3D fly-through of Islands at Chester Zoo - Opens Spring 2015

In spring 2015 we're opening Islands, a brand new experience at Chester Zoo. Embark on a unique expedition to discover six different Southeast Asian Island habitats.
Find out more at www.chesterzoo.org/islands
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MEDIA RELEASE
Chester Zoo has released the first video animation of how its new £30m Islands project will look.
The computer-generated footage of the "biggest and most ambitious development in UK zoo history" has been issued to mark the start of English Tourism Week.
Islands will see visitors set off an expedition - moving through detailed recreations of habitats in the Philippines, Bali, Sulawesi, Papua, Sumba and Sumatra. They will walk over bridges, travel in boats and see buildings that are architecturally identical to those found in South East Asia.
The zoo's development director, Simon Mann, said:
"Islands is all about immersion - transporting visitors thousands of miles away to experience the splendour of the animals, plants and cultural aspects of these far-flung places. It will take our visitors on an adventure where, for a couple of hours, they feel like they're in South East Asia. Islands is the biggest and most ambitious development in UK zoo history - there's nothing else like it.
"The details along the way tell authentic stories of the amazing things that happen on the islands, including our vital field conservation work.
"Many of the animals which people will see are critically endangered in the wild. So we hope that when people see them in such an incredibly realistic and naturalistic setting, it'll make them have more of an emotional connection with them. If people care about a species they're more likely to help save them."
Some of the animals visitors can expect to see include warty pigs, banteng cattle, cassowaries, Sumatran tigers, Sulawesi macaques, Sumatran orangutans and sunda gharial crocodiles.
Islands, which is expected to see visitor numbers to the zoo increase by 150,000 per year (currently 1.4m), will open in spring 2015.
(Video courtesy of dan pearlman: www.danpearlman.com)

[@chesterzoo]

If you're not already excited about our new Islands project, you soon will be...
#Islands #chesterzoo #3D #3Danimation #video #videoanimation #animals #southeastasia
(For more, visit: www.chesterzoo.org/islands/2014/March/3d-fly-through)

[@MattCody]

I'm looking forward to this... after just becoming a member this week. Is there a launch date?

[@chesterzoo]

Matt Cody Hi Matt, it's on course to open in spring next year. Thanks ever so much for coming on board as a member. Your support is much appreciated.

[@morningglorify]

You are on my bucket list and have been for some time now. You are trailblazing the way zoos are meant to operate and teach us. Really big congratulations! I will make it to the UK by 2015, that's a promise! (Canadian in Toronto)

[@brianboru62]

Bloody hell taken aback ,made up for Chester Zoo when I last went it was a shed decrepid,dated and now this talk about a Phoenix rising from the ashes.Chester zoo one of the premier animal tourism sites in UK well done to Chester Zoo

[@merrick10uk]

I am so looking forward to this :)

[@emily-mn2oj]

so excited!

[@jedq]

i cant belive that one world best zoos in the north west of england i can go to it make make london zoo rainforest idear look crap big up chester z00 cant waite to go

[@jane9875]

ive just become aware of chester zoo seems like a good one not just sticking a load of animals in cages

[@OpheliaJigsaw]

Did you have to build it yourself because its brilliant

[@charlottejanicki883]

Listen it does not look like that