elephantking
Well-Known Member
There are many indoor jungles in americas zoo's. Here are some of them please vote and post why u picked the exhibit
best indoor "jungle" in US
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elephantking
Well-Known Member
i picked jungleworld, it has a great list of species, the best gibbon exhibit in the country and it may be small but it envokes the jungle atmosphere best
elephantking
Well-Known Member
http://www.zoochat.com/547/bronx-zoo-jungle-world-41122/
-it is full f foliage so much you can never see the gibbons and they can intereact with many species including tapir
, if it were outdoors they could only use it half the year
-it is full f foliage so much you can never see the gibbons and they can intereact with many species including tapir
, if it were outdoors they could only use it half the year
Jungle World has Black Panthers (or Black Leopards) not Jaguars, it is part of Wild Asia so Jaguars would be out of place. The exhibit is small (I saw it recently) but far from the smallest I've seen.
I would say if it is that hard to see them it is not a good exhibit; it may or may not be keeping the gibbons well, but it's not exhibiting them well. For that you need to be able to see them!
Yeah sorry I knew they were black but forgot which type, but whatever they are I find the size of the area far to small for them and I felt really sad looking at them.
Sure there are also worse for big cats that I've seen, Berlin (East) for example.
There is more to it than space. While Tierpark Berlin cages may be old (I haven't been there since 2004 so I'm not sure what it's like now) it does not equal being bad. Big cats have and do live long lives there, they wouldn't if they were not being taken care of.
I have no desire of turning this into yet another debate; there have been plenty of them already. The school of thought that more size equals more qualify of life for the animals is not one I agree with. There are numerous examples of animals only using a small portion of their exhibits. The most important thing is how they are taken care of.
I would say if it is that hard to see them it is not a good exhibit; it may or may not be keeping the gibbons well, but it's not exhibiting them well. For that you need to be able to see them!
While Jungleworld's gibbon exhibit is large and densely vegetated, so that gibbons can and do occasionally disappear from sight, there are three separate viewing perspectives that surround the space, trails of artificial vines that are intermittently visible through openings in the canopy, and a "feeding tree" enrichment device, all of which make it pretty likely that you will see gibbons if you take the time to look for them. And the great thing is that when you do see them, you see gibbons as GIBBONS, fantastically adapted to life in a rainforest, not just as a a strange animal living in a cage with ropes (or on a small island with a nice mowed lawn and ropes), as is usually the case in most zoos. And compared with most of the other gibbon exhibits that do attempt to display them in a naturalistic setting, Jungleworld's attention to detail (accurate replications of Dipterocarp trees, lianas, arboreal ant nests, Raffelisias, eroded streambanks etc.) plus a great mix of other animal species, set it apart from the rest. It is hands-down the best gibbon exhibit I've ever seen, from both animal and public perspectives.
This is all fine (and I very much look forward to seeing Jungle World one day), but elephantking said it was a great exhibit because you 'never see the gibbons', which is to me clearly nonsense. If that were the case, it couldn't be a great exhibit. A great gibbon exhibit shows off the gibbons (and their natural behaviour) - which it can't if you never see them. That was my only point. I've not been to the Bronx so can't comment authoritatively on the specifics of that exhibit - I'm certainly encouraged to hear that they're not as hard to see as originally suggested.
Couldn't agree more.
elephantking
Well-Known Member
when i said that i ment u cant see them most of the time
I dont see a need for a debate either, so we will just have to disagree with each others view point on this one in a friendly manner
Last time I was at Tierpark was 2007 and I doubt the big cat housing has improved since then. I also have no doubt they are well cared for, just their surroundings need to improve IMO.
Jungle World does have one of the best inside primate(Gibbon) exhibits I have ever seen and Jungle World is probably the best indoor jungle I have been to. I also had the luck of seeing one of the gibbons interact with the tapir. The leopard exhibit is not small. It is built vertically not horizontally and gives the leopards plenty of climbing oppurtunities plus they get enrichments out the wazoo. All the exhibits are larger than average indoor enclosures for identical species and most of the species that are exhibited are fairly rare in zoos. I just wish they still had the tomistomas and probosicus monkeys it wouldn't even be a question that Jungle World is my favorite.
I am also all to familiar with FPZ's indoor jungle, Tropical Forest. I am a big fan of the animal collection exhibited just not the biggest fan of some of the enclosures. Also this building basically has set the zoo back finacially ever since it was built back in the 70's /80's because of the high cost involved. The renovation of the indoor gorilla habitat was a major step in the right direction and is the largest indoor gorilla habitat in the U.S. They also just had another baby. Most of the animals exhibited are from Africa or S. America except for the White Crowned Hornbills, Rhino Ratsnake and Tentecled Snake . S. American species include Cotton Top Tamarins, Capybara, Brazilian Ocelot, Green Anaconda, Red Eye Treefrogs, Panamanian Golden Frogs, Bairds Tapir (one of the few zoos breeding them) and soon to have Giant Anteaters replacing the geriatric Warthog that passed recently. African species include Gorilla, Ringtail Lemur, Mandrill, Saddlebill and Yellowbill Storks, Pygmy Hippo, Griffon Vultures, Pygmy Falcon, Potto, Straw Colored Bat, W. Dwarf Croc, Madagascar Tree Boa and African Mud Turtles. An outdoor enclosure holds African Wild Dogs. The inside is also a free flight aviary with at least a dozen bird species and a bat species. Out of 10 I would give it a 6.5
Other indoor jungles I have been to:
Roger Williams Park Zoo: Tropical America. Basically a brick building with free ranging Cotton Top Tamarins, Sloths and Birds. Other enclosures hold Green Anaconda, Emerald tree Python, Inverts, Green Aracari, Jamaican Bats, GLT, Coendou and Saki. Has an upper level to view primates/coendou and free ranging animals in the "canopy level". Just outside there is a giant anteater exhibit.
Capron Zoo: Indoor Rainforest. Brick building with an interesting mix of species: Indian Flying Fox, Indian Crested Porcupine, Weids Marmosets, Sloths, huge Green Iguana, Crowned Pigeon, Wood Partridge, Speckled Mouse Bird, Red Capped Cardinal, Amethyst Starling and Nicobar Pigeon. Two seperate enclosures for Dart Frogs and Green Tree Python.
Beardsley Zoo: Rainforest Building. Seperated in three different areas: Ist, is caiman pond, used to hold Broad Nosed, now Yacare. 2nd, is the "forest floor" level with Toucan, King Vulture, GLT and free ranging birds. 3rd, is the seperate enclosures. Here are the Ocelot, Howlers, Saki, Pygmy Marmoset, Matamata, Yellow Anaconda, Dart Frogs and more. Just outside is the old elephant yard that has held Capybara, Rhea, Warthogs and Peccary. It will eventually be an outside enclosure for Jaguar.
National Zoo: Amazonia. This is the closest thing to an inside jungle I have seen horticulturely wise. It is seperated into 2 levels the bottom level is underwater viewing of S. American fish and turtles, freshwater stingray pond and assorted herp enclosures. The second level is the actual "jungle" with free ranging animals except the herps. Lushly planted with live plants and has mostly birds with a few mammals (Titi monkey, Callimico and Sloth), even less herps (Red Foot Tortoise) and a few birds (Humming Birds, Tanagers, Sun Bittern, Red Capped Cardinals). Once again, very nicely planted.
NC Zoo: African Pavillion: Unfortunately this exhibit is basically closed, last time I was there they had an orchid exhibit and 2 or 3 animal species. When I 1st visited in '07 there were still quite a few species there. It was similar in style to FPZ's Tropical Forest, a large dome with individual exhibits. Species included Patas Monkey, E. Colobus Monkey, Hamadryas Baboon, Meerkats, Gunthers Dikdik, Trumpeter Hornbill, Savannah Monitor, African Rock Python. W. Dwarf Croc and Tortoise. Outside exhibits held Serval and still currently hold Bataleur Eagle, Gorilla and Hamadryas Baboon. Also directly outside the Pavillion exit is the 36 acre African Plains exhibit with White Rhino, 7 species of antelope, Ostrich and Spur Wing Geese. Excellent viewing while staying in the Pavillion.
Cleveland Zoo: The Rainforest. Most of you know this exhibit so I wont go into it much. All enclosures are individually seperated but some are mix species. Highlights include: Lots of Tamarin and Marmosets, Gharial, Dwarf Croc, Retic Python, other herps, bats, an indoor thunder storm over mix species enclosure with turtles and Crested Porcupine, Giant Anteater, Clouded Leopards, Brazilian Ocelot, Fishing Cat, Asian Otter, Pacarana, Francois Languar and Orangutan. Lots of Species. Average exhibits.
I don't like this tag because many aviaries have excellent "indoor jungles" and some herp buildings as well but they won't count.
I am also all to familiar with FPZ's indoor jungle, Tropical Forest. I am a big fan of the animal collection exhibited just not the biggest fan of some of the enclosures. Also this building basically has set the zoo back finacially ever since it was built back in the 70's /80's because of the high cost involved. The renovation of the indoor gorilla habitat was a major step in the right direction and is the largest indoor gorilla habitat in the U.S. They also just had another baby. Most of the animals exhibited are from Africa or S. America except for the White Crowned Hornbills, Rhino Ratsnake and Tentecled Snake . S. American species include Cotton Top Tamarins, Capybara, Brazilian Ocelot, Green Anaconda, Red Eye Treefrogs, Panamanian Golden Frogs, Bairds Tapir (one of the few zoos breeding them) and soon to have Giant Anteaters replacing the geriatric Warthog that passed recently. African species include Gorilla, Ringtail Lemur, Mandrill, Saddlebill and Yellowbill Storks, Pygmy Hippo, Griffon Vultures, Pygmy Falcon, Potto, Straw Colored Bat, W. Dwarf Croc, Madagascar Tree Boa and African Mud Turtles. An outdoor enclosure holds African Wild Dogs. The inside is also a free flight aviary with at least a dozen bird species and a bat species. Out of 10 I would give it a 6.5
Other indoor jungles I have been to:
Roger Williams Park Zoo: Tropical America. Basically a brick building with free ranging Cotton Top Tamarins, Sloths and Birds. Other enclosures hold Green Anaconda, Emerald tree Python, Inverts, Green Aracari, Jamaican Bats, GLT, Coendou and Saki. Has an upper level to view primates/coendou and free ranging animals in the "canopy level". Just outside there is a giant anteater exhibit.
Capron Zoo: Indoor Rainforest. Brick building with an interesting mix of species: Indian Flying Fox, Indian Crested Porcupine, Weids Marmosets, Sloths, huge Green Iguana, Crowned Pigeon, Wood Partridge, Speckled Mouse Bird, Red Capped Cardinal, Amethyst Starling and Nicobar Pigeon. Two seperate enclosures for Dart Frogs and Green Tree Python.
Beardsley Zoo: Rainforest Building. Seperated in three different areas: Ist, is caiman pond, used to hold Broad Nosed, now Yacare. 2nd, is the "forest floor" level with Toucan, King Vulture, GLT and free ranging birds. 3rd, is the seperate enclosures. Here are the Ocelot, Howlers, Saki, Pygmy Marmoset, Matamata, Yellow Anaconda, Dart Frogs and more. Just outside is the old elephant yard that has held Capybara, Rhea, Warthogs and Peccary. It will eventually be an outside enclosure for Jaguar.
National Zoo: Amazonia. This is the closest thing to an inside jungle I have seen horticulturely wise. It is seperated into 2 levels the bottom level is underwater viewing of S. American fish and turtles, freshwater stingray pond and assorted herp enclosures. The second level is the actual "jungle" with free ranging animals except the herps. Lushly planted with live plants and has mostly birds with a few mammals (Titi monkey, Callimico and Sloth), even less herps (Red Foot Tortoise) and a few birds (Humming Birds, Tanagers, Sun Bittern, Red Capped Cardinals). Once again, very nicely planted.
NC Zoo: African Pavillion: Unfortunately this exhibit is basically closed, last time I was there they had an orchid exhibit and 2 or 3 animal species. When I 1st visited in '07 there were still quite a few species there. It was similar in style to FPZ's Tropical Forest, a large dome with individual exhibits. Species included Patas Monkey, E. Colobus Monkey, Hamadryas Baboon, Meerkats, Gunthers Dikdik, Trumpeter Hornbill, Savannah Monitor, African Rock Python. W. Dwarf Croc and Tortoise. Outside exhibits held Serval and still currently hold Bataleur Eagle, Gorilla and Hamadryas Baboon. Also directly outside the Pavillion exit is the 36 acre African Plains exhibit with White Rhino, 7 species of antelope, Ostrich and Spur Wing Geese. Excellent viewing while staying in the Pavillion.
Cleveland Zoo: The Rainforest. Most of you know this exhibit so I wont go into it much. All enclosures are individually seperated but some are mix species. Highlights include: Lots of Tamarin and Marmosets, Gharial, Dwarf Croc, Retic Python, other herps, bats, an indoor thunder storm over mix species enclosure with turtles and Crested Porcupine, Giant Anteater, Clouded Leopards, Brazilian Ocelot, Fishing Cat, Asian Otter, Pacarana, Francois Languar and Orangutan. Lots of Species. Average exhibits.
I don't like this tag because many aviaries have excellent "indoor jungles" and some herp buildings as well but they won't count.
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mweb08
Well-Known Member
Lied Jungle and it's not close for me, and yes I have been to JungleWorld.
JungleWorld is done very well and you can certainly argue that it's better than Lied in various ways. However, Lied Jungle is possibly the best zoo experience I've ever had as you do get the feeling of being in a rainforest and you get a lot of great views of animals including free roaming ones like the bats that almost flew into my face! JungleWorld is a set of individual rooms rather than one big continuous jungle exhibit like Lied. So that is a negative to me.
As far as the Gibbon exhibit, it is great for them, but I did not see any.
Both exhibits have big negatives with the tapir at Lied and the panther at the Bronx being the prime examples.
JungleWorld is done very well and you can certainly argue that it's better than Lied in various ways. However, Lied Jungle is possibly the best zoo experience I've ever had as you do get the feeling of being in a rainforest and you get a lot of great views of animals including free roaming ones like the bats that almost flew into my face! JungleWorld is a set of individual rooms rather than one big continuous jungle exhibit like Lied. So that is a negative to me.
As far as the Gibbon exhibit, it is great for them, but I did not see any.
Both exhibits have big negatives with the tapir at Lied and the panther at the Bronx being the prime examples.
I have visited "rainforest" complexes at many American zoos (although some are much grander than others): Omaha, Bronx, Sedgwick County, Woodland Park, Kansas City, Buffalo, Tulsa, Mesker Park, National, Denver, Roger Williams Park, North Carolina, Brookfield, Fort Wayne, Cleveland, Minnesota and Central Park. I've also seen the spectacular Masoala Rainforest at Zurich, in Switzerland, and the decent rainforest at Montreal Biodome in Canada.
Of the 17 American complexes I chose Omaha for my #1 vote, even though there are much-discussed flaws to that gargantuan building. Bronx still exudes quality in JungleWorld, but I'd like to highly praise Sedgwick County's 1970's building for its use of a dirt floor and the thick growth of the vegetation, and although it is not as "down and dirty" and has a horrible orangutan exhibit for the most part Cleveland's rainforest building is well designed.
Of the 17 American complexes I chose Omaha for my #1 vote, even though there are much-discussed flaws to that gargantuan building. Bronx still exudes quality in JungleWorld, but I'd like to highly praise Sedgwick County's 1970's building for its use of a dirt floor and the thick growth of the vegetation, and although it is not as "down and dirty" and has a horrible orangutan exhibit for the most part Cleveland's rainforest building is well designed.
This is the only indoor rainforest I have been to so I would have to vote for it...
ANyhuis
Well-Known Member
I totally agree -- it's a slam dunk for Lied Jungle. The only indoor jungle I've seen that compares is Burgers Bush in Arnhem, the Netherlands.