Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: Asian Forest Exhibit

The one truly excellent exhibit out of the 5 rotation-system enclosures.

October 2006. This is one enclosure of five that feature as a rotating exhibit for a number of Asian species: sumatran tigers, white-cheeked gibbons, siamang gibbons, malayan tapirs and lowland anoas. The rotation system has been in place since the Asian Forest set of habitats was built around 2004.

The only problem I have with rotation exhibits is when a zoo builds one for such a varied list of species. Gibbons and tapirs and tigers need exactley opposite exhibits. Tapirs need a low wall to keep them in while tigers need a high security fence. Tapirs and tigers both love water but it is just wasted space in a gibbon enclosure.

I like what Denver is doing with Asian Tropics. Rotating all Asian Pachyderms, Indian Rhinos, Asian Elephants, and Malayan Tapirs which basically all like the same things like large pools, mud-holes, green foliage, same time of fencing. That makes more sense that rotating three completely different types of animals like cats, primates, and pachyderms!

With Tacoma's rotation of species, each animal has a different niche and puts a different kind and amount of pressure on the land. In theory, these exhibits should not see the same erosion that would be seen seen in similar exhibits that did not rotate. Also it makes the environment a little more enriching for the animals.

That is true, which is why I do like the rotation of completely different animals too.

This is great had not heard of a exhibit rotated between 5 animals.

That would in theory mean that l would want to visit the zoo on 5 consecuitive days.

Is there 5 exhibits that are being rotated for the 4 species?

Quote Okapikpr
With Tacoma's rotation of species, each animal has a different niche and puts a different kind and amount of pressure on the land. In theory, these exhibits should not see the same erosion that would be seen seen in similar exhibits that did not rotate. Also it makes the environment a little more enriching for the animals
Quote

could not agree more, the erosion point l would have missed

The Point Defiance Zoo and the Louisville Zoo are the only two major zoos in North America that have rotation exhibits for a variety of animals. The Denver Zoo has Predator Ridge, but the 3 species being rotated are all carnivores, while at the first two zoos there are primates and others being shuffled between enclosures. The Islands habitats at Louisville has orangutans, siamangs, malayan tapirs, sumatran tigers and babirusa rotated. Point Defiance has siamangs, sumaran tigers, lowland anoa, white-cheeked gibbons and malayan tapirs. Three of the species are the same at each zoo, and I've always wanted to visit Louisville as it was the first zoo to start the rotation policy.