@Zooplantman: So you are actively supportive of the ideals of landscape immersion in zoos? That is not surprising as you have worked in several American zoos, and the focus in that country is on beautifully designed exhibits that in most cases include a lush assembly of plants. There are numerous outstanding animal habitats all over the country, but of course there are also times when the idea fails miserably...
For gorillas you've mentioned Bronx, DAK and Busch Gardens, and the Kansas City Zoo's massive chimpanzee enclosure is also high on your list. What about orangutans? That largely arboreal ape is arguably the most difficult primate of all to create a decent exhibit for, as there are very few top-notch enclosures for that species in any zoo.
Well, to be clear: landscape immersion is my specialty. I have helped develop the practice of it. I don't work on anything that isn't.
And...I don't have any list I just have enjoyed those exhibits because of interesting things I got to see there.
As to orangutans: I have never seen what I'd want a great orang exhibit to look like. I am not certain it is possible (as you suggest). It has been one of my goals to help create one should the right client and design team and budget ever come together. Also,socially, orangs present a more difficult behavior to have fun with than other apes. Its not just that they are arboreal. Its also how they interact as a group (or don't!)
As with gorillas, it would be easier to accomplish a great immersion orang exhibit in the tropics or sub-tropics. So the real challenge would be to create one in a temperate area (that is why Congo Gorilla Forest gets more points than DAK, for example. Its more difficult to do!)
I'd just like to start off by adding Maxwell Duikers to the list of species found in Congo Gorilla Forest that's on the first page. They're in a mixed exhibit with the colobus. Also, for any who've never visited or only visited once, many of the indoor exhibits change often displaying many different species.
I agree that the Pygmy Marmosets 100% shouldn't be in that exhibit. When I first saw them there when I was younger I was convinced that Pygmy Marmosets were a special species of marmoset that lived in Africa. I went on thinking that for a long time.
@Zooplantman- Why can't you say what it cost to build the exhibit?
Finally, I understand it's an expensive exhibit but certainly others can recreate it. Disney is a good example; I'd rather them build a new and much better gorilla exhibit based off of CGF than see Avatar Land.
Finally, I understand it's an expensive exhibit but certainly others can recreate it. Disney is a good example; I'd rather them build a new and much better gorilla exhibit based off of CGF than see Avatar Land.
I wasn't talking about just the gorilla exhibit itself but I was saying they should build a whole Congo forest themed area. The last time I went they had animals like Meerkats directly neighboring the gorillas.
I wasn't talking about just the gorilla exhibit itself but I was saying they should build a whole Congo forest themed area. The last time I went they had animals like Meerkats directly neighboring the gorillas.
That was hard to distinguish when you said a brand-new gorilla exhibit, instead of a new gorilla and other species complex. And personally, I believe Pangani Exploration Trail is just fine, but that's my opinion, and yours might be different.
