Seems very cramped with so little space reserved to go in between exhibits. This idle space is an often forgotten but very important part of enhancing peoples zoo experience.
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My Idea of a Perfect Small Zoo
- Thread starter 15399
- Start date
So I went on Google My Maps and mapped out every exhibit in the zoo. With all pathways at least 12 feet, the footprint of the zoo was 9.5 Acres. A little bigger than what I originally planned, but still what I would consider a small zoo. Really I was able to fit so much in by being efficient with space, and limiting the amount of empty, wasted space. There is minimal theming and no long walks between habitats.Seems very cramped with so little space reserved to go in between exhibits. This idle space is an often forgotten but very important part of enhancing peoples zoo experience.
EDIT- I decided it would be a useful visual to give everyone viewing access to the map: My Perfect Small Zoo - Google My Maps. Blue areas are outdoor exhibits, red areas are indoor exhibits, and green areas are holdings/staff only buildings. I placed my zoo on top of my local small zoo, the Capron Park Zoo, since both are similar sizes and it was an easy place to put it.
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I think I have finally found the best use of this 6,000 square foot habitat, for an animal species that is distinct from anything my zoo has so far and is a unique, endangered species with the possibility to become a popular attraction. This habitat is going to have glass viewing windows, and a stone fence going the rest of the way around the 4,500 square foot habitat, connected to a 1,500 square foot holding. This habitat will hold a bachelor group of 4.0 Chacoan Peccaries! Hopefully this endangered species can serve as a popular attraction amongst guests, and be a great way to end this incredible zoo!I've still been struggling to think of an appropriate use(s) of that last 6,000 square feet of exhibit space. Any suggestions?
Now that I have finished the preliminary plan for the zoo, I am not going to ignore this project. Instead, I am going to work to modify and improve the areas I have until I have found a truly "perfect" zoo. Currently I believe the weakest area of the zoo is the Primate Trails, so next up will be reworking/replacing this exhibit, if anyone has any ideas to share.
The first change I am going to make will affect the Tropic Dome and Mysteries of the Forest areas of the zoo. I am going to remove the Tropic Dome from it's current location and place it where the Primate Trails are, which are being removed. I am going to take the area where the Tropic Dome was and expand the Mysteries of the Forest Trail. I am not adding any new habitats, as it will still have 10 habitats (sloth bear, javan gibbon, clouded leopard, lemur mixed species, fossa, okapi, maned wolf, tapir, anoa, cassowary). Instead, there will be expanded visitor areas, more space for theming, and an interactive play area.
My next post is going to be detailing the new Tropic Dome and outdoor habitats surrounding it.
My next post is going to be detailing the new Tropic Dome and outdoor habitats surrounding it.
The new Tropic Dome will be 0.5 Acre, and is split into five sections, each slightly over 4,000 square feet. The four sections will be:The first change I am going to make will affect the Tropic Dome and Mysteries of the Forest areas of the zoo. I am going to remove the Tropic Dome from it's current location and place it where the Primate Trails are, which are being removed. I am going to take the area where the Tropic Dome was and expand the Mysteries of the Forest Trail. I am not adding any new habitats, as it will still have 10 habitats (sloth bear, javan gibbon, clouded leopard, lemur mixed species, fossa, okapi, maned wolf, tapir, anoa, cassowary). Instead, there will be expanded visitor areas, more space for theming, and an interactive play area.
My next post is going to be detailing the new Tropic Dome and outdoor habitats surrounding it.
1. Tropical Aviary
2. Otter Riverside
3. Reptile and Amphibian Gallery
4. Nocturnal Gallery
5. Second Tropical Aviary
For the first tropical aviary, the species list is
3.1 Raggiana Bird of Paradise
1.1 Green-backed Trogon
2.2 Violet-backed Starling
2.2 Emerald Starling
1.1 Great Blue Turaco
2.2 Green Woodhoopoe
2.2 African Pygmy Goose
2.2 Palawan Peacock Pheasant
1.1 Spangled Cotinga
1.1 Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
2.4 Crested Wood Partridge
1.1 Brazilian Teal
1.1 Sunbittern
The Otter Riverside contains a singular habitat, housing (as expected by the name) 1.1 spotted-necked otters, as well as 1.1 Debrazza's Monkeys, 1.1 Wolf's Guenons, 1.1 Black-crested Mangabeys. This habitat will contain plenty of climbing area for the Monkeys and a large pool with underwater viewing for the otters.
The second Aviary contains
1.1 Green-naped Pheasant Pigeon
4.0 Black-naped Fruit Dove
4.0 Beautiful Fruit Dove
3.3 Nicobar Pigeon
3.3 Pied Imperial Pigeon
1.1 Victorian Crowned Pigeon
1.1 Mindadao Bleeding Heart Dove
1.1 Grey-capped Emerald Dove
Species lists for the reptile and nocturnal sections are coming soon.
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The new Tropic Dome will be 0.5 Acre, and is split into five sections, each slightly over 4,000 square feet. The four sections will be:
1. Tropical Aviary
2. Otter Riverside
3. Reptile and Amphibian Gallery
4. Nocturnal Gallery
5. Second Tropical Aviary
For the first tropical aviary, the species list is
3.1 Raggiana Bird of Paradise
1.1 Green-backed Trogon
2.2 Violet-backed Starling
2.2 Emerald Starling
1.1 Great Blue Turaco
2.2 Green Woodhoopoe
2.2 African Pygmy Goose
2.2 Palawan Peacock Pheasant
1.1 Spangled Cotinga
1.1 Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
2.4 Crested Wood Partridge
1.1 Brazilian Teal
1.1 Sunbittern
The Otter Riverside contains a singular habitat, housing (as expected by the name) 1.1 spotted-necked otters, as well as 1.1 Debrazza's Monkeys, 1.1 Wolf's Guenons, 1.1 Black-crested Mangabeys. This habitat will contain plenty of climbing area for the Monkeys and a large pool with underwater viewing for the otters.
The second Aviary contains
1.1 Green-naped Pheasant Pigeon
4.0 Black-naped Fruit Dove
4.0 Beautiful Fruit Dove
3.3 Nicobar Pigeon
3.3 Pied Imperial Pigeon
1.1 Victorian Crowned Pigeon
1.1 Mindadao Bleeding Heart Dove
1.1 Grey-capped Emerald Dove
Species lists for the reptile and nocturnal sections are coming soon.
Instead of a Nocturnal section, I have decided it could be more beneficial to have a diurnal area with some smaller habitats for rare mammals and birds. Due to this, one of the aviaries will include 2.2 Rodrigues Fruit Bats originally planned for the Nocturnal area.
This new area is going to contain numerous rare mammal and bird species that will fascinate visitors. The first habitat will be a large, densely planted habitat for 1.1 Silvery-cheeked Hornbills. While I did originally want rhinoceos hornbills, I decided that the smaller special requirement of this species outweighs the added impressiveness of the larger rhinoceros hornbill. After the hornbill, a slightly smaller habitat will contain 2.2 Pied Tamarin, 1.1 Golden Lion Tamarin, and 1.1 Red-rumped Agouti. These small primates will be an extremely popular addition as visitors enjoy to watch their exciting antics, while our pair of agoutis live on the ground below them. Looking onto this exhibit is a slightly larger one, containing a rare rainforest carnivore, 1.1 Fishing Cats. These fascinating cats will live in a habitat including both underwater and above water viewing, and have a pool of live fish in the habitat to demonstrate their fishing ability. Shortly after the fishing cats, a second Aviary located behind harp wire contains 1.1 Maleo. This endangered bird species is extremely rare in US Zoos, making it a good opportunity to showcase a species very few people have heard of. After the Maleo, a second carnivore exhibit will contain 1.1 Ocelots.
As of now, this is what I have in this section. I am open to any suggestions for additional animals.
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The final section of the Dome is the terrarium section. One large wall of the room contains four large terrariums, containing 1.1 Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman, 1.0 Sumatran Water Monitor, 1.1 Phillippine Crocodile, and 1.1 Caiman Lizard/1.2 Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtles.Instead of a Nocturnal section, I have decided it could be more beneficial to have a diurnal area with some smaller habitats for rare mammals and birds. Due to this, one of the aviaries will include 2.2 Rodrigues Fruit Bats originally planned for the Nocturnal area.
This new area is going to contain numerous rare mammal and bird species that will fascinate visitors. The first habitat will be a large, densely planted habitat for 1.1 Silvery-cheeked Hornbills. While I did originally want rhinoceos hornbills, I decided that the smaller special requirement of this species outweighs the added impressiveness of the larger rhinoceros hornbill. After the hornbill, a slightly smaller habitat will contain 2.2 Pied Tamarin, 1.1 Golden Lion Tamarin, and 1.1 Red-rumped Agouti. These small primates will be an extremely popular addition as visitors enjoy to watch their exciting antics, while our pair of agoutis live on the ground below them. Looking onto this exhibit is a slightly larger one, containing a rare rainforest carnivore, 1.1 Fishing Cats. These fascinating cats will live in a habitat including both underwater and above water viewing, and have a pool of live fish in the habitat to demonstrate their fishing ability. Shortly after the fishing cats, a second Aviary located behind harp wire contains 1.1 Maleo. This endangered bird species is extremely rare in US Zoos, making it a good opportunity to showcase a species very few people have heard of. After the Maleo, a second carnivore exhibit will contain 1.1 Ocelots.
As of now, this is what I have in this section. I am open to any suggestions for additional animals.
These four large, aquatic habitats are some of the most popular habitats in the terrarium gallery. Dispersed throughout the section, some more good-sized turtle enclosures display 1.1 Malayan Painted Terrapin and 1.1 Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle.
In addition to these habitats, a dozen smaller tanks contain
Amazon Milk Frogs
Green and Black Poison Dart Frog
Dyeing Poison Dart Frog
Panamanian Golden Frog
Lemur Leaf Frogs
Solomon Island Leaf Frogs
Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko
Green Tree Python
Red-tailed Ratsnake
Prehensile-tailed Skink
Blood Python
Madagascar Tree Boa