I mean, does it really matter that much that ASDM opted to display a species similar to one found in the Sonoran Desert rather than one actually from there? We live in a world where it's becoming much more difficult for zoos to source the animals they want when they want them, even with some common species. This is compounded with the fact that COVID substantially reduced the number of transfers that occurred for a year, which in turn led to decreased breeding for a year or two. Perhaps ASDM wanted a white-nosed coati, but opted for the similar species because of availability?
America's 100 Must See Exhibits
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White-nosed Coatis are one of the easiest exotic animals to obtain. Period. There is one other non-Sonoran species they exhibited at ASDM: the Atlantic Cownose Ray, standing in for the native Golden Cownose Ray. Golden Cownose Rays are not currently kept in captivity and would have required live collection to obtain, so I don't feel mad about the Atlantic Cownose Ray's presence. But I can not imagine any situation in which ASDM could not obtain a White-nosed Coati. My suspicion is that the current management just doesn't care about the animal collection, to the degree that they don't really care to keep the theme of said collection.
Ordinarily I would say no, it doesn’t matter. But ASDM’s raison d’être is to provide a representation of the Sonoran Desert, and its fame is that it defined a style of faithfulness to ‘place’ unlike any place that had come before it. Near enough never used to be good enough for ASDM.
I really enjoyed my visit in the shadow of COVID in March 2020, but it was certainly noticeable that the animal collection was slipping away. Like a previous poster (forget who, sorry, and too close to bedtime to scroll up looking),I think there’s a couple of obvious ASDM picks, but this probably wasn’t one. That’s not a criticism - you have to see it in its recent state to understand that it’s not quite living up to the original concept anymore.
I have visited ASDM twice (2008 and 2011) and I really enjoyed seeing Life on the Rocks in its prime years. On both my visits, there was an issue finding all of the inhabitants of the exhibits, but that's part of the overall experience at ASDM.
Here are the 30 species that I noted during my 2011 visit:
Harris' Antelope Squirrel, Hog-nosed Skunk, California Leaf-nosed Bat, Elf Owl, Black-throated Sparrow, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Tiger Rattlesnake, Speckled Rattlesnake, Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Gopher Snake, Sonoran Whipsnake, Sonoran Lyre Snake, Coachwhip Snake, Gila Monster, Desert Night Lizard, Giant Spotted Whiptail Lizard, Banded Gecko, Lowland Leopard Frog, Canyon Tree Frog, Red-spotted Toad, Bark Scorpion, Stripe-tailed Scorpion, Black Widow Spider, Western Tarantula, Giant Crab Spider, Kissing Bug, Longfin Dace, Sonora Sucker and Loach Minnow.
Here are the 30 species that I noted during my 2011 visit:
Harris' Antelope Squirrel, Hog-nosed Skunk, California Leaf-nosed Bat, Elf Owl, Black-throated Sparrow, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Tiger Rattlesnake, Speckled Rattlesnake, Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Gopher Snake, Sonoran Whipsnake, Sonoran Lyre Snake, Coachwhip Snake, Gila Monster, Desert Night Lizard, Giant Spotted Whiptail Lizard, Banded Gecko, Lowland Leopard Frog, Canyon Tree Frog, Red-spotted Toad, Bark Scorpion, Stripe-tailed Scorpion, Black Widow Spider, Western Tarantula, Giant Crab Spider, Kissing Bug, Longfin Dace, Sonora Sucker and Loach Minnow.
Even common species can be surprisingly difficult to acquire at times. There haven't exactly been much breeding of white-nosed coatis in AZA institutions, and there's currently at least a few AZA institutions who want white-nosed coatis, but the SSP is unable to fulfill their requests at this time. Personally, I'd give ASDM the benefit of the doubt and figure that there is probably a legitimate reason for the different coati species, rather than the extremely similar native species.
According to this species list from a year ago (the most recent ASDM species list on this site), the species list now is:
Striped Skunk, Greater Roadrunner, Antelope Jackrabbit, and the leopard frogs (noted as Chiricahua but actually Lowland). That's it.
Thanks to everyone who visited within the last few years for their input. I'll admit this exhibit was a bit tricky to research as there has been some confusion in recent years regarding what live specimens are still present. Even the museum's own website lists a whopping 46 species on display, including ones that haven't been part of the exhibit in several years. I think what makes the current state of Life on the Rocks so frustrating is that it wouldn't take much to restore it to its former glory. Simply filling the vacant elf owl aviary, adding some more species to the enormous leopard frog display, replacing the statues and cutouts with live animals again, etc. These are easy fixes and its disappointing to see the area neglected like this. I maintain the complex is superbly designed and is still interesting enough to be considered a must-see, but it has definitely seen better days.
On a separate note, I hadn't realized how far the ASDM in general has fallen. I remember there was a time where many zoo-nerds had it placed comfortably within their list of top 10 zoos in the US, which definitely does not seem to be the case anymore. It was once a leader in innovative exhibit design and it will have at least one more appearance on this list, but it is a tragedy that current management hasn't been focusing on the animal side of things - which from my perspective seems like the thing most people go to ASDM for besides maybe the botanical gardens.
On a separate note, I hadn't realized how far the ASDM in general has fallen. I remember there was a time where many zoo-nerds had it placed comfortably within their list of top 10 zoos in the US, which definitely does not seem to be the case anymore. It was once a leader in innovative exhibit design and it will have at least one more appearance on this list, but it is a tragedy that current management hasn't been focusing on the animal side of things - which from my perspective seems like the thing most people go to ASDM for besides maybe the botanical gardens.
That isn't a complete list as @Coelacanth18 himself noted, only the animals he actually saw and could confirm were there. There are still a few species of rattlesnake, scorpion and spider on display as well as a Harris's antelope squirrel which is mixed with the skunk. Not nearly as diverse as it was a decade ago, but still an interesting little lineup nonetheless.
Had a look at ASDM's USDA out of curiosity. They did hold 24 species of mammal as of September 8th last year, but Harris's Antelope Squirrel is not one of them. Can scratch that one too unfortunately. Half of the 24 are represented by a single individual, several of them short-lived rodents. Their species list stands to drop significantly if animals are not replaced...
Edit: took a look at a few reports prior, and there is a steady decline in the number of individuals. A few short-lived species have been around awhile.
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So rescue a few. As bnb said, white-nose coatis are one of the easiest to obtain, and there are plenty to rescue because of that. You can walk in to some pet stores and get one.
Given that WdG is currently accredited as both a zoo and a museum, I've attended official meetings of both national organizations. I can't say whether this is a general, international trend, but I noticed something: quite a bunch of museum directors don't really like zoos; some even openly frown upon them. And the ones who have live animals in their museums (like HdN) quite often see them as a costly, unnecessary relict of a bygone area. From their pov, these animals are just there for little kids, cost them money and cause them issues with veterinary officials and animal rights activists they wouldn't have otherwise. Which was among the reasons why the NHM of Vienna got rid of their pretty good live animal section.
Maybe the people currently in charge at the ASDM have a similar attitude?
Maybe the people currently in charge at the ASDM have a similar attitude?
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ASDM seems to be more zoo-like than museum-like dedpite the name though.
The current director, Craig Ivanyi, once remarked:
"The blessing and curse of the Desert Museum is that it’s a combination of many things- zoo, aquarium, art museum, aquatic arena, botanical garden, natural history museum and research institute,”
https://www.zoophoria.net/single-po...an-southwest-a-conversation-with-craig-ivanyi
Maybe the zoo aspect isn't that prominent anymore. Or it has become harder and more expensive to maintain a larger species collection.
This is interesting, over here there is a good few museums with live animals. The World Museum in Liverpool has its first floor dedicated to a rather nice aquarium and there are multiple invertebrate displays on the second floor. The museum in Manchester also has a very nice collection of amphibians with quite a few rarities from what I have heard.
Among others, I think that the individual attitude, formal education and interest of the person in charge of such interdisciplinary museums towards animal husbandry is decisive. A director with an araechology/human history/arts background might have a different stand on this than a zoologist/vet.
That's I think part of the "blessing and curse" the ASDM director was hinting at. You're always going to have a director particularly interested in one aspect of the facility, and that aspect is likely going to recieve much more attention and TLC than an aspect they might be less interested in. It's seen with zoos too. If a zoo hires a new director who has a particular interest in waterfowl (i.e. Keith Lovett when he was Buttonwood Park Zoo's director), the zoo will likely see an increase of its waterfowl collection, possibly at the expense of a different taxa. As Keith Lovett said once in an interview, he'd take "the credit or the blame, whichever you think it is" for the large growth of Buttonwood Park Zoo's waterfowl collection. I could imagine the ASDM director saying something similar, that he'd take the "credit or the blame" for downsizing the live animal portion, perhaps increasing another aspect of the facility simultaneously.
35. Black Bear Falls
Zoo Knoxville, TN
Opened: 2000
Size: 1 Acre (0.4 Hectares)
Inhabitants: American Black Bear
Compared to our counterparts in Europe, American zoos love mock-rock sometimes to a fault. Nowhere is there a better example of that than this black bear habitat. With more mock-rock filling this one exhibit than some entire zoos, this unorthodox enclosure is as effective as it is brutally unattractive. Despite its questionable aesthetics, it does succeed in creating a great and incredibly dynamic habitat for the bears. The space is not only dominated by gunite facades, but also by huge, equally ugly artificial trees that provide excellent verticality to the space. It’s built on a slope and the focus on the arboreal element of black bear life which is normally overlooked is excellent. The exhibit is viewed from a long, dark tunnel that has multiple viewing portals of varying sizes. While it's completely unconventional and certainly odd in appearance, for the animals it’s an excellent habitat that suits its inhabitants needs to a tee, even if it’s filled with enough concrete to build a small fallout shelter.
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
Similar Exhibits: Another black bear exhibit with an overabundance of fake rock is at North Carolina Zoo, although the use of the surrounding wilderness does help to soften its appearance a considerable amount. Cincinnati Zoo's upcoming black bear habitat due to open this year will likely also share some similarities, with the rock facades of the old bear grottos being maintained as part of the project.
@Moebelle
Zoo Knoxville, TN
Opened: 2000
Size: 1 Acre (0.4 Hectares)
Inhabitants: American Black Bear
Compared to our counterparts in Europe, American zoos love mock-rock sometimes to a fault. Nowhere is there a better example of that than this black bear habitat. With more mock-rock filling this one exhibit than some entire zoos, this unorthodox enclosure is as effective as it is brutally unattractive. Despite its questionable aesthetics, it does succeed in creating a great and incredibly dynamic habitat for the bears. The space is not only dominated by gunite facades, but also by huge, equally ugly artificial trees that provide excellent verticality to the space. It’s built on a slope and the focus on the arboreal element of black bear life which is normally overlooked is excellent. The exhibit is viewed from a long, dark tunnel that has multiple viewing portals of varying sizes. While it's completely unconventional and certainly odd in appearance, for the animals it’s an excellent habitat that suits its inhabitants needs to a tee, even if it’s filled with enough concrete to build a small fallout shelter.
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
Similar Exhibits: Another black bear exhibit with an overabundance of fake rock is at North Carolina Zoo, although the use of the surrounding wilderness does help to soften its appearance a considerable amount. Cincinnati Zoo's upcoming black bear habitat due to open this year will likely also share some similarities, with the rock facades of the old bear grottos being maintained as part of the project.
@Moebelle
Persephone
Well-Known Member
I really liked this one. The multiple levels of viewing and the viewing tunnel designed like a giant log were really cool. Some of Knoxville’s kinda subpar, but Knoxville does have its share of cool, themed exhibits (Bears, Children’s Zoo, Great Apes). Will say that it’s bold to have your signature exhibit be an animal you can see everywhere in the wild at a nearby national park.
OkapiFan
Well-Known Member
This is such a unique exhibit for Black Bears, and that's why I love it! Definitely worth a spot on this list!35. Black Bear Falls
Zoo Knoxville, TN
Opened: 2000
Size: 1 Acre (0.4 Hectares)
Inhabitants: American Black Bear
Compared to our counterparts in Europe, American zoos love mock-rock sometimes to a fault. Nowhere is there a better example of that than this black bear habitat. With more mock-rock filling this one exhibit than some entire zoos, this unorthodox enclosure is as effective as it is brutally unattractive. Despite its questionable aesthetics, it does succeed in creating a great and incredibly dynamic habitat for the bears. The space is not only dominated by gunite facades, but also by huge, equally ugly artificial trees that provide excellent verticality to the space. It’s built on a slope and the focus on the arboreal element of black bear life which is normally overlooked is excellent. The exhibit is viewed from a long, dark tunnel that has multiple viewing portals of varying sizes. While it's completely unconventional and certainly odd in appearance, for the animals it’s an excellent habitat that suits its inhabitants needs to a tee, even if it’s filled with enough concrete to build a small fallout shelter.
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
@Moebelle
Similar Exhibits: Another black bear exhibit with an overabundance of fake rock is at North Carolina Zoo, although the use of the surrounding wilderness does help to soften its appearance a considerable amount. Cincinnati Zoo's upcoming black bear habitat due to open this year will likely also share some similarities, with the rock facades of the old bear grottos being maintained as part of the project.
@Moebelle
Interesting to hear others' perspectives on this one. To me it's just a not particularly large bear grotto (animal space is maybe 6000 square feet at most) where the hardscape is such a failure that the zoo had to build a wooden ladder to allow the bears to access the giant fallen "log."
Heck even wild black bears consider it must see exhibit lol
Curious Bear Scales Barbed-Wire Fence, Breaks Into Zoo
Curious Bear Scales Barbed-Wire Fence, Breaks Into Zoo