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CASE STUDIES

Brief. Approach. Outcome.

A selection of consulting and build projects, written up so future clients can see how we work — and the welfare, visitor and operational outcomes they should expect.

Biome

HABITAT DESIGN & BUILD

Turning a car park into a South American biome

Confidential — Licensed UK zoological collection

BRIEF

The client had an under-used hard-standing area and wanted to convert it into a mixed-species, free-flight South American habitat — meeting BIAZA welfare standards and improving visitor dwell time.

APPROACH

  • Site survey, species planning and licensing review against the Secretary of State's Standards.

  • Specification for substrate build-up, planted layers, water features and visitor sight-lines.

  • Construction oversight, keeper-route design and a phased species introduction plan.

OUTCOME

  • Delivered an outstanding-rated mixed-species exhibit on a previously sterile footprint.

  • Estimated visitor dwell time at the exhibit increased materially versus the original space.

  • Provided a template the collection now applies to further biome conversions.

CONSTRUCTION & ENCLOSURE ENGINEERING

ETFE roofing for a tropical quadruped layer

Zoological Education Centre (build partner: Vector Foiltech)

BRIEF

A new tropical mammal building needed a lightweight, light-transmitting roof that would hold humidity, support live planting, and keep heating costs manageable through a UK winter.

APPROACH

  • Specified inflated ETFE cushion roofing with the supplier and structural team.

  • Co-ordinated services routing, climate strategy and keeper access from day one.

  • Built sequencing plan so animal areas could be commissioned in phases without disruption.

ETFE roofing

OUTCOME

  • Tropical climate envelope delivered with significantly lower heating load than glass equivalents.

  • Roof transmits the daylight spectrum needed for live planting and reptile/amphibian welfare.

  • Building handed over on programme and signed off against inspection standards.

macaw-flight.webp

AVIARY DESIGN & FLIGHT TRAINING

Free-flight macaw aviary on a restricted site

Confidential — UK zoo (Cat. 1 licensed)

BRIEF

The collection wanted a large free-flight macaw aviary, but ground conditions and adjacent infrastructure ruled out a conventional foundation.

APPROACH

  • Engineered a 'floating' aviary design with careful groundworks suited to the location.

  • Specified flight volumes, perching, browse rotation and shelter to meet psittacine welfare needs.

  • Wrote the husbandry and conditioning programme for the keeper team.

OUTCOME

  • Aviary delivered without compromising adjacent services or visitor routes.

  • Birds settled and entered conditioned free-flight training within the planned window.

  • Became a signature visitor moment and an internal case study for future aviary work.

HUSBANDRY & WELFARE

Bioactive amphibian zone — living, self-cleaning habitats

Small-collection partner (private licensed)

BRIEF

Existing amphibian enclosures were sterile, maintenance-heavy and offered little behavioural opportunity. The client wanted a step-change in welfare and visitor presentation without expanding the footprint.

APPROACH

  • Designed bioactive vivaria with live planting, drainage layers and clean-up invertebrate crews.

  • Specified lighting, misting and seasonal cycling appropriate to each species.

  • Trained the keeper team on monitoring, plant care and intervention thresholds.

Amphibian zone

OUTCOME

  • Daily cleaning workload reduced; keepers redeployed to enrichment and observation.

  • Improved natural behaviours observed (cover use, foraging, breeding readiness).

  • Exhibits photograph and present far better — supporting marketing and education output.

“From bioactive habitat design to ZIMS record-keeping, Animal Insights guided our small collection toward genuine excellence. A true partner.”

— Tom Bailey, Director, Ely Exotics

School education

EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT

School zoo days — turning a visit into a curriculum unit

Multiple UK primary and secondary schools

BRIEF

Schools wanted more than a day out — an immersive, hands-on programme tied to the curriculum, with measurable learning outcomes.

APPROACH

  • Designed age-banded sessions across animal encounters, conservation and careers.

  • Built teacher packs (pre-visit, on-the-day, follow-up) aligned to KS2/KS3 science.

  • Trained delivery team on safeguarding, risk assessment and accessible language.

OUTCOME

  • Strong post-visit teacher feedback — pupils retain species and conservation concepts beyond the day.

  • Repeat-booking schools across multiple academic years.

  • Inspired a number of pupils to pursue zoo-keeping and conservation pathways.

Have a brief in mind?

Whether it's a new build, a welfare review, a licensing application or a staff CPD programme — let's talk about what good looks like for your collection.

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