San Diego Zoo Review of Elephant Odyssey at San Diego Zoo

[Dan]

Of course, I genuinely hope that you are right and that I am wrong, Ituri. But if we look at the pure math of it all, most zoo visitors are children, aren´t they? Could any average child be supposed to be interested, much less be able to understand, a relatively sophisticated educational message like this one? Most certainly not, I would argue.

Most children going to the zoo are accompanied/brought there by parents/teachers who are pretty much not interested at all - this is another assumption of mine. They take them there just as they take them to playgrounds etc.

So... educational message lost on most of the grown-ups as well, I imagine.

In short, I honestly believe that the educational message of this exhibit is lost to most people. For instance, it is certainly so extremely specialized that it would be totally lost to me, should I ever go to America and actually visit San Diego Zoo once in a lifetime. To me, it would be, yes... "The elephant exhibit at San Diego Zoo". I would not have the time to contemplate and think about California´s past animal history.

Again: I sincerely hope that you are right and I am wrong, but...

PS
I believe that I would regard it as a pretty good enviroment for the elephants though, certainly MUCH BETTER than the newly opened elephant exhibit at my home zoo, Copenhagen... though I would probably be very disappointed by cat cages...

 

[mweb08]

I really think you are underestimating people. I believe a lot more people "get it" than you think.

I agree. It's really not that hard to get either. Even without paying much attention to the signs, most people would get what it's about. I'm not sure how high the interest is, but I doubt it's much lower if lower at all than the message people are used to seeing at zoos.

 

[mweb08]

Of course, I genuinely hope that you are right and that I am wrong, Ituri. But if we look at the pure math of it all, most zoo visitors are children, aren´t they? Could any average child be supposed to be interested, much less be able to understand, a relatively sophisticated educational message like this one? Most certainly not, I would argue.

Most children going to the zoo are accompanied/brought there by parents/teachers who are pretty much not interested at all - this is another assumption of mine. They take them there just as they take them to playgrounds etc.

So... educational message lost on most of the grown-ups as well, I imagine.

In short, I honestly believe that the educational message of this exhibit is lost to most people. For instance, it is certainly so extremely specialized that it would be totally lost to me, should I ever go to America and actually visit San Diego Zoo once in a lifetime. To me, it would be, yes... "The elephant exhibit at San Diego Zoo". I would not have the time to contemplate and think about California´s past animal history.

Again: I sincerely hope that you are right and I am wrong, but...

PS
I believe that I would regard it as a pretty good enviroment for the elephants though, certainly MUCH BETTER than the newly opened elephant exhibit at my home zoo, Copenhagen... though I would probably be very disappointed by cat cages...

I'm really not sure how this is such an extremely specialized message. This is the message: These animals that are shown with big statues and on the signs used to live here, they're represented by similar animals that are exhibited right by the statues and the signs that explain this relatively simple concept.

Kids go to Natural History Museums all the time, I would assume they get some of it, I know I did as a kid.

As far the first 3 paragraphs, doesn't that apply to any exhibit? Is deforestion and the presence of people leading to the endangering of animals much more likely to get through to kids? Even if it is, wouldn't they see that in other parts of the zoo or any other zoo they may visit?

Yeah, sure lots of kids and people in general are going to largely ignore the education of EO, but that happens at every exhibit, regardless of how well done.

I personally like that I'm not seeing the same message that I see at just about every exhibit I see which wants to relay some sort of message.

 

[BlackRhino]

While I am not a fan of the Elephant Odyssey exhibit myself, I will say that the elephant exhibit is one of the best for elephants in the United States. The elephant staff in San Diego is one of the best there is, and as of right now 2.5 acres is the largest Asian elephant exhibit in America. Now that will soon end, when Pachyderm Forest in LA opens next year, and that will be broken again when OKC opens their elephant exhibit in 2012, which will be some massive 4-5 acres.

The lion exhibit is far too small however the jaguar exhibit is actually larger than average. 2500 square feet is actually a decently sized jaguar exhibit. Those in Jacksonville and Seattle are around 4000 square feet and are among the largest in the US. The typical jaguar exhibit is anywhere from 1500 to 2000 square feet.

 

[redpanda]

While I am not a fan of the Elephant Odyssey exhibit myself, I will say that the elephant exhibit is one of the best for elephants in the United States. The elephant staff in San Diego is one of the best there is, and as of right now 2.5 acres os the largest elephant exhibit in America. Now that will soon end, when Pachyderm Forest in LA opens next year, and that will be broken again when OKC opens their elephant exhibit in 2012, which will be some massive 4-5 acres.

I was under the impression that Tennesse's dreaded elephant sanctuary had an exhibit rather larger than 2.5 acres .

 

[zoogeek]

Tennessee's elephant sanctuary is not a zoo. Apples and oranges.

 

[BlackRhino]

I was under the impression that Tennesse's dreaded elephant sanctuary had an exhibit rather larger than 2.5 acres .

Nope, there are zero exhibits at Tennessee's Elephant Sanctuary

 

[redpanda]

Nope, there are zero exhibits at Tennessee's Elephant Sanctuary

I see any captive environment which contains wild animals an exhibit, but I suppose "enclosure" would be a better way of saying it.

 

[tigertiger]

I really think you are underestimating people. I believe a lot more people "get it" than you think.

I don't think he is. Most people don't walk away from zoos going "Wow, that was a great message!" or "I need to do my roll in animal conversation!" Instead, they're more likely to go "Wow, cool cats!" or "That animal was so funny!"

 

[mweb08]

I don't think he is. Most people don't walk away from zoos going "Wow, that was a great message!" or "I need to do my roll in animal conversation!" Instead, they're more likely to go "Wow, cool cats!" or "That animal was so funny!"

Well that goes for any exhibit. His point seems to be that this concept is much more difficult to grasp, which I disagree with.

 

[geomorph]

Some comments I overheard while visiting the exhibit included "this is so much better than the old elephant area", "why are there statues of mythical creatures everywhere?", "these animals could go extinct if we kill them like we did these others", and several "this is cool"s.