An Asian rainforest and new spaces devoted to elephants and gorillas are among the features of Dublin's Zoo's new five-year strategic plan.
The plan, A Vision for Dublin Zoo, aims to complete the transformation of the zoo into "a world-class centre of learning about wildlife and conservation".
Its extensive proposals centre on the development of a new space for Asian elephants. Initially, this will be home to two adult females and one younger elephant, and authorities hope it will help the zoo become an important player in the European breeding programme for mammals.
Their new home will replicate much of what they would experience in nature, with a meandering creek, oxbow pools, small elevations in the landscape and vegetation that resembles Asian rainforest. "The herd will be glimpsed rather than seen from a track in the forest, as the visitor becomes totally immersed in the experience," the document states.
The area will also feature orang-utans, oriental otters and a variety of Asian birds.
In a second new space, "the Americas", a breeding colony of Californian sea lions will occupy an area in keeping with their natural habitat. Here, Chilean flamingos will live side-by-side with Brazilian tapirs, spider monkeys and golden lion tamarins.
The plans also envisions the redevelopment of the African Plains area, with a newly designed space for gorillas similar to their native equatorial forest habitat.
Further plans due to be implemented before 2010 include the restoration of two of the zoo's original houses, both of which are to be given new roles.
Haughton House, built in the earliest days of Dublin Zoo but later allowed to deteriorate, will be turned into a "centre of learning and discovery" where zoo staff and volunteers will offer lectures and discussions on their areas of expertise.
The red-brick Roberts House, another of the zoo's outstanding buildings, will accommodate new aquatic exhibits. Here, African crocodiles, South American piranhas and European pike will feature in themed areas designed to complement the major sections of the zoo.
Zoo director Leo Oosterweghel said the plan would "complete the transformation of Dublin Zoo into a world-class centre of learning about wildlife and conservation."