The major exhibits in MOLA (Tropical Trails/African Flooded Forest/Gharial Pool) all look to be extremely impressive, and the gharials must be great to see in such a nice exhibit. San Diego has a brilliant gharial pool, but judging from photos Fort Worth has done well in the design of this one. The book "America's Best Zoos" lists San Diego and Detroit as the two best zoos for reptile and amphibian collections & exhibits, and while Fort Worth was also ranked in the top 10 I wonder if it could now ascend to the #1 position?
No question--exhibit size and underwater viewing make this a very good gharial exhibit. And I don't so much object to the cross views of buildings and people, but the weird little segment of "mudbank" stuck to the side of the building is a rather weak nod to"naturalism."
No question--exhibit size and underwater viewing make this a very good gharial exhibit. And I don't so much object to the cross views of buildings and people, but the weird little segment of "mudbank" stuck to the side of the building is a rather weak nod to"naturalism."
Well, yes......but seeing a great habitat for gharials with good viewing diminishes my usual critical attitude. But you're right--this is not nearly as good as the formerly great gharial exhibit in the Bronx or the current one in Prague. San Diego's is excellent, but no underwater viewing.