This place and the Southern Nevada Zoological Garden (aka the Las Vegas Zoo) seem to qualify for the list of worst zoos in the United States.
If zoo design awards were handed out for the worst exhibits in the U.S. like they do for best exhibits (e.g., the AZA best exhibit award), then this exhibit would be a strong contender.
Actually, there is now an award for worst exhibit. I award this exhibit the 2012 Golden Grotto for worst exhibit in North America.
In many parts of North America these types of menageries have been shut down permanently, but the state of Texas is famous for having quite a few odds n' sods collections in backyards. It is a shame as the state is perhaps a strong candidate for the #1 position in terms of overall quantity and quality of zoos, and so the Capital Zoo of Texas is an anomaly rather than the norm. The key is for people to spend an hour of their time writing a complaint letter to various animal rights organizations, newspapers or politicians and to publicly force an institution to change its ways.
It's an odd thing about Fossa; those places where I have seen them and know that they have bred kept their animals in pens (believe me, that is the word) where I would have been ashamed to have put African Grey Parrots.
The key is for people to spend an hour of their time writing a complaint letter to various animal rights organizations, newspapers or politicians and to publicly force an institution to change its ways.
Or to vote with your wallet by not visiting them, which will force them to shut down. I drove through Austin last month on my way from Waco back to San Antonio. Having visited the zoo in Waco from open until close Friday, I had a couple hours free Saturday morning. I had to decide between a brief return to the zoo in Waco or a visit to this place to try to photograph the fainaloka. I opted for the former choice (Waco) because I just did not feel comfortable supporting a place like this.
I have no problem with the homemade lumber and chicken wire (Port Lympne has some good small cat exhibits like that). It is just the small size and barren look. It seems it would be easy to do the same homemade design but larger with a few plants inside. Another post says they were planning to do just that, but I have a hard time understanding how any animal lover (as I assume the director is) would find an exhibit like the one pictured acceptable.
