A plan to redesign the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens by Germanarchitect Peter Rasbach has been approved by the zoo management and willnext be submitted to the HCM City Department of Urban Planning andArchitecture.
If approved the work is likely to begin early next year.
PhamQuoc Hung of the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens was quoted by TuoiTre (Youth) newspaper as saying that the green areas and plants in thezoo would remain untouched while the animal enclosures would berearranged to improve living conditions.
According to localarchitects, it is not easy to design zoos since architects should knowabout both animals and plants, something that Rasbach does.
Thecurrent layout of the zoo falls way below international standards.Following the renovation, African species like lions, rhinos, zebras,hippopotamuses, giraffes, and ostriches will be housed in places with alot of grass.
The small elephant enclosure will be expanded, andthere will be enclosures for new species like penguins and an aviary.Some species of birds will be housed together in future unlike now.
Officials have not disclosed the estimated cost of the upgrade.
Earlierzoo officials had rejected suggestions for moving the facility to theoutlying Cu Chi district and decided to upgrade the existing zoo.
Rasbach'sfirm says on its website that it is "a German-based firm of architectsand landscape architects that beside ordinary architecture hasspecialised in designing zoos, wildlife parks, aquaria and museums inEurope and abroad since 1992".
Elsewhere, the city is continuing with plans to set up a 485ha safari park in Cu Chi's An Nhon Tay and Phu My Hung Wards.-VNA
If approved the work is likely to begin early next year.
PhamQuoc Hung of the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens was quoted by TuoiTre (Youth) newspaper as saying that the green areas and plants in thezoo would remain untouched while the animal enclosures would berearranged to improve living conditions.
According to localarchitects, it is not easy to design zoos since architects should knowabout both animals and plants, something that Rasbach does.
Thecurrent layout of the zoo falls way below international standards.Following the renovation, African species like lions, rhinos, zebras,hippopotamuses, giraffes, and ostriches will be housed in places with alot of grass.
The small elephant enclosure will be expanded, andthere will be enclosures for new species like penguins and an aviary.Some species of birds will be housed together in future unlike now.
Officials have not disclosed the estimated cost of the upgrade.
Earlierzoo officials had rejected suggestions for moving the facility to theoutlying Cu Chi district and decided to upgrade the existing zoo.
Rasbach'sfirm says on its website that it is "a German-based firm of architectsand landscape architects that beside ordinary architecture hasspecialised in designing zoos, wildlife parks, aquaria and museums inEurope and abroad since 1992".
Elsewhere, the city is continuing with plans to set up a 485ha safari park in Cu Chi's An Nhon Tay and Phu My Hung Wards.-VNA
