Best UK animal Exhibit???

[jerseygorilla]

I would like to know...
1. What is your favourite UK exhibit and why?
2. What species does it hold?
3. Why do you like it?
4. What is the viewing like?

Mine would be Cloud Forest at Jersey Zoo. It holds Andean Bears (1.1), Ring-Tailed Coatis (0.6), Black Howler Monkeys (2.4.2), a lone Oriental Short Clawed Otter (0.1), Brazilian [Scarlet] Tanagers (7.4), Orange-bellied Euphonias (3.2), Red-cowled Cardinals (2.0), Silver-throated Tanagers (4.1) and an empty indoor enclosure which used to hold Rodrigues Fruit Bats. The viewing itself is excellent. There is a moat separating the public from the animals, and the electric fence is difficult to see. There is lots of waterfalls, and climbing areas on both sides of the exhibit, meaning that the species can be swapped between enclosures. Indoor wise, the 4 species of bird are free flying in a fantastic 'indoor rainforest', and there are two large viewing windows for the animals when they are indoors. There is also a medium sized tunnel which currently has no species of animal and was originally built of bats.

Overall, a great exhibit.

 

[foz]

The best Ive seen is the Chhester zoo spectacled bear area. more of an enclosure than an exhibit, it holds 1.1 spectacled bears and possibly coati (but im unsure if they remain). viewing is fro a moat but it also features an exhibit hut and the enclosure itsel is very well landscaped. the bears there are truly captivating.

Also close would be Bristol's nocturnal house which house a variety of animals

 

[Javan Rhino]

The best Ive seen is the Chhester zoo spectacled bear area. more of an enclosure than an exhibit, it holds 1.1 spectacled bears and possibly coati (but im unsure if they remain). viewing is fro a moat but it also features an exhibit hut and the enclosure itsel is very well landscaped. the bears there are truly captivating.

Also close would be Bristol's nocturnal house which house a variety of animals

Yup, 1.1 spectacled bear and I think something like 0.6 South American coati. Of course, there are also nearby paddocks that make the themed area, one for 1.1 Brazilian tapir and capybara (I think 2 but not sure). There is also a paddock for Greater rhea and vicuna, though again I don't know the number.

It just so happens that I have this prepped already from another conversation and it is appropriate here. The area outlined in red is the exhibit.

 

[jerseygorilla]

Looks like quite a large exhibit. I suppose with the other two enclosures it does make it into a South American exhibit.

 

[Javan Rhino]

Looks like quite a large exhibit. I suppose with the other two enclosures it does make it into a South American exhibit.

Yup, it is certainly a good size. Along with the paddocks, I've just thought that I suppose the miniature monkeys exhibits can be added, though it is listed in the zoo's literature as a separate exhibit to this (Bears of the Cloud Forest) - but the whole thing would make one larger S. American exhibit area.

Attached are some photos of the bear enclosure from the ground (having realised that this only shows the size, and not how natural it [in my opinion] looks). 1 picture overall and two of the female bear (Franka) enjoying the logs and planting.

 

[jerseygorilla]

Looks like a really nice exhibit. The female does have very vivid markings!!

I have attached a few photos from Jerseys Cloud Forest Exhibit. There is one of the exhibit in the snow, one of Wolfgang, the male, in the snow, one of the house from outside and one from inside the house. There is also a photo of my other favourite enclosure for Sulawesi Crested Macaques.

 

[Javan Rhino]

Looks like a really nice exhibit. The female does have very vivid markings!!

I have attached a few photos from Jerseys Cloud Forest Exhibit. There is one of the exhibit in the snow, one of Wolfgang, the male, in the snow, one of the house from outside and one from inside the house. There is also a photo of my other favourite enclosure for Sulawesi Crested Macaques.

http://www.zoochat.com/56/andean-bears-196620/

Looks good - the indoor area at Chester is off-show but they are usually out and about somewhere anyway

Franka has the most vivid markings of the spectacled bears I've ever seen. Her mate (Sangay) looks totally different, with very thin markings that don't come around in a full circle around the eyes (much like Wolfgang's markings). That and he is about 3 times her size, which makes them very easy to tell apart

 

[jerseygorilla]

Barbara, the Jersey female, is about 1/3 of Wolfgangs weight also, and she is losing some of her hair on her left side of her body. The photo shows them both together.

 

[Javan Rhino]

Barbara, the Jersey female, is about 1/3 of Wolfgangs weight also, and she is losing some of her hair on her left side of her body. The photo shows them both together.

Ahh yes

Just to add another tangent and get back on track, I think after careful thinking that my favourite exhibit is Spirit of the Jaguar at Chester.

There is a savannah side with 1.1 jaguars having access to an outside and inside enclosure. Also here is the 'life on the lilypad' exhibit with a few amphibian species, and a vivarium for eyelash vipers.

On the otherside is a lush jungle (indoors) with 1.0 melanistic jaguar. There was also a leaf-cutter ant exhibit, but they have been moved temporarily off-show. Outside is a waterfall paddock with 1.1 jaguars.

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Realm of the Red Ape at Chester for me because of the enviroment for the Orangutans and because they live with White Handed(Lar)Gibbons which make's a very intresting display,also in the Realm of the red ape of Asian Fairy Bluebirds,Timor Sparrows and Reticualted Pythons they may be more and the viewing is excellent for both human and Apes as the Orangutans have hammocks at public eye level.

 

[foz]

Realm of the Red Ape at Chester for me because of the enviroment for the Orangutans and because they live with White Handed(Lar)Gibbons which make's a very intresting display,also in the Realm of the red ape of Asian Fairy Bluebirds,Timor Sparrows and Reticualted Pythons they may be more and the viewing is excellent for both human and Apes as the Orangutans have hammocks at public eye level.

I loved realm of the red ape, but had a few quarms:
1) the visitor area is too small meaning very cramped people screaming at apes
2) the viewing of the outdoor enclosures can be quite limited

 

[Pertinax]

Franka has the most vivid markings of the spectacled bears I've ever seen. Her mate (Sangay) looks totally different, with very thin markings that don't come around in a full circle around the eyes (much like Wolfgang's markings). That and he is about 3 times her size, which makes them very easy to tell apart

'Franka's' full Spectacle markings are quite unusual, the vast majority of Speccie Bears only have the partial markings. Though the full circles are usually shown on the zoo information 'comparison of different markings' boards for this species, she's the only zoo bear I've seen that actually has them.

Males are normally much bigger than females in this species.

I've only seen this exhibit once, soon after it was opened and it has obviously become much more luxuriant vegetation-wise since. I would definately rate it as a top exhibit though. All they need is to be able to breed them now.

p.s. do they do a postcard of 'Franka'?

 

[Javan Rhino]

'Franka's' full Spectacle markings are quite unusual, the vast majority of Speccie Bears only have the partial markings. Though the full circles are usually shown on the zoo information 'comparison of different markings' boards for this species, she's the only zoo bear I've seen that actually has them.

Males are normally much bigger than females in this species.

I've only seen this exhibit once, soon after it was opened and it has obviously become much more luxuriant vegetation-wise since. I would definately rate it as a top exhibit though. All they need is to be able to breed them now.

p.s. do they do a postcard of 'Franka'?

Ahhh, thanks for the information, I knew that males were bigger but didn't realise her markings were that unusual (I've only ever seen them at Chester and South Lakes).

The exhibit is excellent in my opinion, UK zoos are really getting good bear enclosures at the moment/within the last decade (Highlands, Chester, Welsh Mountain - in my opinion the bear enclosure at WMZ is the best enclosure altogether at that zoo).

As for postcards I'm unsure, I think I've seen Spectacled bear postcards but they could be Sangay. If I get time before/after the EAZA event on Saturday I'll pop into the giftshop and try to confirm whether there is one or not

 

[GillP]

I'm in agreement with Jordan re: RORA (I'm sure I've mentioned the fact I love it before ) because it's such an amazing thing to see so many very active orangs (and the 2 species at one zoo) and the privilege of having Emma and Subis up at the window so often. I could quite happily spend 2 or more hours in there at a time without getting bored.

However, also appreciate what Foz is saying about its disadvantages. There's never any excuse for visitors screaming at any animal, though am not quite sure why having a relatively small viewing area would cause them to scream ? In other words, oafs who scream would probably do so whatever space they had. I do understand though how such behaviour can be particularly unpleasant if you are amongst the crowd there and it's humid etc. Personally .... I have always timed visits very carefully to avoid crowds - 1st thing & last thing and out of peak season because it's quite claustrophobic in there when it's busy. Agree outdoor viewing could be better and trying to catch a rare glimpse of Tuan is almost impossible unless you climb on a bin or are very tall (admittedly that area's not part of the new development).

 

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

The viewing is abit poor but at least its at eyelevel

 

[OrangePerson]

However, also appreciate what Foz is saying about its disadvantages. There's never any excuse for visitors screaming at any animal, though am not quite sure why having a relatively small viewing area would cause them to scream ? In other words, oafs who scream would probably do so whatever space they had.

The good thing too is the orangs have so many choices, if they don't like someone screaming they can just leave. I love the way they've made their own adaptations and fixed up slings so they can view the oafs without strain.

The height of it makes for wonderful opportunities for them to move about using the straps and I love to see the way they can get from one end to the other with very economical use of energy (or just hang upside down by their feet and spin round for the hell of it.)

 

[Red Panda]

I would say I love the Giant Otter enclosure at Chester Zoo, every-time I go there I always say 'what a beautiful exhibit' and the otters do look so happy together

 

[gentle lemur]

I haven't jumped into this one, because I wanted to think it through. I prefer single species exhibits, which must be entirely suitable for a natural social group of the species and must also provide a real experience for visitors (not necessarily an 'immersion' into an artificial environment - but some insight into the life of the animal at least). Ideally it also has to be of a medium to large size and it must be memorable which seems to me to be the crucial test.
There are two exhibits which meet these criteria, in my opinion, at opposite ends of the country - Budongo (Edinburgh, chimps) and 'Palace of the Apes' (Port Lympne, Djala's group of gorillas). Although they are very different, I can't make up my mind between them

Alan