That's a pretty big call to make simply from photos. Certainly, this enclosure is larger than any I've seen anywhere. However, 'large' is not necessarily 'best'.
I'm not suggesting there is anything wrong with this exhibit, just trying to curb your enthusiasm a bit.
Between TWPZ and Werribee there are two extraordinarily large and impressive hippo exhibits in Australia. They must at least be two of the very best worldwide.
i disagree. TWPZ has many wonderful exhibits but the hippo exhibit isnt one of them IMO.
from the animals point of view it would be great; mud wallows, grazing, deep lakes, sunny haul-outs and a flowing stream. but if could be so much better.
the lake is surrounded by coppers logs (to stop erosion) and prominent fences, which are so obvious as to shatter any illusion of 'the wild'. it would rank IMO as the second-best hippo exhibit in Australia but contrast this exhibit with others around the world which have underwater viewing galleries and in some cases large herds of these social animals and you realise that essentially all it is really a big paddock and dam. built in the heady days when for zoos world-wide bigger was better.
Glyn, I have to disagree with you there on a couple points.
Firstly, when he zoo was built in the 70's, the animals needs were put first and a large enclosure was built for them, complete with large water body. Underwater viewing? In that water? You'd only see the hippo if it's face was pressed up against the glass.
You say that the coppice logs and fences shatter any illusion of being in the wild. As someone who has seen hippos in the wild, I can tell you if you removed the logs and the fences it would certainly look like the wilds of Australia, but nothing like Africa.
You mention it is a good exhibit from the animals point of view - when the zoo was built management put the animal's needs first, the way it should be. Unfortunately, too many facilities these days put the public's ( = $$$) interests above the animal's.
The comment I made on another image I uploaded refered to the fact the hippos now have access to this enormous paddock - it has been well known for decades that wild hippos, while spending the day in the rivers, come out at night to graze on grass which makes up the bulk of their diet. This zoo and Werribee provide a large grassy area for that purpose and I'm surprised more zoos around the world don't do this. The paddock at WPZ also gives the hippos plenty of room to run (whether they do or not I don't know) but I think you'll find many zoo's don't even give the hippos that small luxury.
i agree it is a good exhibit for HIPPO'S, just not the best.
far from it.
obviously dubbo cant have underwater viewing, but it could do a lot better. i think Western Plains Zoo has actually lost the inovative reputation it had during the first two decades of its development because for too long it has ridden along on the style of exhibits it pioneered in the country in the late 70's and 80s.
WPZ probably needs to start looking to examples set by Monarto and Weribee, and build perhaps more exhibits along the lines of its own asian wetlands
