Here's another angle of that Dutch Canal Tank (taken by me at Artis Royal Amsterdam Zoo in 2019):
This is a brilliant piece of exhibit design.
Europe's 100 must see exhibits
- Thread starter lintworm
- Start date
This is a brilliant piece of exhibit design.
In that respect, I would much rather include Ouwehands Gorilla exhibit because that exhibit really got me thinking. At first sight, I didn’t like it at all, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised I didn’t know why… till the point my opinion tilted. I love the “marmite effect” that exhibit has
While creating my own list (stuck on 48 atm), I was rereading @snowleopard European Road trip and he called Ouwehands gorilla exhibit very cryptically “a total bust”.
That’s probably Canadian for “must-see”
Bengal Tiger
Well-Known Member
Wow!!! That Baltic Sea exhibit is fabulous, y’know, when I was younger I loved aquariums, but really just to see the fish (not actually paying too much attention to them) and the sights and whatnot, now I want to go to an aquarium to really see the species.
While creating my own list (stuck on 48 atm), I was rereading @snowleopard European Road trip and he called Ouwehands gorilla exhibit very cryptically “a total bust”.
That’s probably Canadian for “must-see”
The big gorilla exhibit at Ouwehands Zoo is rather remarkable and it could arguably be a candidate for a 'must-see' list.
I much prefer a more naturalistic gorilla exhibit, like the amazing habitats at Apenheul, Bronx, Disney's Animal Kingdom and dozens of other zoos. Here's what I wrote about the gorilla exhibit at Ouwehands on my Snowleopard's 2019 Road Trip thread:
One major issue is that I hated Gorilla Adventure, a new area that only just opened in 2013. I’m not sure how many gorillas there are as I could barely see any! There is a massive building, truly dominating the middle section of the zoo, that has a totally bizarre, cave-like entrance and lots of windows with glare and steel and metal in all directions. The exhibit is long and narrow, with awkward viewing indoors as there are portals as if visitors are on a vast ship. The problem is that those little viewing windows get clogged with visitors, or there is just enough space to see a few gorillas but if they move out of view then you’ve got to walk down to the next portal. It’s a unique, bizarre setup and even with Roloway Monkeys there lacks a significant, large-scale viewing area for the public. Seeing gorillas in little snippets here and there is awful and Gorilla Adventure is a total bust. There is no way that huge building is going to look good in 20 years as it’s almost like an outdoor, entirely-covered Tropic World and we all know how that turned out.
Here's the Jurassic Park-type entrance:
@lintworm
A sea of metal and wood:
@MagpieGoose
Viewing window portal:
@vogelcommando
9. Rimba mixed species paddock
Burgers’ Zoo Arnhem, the Netherlands
Opened: 2008
Size: 5000 square metres
Inhabitants: Javan banteng, Eld’s deer, hog deer, Reeves’ muntjac, southern pig-tailed macaque, siamang
Whereas African savanna mixed-species exhibits are extremely common, Asian mixed-species hoofstock exhibits are much rarer. And most that do exist, are rather standard, with axis deer and blackbuck dominant. Not so this enclosure, which houses several rarer hoofstock species and most importantly adds primates into the mix. The small troop of macaques are the star of the enclosure and go together fine with the hoofstock. Macaques and siamang were not a good combination though, so the Siamang are confined to a number of trees, to which the macaques have no access. Their regular songs do make them a vital component to the success of this exhibit for the visitors. With such a lively assembly, a generic hoofstock enclosure can easily be upgraded into something that is also appreciated by the visitors. It does help that there has been attention to attractive landscaping, but more importantly, there is always something going on. The only ones losing out are the Sumatran tigers, who are optically part of the enclosure, but separated by a mesh from their prospective lunch.
Similar exhibits: none. I am surprised there doesn't seem to be an Indian exhibit mixing hanuman langurs with deers and antelope.
@KevinB (note that you can still see that the oak trees were originally a lane from which visitors viewed the original cattle enclosures)
@KevinB
@KevinB
@EmperorTamarin
Burgers’ Zoo Arnhem, the Netherlands
Opened: 2008
Size: 5000 square metres
Inhabitants: Javan banteng, Eld’s deer, hog deer, Reeves’ muntjac, southern pig-tailed macaque, siamang
Whereas African savanna mixed-species exhibits are extremely common, Asian mixed-species hoofstock exhibits are much rarer. And most that do exist, are rather standard, with axis deer and blackbuck dominant. Not so this enclosure, which houses several rarer hoofstock species and most importantly adds primates into the mix. The small troop of macaques are the star of the enclosure and go together fine with the hoofstock. Macaques and siamang were not a good combination though, so the Siamang are confined to a number of trees, to which the macaques have no access. Their regular songs do make them a vital component to the success of this exhibit for the visitors. With such a lively assembly, a generic hoofstock enclosure can easily be upgraded into something that is also appreciated by the visitors. It does help that there has been attention to attractive landscaping, but more importantly, there is always something going on. The only ones losing out are the Sumatran tigers, who are optically part of the enclosure, but separated by a mesh from their prospective lunch.
Similar exhibits: none. I am surprised there doesn't seem to be an Indian exhibit mixing hanuman langurs with deers and antelope.
@KevinB (note that you can still see that the oak trees were originally a lane from which visitors viewed the original cattle enclosures)
@KevinB
@KevinB
@EmperorTamarin
As mentioned before: Hannover used to keep their grey langurs together with Barasingha deer till 2003, which worked well. Now the deer are gone and the langurs live in a fake Asian temple exhibit. Well done, Hannover; well done *slow clap*
I know, didn't the mix exist in the current temple exhibit?
Apenheul also used to have a mixed exhibit with hanuman langurs and axis deer some 40 years ago, which also worked fine. Even more surprising that there are successful examples from the past and none from the present in an era where mixed-species enclosures are more common.
Maybe due to the general regressiveness of deer husbandry in zoos?
A truly fabulous mixed species exhibit which people tend to forget when visiting this zoo with all it's impressive indoor ecosystems.
This exhibit would not make my list and if you ask me why, I couldn’t tell you. It has all the makings of a must-see exhibit, but I never get any warm feelings seeing it.
It doesn’t help that in my opinion, the siamangs get a very short end of a stick. Their “enclosure” is pretty small for such a large primate, if you add everything up. The fact that it’s still infinitely better than most siamang exhibits (Krefeld, Amersfoort) doesn’t cut it for me.
I can also not get it out of my head that when Burgers’ announced the exhibit, gaurs were mentioned. They swapped them for banteng, because more reinforcements were needed to the enclosure if gaurs had been added. I still feel a tinge of disappointment when i see the banteng. I don’t know if this memory is actually correct tbh, but I think so?
Thinking of comparable exhibits, I’m also drawing blank. Apparantly, Europe doesn’t offer anything like this but better (or even slightly worse) which is actually pretty disappointing.
So I guess my conclusion has to be that this exhibit deserves to be in the list and I need to get over it
It doesn’t help that in my opinion, the siamangs get a very short end of a stick. Their “enclosure” is pretty small for such a large primate, if you add everything up. The fact that it’s still infinitely better than most siamang exhibits (Krefeld, Amersfoort) doesn’t cut it for me.
I can also not get it out of my head that when Burgers’ announced the exhibit, gaurs were mentioned. They swapped them for banteng, because more reinforcements were needed to the enclosure if gaurs had been added. I still feel a tinge of disappointment when i see the banteng. I don’t know if this memory is actually correct tbh, but I think so?
Thinking of comparable exhibits, I’m also drawing blank. Apparantly, Europe doesn’t offer anything like this but better (or even slightly worse) which is actually pretty disappointing.
So I guess my conclusion has to be that this exhibit deserves to be in the list and I need to get over it
9. Rimba mixed species paddock
Burgers’ Zoo Arnhem, the Netherlands
Opened: 2008
Size: 5000 square metres
Inhabitants: Javan banteng, Eld’s deer, hog deer, Reeves’ muntjac, southern pig-tailed macaque, siamang
Whereas African savanna mixed-species exhibits are extremely common, Asian mixed-species hoofstock exhibits are much rarer. And most that do exist, are rather standard, with axis deer and blackbuck dominant. Not so this enclosure, which houses several rarer hoofstock species and most importantly adds primates into the mix. The small troop of macaques are the star of the enclosure and go together fine with the hoofstock. Macaques and siamang were not a good combination though, so the Siamang are confined to a number of trees, to which the macaques have no access. Their regular songs do make them a vital component to the success of this exhibit for the visitors. With such a lively assembly, a generic hoofstock enclosure can easily be upgraded into something that is also appreciated by the visitors. It does help that there has been attention to attractive landscaping, but more importantly, there is always something going on. The only ones losing out are the Sumatran tigers, who are optically part of the enclosure, but separated by a mesh from their prospective lunch.
Similar exhibits: none. I am surprised there doesn't seem to be an Indian exhibit mixing hanuman langurs with deers and antelope.
@KevinB (note that you can still see that the oak trees were originally a lane from which visitors viewed the original cattle enclosures)
@KevinB
@KevinB
@EmperorTamarin
Have to agree with @jwer, althrough it is a nice and decent enclosure. it's not on my must see exhibit-list, IMO Burgers has to offer other, more exiting exibits ( which - I'm sure - are also on your list and will be dealt with later-on I guess ).
For similar exibits I think Dierenrijks Asian elephant enclosure can be compared with the Rimba - elephants, deer and macaque living together on a large plain-like enclosure with a large indoor enclosure.
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Maybe because both species being Least concern they are (or should not) be a long-term priority ? Therefore lack of investment and creativity in exhibitry ?
Well, Javan langur and/or silvery gibbon, with rusa and Javan banteng would still be plausible and make a nice line-up of endangered species. Rimba enclosure is actually very often a kind of combination I try to copy in my virtual masterplans.
The unsual mix of endangered species is really what makes this exhibit stands out as if taken individually, it would be easy to find better exhibits for each species in Europe. It was one of my personal favorites of my visit to Arnhem, I must have stayed at least one hour with all the activity going one between the various species.
9. Rimba mixed species paddock
Burgers’ Zoo Arnhem, the Netherlands
Opened: 2008
Size: 5000 square metres
Inhabitants: Javan banteng, Eld’s deer, hog deer, Reeves’ muntjac, southern pig-tailed macaque, siamang
Whereas African savanna mixed-species exhibits are extremely common, Asian mixed-species hoofstock exhibits are much rarer. And most that do exist, are rather standard, with axis deer and blackbuck dominant. Not so this enclosure, which houses several rarer hoofstock species and most importantly adds primates into the mix. The small troop of macaques are the star of the enclosure and go together fine with the hoofstock. Macaques and siamang were not a good combination though, so the Siamang are confined to a number of trees, to which the macaques have no access. Their regular songs do make them a vital component to the success of this exhibit for the visitors. With such a lively assembly, a generic hoofstock enclosure can easily be upgraded into something that is also appreciated by the visitors. It does help that there has been attention to attractive landscaping, but more importantly, there is always something going on. The only ones losing out are the Sumatran tigers, who are optically part of the enclosure, but separated by a mesh from their prospective lunch.
Similar exhibits: none. I am surprised there doesn't seem to be an Indian exhibit mixing hanuman langurs with deers and antelope.
@KevinB (note that you can still see that the oak trees were originally a lane from which visitors viewed the original cattle enclosures)
@KevinB
@KevinB
@EmperorTamarin
A bit of a surprising enclosure to see on this list - personally I was expecting some different ones from Burgers' Zoo, although I am sure one or more of these will still show up later on.
But you are right that the mix of species as well as some of the species housed are pretty unique, and it is indeed a rather nice exhibit, and one that I enjoy seeing.
I also did not know the detail of the rows of oak trees. By original cattle area, do you mean the original enclosures from when Burgers' Zoo first opened in Arnhem or the ungulate area constructed later, which existed until the 2000's and was demolished for Rimba?
I am also glad to have provided some of the photos that you deemed gave a good enough overview of the exhibit.
9. Rimba mixed species paddock
Burgers’ Zoo Arnhem, the Netherlands
Opened: 2008
Size: 5000 square metres
Inhabitants: Javan banteng, Eld’s deer, hog deer, Reeves’ muntjac, southern pig-tailed macaque, siamang
Whereas African savanna mixed-species exhibits are extremely common, Asian mixed-species hoofstock exhibits are much rarer. And most that do exist, are rather standard, with axis deer and blackbuck dominant. Not so this enclosure, which houses several rarer hoofstock species and most importantly adds primates into the mix. The small troop of macaques are the star of the enclosure and go together fine with the hoofstock. Macaques and siamang were not a good combination though, so the Siamang are confined to a number of trees, to which the macaques have no access. Their regular songs do make them a vital component to the success of this exhibit for the visitors. With such a lively assembly, a generic hoofstock enclosure can easily be upgraded into something that is also appreciated by the visitors. It does help that there has been attention to attractive landscaping, but more importantly, there is always something going on. The only ones losing out are the Sumatran tigers, who are optically part of the enclosure, but separated by a mesh from their prospective lunch.
Similar exhibits: none. I am surprised there doesn't seem to be an Indian exhibit mixing hanuman langurs with deers and antelope.
@KevinB (note that you can still see that the oak trees were originally a lane from which visitors viewed the original cattle enclosures)
@KevinB
@KevinB
@EmperorTamarin
I'm not surprised that Rimba is on the list. Not only, because is part of one of the lintworm's favourite zoos. I didn't know that Gaurs were planned instead of Bantengs! It would be great, if Burgers was brave enough to do the open Tiger/Banteng connection. I know from the author that they considered it, but there was not enough space for a moat, like in Bronx's legendary Lion/Nyala exhibit. Tigers probably do better in long jump than Lions, but the moat in Bronx was not so very wide, actually.
Imagine open exhibit, where Sumatran tigers overlook herds of Gaurs and Asiatic Deers!
I think you would be hard pressed to find many Siamang enclosures that offer more space in terms of swinging distance (and have living trees) and usable cubic metres. Though the number of options is indeed somewhat limited.
I was aware of both enclosures, but kind of forgot about Dierenrijk here, which is probably indeed the closest thing, but with a less interesting mix and landscaping.
Wroclaw isn't really comparable as the pileated gibbons don't share any real space, so no primates actually mixed in. Still a nice exhibit and a nicely designed house.
If we are listing other Asian mixed enclosures
@FunkyGibbon
The mixed Indian rhino, Reeves' muntjac, Visayan warty pig and Asian small-clawed otter is also a very interesting one. Especially when the otters are on the move.
I mean the ungulate area constructed later:
It held Ankole cattle, European Bison, Plains bison and Yak in the 1990s, though in later years only Plains bison and domestic reindeer.
Quite an improvement I would say
I think that the Rimba mixed-species paddock at Burgers' Zoo is an excellent choice and it's a superb exhibit. Although not as impressive, and not as well landscaped, the Asian Elephant/Red Deer/Chital/Crab-eating Macaque enclosure at Dierenrijk (also in the Netherlands) makes for an interesting combination. Here are some photos I took in 2019:
10. Walled Garden
Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, UK
Opened: developed from 1970 onwards
Size: 11500 square metres
Inhabitants: wide array of birds and small mammals
In a country renowned for its love of gardening, it is somewhat surprising how little attention landscaping and planting gets in it’s zoos. Cotswold is one of the exceptions here, with the walled garden being a particularly fine example. The former kitchen gardens of the manor have been transformed into fine looking gardens with a choice collection of animals. Plants still take centre stage, though only a small part is still devoted to edible plants, and most enclosures are built around the garden perimeter. The enclosures themselves are often a rather simple, but effective, affair of a more typical British design. Highlights include a Madagascar walkthrough with lemurs and birds and enclosures for crowned sifaka and greater bamboo lemur nearby. Apart from a number of rarer species, this is also the home of crowd-pleasers such as Humboldt's penguin, meerkat and prairie dog. Overall this zoo in a zoo is maybe the most archetypical British of them all: simple yet effective enclosures in beautiful gardens in an aristocratic setting.
@Potamogale
@Nanook
@zoogiraffe
@Maguari
Similar exhibits: The lower part of Wilhelma, Stuttgart, Germany is another fine example of a combination of beautiful historic gardens and architecture with enclosures dotted around. But that area is so spread out, it doesn't really qualify as 1 exhibit.
@Jogy
@Jogy
Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, UK
Opened: developed from 1970 onwards
Size: 11500 square metres
Inhabitants: wide array of birds and small mammals
In a country renowned for its love of gardening, it is somewhat surprising how little attention landscaping and planting gets in it’s zoos. Cotswold is one of the exceptions here, with the walled garden being a particularly fine example. The former kitchen gardens of the manor have been transformed into fine looking gardens with a choice collection of animals. Plants still take centre stage, though only a small part is still devoted to edible plants, and most enclosures are built around the garden perimeter. The enclosures themselves are often a rather simple, but effective, affair of a more typical British design. Highlights include a Madagascar walkthrough with lemurs and birds and enclosures for crowned sifaka and greater bamboo lemur nearby. Apart from a number of rarer species, this is also the home of crowd-pleasers such as Humboldt's penguin, meerkat and prairie dog. Overall this zoo in a zoo is maybe the most archetypical British of them all: simple yet effective enclosures in beautiful gardens in an aristocratic setting.
@Potamogale
@Nanook
@zoogiraffe
@Maguari
Similar exhibits: The lower part of Wilhelma, Stuttgart, Germany is another fine example of a combination of beautiful historic gardens and architecture with enclosures dotted around. But that area is so spread out, it doesn't really qualify as 1 exhibit.
@Jogy
@Jogy
Very happy to see this here, Cotswold on the whole is really pretty but the Walled Garden takes the cake. I've always loved how it feels like a "zoo within a zoo" as you said, always a really pleasant experience every time especially with highlights like sifakas! I wonder if we are going off attractiveness, if the white rhino paddock with its manor house backdrop will make an appearance...10. Walled Garden
Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, UK
Opened: developed from 1970 onwards
Size: 11500 square metres
Inhabitants: wide array of birds and small mammals
In a country renowned for its love of gardening, it is somewhat surprising how little attention landscaping and planting gets in it’s zoos. Cotswold is one of the exceptions here, with the walled garden being a particularly fine example. The former kitchen gardens of the manor have been transformed into fine looking gardens with a choice collection of animals. Plants still take centre stage, though only a small part is still devoted to edible plants, and most enclosures are built around the garden perimeter. The enclosures themselves are often a rather simple, but effective, affair of a more typical British design. Highlights include a Madagascar walkthrough with lemurs and birds and enclosures for crowned sifaka and greater bamboo lemur nearby. Apart from a number of rarer species, this is also the home of crowd-pleasers such as Humboldt's penguin, meerkat and prairie dog. Overall this zoo in a zoo is maybe the most archetypical British of them all: simple yet effective enclosures in beautiful gardens in an aristocratic setting.
@Potamogale
@Nanook
@zoogiraffe
@Maguari
Similar exhibits: The lower part of Wilhelma, Stuttgart, Germany is another fine example of a combination of beautiful historic gardens and architecture with enclosures dotted around. But that area is so spread out, it doesn't really qualify as 1 exhibit.
@Jogy
@Jogy
I must say that, though I like the rimba, the Mangrove dome wins for best exhibit in this zoo. A colossal freshwater tank with a twelve meter viewing window. Holding a collection of S/American cichlids and tropical gars, with of course the manatees as the main stars (which have already produced two babies here). As well as a smaller saltwater mudflat filled with fiddler crabs and some horseshoe crabs mixed in. AND a collection of slightly rarer bird species and (not as rare, but still pretty) butterflies and lizards roaming
The desert and bush are incredible too. The Bush being one of the most realistic indoor rainforests that I've ever seen (though, to be fair. I haven't seen many), with a huge collection of birds. Including Europe's only Screaming Pihas that give the Bush a background noise without any speakers. As well as the Desert having a surprising rarity of birds (currently six unique-in-Europe birds) and a beautiful botanical collection (which can be said about the bush as well) AND some glorious nocturnal enclosures for ringtails (Which could honestly make this top 100 list on their own)!
I do have to admit that, with the loss of bighorn sheep, the Desert is currently very empty, But as soon as that enclosure gets filled up with some new species these three are definitely must-visits on any European zoo trips