England: Chester Zoo Submits Planning Application for New “Grasslands“ Theme Area & Launches New Visitor Attractions This Year

England’s Chester Zoo recently submitted the planning application for “Grasslands”, a new “Africa” theme area to be launched in 2022 directly adjacent to the animal park’s existing “Africa Tsavo” rhino enclosure. Centerpiece of the new area would be a large, open African savannah habitat, home to multiple rare species including Rothschild giraffes, Grevy zebras, ostriches and antelopes. In a specially designed indoor habitat, visitors would come face to face with some of the smallest grassland creatures. Directly adjacent to the mixed species-enclosure, a 270-seat restaurant offering spectacular balcony views across the savannah would also be part of “Grasslands”. In addition, the plans include the park’s first own overnight accommodation offering in the form of 14 safari-style tents and 28 lodges allocated around a lake. The project is the latest as part of the zoo’s multi-year, multi-million Euro strategic development plan, including the creation of themed animal experience worlds with modern, natural-looking enclosures (read also our article on the opening of “Islands” at Chester Zoo in 2015, cf. EAP 6/2015).

This year, visitors to Chester Zoo can also look forward to a range of novelties: This past Easter weekend saw the launch of a new “Madagascar” theme area with lemurs, fossas and other species, as of May guests can enjoy a new predator experience featuring a number of life-sized animatronics. Since February this year, the zoo has been hosting the “Lego: Big Cats” LEGO exhibition of cat species made of LEGO bricks and from autumn this year, visitors will be invited to discover an expansive new habitat for the zoo’s Asiatic lions.

Read more about the latest projects at European zoos in our upcoming magazine issue EAP 3/2019, to be published on May 2^nd. (eap)