tarantula display

very nicely done I thought. The two tanks either side have live tarantulas in them, the two in the middle (one above the other) display shed exoskeletons. The live tanks are furnished as well, not just bare tanks like some places have. To the right (out of shot) is a big fake buttressed tree trunk. The whole is enclosed within a hut structure.

20 September 2012

In possibly one of the most extreme exhibit conversions in any zoo, this 'hut' for tarantulas was the original giraffe house. The floor level has been raised significantly, and is now reached by steps (on one side).

I don't often say "oh my god!" but that really is amazing. I had no idea. But that does explain the height doesn't it

I don't know if you have a copy of the Auckland Zoo book (A Tiger by the Tail) at hand Chlidonias, but the cover photo (as well as the photos on pages 43, 76, 86) shows the Giraffe House being used as such. The giraffe house was built in 1925, and housed giraffes until they were moved to a new exhibit (in the new extension) in 1976. The zoo did not have giraffes continuously from 1925-1976, so the exhibit was also used for other species, including Sarus Cranes and Rabbits. When the giraffes moved out in 1976, they were replaced with Camels, which I presume remained there until the late 1980s, when the camels moved to the paddocks that are now the High Country of Te Wao Nui, and Galapagos Tortoises moved in. The exhibit was demolished to make way for the Rainforest in the early 1990s.

The cover photo also showing the small aquarium added on to the giraffe house in 1949, which remained in use until the new aquarium was erected in 1979/80. Presumably this was demolished soon after. There is very little information regarding the aquarium in the guides and history book, but the photo clearly shows an exterior cage, presumably a small aviary.

I googled the book to see the cover. Is the aquarium the building on the side facing the photographer (between the elephant and the giraffe house)?

Chlidonias said:

I googled the book to see the cover. Is the aquarium the building on the side facing the photographer (between the elephant and the giraffe house)?

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Yes, the small weather-board structure.

No idea why, but I just quickly glanced down the photos and saw this title, I thought it said 'Tamandua Display' - I thought the set up looked a bit bizarre for tamandua

we wish it was a tamandua display!!

Chlidonias said:

we wish it was a tamandua display!!

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Out of interest, are there any tamanduas in Australia/NZ/etc?

Further to that, what is the state of xenarthrans in general in Aus?

Adelaide Zoo has Hoffman's two-toed sloth. That is all.