Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Well perhaps I have something to learn
Franklin Park Zoo Franklin Park Zoo News 2021
- Thread starter vogelcommando
- Start date
Thanks for the link to the 9-page document. As for colobus monkeys, that would be surprising as in North American zoos having great apes with other species doesn't happen very often. In European zoos, there are plenty of examples of gorillas and orangutans in with a wide variety of species, but sadly that idea is a rarity in North America.
For example, I spent a month visiting a LOT of zoos in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany in the summer of 2019. Of the 15 zoos that I saw with orangutans, 6 of those zoos also mixed the great apes with other species. Of the 17 zoos with gorillas, 7 of those zoos had other species in with the gorillas. Fascinating! In total, that makes it 13 out of the 32 gorilla/orangutan exhibits had at least one additional species in with the apes. (No one was foolish enough to put other animals in with the chimpanzees at the 18 zoos I saw with chimps
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You might want to talk with the guy who created the landscape for Congo Gorilla Forest. That guy is a genius.
I don't mean to come across as combative or patronizing, I legitimately have an awful lot to learn myself in terms of zoo horticulture and all that. Aside from the bamboo and native "filler" plants, is there another way to achieve dense plantings? I'm asking from genuine curiosity. From what I read in Jon Coe's "In Search of Eden" paper, Jones and Jones had the Woodland Park Zoo's new gorilla exhibit sit for a year to allow the plants to establish, so that way the gorillas couldn't tear them up so easily. (Then again, Woodland Park has the advantage of being in a temperate rainforest, so in the summer days, there is a beautifully vibrant green in the Tropical Rainforest/Tropical Asia/African Savanna zones respectively).
Hotwired trees and space...lots of space so that any vegetation damage is minimized.
The exhibit below is approximately 2.5 acres in size, located at the brilliant Apenheul primate zoo in the Netherlands. I was mesmerized when I saw it a couple of years ago. Also, Apenheul's Bonobo exhibit is around an acre in size:
Of course, hotwire would be the answer to that. Should've seen it a mile away.Hotwired trees and space...lots of space so that any vegetation damage is minimized.
Also, Apenheul's Bonobo exhibit is around an acre in size:
But for real, given hardy bamboo, filler species and allowing the foliage to sit for a year or so to establish, would this be enough to withstand the harsh New England winters?The issue is they don't have a year. The exhibit is supposed to open this summer. Bamboo might work as a good plant option, although its known to spread like crazy and could takeover the exhibit. Really I don't see a problem with a grassy exhibit with a handful of trees, you don't necessarily need it to be densely planted to have a good gorilla exhibit.Of course, hotwire would be the answer to that. Should've seen it a mile away.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
You put too much faith in bamboo. Gorillas love to play with it (destroy it). As Snowleopard suggests, density of animals/acre is most important. Hotwire is the only thing to protect plants although plants with suitable dense thorns are pretty good.Of course, hotwire would be the answer to that. Should've seen it a mile away.
And native plants offer no benefits over introduced plants.
The qualities that help plants survive gorillas are not what you imagine.
I say this from having designed lansdcapes for five gorilla exhibits and worked on concepts for three more
The reason I suggest native plants is because introduced species like Akebia often spread and heavily impact native ecosystems, and that is what ideally would be avoided when it comes to landscaping for exhibits.You put too much faith in bamboo. Gorillas love to play with it (destroy it). As Snowleopard suggests, density of animals/acre is most important. Hotwire is the only thing to protect plants although plants with suitable dense thorns are pretty good.
And native plants offer no benefits over introduced plants.
The qualities that help plants survive gorillas are not what you imagine.
I say this from having designed lansdcapes for five gorilla exhibits and worked on concepts for three more
Also, I completely understand what you are saying regarding the bamboo and other foliage. One of the things I was trying to avoid with my idea was an overuse of hotwire given how that would cut down on the gorillas' available space, and foliage, if allowed to establish properly, can (and has) established roughhousing primates like gorillas and chimps. Then again, choice areas to utilize hotwire do mean the difference between a soccer field and a forest...
Overall, I wanted to learn what would be the limitations of what I proposed or wished for Franklin Park's new outdoor gorilla exhibit, I got a good answer, *there may have been a slight tonal misunderstanding when in truth I genuinely mean no malice when I'm on here*, and... that's that I suppose.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
The thing is: there are no blanket solutions to landscaping animal exhibits. There are too many variables. In this instance the simple fact that the yard is netted over changes all considerations
If you are interested in understanding zoo horticulture better consider joining AZH.org
I went to the zoo today, for the first time since before COVID began, and noticed a couple things:
1. The prairie dogs were off-exhibit; apparently, their exhibit is undergoing some minor construction or renovations for some reason.
2. The zoo does not have bongos anymore, or if they do have them, then they are being kept behind-the-scenes only. All the educational bongo signs were taken down from the old bongo exhibit, which now just contains red river hogs. I don't know when this started, as the zoo never put out a press release about this, and from what I could tell nobody else had reported this yet on zoochat.
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I also noticed that the zoo's spotted hyenas are off-exhibit due to construction on the new outdoor gorilla habitat which is right nextdoor. As part of construction, a section of the fence for the hyena exhibit has been completely taken down.
1. The prairie dogs were off-exhibit; apparently, their exhibit is undergoing some minor construction or renovations for some reason.
2. The zoo does not have bongos anymore, or if they do have them, then they are being kept behind-the-scenes only. All the educational bongo signs were taken down from the old bongo exhibit, which now just contains red river hogs. I don't know when this started, as the zoo never put out a press release about this, and from what I could tell nobody else had reported this yet on zoochat.
Edit:
I also noticed that the zoo's spotted hyenas are off-exhibit due to construction on the new outdoor gorilla habitat which is right nextdoor. As part of construction, a section of the fence for the hyena exhibit has been completely taken down.
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I noticed the Bongo missing as well on my trip this summer. It's sad because that is a huge exhibit for just a single (?) red river hog. Even if it's not bongo, it would be nice to add another hoofstock to the exhibit. Perhaps some Nyala would be a good fit?
Actually there are 3 red river hogs, but yeah, I agree that the exhibit does feel pretty empty.
I only saw one River hog, but having three River hogs is at least a little better.
Yes. I'd never seen this species of zebra before, but they were beautiful.
Animallover360
Well-Known Member
Today I was at the Franklin Park Zoo and I noticed a few changes.
The Green Aracari in Bird’s World was not there and there was a Blue Bellied Roller in the exhibit.
The prairie dogs are back on exhibit with new glass in the back of the exhibit.
The African Spurred Tortoise exhibit near the lions is now home to a Yellow Footed tortoise, I am not sure what happened to the African Spurred Tortoise.
The Red River Hogs were not on exhibit and there was a sign that said improvements underway. Hopefully there will be a new species joining the red River hogs because that exhibit is very empty.
The Green Aracari in Bird’s World was not there and there was a Blue Bellied Roller in the exhibit.
The prairie dogs are back on exhibit with new glass in the back of the exhibit.
The African Spurred Tortoise exhibit near the lions is now home to a Yellow Footed tortoise, I am not sure what happened to the African Spurred Tortoise.
The Red River Hogs were not on exhibit and there was a sign that said improvements underway. Hopefully there will be a new species joining the red River hogs because that exhibit is very empty.
Will be very interesting to see what happens to this exhibit- I'd love to see the zoo get an okapi, although I admit it isn't the most likely option.
I bet they were escaping; that would explain the new barrier.