Mixed species exhibit ideas

Neil chace said:
For this same fantasy zoo, which has a large focus on mixed species and innovative exhibits, I'm also going to be including an islands themed area. The focal point of this area will be what I'm coining a "double rotational exhibit"- a series of mixed species habitats in which primates and ungulates rotate through all the habitats. The unique part, however, is these rotations are separate from each other- so the primates may be with one ungulate species one day, and a separate ungulate species the next, and vice versa. Would this sort of exhibit complex work with the following species, with each primate capable of mixing with each ungulate? If not, which pairings do you perceive being problematic?
Primates: Bornean Orangutan, White-cheeked Gibbon, Silvered Leaf Langur
Ungulates: Malayan Tapir, Visayan Warty Pig, Northern Sulawesi Babirusa, Lowland Anoa.
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I foresee large enclosures devoid of a single plant
 
Neil chace said:
For this same fantasy zoo, which has a large focus on mixed species and innovative exhibits, I'm also going to be including an islands themed area. The focal point of this area will be what I'm coining a "double rotational exhibit"- a series of mixed species habitats in which primates and ungulates rotate through all the habitats. The unique part, however, is these rotations are separate from each other- so the primates may be with one ungulate species one day, and a separate ungulate species the next, and vice versa. Would this sort of exhibit complex work with the following species, with each primate capable of mixing with each ungulate? If not, which pairings do you perceive being problematic?
Primates: Bornean Orangutan, White-cheeked Gibbon, Silvered Leaf Langur
Ungulates: Malayan Tapir, Visayan Warty Pig, Northern Sulawesi Babirusa, Lowland Anoa.
Click to expand...
I feel like the Orangutapir mix might be an issue if either species is breeding. Mother tapirs are very protective, and orangutans are significantly slower than the gibbons or langurs. I can picture a mother tapir lashing out against an orangutan that's curious about her baby.
Of course, there's probably some fine details that I'm missing. When do mother tapirs stop being so protective over their young? Would captive-bred orangutans know how to behave around tapirs? Etc.
 
Zooplantman said:
I foresee large enclosures devoid of a single plant
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Large enclosures yes, and you're the plant expert, so if you think that's an inevitability with these species, then I suppose that'd be what happens. Is there any design considerations you'd suggest that'd allow some plants in the exhibits?
 
Corangurilla said:
I feel like the Orangutapir mix might be an issue if either species is breeding. Mother tapirs are very protective, and orangutans are significantly slower than the gibbons or langurs. I can picture a mother tapir lashing out against an orangutan that's curious about her baby.
Of course, there's probably some fine details that I'm missing. When do mother tapirs stop being so protective over their young? Would captive-bred orangutans know how to behave around tapirs? Etc.
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I think some zoos in Europe have mixed tapirs with orangutans in the past. That was actually one of the possibilities I was least concerned with, but thanks for the input!
 
Neil chace said:
For this same fantasy zoo, which has a large focus on mixed species and innovative exhibits, I'm also going to be including an islands themed area. The focal point of this area will be what I'm coining a "double rotational exhibit"- a series of mixed species habitats in which primates and ungulates rotate through all the habitats. The unique part, however, is these rotations are separate from each other- so the primates may be with one ungulate species one day, and a separate ungulate species the next, and vice versa. Would this sort of exhibit complex work with the following species, with each primate capable of mixing with each ungulate? If not, which pairings do you perceive being problematic?
Primates: Bornean Orangutan, White-cheeked Gibbon, Silvered Leaf Langur
Ungulates: Malayan Tapir, Visayan Warty Pig, Northern Sulawesi Babirusa, Lowland Anoa.
Click to expand...

The most problematic thing might be the tapir's poop methods, requiring water in which they poop.
Meaning that unless keepers clean the pool every day, it might be considered a health hazard for the other animals if they can drink it.

Another thing to take into account is how much any of these animals are routine species. Which orangutangs from a quick scan into the EAZA guide seem to be in terms of feeding locations. So might be worth reading into all of these species.
I have no experience personally, but I do reckon that rotations like these can break a animals routine if completely rotated at random.
 
Speaking of primate mixes, can hamadryas baboons and rock hyraxes be kept together safely? I know hamadryas baboons like some meat with their vegetables, but would they see a hyrax as a food source?
 
Neil chace said:
Large enclosures yes, and you're the plant expert, so if you think that's an inevitability with these species, then I suppose that'd be what happens. Is there any design considerations you'd suggest that'd allow some plants in the exhibits?
Click to expand...
Rotational enclosures have been great for animal choice and welfare but the usual plant protection methods we employ with ungulates become useless when actively climbing primates are also present. Sadly, imo, every example built so far is too small to allow sufficient plant mass to withstand animal assaults from multiple fronts.
So one ends up with this
Rotational Yard (with Lar Gibbons) - ZooChat
or this
Islands - Rotation Exhibit - ZooChat
 
Zooplantman said:
Rotational enclosures have been great for animal choice and welfare but the usual plant protection methods we employ with ungulates become useless when actively climbing primates are also present. Sadly, imo, every example built so far is too small to allow sufficient plant mass to withstand animal assaults from multiple fronts.
So one ends up with this
Rotational Yard (with Lar Gibbons) - ZooChat
or this
Islands - Rotation Exhibit - ZooChat
Click to expand...
Okay, thanks. At least those examples of exhibits do have grass in them, I'll keep that in mind in terms of other plants however, and will ensure that there're a lot of "artificial" climbing structures.
 
For reference, with my "double rotational exhibits" idea, I'm thinking that each exhibit would be approximately 7,500 square feet- with six exhibits total.
Each day:
- two of the exhibits would have orangutans w/ an ungulate
- one of the exhibits would have gibbons w/ an ungulate
- one of the exhibits would have langurs w/ an ungulate
- one of the exhibits would have Japanese macaques
- one of the exhibits would have lemurs and radiated tortoises.
There would also be two indoor day room exhibits, one belonging to the orangutans and one rotating between the other primates.
 
Haliaeetus said:
I would avoid Hamadryas and any other species mixed together.
The only Baboon species to be peaceful enough is probably the Gelada.
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And they’re not even true baboons.
Thank you for answering my question. Guess I’ll have to put hyraxes somewhere else in my fantasy zoo…
 
Neil chace said:
So I'm working on a hypothetical fantasy zoo at the moment, and I have a good, unique idea for an African Savanna complex, but am in need of help finalizing a species list. So my idea basically revolves around two exhibits- one for African Elephants and one for Masai Giraffes. These two exhibits, however, would be connected, with a visitor path overhead bridge preventing the giraffes and elephants from crossing to the other half. However, smaller species that would be included in the mix would be able to cross between the two habitats. I know I'd like to include some Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, some Ostrich, and a few species of antelope. My big question is what would be the best antelope species to include in this sort of environment? Species I'm considering include impala, springbok, nyala, roan antelope, greater kudu, and white-bearded wildebeest. Obviously not all of these species at the same time, but I'm thinking of including probably two or three, maybe four at most, antelope species. For reference, the elephant habitat would be just over 4.5 Acres and the Giraffe habitat would be just shy of 1.5 acres, although the giraffe one could theoretically be expanded if you think that's too small for this kind of mix.
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As I've been working on other ideas for the African complex (of which this dynamic mix is the focal point), it's come to my attention that there's a unique ability to narrow the focus onto a sub-set of Africa, as many of the species being discussed are actually native to Namibia, and the Namib Desert. In addition to the Elephants/Giraffes, Ostriches, Greater Kudu, Mountain Zebras, Springbok, and Impala mentioned above, do you all think Gemsbok would be reasonable inclusion in the mix? I know it'd be a great thematic inclusion, but aren't sure of the feasibility of mixing them with the other species.
 
It's been done, especially in facilities with the land for it, but the horse antelope have a reputation of not playing very nicely with others.
 
Aardwolf said:
It's been done, especially in facilities with the land for it, but the horse antelope have a reputation of not playing very nicely with others.
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Neither are elephants or mountain zebra, alas they're in the mix
 
@Neil chace some mixes from an Italian zoo I know quite well, if you'd like to maximize space:
  • Giraffe, scimitar oryx, blue wildebeest, saddle-billed stork, egyptian goose, watusi cattle, Nile lechwe, white-belted black-and-white ruffed lemur, red ruffed lemur (the lemurs are on islands with water moats but technically any animal that want to take a swim could reach them, no hot wire is present at the edges of the island to keep animals outside)
  • ostrich, roan antelope
  • Grevy's zebra, blesbok
  • Cameroon sheep, defassa waterbuck, eland, Kafue lechwe
  • Hippo, white rhino, nyala
  • Sitatunga, springbok, grey-crowned crane
  • A marmoset species, rhinoceros iguana (the iguana is let out during warm months)
  • saimiri, several waterfowls
  • Mouflon, fallow deer (used to have)
  • Pere David's deer, blackbuck (they used to have them)
  • several species of macaws
  • Azara's agouti, great curassow
  • peacock-pheasant, Bali myna
  • Kookaburra, magpie goose, straw-necked ibis
  • Red panda, muntjac
 
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