This exhibit and the tiny aviaries and cat exhibit are why I rail against this zoo sometimes. This hyrax lives its entire life on this shelf. There is no cover, no vegetation, no enrichment. How is this exhibit any different from the worst zoos that we see here on ZooChat (e.g., the Las Vegas Zoo)? If you look at the architecture it is spectacular and immersive.
I was once wandering along the desert dome trail and saw a lungfish swimming inches away from me in the stream -wonderful - but how can this hyrax exhibit be justified even in the most spectacular immersion exhibit? I'm asking this sincerely because I really want to know people's opinions.
Unfortunately to my knowledge it just has the space where it is standing; the rest of the wall is just for show, not animal space. If I'm wrong then I do agree with you.
I thought it was one exhibit when I first saw the photo and thought it was a fantastic amount of space (there's a hyrax in there for scale). But snowleopard labels it "exhibits" plural, and looking at the other photo it does sort of look like each shelf is a separate display area, with the doors going into off-display boxes. On the other hand I can't imagine how they would stop something as nimble as rock hyrax from moving around the whole rock face!!
I've heard in the past that there are at least half-a-dozen different rock hyrax exhibits and that for the most part the animals have a ledge or two to exist on and that is it. In person it is incredible (like everything at this awesome zoo) but some things are not so pleasant when analyzed further.
I've heard in the past that there are at least half-a-dozen different rock hyrax exhibits and that for the most part the animals have a ledge or two to exist on and that is it. In person it is incredible (like everything at this awesome zoo) but some things are not so pleasant when analyzed further.
Not incredible if you're the hyrax though. If this exhibit weren't immersively spectacular and the hyrax was just in this space in a normal cage you would likely go ballistic (justifiably) as you do with zoos that have exhibits like this without the spectacular scenery - how does this translate to Omaha being an "awesome" zoo?
Not incredible if you're the hyrax though. If this exhibit weren't immersively spectacular and the hyrax was just in this space in a normal cage you would likely go ballistic (justifiably) as you do with zoos that have exhibits like this without the spectacular scenery - how does this translate to Omaha being an "awesome" zoo?
First of all, I love the continual discussion about Omaha, and secondly, it seems no one on ZooChat knows for certain just how much space is given to the rock hyrax in the Desert Dome. I feel that both San Diego and Omaha have probably 10% of their exhibits that are downright awful, and yet OVERALL those are America's top 2 zoos. Omaha's Lied Jungle is mainly excellent, the hoofstock paddocks are huge, the aquarium is world-class, the nocturnal house is brilliant, the insectarium is fantastic, the Exploration Building is terrific, the gorilla and orangutan exhibits are pretty good, etc. Cat Complex and Bear Canyon, along with parts of the Desert Dome, are terrible but OVERALL the zoo is a must-see for any zoo enthusiast. Other zoos might have greater consistency (North Carolina and Sedgwick County spring to mind) but they also do not have the truly great exhibit complexes like Omaha and San Diego.
Right over the animal is a small opening in the shelf so he can jump up there to the next level. Via that he can go to the right hand side, jump there down and go into the level below where he is standing in this photo. (Thats how it appears for me) But for these guys such a path is not important if you have ever seen them making their impossible looking jumps.
