Mixed species enclosures and other changes for Burgers Zoo

Aah okay, I was really sure they didn't have them.



This picture really helps with the visualization! Is the plan to divide this area into two, one for prairie dogs and the other for a aviary? I would suggest putting the prairie dogs in the smaller area (near the staff path) so you have the larger area for the aviary.

I was thinking of placing the aviary lower down the path, actually
 
I'm sorry, I don't think I got that.

My plan was to do it like this: View attachment 458117
Ok that would make hiding supports much easier. One thing I completely forgot that is possible is making part of the section indoors like the other two sides of Bush. This would make the exhibit temperature neutral and gives you a wider variety of animals to choose from. This is more expensive and honestly, I feel like an outdoor exhibit would be nicer but if you need to put a warm-weather species somewhere this could be the spot.
(Edit) I also suggest you look at Africa Rocks at the San Diego zoo for inspiration on how to hide the two buildings. They use fake canyon walls to exhibit climbing animals and maximize space through a snaked path system. The canyon they built it in is very similar to the space between the buildings.
 
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Ok that would make hiding supports much easier. One thing I completely forgot that is possible is making part of the section indoors like the other two sides of Bush. This would make the exhibit temperature neutral and gives you a wider variety of animals to choose from. This is more expensive and honestly, I feel like an outdoor exhibit would be nicer but if you need to put a warm-weather species somewhere this could be the spot

It's still an outside enclosure, but it is enclosured with desert rock walls. But it doesn't have a roof over it.
 
Might I suggest a pronghorn exhibit to give the area some substance, maybe a maned wolf area too

I would absolutely love that, but pronghorns aren't kept in European zoos.

Then again, California bighorn sheep AND Ringtails are both only kept in two zoos in Europe and Burger's zoo has them both
 
Sounds good! Do you want to put them most of them in one mixed exhibit or in separate enclosures?



Would we have enough room to house these two species?
Both don't require much space. As evidence lookup living desert zoo and then both of these animals and you will see. And look at the Africa rocks I mentioned earlier it is great at making space
 
Probably a bit of both, hopefully prairie chickens and prairie dogs can go together, and then skunks, raccoons and opposums together

Skunks and raccoons can definitely go together as this combination is kept in several zoos.
Just a random thought but would a walkthough vulture aviary be a good idea?
 
I would absolutely love that, but pronghorns aren't kept in European zoos.

Then again, California bighorn sheep AND Ringtails are both only kept in two zoos in Europe and Burger's zoo has them both
That makes sense as Pronghorns are endangered. Not much else could fit in that space.
(Just something I have found very interesting is that every animal like the bug horns, ringtails, racoons, skunks, opossums, and gray wolves can be found in one spot in the Sierra Nevadas of California. I'm not saying combine the exhibits I just thought it was strange)
 
Skunks and raccoons can definitely go together as this combination is kept in several zoos.
Just a random thought but would a walkthough vulture aviary be a good idea?
no they would attack people, people would get freaked out, people could attack the vultures if they got too close
 
Skunks and raccoons can definitely go together as this combination is kept in several zoos.
Just a random thought but would a walkthough vulture aviary be a good idea?

I moved the greater flamingos to the safari section along with the guineafowl, african spoonbills and cattle egrets for a walkthrough aviary and there is a non-walkway vulture aviary later. Though it does have a walkthrough-ish bird watching house-style path on the side
 
no they would attack people, people would get freaked out, people could attack the vultures if they got too close

That would be unlikely, Blijdorp for example has a walkthrough vulture aviary and for so far I know no one has been attacked by them. You could also add a passageway through the aviary so the birds can't get to you but the visitors have the illusion that they walk through the exhibit.
 
I moved the greater flamingos to the safari section along with the guineafowl, african spoonbills and cattle egrets for a walkthrough aviary and there is a non-walkway vulture aviary later. Though it does have a walkthrough-ish bird watching house-style path on the side

Good point, we don't want to overdo it and its probally more interesting to have (large) mammals in this new area.
 
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