Stupidest Exhibit Ideas Ever

[birdsandbats]

Here is we can discuss the stupidest themed exhibits ever. Here are a couple I found:

Prairie Dog dojo at COEX Aquarium

And the Disco Hippos at Adventure Aquarium (couldn't find a photo in the gallery).

What other stupidly themed exhibits do yo know?

 

[TinoPup]

I opened this with the intention of mentioning disco hippos A lot of dolphin shows tend to be awful, as well.

 

[pachyderm pro]

The stupidest exhibit I've seen? I'd say this American alligator pool at the trashy little Phipps Park Zoo in Illinois fits right in.

American Alligator Pool - Reptile House

• pachyderm pro
• 29 Apr 2018
• 1

 

[TinoPup]

That reminds me! The small, indoor-only "White Tigers of Maharaja’s Temple" exhibit at the Downtown Aquarium in Houston. The one in Denver isn't too bad, it's rather large and multi-story with plenty of climbing opportunities and several water features within the natural-themed exhibit, but this one is awful.

 

[Coelacanth18]

I don't know if it counts as "themed", but the Red Ape Church at Indianapolis Zoo is worthy of a mention...

PC @DAKFan

 

[savetherhino]

I don't know if it counts as "themed", but the Red Ape Church at Indianapolis Zoo is worthy of a mention...

PC @DAKFan

Can't believe it won awards

 

[savetherhino]

Indianapolis interior orangutan exhibit

 

[ZooBinh]

Can't believe it won awards

It is a stimulating enough for the animals. Does it have to be naturalistic to be good, surely it helps, but it meets all their needs.

 

[Coelacanth18]

It is a stimulating enough for the animals. Does it have to be naturalistic to be good, surely it helps, but it meets all their needs.

I should add some context to my submission. I don't personally think it's a bad exhibit, although I definitely think it is architecturally sterile and excessive and way too much money was spent on it. From a husbandry standpoint it fares better in my eyes, although I'm still skeptical of whether it was the best design they could've gone with. I mostly included it because it received visceral and disgusted reactions from many ZooChatters when pictures of it were first posted; I assumed someone would bring it up eventually.

 

[ZooBinh]

I should add some context to my submission. I don't personally think it's a bad exhibit, although I definitely think it is architecturally sterile and excessive and way too much money was spent on it. From a husbandry standpoint it fares better in my eyes, although I'm still skeptical of whether it was the best design they could've gone with. I mostly included it because it received visceral and disgusted reactions from many ZooChatters when pictures of it were first posted; I assumed someone would bring it up eventually.

That is true. It is very "odd" in a sense but it is a pretty innovative design, just maybe adding some naturalism could be done to make it better.

 

[Kakapo]

Weirdest/Oddest Zoo exhibits

 

[Coelacanth18]

From the thread @Kakapo posted, I'd like to add this one to the discussion: an open-topped Vinegaroon terrarium! (World Aquarium, St. Louis, MO)

PC @birdsandbats

 

[KevinB]

Mouse kitchen (Oct 13th, 2018) | ZooChat
Mouse kitchen (May 2nd, 2015) | ZooChat
(Images made and posted by me, at and from GaiaZoo, Kerkrade, the Netherlands)

This "Mouse kitchen" and other similar exhibits like this housing mice or rats in mock-ups of a kitchen or other rooms of a house.

I personally really dislike these kinds of gross (and usually also rather smelly) displays for what most optimistically are prey/feed animals and at worst plain vermin.

 

[birdsandbats]

From the thread @Kakapo posted, I'd like to add this one to the discussion: an open-topped Vinegaroon terrarium! (World Aquarium, St. Louis, MO)

PC @birdsandbats

Oh yeah, I forgot about that!

 

[kiang]

Mouse kitchen (Oct 13th, 2018) | ZooChat
Mouse kitchen (May 2nd, 2015) | ZooChat
(Images made and posted by me, at and from GaiaZoo, Kerkrade, the Netherlands)

This "Mouse kitchen" and other similar exhibits like this housing mice or rats in mock-ups of a kitchen or other rooms of a house.

I personally really dislike these kinds of gross (and usually also rather smelly) displays for what most optimistically are prey/feed animals and at worst plain vermin.

How can this be described as "stupidest", this is part of their natural habitat and range, is it a quality issue???

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

I personally really dislike these kinds of gross (and usually also rather smelly) displays for what most optimistically are prey/feed animals and at worst plain vermin.

While they are often used as feeder animals, I do think the humble house mouse deserves a little more respect. Besides, they can certainly be interesting as display animals.

 

[Sheather]

This "Mouse kitchen" and other similar exhibits like this housing mice or rats in mock-ups of a kitchen or other rooms of a house.

I personally really dislike these kinds of gross (and usually also rather smelly) displays for what most optimistically are prey/feed animals and at worst plain vermin.

I really like the idea of this exhibit! And it is definitely an enriching environment for such a small animal that is rarely provided much space in captivity.

 

[Pertinax]

How can this be described as "stupidest", this is part of their natural habitat and range, is it a quality issue???

I actually like these sorts of exhibits for House Mice and Rats too, think they are quite fun...Bristol has one for Black Rats in the nocturnal house, always go for a look.

 

[birdsandbats]

Here's one from my home zoo (NEW Zoo):

It keeps freshwater cichlids.

 

[elefante]

I don't know if it counts as "themed", but the Red Ape Church at Indianapolis Zoo is worthy of a mention...

PC @DAKFan

Why is this designed to look like a church?