America's 100 Must See Exhibits

[groundskeeper24]

I haven't been to Indianapolis in about 22 years, and when I went I believe the Dolphin Dome was closed for constriction/rennovation. I thought it was neat when I was a little kid.

I'll say this: the older I get the less I like cetacean exhibits. I've made 4 trips to Brookfield in my life, and never went to the Dolphinarium until this summer. Honestly, I wished I didn't. Even the Shedd exhibits, which were absolutely breathtaking when I first saw them in the late 90's didn't do a lot for me this year.

I'm not an animal rights guy by any stretch, but my gut feeling about seeing cetaceans in pools and tanks isn't a warm and fuzzy one, to put it mildly. I'm not saying care is inadequate and I'm not saying nobody does it well. It's more of a feeling that they are a type of zoo exhibit that's on the way out, probably for a good reason.

 

[lintworm]

@lintworm was right, I didn't know what I got myself in for. It's about to be a long few months...

Told you so and this was supposed to be the easy part

I was mostly trying to speak in terms of what I assumed Pachyderm Pro was going for, but evidently I misunderstood. I will be more critical of this list going forward.

For what reason though? Just to annoy someone who is putting in an enormous effort to create such a thread? No two persons will ever agree on the exact same 100 exhibits, but that is also not the idea. If @pachyderm pro can select a list with 5 hard disagrees and 10 exhibits that someone else would not have chosen, but can see that they belong in the list, that would be a tremendous achievement. When it gets interesting is if these differences can be discussed in a polite way. So it means that you have to be open to other views and not get upset when your favourites aren't included. Being critical for the sake of being critical is not constructive or motivating.

I think an important part of the discussion is due to people misunderstanding what "must see" means for the purposes of this thread and other people stepping in and (lenghtily) telling what it means in their opinion. So it would be good for @pachyderm pro to give a clear definition what it means for the purposes of this thread. As the creator of the original thread I will give some general remarks though on which the Europe thread was based, which @pachyderm pro can add on once they wake up:
- Must see is defined as for the zoo enthusiast, not the general public
- A large collection or number of rarities is not an important selection criterion
- The goal of my list was to give a comprehensive overview of different historic trends, building styles and philosophies on keeping animals with a broad selection of taxa in mind.
- This automatically means that must see does not necessarily mean good animal welfare. A unique visitor experience, historic value and unique theming would also qualify. It is hard to deny that the African panorama in Tierpark Hagenbeck is a must see as it is one of the most significant historic zoo exhibits period. But the lion enclosure in the panorama is shamefully tiny by todays standards.

 

[Chlidonias]

Part of the discussions moved here: Hyenas versus African Dogs in US zoos

 

[pachyderm pro]

I concur with @lintworm's criteria for makes an exhibit "must-see," especially this part:

- The goal of my list was to give a comprehensive overview of different historic trends, building styles and philosophies on keeping animals with a broad selection of taxa in mind.

The goal remains the same here. I want to provide a look at everything the American zoo landscape has to offer. There are going to be very big exhibits, very small exhibits, historical buildings, some exhibits will be the best of their kind, others not so much, so on and so fourth. The isn't just a list filled with huge mega-complexes that are widely known by most zoo-nerds. It becomes interesting when you also include exhibits that are very small and unknown, but have a unique focus that is done well and isn't seen often.

I assumed, perhaps foolishly, that the majority of people who have been participating were already familiar with how the Europe thread operated. I apologize if I wasn’t clear enough in the beginning, but I’ve always maintained that this exercise is entirely subjective and nobody will completely agree. As I've said, I have no problem with those who disagree with my picks and I will happily engage in friendly debate. As long as you're adding value to the discussion I encourage participation. After all, that's what makes threads like these fun.

Alright, now hopefully we can get this thing back on track.

 

[pachyderm pro]

6. Madagascar
Bronx Zoo, NY
Opened: 2008
Size: 20,000 Square Feet (1,800 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: Five species of lemur, Fossa, Ring-tailed Vontsira, Nile Crocodile, Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, and a selection of Malagasy birds, herps and cichlids.

Dedicated Madagascar exhibits and valuable historic buildings aren’t as prevalent in America as they are in Europe, which makes this exhibit a total anomaly. After completely gutting the interior of a century old lion house, the result was the greatest and most complete representation of Madagascar biodiversity in the United States. The educational and interpretive displays are top notch, but even if you pay no attention to such things, it's impossible not to appreciate the incredible amount of effort gone into every display. It starts out with a lush coquerel’s sifaka enclosure with excellent verticality. You continue to gradually make your way through various rooms including the Tsingy Caves for Nile crocodile and cichlids, a nocturnal room for gray mouse lemurs and small herps, and a Masoala section with red-ruffed lemurs and fossa. The clear highlight of the house is the Spiny Forest room, with the main focus being a dynamic mixed species enclosure for ring-tailed and collared lemurs, radiated tortoises and various free-flight birds. It’s wonderful to see ring-tailed lemurs actually displayed in their proper environment for a change and America’s only vontsira are also found here in an adjacent habitat. The only real flaw of the house is that there are no outdoor enclosures for the larger residents like the lemurs and fossa, but that’s just nitpicking this otherwise stellar series of displays.

@gulogulogulo

@TinoPup

@Milwaukee Man

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

@twilighter

Similar Exhibits: Expedition Madagascar at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo is the only other major Madagascar house in the US. Theming is kept very minimal and most of the residents only have indoor exhibits, but unlike Bronx many of these exhibits are far too small and artificial. The house does include a few outdoor enclosures for lemurs and fossa, including one of the countries only walkthrough lemur exhibits, but they really aren't anything noteworthy and feature some extremely unattractive faux trees. There are some impressive elements here however, namely the aye-aye and fruit bat enclosure which is wonderful and the highlight of the building. In spite of its flaws this is definitely the second best Madagascar complex in America, although we will have to wait and see what comes of San Fransisco Zoo's long planned Madagascar center.

@pachyderm pro

@snowleopard

@pachyderm pro

@snowleopard

@Dhole dude

 

[Fallax]

6. Madagascar
Bronx Zoo, NY
Opened: 2008
Size: 20,000 Square Feet (1,800 Square Meters)
Inhabitants: Five species of lemur, Fossa, Ring-tailed Vontsira, Nile Crocodile, Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, and a selection of Malagasy birds, herps and cichlids.

Dedicated Madagascar exhibits and valuable historic buildings aren’t as prevalent in America as they are in Europe, which makes this exhibit a total anomaly. After completely gutting the interior of a century old lion house, the result was the greatest and most complete representation of Madagascar biodiversity in the United States. The educational and interpretive displays are top notch, but even if you pay no attention to such things, it's impossible not to appreciate the incredible amount of effort gone into every display. It starts out with a lush coquerel’s sifaka enclosure with excellent verticality. You continue to gradually make your way through various rooms including the Tsingy Caves for Nile crocodile and cichlids, a nocturnal room for gray mouse lemurs and small herps, and a Masoala section with red-ruffed lemurs and fossa. The clear highlight of the house is the Spiny Forest room, with the main focus being a dynamic mixed species enclosure for ring-tailed and collared lemurs, radiated tortoises and various free-flight birds. It’s wonderful to see ring-tailed lemurs actually displayed in their proper environment for a change and America’s only vontsira are also found here in an adjacent habitat. The only real flaw of the house is that there are no outdoor enclosures for the larger residents like the lemurs and fossa, but that’s just nitpicking this otherwise stellar series of displays.

@gulogulogulo

@TinoPup

@Milwaukee Man

@TinoPup

@TinoPup

@twilighter

Similar Exhibits: Expedition Madagascar at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo is the only other major Madagascar house in the US. Theming is kept very minimal and most of the residents only have indoor exhibits, but unlike Bronx many of these exhibits are far too small and artificial. The house does include a few outdoor enclosures for lemurs and fossa, including one of the countries only walkthrough lemur exhibits, but they really aren't anything noteworthy and feature some extremely unattractive faux trees. There are some impressive elements here however, namely the aye-aye and fruit bat enclosure which is wonderful and the highlight of the building. In spite of its flaws this is definitely the second best Madagascar complex in America, although we will have to wait and see what comes of San Fransisco Zoo's long planned Madagascar center.

@pachyderm pro

@snowleopard

@pachyderm pro

@snowleopard

@Dhole dude

How big is that fossa enclosure? It doesn't look particularly big but looks can be decieving

 

[Pleistocene891]

How big is that fossa enclosure? It doesn't look particularly big but looks can be decieving

I would say it’s average in size, but it’s very naturalistic.

 

[Chlidonias]

I would say it’s average in size, but it’s very naturalistic.

"average in size" in comparison to what?

The only real flaw of the house is that there are no outdoor enclosures for the larger residents like the lemurs and fossa, but that’s just nitpicking this otherwise stellar series of displays.

I wouldn't say a lack of outside enclosures is just "nitpicking", especially for lemurs, but otherwise this house always looks excellent.

 

[Pleistocene891]

"average in size" in comparison to what?

I would say it’s average in size compared to other fossa and small carnivore exhibits in other American zoos.

 

[Pleistocene891]

I wouldn't say a lack of outside enclosures is just "nitpicking", especially for lemurs, but otherwise this house always looks excellent.

Just because an exhibit is indoors doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worse than an outdoors exhibit. As long as the exhibit fulfills the animal’s needs, I see no problem with it being indoors.

 

[Chlidonias]

I would say it’s average in size compared to other fossa and small carnivore exhibits in other American zoos.

But that's not particularly helpful to someone outside the USA who hasn't seen any of those. All the Fossa enclosure in the USA could be ten feet long, in which case "average" is tiny, or they could mostly be the size of football fields in which case "average" would be enormous.

If someone asks "how big is it?" it is a lot more useful to say how big it actually is, not give a subjective impression from your own experience.

 

[Aardwolf]

It's a great thread, and I'm looking forward to the progression. One minor note - the vontsira at Bronx aren't the only ones in the US - though they are the only publicly displayed, as far as I know. Nashville has the species as well (I tried to sweet talk my way behind the scenes to see them earlier this year to no avail - I've managed to miss this species every time I've been to Bronx)

 

[ZooBinh]

Great thread, @pachyderm pro ! I’m excited to see what else is in store, it’s a great read already. I’m liking the inclusions you’ve made already, and appreciate the more novel choices such as SDZ’s gharial pond.

 

[twilighter]

It's a great thread, and I'm looking forward to the progression. One minor note - the vontsira at Bronx aren't the only ones in the US - though they are the only publicly displayed, as far as I know. Nashville has the species as well (I tried to sweet talk my way behind the scenes to see them earlier this year to no avail - I've managed to miss this species every time I've been to Bronx)

Do you mean that Nashville has Fanaloka and Ring-tailed Vontsira ?

 

[Aardwolf]

Do you mean that Nashville has Fanaloka and Ring-tailed Vontsira ?

I do. Hardly seems fair, does it?

 

[pachyderm pro]

Do you mean that Nashville has Fanaloka and Ring-tailed Vontsira ?

I've said this before, but Nashville really is cruel for going out of their way to obtain so many rare small carnivores just to keep them behind the scenes.

I know Jim Breheny (director at Bronx and Executive Vice President of the WCS) mentioned wanting to establish a ring-tailed vontsira population in American zoos. Happy to hear there are collections who are interested!

 

[Aardwolf]

I've said this before, but Nashville really is cruel for going out of their way to obtain so many rare small carnivores just to keep them behind the scenes.

I know Jim Breheny (director at Bronx and Executive Vice President of the WCS) mentioned wanting to establish a ring-tailed vontsira population in American zoos. Happy to hear there are collections who are interested!

My boss worked with them years ago and raved about how awesome they were. I keep nudging him and going, "Y'know, if you really want some..."

 

[twilighter]

I do. Hardly seems fair, does it?

Doesn't sound unlogical, tho.

"average in size" in comparison to what?


I wouldn't say a lack of outside enclosures is just "nitpicking", especially for lemurs, but otherwise this house always looks excellent.

The Fossa exhibits are well designed corner exhibits and it's bit difficult to photograph. "Three enclosures each measuring approximately 3.66m width x 3.66m depth x 3.05m height".(ZooLex) Capacity is 2 adults and one young animals.

 

[15399]

The only real flaw of the house is that there are no outdoor enclosures for the larger residents like the lemurs and fossa, but that’s just nitpicking this otherwise stellar series of displays.

Great pick, that I fully agree with, however this one point in the review I would disagree with. My one question, really, is why is the lack of outdoor enclosures considered a flaw? NYC gets rather cold, so it's not like the lemurs could use the outdoor enclosures half the year anyways. Personally, I don't see outdoor access as something essential for good welfare, and if a zoo has a great indoor exhibit for a species, I don't see why an outdoor one is also necessary. I've yet to see any evidence pointing to outdoor access being necessary (or even beneficial for) good welfare, and feel many of the arguments for it's necessity are more driven by assumptions, emotions, and anthropomorphizing of animals.
Frankly, especially when dealing with a cold climate zoo, I prefer seeing zoos that will prioritize good indoor exhibits, over zoos that prioritize outdoor exhibits that can't be accessed half the year. Especially when there are countless examples of zoos that prioritize outdoor exhibits and end up with animals spending multiple months out of the year in inadequate holdings because there isn't a good indoor exhibit. No matter how good an outdoor exhibit, the more important factor from a welfare perspective is looking at the space an animal has year-round access to, versus supplementary exhibits only seasonally available. Furthermore, many zoos in which primates have both indoor and outdoor exhibits the animals actually prefer spending time indoors, leading to outdoor exhibits that are seldomly used. While outdoor access isn't something I find necessary, I do believe that natural light should be a necessity for primate exhibits (barring nocturnal species), but this can be achieved through skylights/windows/geodesic roofs, such as what is achieved in these Madagascar exhibits.
On another note, quick question for @pachyderm pro- is there any rhyme or reason to the order that exhibits are appearing in this thread? I'm not saying there needs to be one, but it'd be nice to know for those of us anticipating what exhibits are coming up if there is any method surrounding the ordering of exhibits. I know by now it isn't alphabetical (I thought it might be after A Bird's World went first), but am wondering if there's any reasoning behind the order (e.g. a ranking of 100th most must-see to 1st most must-see, or vice-versa).

 

[Fallax]

Great pick, that I fully agree with, however this one point in the review I would disagree with. My one question, really, is why is the lack of outdoor enclosures considered a flaw? NYC gets rather cold, so it's not like the lemurs could use the outdoor enclosures half the year anyways. Personally, I don't see outdoor access as something essential for good welfare, and if a zoo has a great indoor exhibit for a species, I don't see why an outdoor one is also necessary. I've yet to see any evidence pointing to outdoor access being necessary (or even beneficial for) good welfare, and feel many of the arguments for it's necessity are more driven by assumptions, emotions, and anthropomorphizing of animals.
Frankly, especially when dealing with a cold climate zoo, I prefer seeing zoos that will prioritize good indoor exhibits, over zoos that prioritize outdoor exhibits that can't be accessed half the year. Especially when there are countless examples of zoos that prioritize outdoor exhibits and end up with animals spending multiple months out of the year in inadequate holdings because there isn't a good indoor exhibit. No matter how good an outdoor exhibit, the more important factor from a welfare perspective is looking at the space an animal has year-round access to, versus supplementary exhibits only seasonally available. Furthermore, many zoos in which primates have both indoor and outdoor exhibits the animals actually prefer spending time indoors, leading to outdoor exhibits that are seldomly used. While outdoor access isn't something I find necessary, I do believe that natural light should be a necessity for primate exhibits (barring nocturnal species), but this can be achieved through skylights/windows/geodesic roofs, such as what is achieved in these Madagascar exhibits.
On another note, quick question for @pachyderm pro- is there any rhyme or reason to the order that exhibits are appearing in this thread? I'm not saying there needs to be one, but it'd be nice to know for those of us anticipating what exhibits are coming up if there is any method surrounding the ordering of exhibits. I know by now it isn't alphabetical (I thought it might be after A Bird's World went first), but am wondering if there's any reasoning behind the order (e.g. a ranking of 100th most must-see to 1st most must-see, or vice-versa).

Obviously it depends on the species but having an outdoor enclosure can be good enrichment for the animals, being able to see, smell, and feel more of the outside world and being able to interact with the weather and other elements etc...