Walkthroughs and free-roamers

When I visited the Taronga Zoo, there were Australian Brush Turkeys walking all around the zoo, especially near the entrance. I’m not sure if the zoo owned them or not, but one of the birds I saw had a metal identification ring on its leg.

There are also way more free-roaming ones at Featherdale Wildlife Park. In fact, when I went to go to the bathroom there, there was a baby one sitting in the stall!
 
A lof of primate species can be kept in walk-through enclosures. "'ve seen a lot of lemur species and tamarin/marmoset species, white-faced saki's, squirrel monkeys, red howlers, barbary macaques, grey langur and colobus.

@EternalPigeon brush turkeys are everywhere in Australia. Wild turkeys seem to love zoos as food is easy to obtain there.
 
The only walkthrough exhibits I've seen were three at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, one with kangaroos and wallabies, an aviary with several birds and another aviary with birds of prey. Unless aquariums with tunnels through them count, in which case I've seen plenty, mostly with sharks, rays and other large fish but some with smaller reef fish.
 
DaLilFishie said:
Unless aquariums with tunnels through them count, in which case I've seen plenty, mostly with sharks, rays and other large fish but some with smaller reef fish.
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Those are more semi-walkthroughs. You get very close-up, but you're technically not in the actual enclosure

Does anyone know of a freshwater aquarium tunnel?
 
Quite a few European zoos have walkthrough exhibits with birds of prey, including some rather large species! Owls, hawks, smaller eagles, vultures, and possibly even condors are used in these exhibits from the photos I've seen.

Also I seem to recall a walrus walkthrough of sorts in China, which was closed after a visitor was killed, if I am remembering correctly...
 
Lehigh Valley has a walkthrough with red kangaroos and Columbus has the Asian aviary with I believe Reeves Muntjac.
 
Mr Gharial said:
I kinda do, the people that died fell into the water. If it was designed differently to not have the path directly over the water I think this could really work
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Suit yourself, I'm not keen on walking among animals weighing 1-2 tons that I don't know and are potentially quite dangerous. :p
 
Great Argus said:
Suit yourself, I'm not keen on walking among animals weighing 1-2 tons that I don't know and are potentially quite dangerous. :p
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Well, emus and kangaroos can be very dangerous. But they're safe for walkthroughs. Shoebill storks and even deer can be dangerous, But they're safe for walkthroughs. I think that most non-predator animals are basically safe for walkthroughs as long as the visitors don't bother the animals
 
Mr Gharial said:
Well, emus and kangaroos can be very dangerous. But they're safe for walkthroughs. Shoebill storks and even deer can be dangerous, But they're safe for walkthroughs. I think that most non-predator animals are basically safe for walkthroughs as long as the visitors don't bother the animals
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"Generally inoffensive" might be a better term than "safe". There's stories on here of people getting attacked in walk-throughs by everything from lemurs to pigeons to spoonbills! :p
Lorikeet walkthroughs are popular, though people get nipped and bit quite a bit. Animals attacking people is a potential issue with pretty much anything but butterflies. Just some species are more risky than others. We'll have to agree to disagree on the suitability of walrus for walkthroughs. (And technically they are carnivores, even if shellfish is the main diet ;))
 
Great Argus said:
"And technically they are carnivores, even if shellfish is the main diet
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I meant predators to humans. Meerkats and other mustelids are probably safe for walkthroughs too, same for skunks, procynids, birds of prey and smaller reptiles
 
aardvark250 said:
I have touch a walrus before, if they are trained animal they could be okay I guess.....
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A trained walrus and working with a trainer I have much less concern. Just meandering through the exhibit is another.

Mr Gharial said:
I meant predators to humans. Meerkats and other mustelids are probably safe for walkthroughs too, same for skunks, procynids, birds of prey and smaller reptiles
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Meerkats and mustelids are definitely not safe for walkthroughs! They are already difficult to contain and can be unpredictable. That's a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Procyonids too can be temperamental, besides also being escape artists. Not a safe option.
Skunks are better, but I feel they are best left out of areas where they could be confronted and bothered by guests.
(Furthermore I believe you have to have your rabies series before directly working with anf handling those groups as a precaution, at least for reputable facilities. Chances are very low, but the risk still stands.)
 
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