Let's be honest, there's good odds both Mangrove and Bush will appear eventually!
Europe's 100 must see exhibits
- Thread starter lintworm
- Start date
Let's be honest, there's good odds both Mangrove and Bush will appear eventually!
Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't need any explanation about Burgers' Zoo
. Given that I stated at the beginning that the selected exhibits come from roughly 70 zoos, there will be zoos with more than one entry. I would not want to be betting against Mangrove and Bush appearing eventually
No new profiles for the weekend, but a question to all of you: which now closed exhibit should have made this list.
@jwer got me thinking about it and I am curious what you think. I have 3 exhibits to highlight myself, but I don't want to spoil the fun for the rest of you.
1. Migratory birds aviary
Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Existed: 2007-2013
Size: 2300 square metres
Inhabitants: wide range of (partially migratory) Dutch and Mediterranean birds
The aviary consisted of two parts: one showing a Dutch meadow landscape, the second a Mediterranean lagoon. It's focus was to highlight how some Dutch birds migrate south each winter and thus show how such two ecosystems were connected by birds. I am a sucker for European bird displays anyway, but this one was unique both in terms of size, species richness (>20 species kept) and as education.
@Toddy
@Orycteropus
2. Playa pinguinos
Dierenpark Emmen, the Netherlands
Existed: 2002-2015
Size: >4000 square metres (?)
Inhabitants: Humboldt's penguin, steamer duck
Once the largest penguin enclosure on the planet, home to a group of 200 Humboldt's penguins, the part that still exists is now a common hippo enclosure. It was maybe somewhat over the top, but very nice nonetheless. A large land area, was walk-through for the visitors and it allowed close views of the penguins. The water part was so large, it easily accommodates the common hippo group now.
@Hippo
@Moos
@Hippo
3. Turtle exhibit
ZSL London Zoo, United Kingdom
Existed: ?? - 2022/3
Size: rather small
Inhabitants: Annam leaf turtle
Getting an educational message across is maybe the most challenging task. Southern and Southeast Asia is the turtle hotspot of the world, but also the area with most (critically) endangered species. The main threat to most species is overexploitation of wild populations for food and medicine. Getting such a message clear, is originally done here. It is a shame this exhibit will soon be one of the past, it was included in the original 100 of this list, but removed due to the fact it would be gone soon...
@zoogiraffe
So what are other worthy inclusions that do not exist anymore?
@jwer got me thinking about it and I am curious what you think. I have 3 exhibits to highlight myself, but I don't want to spoil the fun for the rest of you.
1. Migratory birds aviary
Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Existed: 2007-2013
Size: 2300 square metres
Inhabitants: wide range of (partially migratory) Dutch and Mediterranean birds
The aviary consisted of two parts: one showing a Dutch meadow landscape, the second a Mediterranean lagoon. It's focus was to highlight how some Dutch birds migrate south each winter and thus show how such two ecosystems were connected by birds. I am a sucker for European bird displays anyway, but this one was unique both in terms of size, species richness (>20 species kept) and as education.
@Toddy
@Orycteropus
2. Playa pinguinos
Dierenpark Emmen, the Netherlands
Existed: 2002-2015
Size: >4000 square metres (?)
Inhabitants: Humboldt's penguin, steamer duck
Once the largest penguin enclosure on the planet, home to a group of 200 Humboldt's penguins, the part that still exists is now a common hippo enclosure. It was maybe somewhat over the top, but very nice nonetheless. A large land area, was walk-through for the visitors and it allowed close views of the penguins. The water part was so large, it easily accommodates the common hippo group now.
@Hippo
@Moos
@Hippo
3. Turtle exhibit
ZSL London Zoo, United Kingdom
Existed: ?? - 2022/3
Size: rather small
Inhabitants: Annam leaf turtle
Getting an educational message across is maybe the most challenging task. Southern and Southeast Asia is the turtle hotspot of the world, but also the area with most (critically) endangered species. The main threat to most species is overexploitation of wild populations for food and medicine. Getting such a message clear, is originally done here. It is a shame this exhibit will soon be one of the past, it was included in the original 100 of this list, but removed due to the fact it would be gone soon...
@zoogiraffe
So what are other worthy inclusions that do not exist anymore?
I think spontaneously of Blijdorp's Wolfs Valley: simple, mysterious, wonderful.
Waiting at the big window of the viewing point, it was always exciting to see if a wolf would appear from between the bush.
No new profiles for the weekend, but a question to all of you: which now closed exhibit should have made this list.
@jwer got me thinking about it and I am curious what you think. I have 3 exhibits to highlight myself, but I don't want to spoil the fun for the rest of you.
1. Migratory birds aviary
Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Existed: 2007-2013
Size: 2300 square metres
Inhabitants: wide range of (partially migratory) Dutch and Mediterranean birds
The aviary consisted of two parts: one showing a Dutch meadow landscape, the second a Mediterranean lagoon. It's focus was to highlight how some Dutch birds migrate south each winter and thus show how such two ecosystems were connected by birds. I am a sucker for European bird displays anyway, but this one was unique both in terms of size, species richness (>20 species kept) and as education.
@Toddy
@Orycteropus
2. Playa pinguinos
Dierenpark Emmen, the Netherlands
Existed: 2002-2015
Size: >4000 square metres (?)
Inhabitants: Humboldt's penguin, steamer duck
Once the largest penguin enclosure on the planet, home to a group of 200 Humboldt's penguins, the part that still exists is now a common hippo enclosure. It was maybe somewhat over the top, but very nice nonetheless. A large land area, was walk-through for the visitors and it allowed close views of the penguins. The water part was so large, it easily accommodates the common hippo group now.
@Hippo
@Moos
@Hippo
3. Turtle exhibit
ZSL London Zoo, United Kingdom
Existed: ?? - 2022/3
Size: rather small
Inhabitants: Annam leaf turtle
Getting an educational message across is maybe the most challenging task. Southern and Southeast Asia is the turtle hotspot of the world, but also the area with most (critically) endangered species. The main threat to most species is overexploitation of wild populations for food and medicine. Getting such a message clear, is originally done here. It is a shame this exhibit will soon be one of the past, it was included in the original 100 of this list, but removed due to the fact it would be gone soon...
@zoogiraffe
So what are other worthy inclusions that do not exist anymore?
Both Rotterdams and Emmens enclosures were VERY good but with the turtle-enclosure I've the problem that - as far I can see on the photo - there is no possibility for the animals - which are criticaly endangered - to breed.
I may be mistaken but I am pretty sure this exhibit is either empty or gone now anyway, and has been for a while. And while I see the message behind it, I'm not really a fan, I must admit, and don't think it should be anywhere near this list personally, but each to their own...
See here for more on this exhibit: Notorious Annam leaf turtle display, July 2015. - ZooChat
Definitely the migratory birds aviary wish was a real delight I was lucky to see. Nice, simple, natural and amazing with uncommon species in zoos. No more to say.
But a special mention for the evocative turtle exhibit in London Zoo (where I was amaze by the very cool Partula snails room too).
But a special mention for the evocative turtle exhibit in London Zoo (where I was amaze by the very cool Partula snails room too).
I disagree, I do not see how this exhibit is cultural appropriation and it feels like an easy excuse for the uncomfortable truth that dozens of turtle species are critically endangered because they are eaten/end up in "medicine".
I agree that the endangerment of these species is awful - however, there is a point to be made that the contribution of Western (particularly European) hunters to the endangerment of so many species in the African and Asian continents has been conveniently glossed over, and that the focus is now instead on those countries that hunt bushmeat as a means of sustenance. How would we feel if hunters from these continents came and shot large numbers of Wisent or Iberian lynx? The exhibit just strikes me as somewhat holier-than-thou in its attitude. It's also far from the best for the animals, a facet that has apparently been somewhat ignored by most...
Do you actually have proof for any recent examples, I cannot think of any. And that is beside the point, this exhibit is not an excuse or blameshifting for an (imagined) western hunting problem. There is no reason why a western zoo should not draw attention to an environmental problem on the other side of the world, especially if said zoo is involved in conservation efforts in those countries.
I think it's worth mentioning that not all bush meat is consumed locally for subsistence, it is also sold internationally and brings in a lot of money for organised criminals.
126,000 hunting trophies are brought back to the US every year, many of whom are elephants, rhinoceroses etc. That's only in recent times - I was moreso referring to the millions of animals killed more or less indiscriminately by wealthy Westerners in Africa and Asia up until around 40-50 years ago. Just to be clear, I'm not defending in any way the killing of endangered turtles and the like but the hunting of bushmeat by certain African or Asian peoples is objectively more justified than the slaughter of American bison in North America for example.
It's not as if hunting has completely dissipated within Europe and North America either - it's probably more commonplace than in the aforementioned continents - whether the species in question is endangered or not doesn't change the fact that bushmeat hunting is prevalent under another name in Europe and NA. And no, I'm not blameshifting, I'm saying that it strikes me as ironic that this is being highlighted when so little is said of the millions of species hunted to endangerment and in some cases extinction by Westerners.
I don't want to sidetrack this excellent thread further so I'd suggest we either continue this discussion on a separate thread or pause it for now.
126,000 hunting trophies are brought back to the US every year, many of whom are elephants, rhinoceroses etc. That's only in recent times - I was moreso referring to the millions of animals killed more or less indiscriminately by wealthy Westerners in Africa and Asia up until around 40-50 years ago. Just to be clear, I'm not defending in any way the killing of endangered turtles and the like but the hunting of bushmeat by certain African or Asian peoples is objectively more justified than the slaughter of American bison in North America for example.
It's not as if hunting has completely dissipated within Europe and North America either - it's probably more commonplace than in the aforementioned continents - whether the species in question is endangered or not doesn't change the fact that bushmeat hunting is prevalent under another name in Europe and NA. And no, I'm not blameshifting, I'm saying that it strikes me as ironic that this is being highlighted when so little is said of the millions of species hunted to endangerment and in some cases extinction by Westerners.
I don't want to sidetrack this excellent thread further so I'd suggest we either continue this discussion on a separate thread or pause it for now.
Still not a fair comparison and still besides the point, apart from that current trophy hunting is not driving animals to extinction, ugly as it is (that would be a horrible business model). The hunting done in the UK is not critically endangering species and is to a large extent regulated and sustainable, which the turtle example is not. And most importantly if ZSL London Zoo would promote that kind of hunting, than this exhibit would be wrong. But it is not promoting trophy hunting. There is no reason why they should not draw attention to a significant biodiversity threat. Maybe the exhibit is interpretated wrongly by some, as it is no attack on Vietnamese, it is just highlighting a serious conservation issue.
Then we must agree to disagree. I can of course sympathise with what appears to the message of the exhibit, just not the way in which it is conveyed. Having visited the zoo a plethora of times, I have never seen visitors react to the exhibit in any way other than being slightly bemused by the exhibitry style. On a separate note, not sure that housing turtles in a completely sterile, tiled exhibit constitutes a 'must-see' European exhibit, but as I've agreed with most of, if not all, your other picks so far, I guess I won't take this any further.
I would argue that this discussion is exactly the reason for including it. It is a thought-provoking (and imo original) exhibit, in quite a unique style.
But let's indeed agree to disagree here.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Was just at Cotswold today and as well as great to see it highlighted I just wanted to say I think your description of it is excellent!
Even in late Jan with some of the plants wrapped up ('sssh don't wake the sleeping banana!') there's a lovely feel to the walled garden area. The love birds were increidbly noisy and busy today and coupled with some excited otters and the lovely surroundings it really was living up to it's best.
Thank you, I am glad to hear that, as I have unfortunately never visited Cotswold myself...
Lafone
Well-Known Member
You've done a fine job then - I wouldn't have guessed you'd never been there.
It's a great place, I like it as it has that perfect balance of large and small things to see wrapped in a lovely backdrop. There's always an animal out you didn't see the last time and loads of small corners to find animals in. The tapiers were very active today for example; bit of sun in Jan works wonders! I continue to hunt the ever evasive Pallas Cats though!
Are the cats usually hiding? I've spotted them on all my visits.
Strix
Well-Known Member
They tend to be 50/50 for me, but usually they go back in their house not long after leaving it.