is heavily based on the Penguin pools at London Zoo.
You might want to help yourself to one of those coffees. We've got a bit of a trek ahead of us next time...
I hope you had a chance to stock up and resupply, because we're trekking the Himalayas today!
We will continue our tour of Colwood across the park at the Kora La gate. On the right, are our Sun Bears, Galang and Yudi, both rescued working bears, and now resident in the "Island Kingdoms" area of the zoo. The foothills café is opposite if you would like to sit a while and watch them.
We enter Colwood's 'Passage to Asia' area, and on our right is the Red Panda Exhibit, home to Jiaozi and Chaoxiang. They are both quite shy, so it is often hard to see them: they are usually sleeping in their nesting boxes hidden in the treetops.
The centrepiece of the Asia area is the Nepalese Pagoda. Originally built as part of the 1975 Colwood International Expo, the pagoda was moved here to the site of the former Polar Bear Pit. It now houses Japanese Macaques: despite the fact it's the wrong sort of pagoda, they are happy to call it home! They can often be found sitting up on the rooftops.
Behind the pagoda: our own miniature Himalayas, and home to Colwood's snow leopards, Gerel and Monkh. The Terraces were built in 1922, and the three ‘grotto’-style enclosures were home to various bear species over the years (most famously housing Wojtek the Syrian brown bear until his death in 1963), as well as leopards, goats, crocodiles and penguins! Although small by modern welfare standards, they provided a more naturalistic environment for these animals than the bear pits which were more typical for the period they were built. From the viewing platform, guests could look out over them all at the same time. Today however, such small enclosures are not suitable, so the snow leopards have free-reign over the lower terraces, and the Dall Sheep above. The other animals have found new homes elsewhere in the Zoo or at CWZ Cressingham, our larger sister Zoo. Much effort has been made to improve the Terraces as modern animal enclosures, without erasing the history of the listed structure.
When the zoo was arranged along taxonomic, rather than geographic, lines, the slopes of the mountain were occupied by bears, while the interior housed small carnivores such as racoons, weasels, and badgers. The indoor exhibits have since been converted into a nocturnal house, with reversed lighting to allow visitors to see the inhabitants during daylight hours.
From the Asia area, we can also get a great view of Colwood's herd of Indian Elephants, and follow the 'Elephant Trail' - an educational walk around their enclosure. Regular keeper talks are given from this viewing area.
The Himalayan Terraces are heavily inspired by the Mappin Terraces at London Zoo, while the Nepalese Pagoda is based on the one in Brisbane, Australia.
Hope you're enjoying your tour so far!
We will continue our tour of Colwood across the park at the Kora La gate. On the right, are our Sun Bears, Galang and Yudi, both rescued working bears, and now resident in the "Island Kingdoms" area of the zoo. The foothills café is opposite if you would like to sit a while and watch them.
We enter Colwood's 'Passage to Asia' area, and on our right is the Red Panda Exhibit, home to Jiaozi and Chaoxiang. They are both quite shy, so it is often hard to see them: they are usually sleeping in their nesting boxes hidden in the treetops.
The centrepiece of the Asia area is the Nepalese Pagoda. Originally built as part of the 1975 Colwood International Expo, the pagoda was moved here to the site of the former Polar Bear Pit. It now houses Japanese Macaques: despite the fact it's the wrong sort of pagoda, they are happy to call it home! They can often be found sitting up on the rooftops.
Behind the pagoda: our own miniature Himalayas, and home to Colwood's snow leopards, Gerel and Monkh. The Terraces were built in 1922, and the three ‘grotto’-style enclosures were home to various bear species over the years (most famously housing Wojtek the Syrian brown bear until his death in 1963), as well as leopards, goats, crocodiles and penguins! Although small by modern welfare standards, they provided a more naturalistic environment for these animals than the bear pits which were more typical for the period they were built. From the viewing platform, guests could look out over them all at the same time. Today however, such small enclosures are not suitable, so the snow leopards have free-reign over the lower terraces, and the Dall Sheep above. The other animals have found new homes elsewhere in the Zoo or at CWZ Cressingham, our larger sister Zoo. Much effort has been made to improve the Terraces as modern animal enclosures, without erasing the history of the listed structure.
When the zoo was arranged along taxonomic, rather than geographic, lines, the slopes of the mountain were occupied by bears, while the interior housed small carnivores such as racoons, weasels, and badgers. The indoor exhibits have since been converted into a nocturnal house, with reversed lighting to allow visitors to see the inhabitants during daylight hours.
From the Asia area, we can also get a great view of Colwood's herd of Indian Elephants, and follow the 'Elephant Trail' - an educational walk around their enclosure. Regular keeper talks are given from this viewing area.
The Himalayan Terraces are heavily inspired by the Mappin Terraces at London Zoo, while the Nepalese Pagoda is based on the one in Brisbane, Australia.
Hope you're enjoying your tour so far!
Thank you so much! It's always a bit of a balance between wanting to show off the building and wanting to show off the residents!
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You got a glimpse of it last week, so we're staying in the same area of the zoo to have a look at the Carbuncle Ape House, now the centre of Island Kingdoms and home to some of my personal favourites.
The Arthur Carbuncle Ape House opened in 1965, and was designed by Sir Hugh Casson in the Brutalist Style. The innovative design appears to ‘float’ above the landscape on narrow pillars and glass. This isn’t just for aesthetics; it is intended to prevent the residents from reaching the outer walls and escaping!
Casson believed this system was so effective, he embellished the building with low-relief detail - the most climbable surface imaginable - knowing the apes would never reach it. Unfortunately, he was incorrect, and so hot wire and netting has to be used to keep the current residents in.
The ape house once held a variety of primates, each housed in one of the unusually shaped ‘climbing towers’, with gorillas in the large centre enclosure. Innovative at the time, these habitats were deemed too small by modern welfare standards, so the house was converted to only hold the zoo’s Bornean orangutans in 2007.
The building is now the centre of Island Kingdoms, and the former outdoor ape enclosures now house animals from the Indonesian archipelago, which can be viewed from the ground floor map room rotunda. Komodo dragons, sun bears, babirusa, and orangutans can all be seen from this area - we will explore the rest of Island Kingdoms in a later post.
Upstairs, as well as 360 degree indoor viewing for the orangutans, is the Colwood Education Centre, which is primarily used by school groups. Murals on the walls of the centre detail Colwood's "Conservation Heroes" success stories, as well as give information about some of the smaller animal exhibits in the building. The Carbuncle is a great place to shelter from the inevitable rainy weather we experience here at the zoo!
The Carbuncle Ape House is inspired by the Casson Pavillion (former Elephant House) at London Zoo, the Primate House at Berlin Zoo, and the Orangutan House at Paignton Zoo.
Thanks for checking out another installment!
The Arthur Carbuncle Ape House opened in 1965, and was designed by Sir Hugh Casson in the Brutalist Style. The innovative design appears to ‘float’ above the landscape on narrow pillars and glass. This isn’t just for aesthetics; it is intended to prevent the residents from reaching the outer walls and escaping!
Casson believed this system was so effective, he embellished the building with low-relief detail - the most climbable surface imaginable - knowing the apes would never reach it. Unfortunately, he was incorrect, and so hot wire and netting has to be used to keep the current residents in.
The ape house once held a variety of primates, each housed in one of the unusually shaped ‘climbing towers’, with gorillas in the large centre enclosure. Innovative at the time, these habitats were deemed too small by modern welfare standards, so the house was converted to only hold the zoo’s Bornean orangutans in 2007.
The building is now the centre of Island Kingdoms, and the former outdoor ape enclosures now house animals from the Indonesian archipelago, which can be viewed from the ground floor map room rotunda. Komodo dragons, sun bears, babirusa, and orangutans can all be seen from this area - we will explore the rest of Island Kingdoms in a later post.
Upstairs, as well as 360 degree indoor viewing for the orangutans, is the Colwood Education Centre, which is primarily used by school groups. Murals on the walls of the centre detail Colwood's "Conservation Heroes" success stories, as well as give information about some of the smaller animal exhibits in the building. The Carbuncle is a great place to shelter from the inevitable rainy weather we experience here at the zoo!
The Carbuncle Ape House is inspired by the Casson Pavillion (former Elephant House) at London Zoo, the Primate House at Berlin Zoo, and the Orangutan House at Paignton Zoo.
Thanks for checking out another installment!
Happy Friday from Colwood Zoo, everyone! Let us carry on our adventure through the Southeast Asian Archipelago.
Starting at the soribashi bridge that links the pagoda to the Ape House. On our right, are Colwood's sun bears, Galang & Yudi. They were rescued by the charity Save the Bears, and details of their stories can be found in their indoor viewing area, as well as a display of chinese bear cages: a painful reminder of the conditions in which many sun bears are kept.
Opposite, we have the Babirusa. Although some might consider these animals with their prominent tusks to be quite ugly, they are endangered with less than 10000 animals left in the wild. Colwood is helping protect these animals by being part of an international breeding program.
Passing the Orangutans (who featured last week), we come to Komodo Kingdom. Colwood is one of the few zoos in the country approved to keep Komodo dragons, which can normally be found escaping the worst of the weather in their climate-controlled indoor quarters! This home away from home contains both forested and open areas, and a variety of different substrates to enrich the dragons on overcast days. Basking lamps in the outdoor area encourage the dragons to laze about in full view of the guests.
Leaving the main building, we round the corner and find the last of the Island Kingdoms enclosures - that of the Binturong. Colwood has two animals, Mlathi and Wira, and their enclosure features a walkthrough area for guest to view them more naturally. It also features high walls on all sides so that the binturong, naturally shy creatures, are not overlooked or disturbed by guests.
Komodo kingdom was partially inspired by London Zoo's Tiger Territory and Attenborough Building, as well as the Crocodile Swamp at Paignton Zoo. The Sun Bear and Binturong enclosures are inspired by 'Bears of the Rising Sun' and 'Worlds Apart' at Colchester Zoo.
So concludes our tour of the Island Kingdoms - perhaps it is time we found some lunch?
Starting at the soribashi bridge that links the pagoda to the Ape House. On our right, are Colwood's sun bears, Galang & Yudi. They were rescued by the charity Save the Bears, and details of their stories can be found in their indoor viewing area, as well as a display of chinese bear cages: a painful reminder of the conditions in which many sun bears are kept.
Opposite, we have the Babirusa. Although some might consider these animals with their prominent tusks to be quite ugly, they are endangered with less than 10000 animals left in the wild. Colwood is helping protect these animals by being part of an international breeding program.
Passing the Orangutans (who featured last week), we come to Komodo Kingdom. Colwood is one of the few zoos in the country approved to keep Komodo dragons, which can normally be found escaping the worst of the weather in their climate-controlled indoor quarters! This home away from home contains both forested and open areas, and a variety of different substrates to enrich the dragons on overcast days. Basking lamps in the outdoor area encourage the dragons to laze about in full view of the guests.
Leaving the main building, we round the corner and find the last of the Island Kingdoms enclosures - that of the Binturong. Colwood has two animals, Mlathi and Wira, and their enclosure features a walkthrough area for guest to view them more naturally. It also features high walls on all sides so that the binturong, naturally shy creatures, are not overlooked or disturbed by guests.
Komodo kingdom was partially inspired by London Zoo's Tiger Territory and Attenborough Building, as well as the Crocodile Swamp at Paignton Zoo. The Sun Bear and Binturong enclosures are inspired by 'Bears of the Rising Sun' and 'Worlds Apart' at Colchester Zoo.
So concludes our tour of the Island Kingdoms - perhaps it is time we found some lunch?
Very cool. What's for lunch?
Man, I wish my laptop could handle these high graphics. I play on the lower end, and I wish I could use things like better textures and shadows...
Man, I wish my laptop could handle these high graphics. I play on the lower end, and I wish I could use things like better textures and shadows...
Find out in next week's exciting episode!
And honestly, my computer is only just holding together at this point - very low fps while we build Colwood
Yeah, before I upgraded a few months ago, I think I was on 12 fps on pause? Building was...not fun...
It's feeding time at the zoo... not for the animals, but for us! The zoo has many different dining options, let's explore them, starting with the Forest Food Hall.
Built as part of the Attenborough entrance complex, the Forest Food Hall replaces a rather tiny refreshment room near the Park Gates entrance. The new food hall features a high-capacity self-service buffet, as well as options for sandwiches and cooked food, and is an ideal dining spot for families. The roof of the building is covered in natural planting; offering habitats for insects and birds in the middle of the city. Another notable resident of the Food Hall are the Sacred Scarab (or Dung) Beetles - situated next to the bathrooms.
If a kid-free atmosphere is your preference, why not visit The Terrace Bar. The former Terrace Cafe, the building dates from the 1920's. It offers coffee, sandwiches and cakes, as well as alcoholic beverages. The Terrace is often open for private events and Zoo Lates - you can even book it for weddings! The Terrace overlooks the Outback enclosures, so it is an ideal place to relax and watch the Dingos and Kangaroo with a cool Australian Lager.
Smaller 'pop-up' style cafés are dotted around the zoo for a quick bite or a hot drink to keep you going through a long day of exploring! The Giraffe House Café, located just past the main entrance is a popular spot first thing in the morning.
The Watering Hole can be found across the zoo, at the heart of the recently-redeveloped Savanna area. Here, you can sip an eco-coffee while admiring views of the lions, zebras, ostriches, and rhinos.
As shown in a previous post, Colwood's old penguin pool took on a new lease of life as The Penguin Café - one of the zoo's more unique food spots. Spaces are limited though, so get there early!
Eyes watering at those prices? Colwood tickets allow guests to leave the park and eat in the local area, as a result, a number of restaurants and eateries exist just beyond the front gate and, if all else fails, there's always the option of a Planco Meal Deal.
The Full Barrow was established in 1879, its bright tiled exterior an attempt to elevate it somewhat as a respectable establishment in opposition to late-Victorian temperance movements. It quickly became the favoured establishment of zoo employees, and many of its signature ales make reference to that fact (most famously Penguin Stout - one of only a few of its brews which became popular outside of the immediate area of Colwood Town). Although at one point deemed ‘a haunt of thieves and rhino-keepers’ by a local guidebook at the turn of the 20th century, the pub has gained a positive reputation lately as an independent establishment, and has appeared for many years in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. Book tables for dinner in advance - they always fill up after the zoo closes!
Well, that's it for this week. Now that we're all nicely refreshed, we can carry on with the tour...
Built as part of the Attenborough entrance complex, the Forest Food Hall replaces a rather tiny refreshment room near the Park Gates entrance. The new food hall features a high-capacity self-service buffet, as well as options for sandwiches and cooked food, and is an ideal dining spot for families. The roof of the building is covered in natural planting; offering habitats for insects and birds in the middle of the city. Another notable resident of the Food Hall are the Sacred Scarab (or Dung) Beetles - situated next to the bathrooms.
If a kid-free atmosphere is your preference, why not visit The Terrace Bar. The former Terrace Cafe, the building dates from the 1920's. It offers coffee, sandwiches and cakes, as well as alcoholic beverages. The Terrace is often open for private events and Zoo Lates - you can even book it for weddings! The Terrace overlooks the Outback enclosures, so it is an ideal place to relax and watch the Dingos and Kangaroo with a cool Australian Lager.
Smaller 'pop-up' style cafés are dotted around the zoo for a quick bite or a hot drink to keep you going through a long day of exploring! The Giraffe House Café, located just past the main entrance is a popular spot first thing in the morning.
The Watering Hole can be found across the zoo, at the heart of the recently-redeveloped Savanna area. Here, you can sip an eco-coffee while admiring views of the lions, zebras, ostriches, and rhinos.
As shown in a previous post, Colwood's old penguin pool took on a new lease of life as The Penguin Café - one of the zoo's more unique food spots. Spaces are limited though, so get there early!
Eyes watering at those prices? Colwood tickets allow guests to leave the park and eat in the local area, as a result, a number of restaurants and eateries exist just beyond the front gate and, if all else fails, there's always the option of a Planco Meal Deal.
The Full Barrow was established in 1879, its bright tiled exterior an attempt to elevate it somewhat as a respectable establishment in opposition to late-Victorian temperance movements. It quickly became the favoured establishment of zoo employees, and many of its signature ales make reference to that fact (most famously Penguin Stout - one of only a few of its brews which became popular outside of the immediate area of Colwood Town). Although at one point deemed ‘a haunt of thieves and rhino-keepers’ by a local guidebook at the turn of the 20th century, the pub has gained a positive reputation lately as an independent establishment, and has appeared for many years in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. Book tables for dinner in advance - they always fill up after the zoo closes!
Well, that's it for this week. Now that we're all nicely refreshed, we can carry on with the tour...
I don't drink, but how about Foster's? The one with the kangaroo on the can?
I could not possibly comment on the exact branding of the Australian lager on offer. I would only say that you wouldn't want a warm beer, would you...
(to be honest, I'd rather a warm beer than a cold Fosters but, hey, the theming works)
I would not know. I'm still underage here in the U.S., but in Mexico I'm considered old enough, so I've tried a taste of beer and tequila.
Not for me; give me a nice, southern sweet tea
As we would say here on the BBC - "Other lagers are available" - but that's what I had in mind.
I'd probably order a Stickley's Stout.....
Well, that lunch break took a little longer than we were expecting but now we're back to explore some more of Colwood Zoo, and everyone is feeling re-energised.... a little too energised in the case of the younger members of your party. Let's head over to the Lemurland play area!
Located right in the centre of Colwood near the Durrell fountain, Lemurland is home to our Ring-tailed lemurs. Stop by their outdoor enclosure and have a look - there is plenty of glass in the area so everyone gets a good view of the animals. It also prevents them from climbing up the structure and escaping.
Around the corner, is the Lemurland play area. The play area is inspired by the Lemurs next door - kids can run around and play up high above the ground. The play area is intended to be fun to look at as well - created by artists from driftwood and inspired by african tribal art. It also features something of a novelty - tunnels that lead into the lemurs' habitat for a tree-top view of the animals.
Excess steam burned off, head into the lemur house. Built around the trunks of 3 former great oak trees, the lemur house allows guests to walk through and encounter these animals close up. There are lemur treats available from dispensers at the entrance - make sure you wash your hands afterward at the sinks provided.
On your way out, stop by the base camp for a picture in the crashed land rover - remember to include #colwoodzoo when you post on Instagram!
Lemurland is based on the Squirrel Monkey House at the Bergzoo, Halle, and the Tumbling Bay play area in Queen Elizabeth Park, London.
Sorry for the slight hiatus while we both took a bit of an unintentional break from the game - hopefully we should return to a more regular schedule again soon!
Located right in the centre of Colwood near the Durrell fountain, Lemurland is home to our Ring-tailed lemurs. Stop by their outdoor enclosure and have a look - there is plenty of glass in the area so everyone gets a good view of the animals. It also prevents them from climbing up the structure and escaping.
Around the corner, is the Lemurland play area. The play area is inspired by the Lemurs next door - kids can run around and play up high above the ground. The play area is intended to be fun to look at as well - created by artists from driftwood and inspired by african tribal art. It also features something of a novelty - tunnels that lead into the lemurs' habitat for a tree-top view of the animals.
Excess steam burned off, head into the lemur house. Built around the trunks of 3 former great oak trees, the lemur house allows guests to walk through and encounter these animals close up. There are lemur treats available from dispensers at the entrance - make sure you wash your hands afterward at the sinks provided.
On your way out, stop by the base camp for a picture in the crashed land rover - remember to include #colwoodzoo when you post on Instagram!
Lemurland is based on the Squirrel Monkey House at the Bergzoo, Halle, and the Tumbling Bay play area in Queen Elizabeth Park, London.
Sorry for the slight hiatus while we both took a bit of an unintentional break from the game - hopefully we should return to a more regular schedule again soon!
Happy Friday all! While we all scratch our heads about where these European animals are going to end up in our zoos (I'm still working my way through South America, eek!), let's carry on our tour and head over to the Eden Domes at Colwood Zoo.
This is a multi-million pound expansion of the Wallace Tropical House, which itself dates back to 1926. It's a huge greenhouse exhibit, allowing guests to take a trip through the many tropical biomes of the world.
We enter via the north entrance door, and are met by the Zoo's Southern Cassowary - the world's "most dangerous bird" - there is an outdoor enclosure for them here, but they can also pass into the dome's interior space through a connecting tunnel.
Entering the building, we find ourselves in the Australian Temperate Rainforest. The dome here is one of the largest in the uk, and entirely built from laminated timber. In order to conform to building restrictions, and not obscure the view of the 1920's Wallace Tropical House, the architects had to dig down into the ground, hence much of the domes' internal volume is subterranean. We head down the stairs to the forest floor, to meet Colwood's Koalas!
We are lucky enough to be one of only three zoos in the country to exhibit koalas. They spend most of their time snoozing in their feeder trees, but a keeper is always on hand in case they need shepherding across a busy path. If you can't see any from the floor level, perhaps head up onto the "Treetops Trail" above our heads: but they can still be hard to spot up in the canopy.
Rounding the corner, we have and example of a Melanesian Mangrove forest, complete with fish, and the indoor enclosure for our pair of cassowaries. This heavily-planted area is a home away from home for these rainforest-dwelling birds, representing a Guinean Tropical Rainforest.
Let's carry on through Eden next time as we explore the Amazonia area.
Eden is inspired by the Eden Project, Cornwall, as well as the Canary Wharf Crossrail Station, London. The Wallace Tropical House is inspired by the Reptile House, London Zoo.
This is a multi-million pound expansion of the Wallace Tropical House, which itself dates back to 1926. It's a huge greenhouse exhibit, allowing guests to take a trip through the many tropical biomes of the world.
We enter via the north entrance door, and are met by the Zoo's Southern Cassowary - the world's "most dangerous bird" - there is an outdoor enclosure for them here, but they can also pass into the dome's interior space through a connecting tunnel.
Entering the building, we find ourselves in the Australian Temperate Rainforest. The dome here is one of the largest in the uk, and entirely built from laminated timber. In order to conform to building restrictions, and not obscure the view of the 1920's Wallace Tropical House, the architects had to dig down into the ground, hence much of the domes' internal volume is subterranean. We head down the stairs to the forest floor, to meet Colwood's Koalas!
We are lucky enough to be one of only three zoos in the country to exhibit koalas. They spend most of their time snoozing in their feeder trees, but a keeper is always on hand in case they need shepherding across a busy path. If you can't see any from the floor level, perhaps head up onto the "Treetops Trail" above our heads: but they can still be hard to spot up in the canopy.
Rounding the corner, we have and example of a Melanesian Mangrove forest, complete with fish, and the indoor enclosure for our pair of cassowaries. This heavily-planted area is a home away from home for these rainforest-dwelling birds, representing a Guinean Tropical Rainforest.
Let's carry on through Eden next time as we explore the Amazonia area.
Eden is inspired by the Eden Project, Cornwall, as well as the Canary Wharf Crossrail Station, London. The Wallace Tropical House is inspired by the Reptile House, London Zoo.