model of new elephant exhibit

I finally got to see the model in person today, as part of a tour in conjuction with a presentation by Dr Charles Foley, a researcher we help support in Tanzania.

For those of you who have been to Reid Park Zoo, the left side of the model (with telephone pole fence on the bottom half) runs right along 22nd street. The visitor walkway into the new area will be between the current polar bear and rhino exhibits.

Thanks for posting this photo! What is the expected acreage of the new elephant exhibit, and how many elephants are expected to be held at the zoo?

Is the zoo planning to obtain a bull? If so, is there another exhibit that it will be housed in?

Looks like a good space. My only concern is shade because it gets rather hot in Tuscon and the trees don't appear to be adequate.

I have heard both three and three and a half acres, so somewhere in there. As far as I know we are getting two female elephants with calves from SDWAP and maybe a bull. Not shown in the model is a post and cable system going up on side that can be used to separate a bull or any other elephants that need to be separated. If all can be together, it can be opened up. That is the one part I am not crazy about as it will be the only unnatural part of the main exhibit.

From research online it appears that the new, multi-acre elephant exhibit will open in early 2012. Is construction on schedule? If the entire area is 7 acres will visitor pathways and amenities make up approximately 50% of the space?

Otter Lord said:

Looks like a good space. My only concern is shade because it gets rather hot in Tuscon and the trees don't appear to be adequate.

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Sorry I only now noticed this post.

Remember that models are made for a number of purposes -- fund raising, studying the relationships of parts of the site, etc. -- but are usually constructed without thought to actual landscape. I wouldn't take too seriously the placement of billowy green forms on a model.

And I wouldn't be surprised if the final exhibit had shade structures or cloth not indicated in the model.

snowleopard said:

From research online it appears that the new, multi-acre elephant exhibit will open in early 2012. Is construction on schedule? If the entire area is 7 acres will visitor pathways and amenities make up approximately 50% of the space?

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Yes to all of the above.

As for trees someone else asked about, there are some mature trees from the park that will be left intact. Of course no telling how long it will be for the elephants to demolish them, but at least in the beginning they will have them. (Staff actually hinted that they are aware the elephants will tear them down and are using that as a form of enrichment). There will be a large kopje which I think is not shown that will have permanent shade trees out of reach of the elephants. (It will also have a hidden stairway on the back side so keepers can go up to hang browse or other forms of enrichment).

Zooplantman said:

Sorry I only now noticed this post.

Remember that models are made for a number of purposes -- fund raising, studying the relationships of parts of the site, etc. -- but are usually constructed without thought to actual landscape. I wouldn't take too seriously the placement of billowy green forms on a model.

And I wouldn't be surprised if the final exhibit had shade structures or cloth not indicated in the model.

Click to expand...

True, I forgot most models are made to just communicate the idea. I get to spend the rest of my life making these..

@AZ: Kopje with trees on top? Sounds like an expensive solution but its probably more natural compared to the numerous elephant shade structures we see. I can foresee "Elephant Stonehedge" comments already though.

Otter Lord said:

True, I forgot most models are made to just communicate the idea. I get to spend the rest of my life making these..

@AZ: Kopje with trees on top? Sounds like an expensive solution but its probably more natural compared to the numerous elephant shade structures we see. I can foresee "Elephant Stonehedge" comments already though.

Click to expand...

"Elephant Stonehenge" has been in place for tears at the "San Diego Zoo Safari Park" in the original African elephant exhibit. I always found it offensively fake, but after seeing the new "utilitrees" at the Zoo's elephant exhibit, it now seems almost artful.