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Social Building - Lion Exhibit

July 15th, 2012.
Hopefully the lions don't knock themselves unconscious trying to roam out on that savanna.

What species are found in the Social Building? Does that title imply that it focuses on animals that live in social groups of various kinds?
 
Hopefully the lions don't knock themselves unconscious trying to roam out on that savanna.

What species are found in the Social Building? Does that title imply that it focuses on animals that live in social groups of various kinds?

From my 2012 review of this excellent mid-sized zoo:

Social Building – Here there is a focus on how living things relate to each other and to their environment, and first up are North American River Otters. A 6-foot long fish tank seems simple enough at first glance but it is positioned so that one can gaze at the fish and also see a River Otter swim past in the background. The 4 fish species are: Bluegill, Golden Shiner, Yellow Bullhead and White Sucker. Walking down into a bright corridor it is a surprise to come across African Lions in an exhibit adjacent to the walkway. Visitors are entirely indoors while the Lions are outside and the long viewing windows allow for large crowds to congregate. Indian Peafowl and Ruddy Shelduck have a water-filled aviary on the opposite side of the big cats.

The Social Building stretches out to include many primates, and the species list includes: Siamang, Patas Monkey, Ring-Tailed Lemur, Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur, Squirrel Monkey, Golden Lion Tamarin, Fossa, Meerkat, Brazilian Agouti, White-Winged Vampire Bat and Green Tree Python. It is pleasing to see a thick layer of sand in place for the mob of Meerkats; many ropes and climbing opportunities for the primates; two Fossa enclosures that are relatively large in comparison to many other zoos; and a layer of hay is found in some of the primate exhibits.
 
I hate to see animals who spend most of their time observing their surroundings enclosed by high walls.
 
Unfortunately the lion exhibit is not quite as up to the zoo's high standards, but to be fair it was originally built in the 80's when they renovated the entire zoo, and originally it held two Asian Lions not three African Lions. Im still hoping that they will eventually expand the exhibit for them, possibly on the scale of the Tiger exhibit.
 

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Rosamond Gifford Zoo
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