I do agree with this and would like to add one extra point: cleaning it can be massive pain in the a**
Europe's 100 must see exhibits
- Thread starter lintworm
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I do agree with this and would like to add one extra point: cleaning it can be massive pain in the a**
Oh sh... I was thinking Beauval was the most beautiful zoo in the world
That said, I am looking for french contributions there and for the moment there was just one ! I was thinking you fell in love of the french zoos ?!
I do agree with this and would like to add one extra point: cleaning it can be massive pain in the a**
At least you get paid to clean the sh*t of others, I am not
Oh sh... I was thinking Beauval was the most beautiful zoo in the world
That said, I am looking for french contributions there and for the moment there was just one ! I was thinking you fell in love of the french zoos ?!
2 actually with Besancon and Sigean, But as usual the French are late
. Overall France will be the country with the second most contributions to the list, so rest assured .2 actually with Besancon and Sigean, But as usual the French are late
Plenty if time then for Beauval’s equatorial dome to appear
It’s not all bad though, I have one exhibit out of that dome on my list…
Excellent thread, with many choices I hadn't heard of before and a few that I've had the privilege of seeing in person. However I must say I'll be very disappointed if the greatest Polar bear exhibit in Europe (perhaps the entire world - toss up with Assiniboine Park?) isn't included. Or at least the best Amur tiger exhibit...
Polar bear enclosure - ZooChat
Tiger enclosure - ZooChat
And happy to hear that France will feature more heavily as the thread goes on, I have at least 4 exhibits in mind that absolutely deserve to be there...
Polar bear enclosure - ZooChat
Tiger enclosure - ZooChat
And happy to hear that France will feature more heavily as the thread goes on, I have at least 4 exhibits in mind that absolutely deserve to be there...
Bengal Tiger
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My own tricks being used against meGiven that puff adders do not tend to play football, I'd rather nominate these gentlemen in regard to fastest strikers: 15 Fastest Soccer Players In The World Ranked (2022 Update) | Authority Soccer
Anyhoo, this thread is great, and now I have to wait until I’m an adult to see these places (if I ain’t broke that is), hopefully I will though. Thanks for your hard work on this @lintworm
The individual reptile exhibits look great, so I hope it is the Sunda gharial exhibit you have in your mind, not the overflowing manatee pond.
Then I have to leave you disappointed. Given its imminent closure I decided not to include them in the list anymore. They are fantastic exhibits though and it is a real shame they will be a thing of the past soon...
Thanks.
38. Okapi sanctuary
Bioparc Zoo de Doué-la-Fontaine, France
Opened: 2013
Size: 4000 square metres
Inhabitants: Okapi, owl-faced monkey and about 20 African bird species
It is not often that revolutionary zoo enclosures are opened these days, but this giant aviary started something of a trend to create aviaries for keeping large mammals together with birds. Situated in a quarry, typical of this zoo, this 20 metre high aviary manages to create a dense forest feeling. The okapi have two enclosures on the forest floor and in such a well-vegetated shaded setting, one really appreciates how well okapi are adapted to such an environment, blending in perfectly in the mozaik of sun and shadow. The real stars are the birds however, with viewing options from a walkway on the ground floor and a viewing platform on the top, there is plenty of space to look for birds. Finding the smaller species can be tricky though, but the views are extremely rewarding. Looking down at owl-faced monkey foraging in the canopy is also one of the more unique zoo sights in Europe. The only complaint one could have is that quite some of the bird species kept are not really rainforest birds, but wetland species, but that is nitpicking here.
@Maguari
@lintworm
@lintworm
@lintworm
@lintworm
@lintworm
Similar exhibits: Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, the Netherlands decided to copy this idea and has an okapi aviary of its own. While the greenhouse is easily the most spacious indoor okapi accomodation around, the outdoor aviary is low and smallish, so does not recreate the magic of its French counterpart.
@snowleopard
@snowleopard
@kiang
Bioparc Zoo de Doué-la-Fontaine, France
Opened: 2013
Size: 4000 square metres
Inhabitants: Okapi, owl-faced monkey and about 20 African bird species
It is not often that revolutionary zoo enclosures are opened these days, but this giant aviary started something of a trend to create aviaries for keeping large mammals together with birds. Situated in a quarry, typical of this zoo, this 20 metre high aviary manages to create a dense forest feeling. The okapi have two enclosures on the forest floor and in such a well-vegetated shaded setting, one really appreciates how well okapi are adapted to such an environment, blending in perfectly in the mozaik of sun and shadow. The real stars are the birds however, with viewing options from a walkway on the ground floor and a viewing platform on the top, there is plenty of space to look for birds. Finding the smaller species can be tricky though, but the views are extremely rewarding. Looking down at owl-faced monkey foraging in the canopy is also one of the more unique zoo sights in Europe. The only complaint one could have is that quite some of the bird species kept are not really rainforest birds, but wetland species, but that is nitpicking here.
@Maguari
@lintworm
@lintworm
@lintworm
@lintworm
@lintworm
Similar exhibits: Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, the Netherlands decided to copy this idea and has an okapi aviary of its own. While the greenhouse is easily the most spacious indoor okapi accomodation around, the outdoor aviary is low and smallish, so does not recreate the magic of its French counterpart.
@snowleopard
@snowleopard
@kiang
38. Okapi sanctuary
Bioparc Zoo de Doué-la-Fontaine, France
Opened: 2013
Size: 4000 square metres
Inhabitants: Okapi, owl-faced monkey and about 20 African bird species
It is not often that revolutionary zoo enclosures are opened these days, but this giant aviary started something of a trend to create aviaries for keeping large mammals together with birds. Situated in a quarry, typical of this zoo, this 20 metre high aviary manages to create a dense forest feeling. The okapi have two enclosures on the forest floor and in such a well-vegetated shaded setting, one really appreciates how well okapi are adapted to such an environment, blending in perfectly in the mozaik of sun and shadow. The real stars are the birds however, with viewing options from a walkway on the ground floor and a viewing platform on the top, there is plenty of space to look for birds. Finding the smaller species can be tricky though, but the views are extremely rewarding. Looking down at owl-faced monkey foraging in the canopy is also one of the more unique zoo sights in Europe. The only complaint one could have is that quite some of the bird species kept are not really rainforest birds, but wetland species, but that is nitpicking here.
@Maguari
@lintworm
@lintworm
@lintworm
@lintworm
@lintworm
Similar exhibits: Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam, the Netherlands decided to copy this idea and has an okapi aviary of its own. While the greenhouse is easily the most spacious indoor okapi accomodation around, the outdoor aviary is low and smallish, so does not recreate the magic of its French counterpart.
@snowleopard
@snowleopard
@kiang
This is a very cool exhibits I hope to see one day (although realistically not anytime soon), and there are several more at Doué that I also would love to see.
Is there a list of the bird species available anywhere?
Yes there's is, at the zoo's website : Le Sanctuaire des okapis - Bioparc Zoo de Doué la Fontaine (bioparc-zoo.fr)
A very good exhibit. Can't see any reason why the guenons do not breed, but they don't.
Could stress by the birds be an issue? Would be a bit surprising to me, but that or them not breeding at request of studbook keeper is what I would assume at first.
I am also wondering about another aspect: don't the monkeys ever feed on eggs or nestlings of the birds? Or are the birds sufficiently assertive and strong to prevent that, or do they have areas where they can get away from the monkeys?
No surprise with this new addition but two complaints as I know very well the place :
- the okapis space in the aviary is way too small and does not fit well the animals. Moreover, the first enclosure see visitors all around so there is a lack of privacy.
- birds observation is really hard and in my opinion a visitors medium observation level is missing.
- the okapis space in the aviary is way too small and does not fit well the animals. Moreover, the first enclosure see visitors all around so there is a lack of privacy.
- birds observation is really hard and in my opinion a visitors medium observation level is missing.
They spend all their time watching the female lions from the upper part of the aviary which is a non sens.
No, they are allowed to breed but the keepers don't understand why they do not.
No real problem between the primates and birds. The major problems were between birds with the hornbills and turacos but now, as these species left, all is fine.
For those whose French isn't up-to-date:
African openbill
Yellow-billed stork
Abdim's stork
Goliath heron
Hadada ibis
Sacred ibis
Hamerkop
African comb duck
Spur-winged goose
Crested guineafowl
Egyptian goose
Hooded vulture
African green pigeon
Lemon dove
Speckled pigeon
Olive pigeon
African grey parrot
Blue-bellied roller
Great blue turaco
I thought I also saw a palm-nut vulture, but I may have misremembered.
I partly agree with you there, especially on the first enclosure, but viewing options are quite limited and with the vegetation I felt there was enough privacy. And a good deal more than in many other zoos. Also spacewise many zoos I know well provide less space for their Okapi (Antwerp, Rotterdam, Frankfurt, Basel, Copenhagen, London...). That doesn't make this an okapi palace, but few give them such good cover as here.
I think it is fine, for the regular visitor there is always enough activity at ground level and from the top the monkeys and goliath herons and some storks are generally visible. For us nerds it leaves something to explore and bar some pigeons I managed to see all species during my visit.
If by saying “overflowing” you mean overcrowded, then I agree but that’s not the exhibits fault? It’s like cramming 1500 polar bears in Orsa’s exhibit and then saying the exhibit is bad.
when you enter the dome, you walk into a towering wall of glass with manatee’s and arapaima behind it. I have to say, I was quite impressed.
But I haven’t seen Paris, Faunia, the Afrykarium, Odense, Randers, Nurnberg or Genua aquarium yet. Almost all of them seem to have impressive manatee exhibits, so perhaps it isn’t as unique as I think. But the impression it made on me made me add it to my list.
I put it on my list as a sort “last chance to see” because if you followed zoo’s religiously the last decades it should be on your list for sheer fame. Crying shame it’s going to close.
Oh and the Okapi Sanctuary, another European top 10 exhibit easily.
39. Vulture aviary
Tierpark Berlin, Germany
Opened: 1965
Size: 1500 square metres
Inhabitants: variety of old world and new world vultures
With its imposing rocky backdrop and 9 metre height this aviary seems to be built to impress. Opened at the height of the cold zoo war between east and west, it is one of the few structures that still holds up well today. In terms of space and nesting opportunities on the cliffs nothing needed to be changed. But in recent years the aviary has undergone some cosmetic renovations that soften the imposing structure and make for a more visually appealing sight. Being now partly walkthrough makes this also a more engaging place for the visitors. This is one of the few places in Europe where vultures can actually do a bit of flying and with over 10 species of vulture there is always action in some form and these misunderstood birds do make for a fascinating display.
@Shirokuma
@Shirokuma
@Shirokuma
@Shirokuma
@Shirokuma
Similar exhibits: With all the charm of a simple playground, what really speaks for “la Terre des Aigles” is its size. Though it claims to be 1.8 hectares, measuring it on google maps gives me a size of roughly 9000 square metres. So claims of being Europe’s largest aviary are wrong. Though it would still be the largest bird of prey aviary and is still a lot of space for vultures, smaller birds of prey and sheep. This aviary is not represented on zoochat, but googling shows quite some pictures/youtube videos.
There are however quite a number of good vulture aviaries around the continent, which might not have the sheer size, but are still beautiful or show interesting mixes, I would like to highlight 3 of those and give a honourable mention to Prague.
Tiergarten Nuernberg, Germany, houses bearded vulture, bobak marmot, red-billed chough, rock partridge and nutcrackers in an aviary encompassing a former bear pit:
@lintworm
@lintworm
Tierpark Nordhorn, Germany, has a mixed aviary with griffon vultures, waldrapp and Siberian ibex:
@Maguari
@Maguari
Zoo la Garenne, Le Vaud, Switzerland, has a walkthrough aviary housing multiple vulture species with waldrapp, Alpine ibex and Alpine marmot:
@lintworm
@literaturezoologique
@lintworm
Tierpark Berlin, Germany
Opened: 1965
Size: 1500 square metres
Inhabitants: variety of old world and new world vultures
With its imposing rocky backdrop and 9 metre height this aviary seems to be built to impress. Opened at the height of the cold zoo war between east and west, it is one of the few structures that still holds up well today. In terms of space and nesting opportunities on the cliffs nothing needed to be changed. But in recent years the aviary has undergone some cosmetic renovations that soften the imposing structure and make for a more visually appealing sight. Being now partly walkthrough makes this also a more engaging place for the visitors. This is one of the few places in Europe where vultures can actually do a bit of flying and with over 10 species of vulture there is always action in some form and these misunderstood birds do make for a fascinating display.
@Shirokuma
@Shirokuma
@Shirokuma
@Shirokuma
@Shirokuma
Similar exhibits: With all the charm of a simple playground, what really speaks for “la Terre des Aigles” is its size. Though it claims to be 1.8 hectares, measuring it on google maps gives me a size of roughly 9000 square metres. So claims of being Europe’s largest aviary are wrong. Though it would still be the largest bird of prey aviary and is still a lot of space for vultures, smaller birds of prey and sheep. This aviary is not represented on zoochat, but googling shows quite some pictures/youtube videos.
There are however quite a number of good vulture aviaries around the continent, which might not have the sheer size, but are still beautiful or show interesting mixes, I would like to highlight 3 of those and give a honourable mention to Prague.
Tiergarten Nuernberg, Germany, houses bearded vulture, bobak marmot, red-billed chough, rock partridge and nutcrackers in an aviary encompassing a former bear pit:
@lintworm
@lintworm
Tierpark Nordhorn, Germany, has a mixed aviary with griffon vultures, waldrapp and Siberian ibex:
@Maguari
@Maguari
Zoo la Garenne, Le Vaud, Switzerland, has a walkthrough aviary housing multiple vulture species with waldrapp, Alpine ibex and Alpine marmot:
@lintworm
@literaturezoologique
@lintworm
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They are difficult breeders in general. Aschersleben nor Bojnice are succesfull.
I wonder if the size and composition of the groups isn't the problem. Most guenons should be kept 1 male with multiple females.
Antwerp also only has one adult male and one adult female, with the other group members being older offspring, and they do breed.
I know, it's not as clear-cut. But most group compositions in zoos are rather deviating from nature.
Especially for the Doué exhibit, which should fits perfectly for that species (as Lintworm describes, there's a dense forest feeling, it's spacious, etc.), I had high expectations at the time it opened. It is one of the few investments for guenons we've seen, therefor it's all the more regrettable they do not breed.