The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo's latest project will probably not open until late spring due to factors beyond the workers' control.

Zoo supervisor James Conyers yesterday said an in house team was creating the animal's habitat through the fabrication of rock work out of concrete.

This rock work would simulate the geological structures found where the animals lived.

However the exhibit is open air and rain can cause weeks worth of work to be damaged so the team has been forced to be "flexible with the elements'', he said.

This has pushed back the opening date -- which was tentative -- from the end of this year.

Work presently continues on the horticultural habitat through in house, local and American horticulturists who are giving free advice on how to keep the approximately 70,000 plants alive and healthy in the exhibit.

"It's an immersion exhibit,'' said Mr. Conyers. "The idea is to make you feel as if you are in the animal's natural habitat completely.'' The importation of animals for the exhibit -- there will be about 200 of them by the time it is finished -- has also been put on hold.

Mr. Conyers said the zoo did not wish to bring in too many animals to soon as there were not enough holding facilities for them.

Shipping conditions also had to be considered, said Mr. Conyers.

The animals for the exhibit would be coming out of "hothouses'' across the US and Europe.

At large airports they could be left sitting outside in very cold temperatures or snow and these weather conditions could be quite dangerous to the tropical rain forest creatures.

"These aren't domestic animals that we are dealing with,'' he added, "and we have to be conscious of the fact that they are very delicate.'' However Mr. Conyers was quick to praise the airlines and airport officials for handling the BAMZ's "rather bizarre needs''.

Some animals already at the Aquarium, such as the monitors and the otters would be joining the exhibit as well.