Not particularly awful I guess, but woefully underwhelming just like most of this new exhibit. For a zoo with the prestige of Columbus this is exhibit appears to be - and some may find this a bit much - a bigger disaster than Elephant Odyssey in many areas. EO may be abysmal aesthetically, but the new "Animal Encounter Village" has made some truly shocking discussions in regards to animal welfare. Without some of the theming, these exhibits look like they were built in a roadside zoo. I get that these are ambassadors that get to occasionally leave the exhibits, but that really is no excuse for any major zoo.
I despise this complex, I don’t know how Columbus zoo though this was a good idea. Although the argument can be made that there animal ambassadors and there exhibits behind the scenes isn’t the greatest, those exhibits still give them the right things they need. Lemurs, prehensile tailed porcupines, sloths and others don’t have enough climbing structures, otters don’t have enough water, red river hogs, ground hornbills, cheetahs and more don’t have nearly enough space, and various other problems. This is a terrible complex and was a very bad idea. The animals don’t have enough things to do and aren’t able to display there natural behaviors. They should seriously consider re theming this area to be more beneficial to the animals.
Could one of our American contributors explain how these work? - as over this side of the pond it is not so clear. There has been much criticism, but little explanation. Generally the American/Australian concept of 'Ambassador Animals' has not been adopted too widely in Europe, save at Bird-of-Prey places. The standards at some of the latter are truly terrible and the 'holding' accommodation where the birds spend pretty much all of their lives is very often off-show. Modern generations in the UK at least) dont remember real circuses where animals were brought out for their performance in a big-top before being shut up again. Is the Ambassador Animal principle the same?
If it is, then could Columbus not be complimented for owning up to something that other American (AND European) zoos hide?
