What the fake!

What is it: Crocodile(?) statue
Where is it: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, USA
Which enclosure: N/A
What year: 2012
Score: number 5 out of 5
full

Alligator Statue | ZooChat

Additional comments: Despite being situated at an alligator farm I'm pretty sure it's a crocodile. A very realistic looking statue anyway.

Do you know what the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is? :p

~Thylo
 
No not really, but I'm guessing it doesn't only hold alligators?

Before all the species splits they held every species of crocodilian in the world, and are the place that identified and described Crocodylus suchus (the type specimen is on-display). When I visited in 2014, they had 26 crocodile taxa on-exhibit as well as a wide variety of other rare reptiles and even some rare birds.

~Thylo
 
Wow! A very impressive place then.

As soon as I read the words 'alligator farm' it conjured up a very different image. Perhaps it deserves a name that sets it aside from those places and matches its far superior credentials.
 
Wow! A very impressive place then.

As soon as I read the words 'alligator farm' it conjured up a very different image. Perhaps it deserves a name that sets it aside from those places and matches its far superior credentials.
I believe somewhere in Denmark also have all the crocodilian species.
 
Wow! A very impressive place then.

As soon as I read the words 'alligator farm' it conjured up a very different image. Perhaps it deserves a name that sets it aside from those places and matches its far superior credentials.

Very impressive indeed.

And yeah, I do agree the name is more than a little misleading.

~Thylo
 
What is it: Fake skull of Hippopotamus amphibius
Where is it: Zoo Antwerpen, Belgium
Which enclosure: Mixed exhibit with Colombian spectacled caiman, Branderhorst's snapping turtle, green iguana, black iguana and Cuban iguana in the Reptile house
What year: 2019
Score: 4 out of 5

full

Fake hippopotamus skull in the caiman exhibit in the reptile house (Feb 27th, 2019) | ZooChat

Additional comments: Rather good I think, it looks quite similar to a real hippopotamus skull (or a casting of such) on display in a case in the hippopotamus house at Zoo Antwerpen. The weathering of the skull also looks somewhat realistic. However a one point subtraction for it not having any of the iconic nasty teeth and for it not being in an exhibit with African animals (although that was previously the case, back when the exhibit held Nile crocodiles).
 
What is it: Fake rocks (made out of old cars)
Where is it: Currumbin wildlife sanctuary, Austrailia
Which enclosure: Wallaby enclosure
What year: 2016
Score: 4 out of 5
full

Fake Rocks Made of Cars | ZooChat

Additional comments: A harsh half a point deducted because... well, how many car-shaped rocks do you see? However, they should get extra credit for showing an inventive way of recycling old cars.
 
Last edited:
What is it: Fake skull of Hippopotamus amphibius
Where is it: Zoo Antwerpen, Belgium
Which enclosure: Mixed exhibit with Colombian spectacled caiman, Branderhorst's snapping turtle, green iguana, black iguana and Cuban iguana in the Reptile house
What year: 2019
Score: 4 out of 5

full

Fake hippopotamus skull in the caiman exhibit in the reptile house (Feb 27th, 2019) | ZooChat

Additional comments: Rather good I think, it looks quite similar to a real hippopotamus skull (or a casting of such) on display in a case in the hippopotamus house at Zoo Antwerpen. The weathering of the skull also looks somewhat realistic. However a one point subtraction for it not having any of the iconic nasty teeth and for it not being in an exhibit with African animals (although that was previously the case, back when the exhibit held Nile crocodiles).

Why do you think it's a fake one?
 
What is it: Fake alligator nest
Where is it: Texas state aquarium, USA
Which enclosure: ?
What year: 2015
Score: 4 out of 5
full

Baby Alligators (fake ones) | ZooChat

Additional comments: They look quite realistic, but surely it would be better to show them nesting in rotting vegetation rather than sand, which I think is more typical of crocodiles.

A nest in rotting vegetation (or in fake rotting vegetation) would be extremely difficult to keep stable or to replicate, and would be much less visible. But the crocodile nestlings would look more realistic if were not a deheaded one here
 
Back
Top