Zoo Designers Make Their Case

[reduakari]

Something interesting to think about is the evolution of zoo exhibitry over the past 50 years. Each decade seems to be typified by a particular philosophy.

1960s and prior - stamp collecting - I want one of everything

1970s - Birth of concentrated breeding programs for endangered species (ex. SDWAP)

1980s - Landscape - put the animals in as naturalistic of a setting as possible (ex. Woodland Park)

1990s - Incorporation of story telling elements (ex. DAK, Congo Gorilla Forest)

2000s - rejection of animals in favor of the human (ex. Texas Wild!)

2010s - too early to tell... It might be CLRs "activity based design." We'll see in a few years time.

The 70s, 80s, and 90s all built on the past, but that trend seems not to have continued, or it has continued in a different direction. These trends tell me, at least in American zoos, that we have not progressed at all since the 1990s as far as animals are concerned, with the one exception of elephants. Elephant exhibits are better than they were 15 years ago, but only as a collective. You can look back to the exhibits at SDWAP and DAK and see we were already about where we are now just in limited numbers.

Pretty accurate, although along with concentrated breeding programs in the 1970s came the idea of big, "open range" zoos--both commercial "safari parks" and planned, modernist zoos like Miami, Toronto, Wichita and Minnesota (and of course SDWAP).

I would also suggest that the rise of enrichment and training over the past 10-15 years has in fact improved things for many animals in zoos--but I'm not convinced it's sending a clear environmental protection message to the public, as it reinforces the notion of animals as "pets" in human care rather than the wild creatures they are.

 

[tschandler71]

Exactly. Can anyone name one reason (other than the zoo, for us zoo fans) that could possibly entice anyone to visit Birmingham, Alabama?

UAB - Dr. James Andrews is the best sports medicine Dr in the business. All of the pro and college athletes go to him.

 

[jbnbsn99]

UAB - Dr. James Andrews is the best sports medicine Dr in the business. All of the pro and college athletes go to him.

*facepalm*

 

[Jurek7]

Well, I don't have much time recently, so just a couple of points.

2010's in American zoos will be time of scaling down budgets and cheaper exhibits, if anything.

Which is not necessary bad. European zoos built for ages very popular exhibits for a fraction of cost of American ones. If American zoo will pour tons of concrete to build fake rocks around bear enclosure, European zoo will put a chainlink fence around a piece of woodland and create just as good or better exhibit. Animals in American zoos may have more access to real trees and habitat instead of grandiose fake structures. Here, Zooplantman is a job for you coming

Some worries are false alternatives here. There is no single best kind of exhibit or best kind of education. It is possible to feed giraffe and just cash $5 for it, or give an interactive conservation show with giraffe feeding as a centerpiece.

I saw this presentation of Giants of Savanna and was really not overawed. True, large naturalistic exhibit. But still there are some mistakes, like putting an obvious fence in the background or concrete margin of a stream. Similar savanna exhibits were built for animals (although not elephants) since 1980's.

I think zoo design will keep evolving and bring new ideas. I foresee new and innovative animal-visitor interactions, cleverly keeping safety in check. I can think of public feeding elephants under supervision, of sharks swimming between patrons and leopards walking overhead in glass or mesh tunnels.

I foresee the return of naturalness as zoos learn to incorporate existing plants and landscapes instead of fake concrete. City zoos will cleverly use space, hiding maintenance areas under exhibits and bringing green areas into exhibits, not around them. Zoo designers will design full zoos not single exhibits.

Technology, games and apps will be incorporated, drawing people to animals not distracting them. Zoo patrons will see live images from Africa or Amazon in animal exhibits, and check their favorite animals from home.

Lots of ideas, new challenges but new opportunities, really.