Giraffes displayed by themselves?

[Komodo Dragon]

Most zoos have giraffes as part of mixed species exhibits for a number of reasons.

Are there any exhibits that just have giraffes with no other animals?

 

[Fallax]

Most zoos? Most I have been to have had giraffes on their own... This especially seems to be the case here in the UK though there is of course exceptions.

 

[birdsandbats]

I'm pretty sure most zoos exhibit giraffes by themselves. At least most zoos I've been to.

 

[Torgos]

It's a mixed bag. A very quick think through some zoos in the southeast US has Knoxville, Birmingham, Atlanta, North Carolina, Disney, Riverbanks, Memphis, White Oak with mixed species. Jacksonville, Chattanooga, Nashville, Audubon are not. Sorry if I have miscategorized any of these.

 

[Haliaeetus]

Many zoos display (or used to display) Giraffes by themselves, even if such exhibits tend to be replaced (it's the case in Europe and France, I don't know elsewhere) by mixed-species plains with various species of hoofstock and sometimes other animals.

 

[15399]

For zoos I've been to since I started keeping track:
Giraffe-Only Exhibit: Roger Williams Park Zoo, Buffalo Zoo, Southwicks Zoo, Philadelphia Zoo, The Wild Animal Park, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Multi-Species Exhibit: Franklin Park Zoo, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Elmwood Park Zoo

So 60% of the zoos I've been to with giraffes keep them alone, with only 40% mixing them with other species. One thing to note, it's interesting just how many of the zoos I've visited have giraffes in their collection. I've only been to 23 facilities since I started keeping track, so that's about 43% of them keeping giraffes. May not seem like a lot, but if I exclude aquariums and specialist facilities, it becomes 10 of the 16 zoos keeping giraffes, or 62.5%. There's a lot of talk on zoochat about the prevalence of meerkats, red pandas, etc. in zoos, but not about just how many zoos are keeping (usually generic) giraffes.

 

[birdsandbats]

I'm pretty sure most zoos exhibit giraffes by themselves. At least most zoos I've been to.

Going through the zoos I've visited with giraffes:

Just giraffes (10): NEW, Henry Vilas, Milwaukee, Special Memories (now closed), Timbavati, Wildwood Wildlife Park, Racine, Shamba Safari, Lincoln Park, Detroit

Giraffes in a mixed-species exhibit (12): Como Park, Brookfield, Binder Park, Blank Park, Saint Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus, The Wilds, Toledo, Omaha, DAK, DAK Lodge

I'm shocked I've seen more mixed exhibits! This does still illustrate that exhibits with just giraffes are not uncommon, however.

 

[pachyderm pro]

Just giraffes (10): Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park has giraffes mixed with plains zebra.

Giraffes in a mixed-species exhibit (12): Brookfield,

Brookfield does not mix anything with their giraffes. They used to have spur-thighed tortoises sharing the space, but in recent years they've been confined to a small side yard.

Off the top of my head, Houston also has a solo giraffe exhibit.

 

[birdsandbats]

Lincoln Park has giraffes mixed with plains zebra.

They weren't present when I was there in August, are the zebras back now?

Brookfield does not mix anything with their giraffes. They used to have spur-thighed tortoises sharing the space, but in recent years they've been confined to a small side yard.

Should have put an asterisk on that one. Technically they're mixed with Grass Carp, which inhabit the watering hold in their exhibit.

 

[pachyderm pro]

They weren't present when I was there in August, are the zebras back now?

As far as I'm concerned they never left. Another member posted an updated species list earlier this week and included them, so you probably just didn't see any out the day of your visit.

Should have put an asterisk on that one. Technically they're mixed with Grass Carp, which inhabit the watering hold in their exhibit.

Oh come on that does not count.

 

[felis silvestris]

In Scotland Edinburgh hold them on their own, but it is planned that other animals will join them.

 

[Fallax]

For me it's:

On their own: Chester, Blackpool, London, Whipsnade, Cotswold, TP Berlin

Mixed: Yorkshire WP, Berlin Zoo, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Knowsley

My memory could be messing with me here though, it's been a while since I have been to some of these places Worth noting that Chester is currently constructing a mixed African Savannah which will include their giraffes.

 

[NMM]

Some more UK zoos to add to the last couple of posts.

On their own: Paignton
Mixed,: Marwell, Longleat, Woburn.

 

[DavidBrown]

Giraffes exhibited on their own used to be the norm. It seems that as new giraffe exhibits are built they are often as part of mixed species savannas that give them more room than they used to have in solo exhibits.

This has been a long term trend from the 1970s (and maybe before) when a few zoos stated building large mixed savanna exhibits (San Diego Wild Animal Park, Woodland Park Zoo, Busch Gardens). It has taken decades, but maybe we are finally at or close to when these mixed-species exhibits are the norm.

 

[15399]

Giraffes exhibited on their own used to be the norm. It seems that as new giraffe exhibits are built they are often as part of mixed species savannas that give them more room than they used to have in solo exhibits.

This has been a long term trend from the 1970s (and maybe before) when a few zoos stated building large mixed savanna exhibits (San Diego Wild Animal Park, Woodland Park Zoo, Busch Gardens). It has taken decades, but maybe we are finally at or close to when these mixed-species exhibits are the norm.

Mixed species have slowly been becoming the norm across a number of taxa. Primate mixes have become a lot more common in recent years, and large mixed savannas can be found in most major American zoos, with a few zoos even going so far as incorporating African elephants into these mixes. If this trend continues (which I think it will), we may eventually get to the point that all animals except for large carnivores are being kept in mixed-species exhibits of one kind or another.

 

[Kalaw]

Ungulates seem to capture the average zoo visitor less than other mammals, lacking the charisma of big cats or the intelligence of primates, with size often being the only thing that the public see in ungulates. Speaking personally, and based off what I have heard others say, mixed species exhibits are simply more lively and scenic, and can turn even the least interesting of animals into something more memorable. Giraffes, despite their beauty, are no exception, so far as I can tell.

 

[birdsandbats]

As far as I'm concerned they never left. Another member posted an updated species list earlier this week and included them, so you probably just didn't see any out the day of your visit.

I would have thought so but I don't even remember seeing a sign. Entirely possible I just missed it though and if they have returned then I am glad to hear it.

 

[MurphyFox]

Most zoos I've been to have giraffes in their own exhibit.

Both ZSL locations spring to mind.

Roger Williams and Philly too.

 

[Lafone]

In addition to the other U.K. zoos mentioned above Banham and Dudley exhibit giraffes on their own, Colchester is mixed iirc.

 

[Forge]

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo keeps Giraffes on their own for their feeding deck.