Creative uses of old enclosures.

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

My german isn't completely on-point but here a rough translation with some artistic freedom to make it more readable:

At this spot...
.. lived black bears until their death from old age in 2004. The bear cage was created in 1977 out of the renovation of the bear-grotto. With the current knowledge of how to decently keep wild animals in human care the further keeping of bears in an exhibit of this type can no longer be justified.

In the future a new species of bear will find it's home in Naturzoo once again. As the location for a new exhibit is the meadow behind the penguins reserved. Such a new building does cost of-course a lot of money. However with united (bear-)powers a new bear-exhibit as the next big project will become reality.



When I visited them a few years ago, they had already built this new bear complex housing two pairs of sloth bears in two exhibits.

Thank you for translating this @Jarne ! Much appreciated !

I think this is a really great addition to the zoo and it really does show that the zoo is making an effort to show that it is modernizing and just a brilliant use of space too.

(By the way, will get round to answering your comment in the other thread)

 

[Jarne]

Thank you for translating this @Jarne ! Much appreciated !

I think this is a really great addition to the zoo and it really does show that the zoo is making an effort to show that it is modernizing and just a brilliant use of space too.

(By the way, will get round to answering your comment in the other thread)

From my memory the bear enclosures were also quite decent, and they did include a pack of jackals living with them and a small insect house with 3-5 insect terraria (common captive species, but still nice to see)

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

The main reason Why I like such zoos like Cincinnati, many of their buildings were used in the 1930s and are of course, revamped now, but are the basic same design and shape as the Original. And I really like old stuff, old heirlooms, old holiday decorations, and old books. So I feel like I would be the kind of guy who would really like to see more museum displays in zoos as small sub-attractions separate from the animals.

I definitely think zoos would benefit from these kind of displays and I would like to see more of them too because there are always enormous archives behind the scenes that could be put to use and showcase history.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

From my memory the bear enclosures were also quite decent, and they did include a pack of jackals living with them and a small insect house with 3-5 insect terraria (common captive species, but still nice to see)

Jackals were mixed with the bears ?

 

[CheeseChameleon1945]

I definitely think zoos would benefit from these kind of displays and I would like to see more of them too because there are always enormous archives behind the scenes that could be put to use and showcase history.

My thoughts exactly. That reminds me of Arkive.Org Oh, such memories. Lets not get too far off topic though.

 

[Jarne]

Jackals were mixed with the bears ?

Yes and it works out fine. Wouldn't do it with brown though.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Sloth bears, and it works out fine. Wouldn't do it with brown though.

That comes as quite a suprise (glad it works though) as I've heard that the sloth bear can be quite temperamental with pretty much every other species.

 

[CheeseChameleon1945]

That comes as quite a suprise (glad it works though) as I've heard that the sloth bear can be quite temperamental with pretty much every other species.

And the fact that they live in different continents.

 

[Jarne]

That comes as quite a suprise (glad it works though) as I've heard that the sloth bear can be quite temperamental with pretty much every other species.

They are also kept with macaques in Leipzig. I do recall an area at the back where only the jackals could come.

 

[Jarne]

And the fact that they live in different continents.

Wrong actually, you are thinking of black-backeds but they are kept with golden jackals that naturally live together with sloth bears in India

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

And the fact that they live in different continents.

Jackals and sloths do occur in the same habitat for sure.

 

[CheeseChameleon1945]

Wrong actually, you are thinking of black-backeds but they are kept with golden jackals that naturally live together with sloth bears in India

Well I mean species, Black backs only occur in two parts of Africa. But I guess it would work out since Golden jackals live in the sloth bears range and they're pretty similar animals.

 

[CheeseChameleon1945]

Jackals and sloths do occur in the same habitat for sure.

Yeah, I just meant the Black-back species. Guess it works though.

 

[imaginarius]

And as a lover of Historic landmarks and such, and its not being used anymore, then just turn it into a Museum. I feel like with anything, Abandoned farms, Trainyards, and Castles, I feel like it could easily be turned into a museum of sorts, as I love to look at artifacts and read about historical acts that not a lot of people talk about, but interest me. Like a hotel opening and such.

If it’s a standalone building on its own, sure. But if it exists within the confines of a zoo that is looking to improve exhibits, space is at a premium. Some zoos (mostly rural ones) have hundreds of acres, many of which are undeveloped. But most are less than 100 and locked in by a city, so if they need the space and have a better use for it, I see no problem with a facility knocking things down and rebuilding them back up.

 

[CheeseChameleon1945]

If it’s a standalone building on its own, sure. But if it exists within the confines of a zoo that is looking to improve exhibits, space is at a premium. Some zoos (mostly rural ones) have hundreds of acres, many of which are undeveloped. But most are less than 100 and locked in by a city, so if they need the space snd have a better use for it, I see no problem with a facility knocking things down and rebuilding them back up.

Sorry if my statement was a bit Foggy, I meant a small standalone building on its own, like the Passenger pigeon memorial shown earlier.

 

[imaginarius]

Sorry if my statement was a bit Foggy, I meant a small standalone building on its own, like the Passenger pigeon memorial shown earlier.

No worries. In that case, I completely agree. My city recently opened a new aquarium built entirely in a centuries-old, long-abandoned union station! I love repurposing old things.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

If it’s a standalone building on its own, sure. But if it exists within the confines of a zoo that is looking to improve exhibits, space is at a premium. Some zoos (mostly rural ones) have hundreds of acres, many of which are undeveloped. But most are less than 100 and locked in by a city, so if they need the space and have a better use for it, I see no problem with a facility knocking things down and rebuilding them back up.

Yes, I agree with you on that but with the thread I was mainly referring to old historic architecture / heritage buildings.

 

[CheeseChameleon1945]

No worries. In that case, I completely agree. My city recently opened a new aquarium built entirely in a centuries-old, long-abandoned union station! I love repurposing old things.

Same here !

 

[CheeseChameleon1945]

Yes, I agree with you on that but with the thread I was mainly referring to old historic architecture / heritage buildings.

Indeed. Getting a bit too far off topic here!

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

Jackals were mixed with the bears ?

As a person living close to the Zoo, yes. The enclosure has a breeding pair of golden jackals together with a breeding pair of sloth bears. The exhibit can be sepereted in to 2 parts. mostly to seperate the 2 species when they have young and the male slot bear, if hte female has you. It is a very succefull mix, with no problems so far and both species breeding. Espicially for the jackels, a species who sadly have often very smal exhibits. Even in great zoos like the Burgers zoo are smaler carnivores often in to smal exhibits. The Zoo keept in the begginning phase of the exhibit a African Golden Wolf, before it was seen as a seperate species aswell (no breeding with golden jackel happened)