Douglas M Richardson

I have been working within the zoo community for over four decades, managing animal departments in zoological collections on four continents.

For the last few years I have operated as consultant for a wide range of zoos and wildlife parks both within the UK and much further afield and I have designed a range of animal facilities as well as worked within many that were designed and built by others.

There are a number of construction companies that target zoos and wildlife parks, but the problem is that building housing for non-domestic animals is a fairly exacting niche area.  Wild animals behave very differently from their domestic counterparts and the needs and safety of the staff that are responsible for their care also has to be taken into account.

Chapelstone is a company that has developed a commendable track record in providing practical, safe and appropriate housing for a range of wild species, from meerkats to polar bears.  They are also astute enough to work with their clients to ensure that the specific needs of all the stakeholders, human and animal, are met.

I have examined a number of their projects first-hand and I have not failed to be impressed by what they produce and the timescale in which they produce it.

I do not endorse companies lightly, but I am happy to recommend Chapelstone as a construction company that zoos and wildlife parks can trust.

Douglas M Richardson affiliations include:

• EAZA Mentor for Nikolaev Zoo
• Enclosure Design, Husbandry and Reintroduction Advisor to the
• Amur Leopard EEP
• Husbandry Advisor to the Tiger EEPs
• General Advisor to the European Bison EEP
• IUCN SSC Bison Specialist Group member
• Strategic, Communications & Husbandry Advisor to the Polar Bear EEP