I can distinctly recall seeing at least one gharial in this deep tank when I visited the zoo in 2010, and the exhibit is perhaps even larger than it seems in this photo. There is still a very impressive collection of turtles in the exhibit, as well as a series of great reptile tanks nearby, but without a major crocodilian the enclosure seems slightly underwhelming.
@Moebelle: what did you think of the 21 year-old RainForest complex?
I can distinctly recall seeing at least one gharial in this deep tank when I visited the zoo in 2010, and the exhibit is perhaps even larger than it seems in this photo. There is still a very impressive collection of turtles in the exhibit, as well as a series of great reptile tanks nearby, but without a major crocodilian the enclosure seems slightly underwhelming.
@Moebelle: what did you think of the 21 year-old RainForest complex?
I was very disappointed not to see a crocodilian in this exhibit, as having just a bunch of turtle did not excite me.
As for the RainForest, I was very surprised with the majority of superb exhibits to be in a very much criticized institution. The flying fox and thunderstorm exhibits intrigued me the most, as I have never seen a megabat take flight, and have never seen such a unique and naturalistic habitat. The upper forest is where the real nature lies. This level does it's job by bringing the guests into the animals' habitats. You are face-to-face with everything that you see and nearly all the exhibits have minimal barriers. The orangutan exhibit does get a lot of criticism, maybe it deserves it, maybe it doesn't. But to me though this brought a whole new experience with the red apes. I have seen an orangutan look down on me from high up in the distance, but not while being this close up. When the large male of the group peered over the ledge and starred at us, I have to say I was a bit frightened. Overall it is as you say excellent and is the best thing in the zoo to look forward to.
I was very disappointed not to see a crocodilian in this exhibit, as having just a bunch of turtle did not excite me.
As for the RainForest, I was very surprised with the majority of superb exhibits to be in a very much criticized institution. The flying fox and thunderstorm exhibits intrigued me the most, as I have never seen a megabat take flight, and have never seen such a unique and naturalistic habitat. The upper forest is where the real nature lies. This level does it's job by bringing the guests into the animals' habitats. You are face-to-face with everything that you see and nearly all the exhibits have minimal barriers. The orangutan exhibit does get a lot of criticism, maybe it deserves it, maybe it doesn't. But to me though this brought a whole new experience with the red apes. I have seen an orangutan look down on me from high up in the distance, but not while being this close up. When the large male of the group peered over the ledge and starred at us, I have to say I was a bit frightened. Overall it is as you say excellent and is the best thing in the zoo to look forward to.
