ZooChat Exhibit Think Tank: what exhibit ideas lie beyond the known?
We have multiple conversations here about what the best exhibit designs are for the animals and ecosystems that we encounter in the world’s zoos and aquariums. These exhibits tend to be for a familiar group of “superstar” species (elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, etc.) and habitat concepts (African savannas, tropical rain forests, coniferous forests, kelp forests, coral reefs, etc.). There are also exhibits for a host of “supporting actor” species that populate the habitat exhibits.
What other exciting species, habitat, or other exciting exhibit concepts are out there beyond the known species and habitats that have been worked on for the last century?
My dream job would be to open a “think tank” to develop and experiment with ways to transform zoo exhibits into measurably effective conservation ambassadors for the wild species and ecosystems that they represent. It occurred to me that since this is not going to happen in the real world that maybe I could start a thread with some 21st century exhibit concepts for ZooChat and have others critique them and throw in their own ideas. I am dubbing this thread the ZooChat Exhibit Concept Think Tank (ZCETT). I’m hoping that some of you may throw out your ideas as well and that we can have a true virtual think tank, and who knows, maybe some of the zoo designers/thinkers of the world will take note…
*The Wonderful Biodiversity of Food Without Which Civilization Would Not Exist: In the July 2011 National Geographic there was an eye-opening article about how the genetic and species diversity of many of our food crops is disappearing, and how we need this biodiversity to keep our crops and food animals disease resistant and adaptive to increased productivity. I have never seen a food biodiversity exhibit in a zoo or botanical garden, and on the face of it maybe it sounds boring and stupid, but the National Geographic article had some really cool photos of some of the strangest varieties of common crops and animals that I have ever seen. The biodiversity of potatoes in particular is stunning and would possibly make a very interesting exhibit believe it or not: Food Ark - Potato Variety - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine
There are also galleries of seed, chicken, and cattle diversity, along with the main article here: Food Ark - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine
*Know the Crow: Has anybody ever created a great exhibit about crows or ravens? I’m guessing not, but these species which many of us have flying through our neighborhoods and cities are some of the most intelligent creatures on the planet. In Davis, California there are crows that drop walnuts under passing cars to crack them open. The New Caledonian crow in particular has become a model species for studying tool-making in non-humans with amazing video of their tool making recorded (Tool-making crows). There are also several endangered species of crows on Pacific Islands. If anyone could find a way to attractively exhibit these species I think they could become quite popular.
*Weasel World: we had a recent discussion about whether there are any really good ferret or weasel exhibits in the world. It seems like there have been very few great exhibits for potentially very active, interesting animals. I have no specific ideas beyond trying to create some kind of nocturnal black-footed ferret exhibit that allows them to be active during their natural times rather than being displayed as sleeping balls of fur in fully lighted terrariums. Weasels may not be possible to crack as effective exhibit animals, although it was mentioned that Minnesota Zoo had an active weasel exhibit in the old Minnesota Trail exhibit. Does anybody remember what was done specifically with this exhibit to make it work, or did it not really work…it isn’t there now apparently on the revamped Minnesota Trail, so maybe that answers the question….
We have multiple conversations here about what the best exhibit designs are for the animals and ecosystems that we encounter in the world’s zoos and aquariums. These exhibits tend to be for a familiar group of “superstar” species (elephants, giraffes, big cats, gorillas, etc.) and habitat concepts (African savannas, tropical rain forests, coniferous forests, kelp forests, coral reefs, etc.). There are also exhibits for a host of “supporting actor” species that populate the habitat exhibits.
What other exciting species, habitat, or other exciting exhibit concepts are out there beyond the known species and habitats that have been worked on for the last century?
My dream job would be to open a “think tank” to develop and experiment with ways to transform zoo exhibits into measurably effective conservation ambassadors for the wild species and ecosystems that they represent. It occurred to me that since this is not going to happen in the real world that maybe I could start a thread with some 21st century exhibit concepts for ZooChat and have others critique them and throw in their own ideas. I am dubbing this thread the ZooChat Exhibit Concept Think Tank (ZCETT). I’m hoping that some of you may throw out your ideas as well and that we can have a true virtual think tank, and who knows, maybe some of the zoo designers/thinkers of the world will take note…
*The Wonderful Biodiversity of Food Without Which Civilization Would Not Exist: In the July 2011 National Geographic there was an eye-opening article about how the genetic and species diversity of many of our food crops is disappearing, and how we need this biodiversity to keep our crops and food animals disease resistant and adaptive to increased productivity. I have never seen a food biodiversity exhibit in a zoo or botanical garden, and on the face of it maybe it sounds boring and stupid, but the National Geographic article had some really cool photos of some of the strangest varieties of common crops and animals that I have ever seen. The biodiversity of potatoes in particular is stunning and would possibly make a very interesting exhibit believe it or not: Food Ark - Potato Variety - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine
There are also galleries of seed, chicken, and cattle diversity, along with the main article here: Food Ark - Pictures, More From National Geographic Magazine
*Know the Crow: Has anybody ever created a great exhibit about crows or ravens? I’m guessing not, but these species which many of us have flying through our neighborhoods and cities are some of the most intelligent creatures on the planet. In Davis, California there are crows that drop walnuts under passing cars to crack them open. The New Caledonian crow in particular has become a model species for studying tool-making in non-humans with amazing video of their tool making recorded (Tool-making crows). There are also several endangered species of crows on Pacific Islands. If anyone could find a way to attractively exhibit these species I think they could become quite popular.
*Weasel World: we had a recent discussion about whether there are any really good ferret or weasel exhibits in the world. It seems like there have been very few great exhibits for potentially very active, interesting animals. I have no specific ideas beyond trying to create some kind of nocturnal black-footed ferret exhibit that allows them to be active during their natural times rather than being displayed as sleeping balls of fur in fully lighted terrariums. Weasels may not be possible to crack as effective exhibit animals, although it was mentioned that Minnesota Zoo had an active weasel exhibit in the old Minnesota Trail exhibit. Does anybody remember what was done specifically with this exhibit to make it work, or did it not really work…it isn’t there now apparently on the revamped Minnesota Trail, so maybe that answers the question….
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. I suppose one way in which you could do this present day is to provide a range of habitats with vastly differant topography that the animals rotate through on a daily basis but since that has been more or less done I guess it wouldn't fall into the "beyond the known" goal of this thread. Oh well, I tried....
