The enclosure looks naturalistic and definitely a bit larger than the previous capybara/tapir/guanaco exhibit on the old Elephant Mesa. The only major oversight is the lack of coverage around the animal holding building. A large brick home with metal doors that have not been hidden from public view makes for an unattractive image. I visit the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle all the time, and most of the animal holding buildings there are around hills or trees, and for the most part they are hidden from view and not seen by visitors. The goal there is immersion, and while this exhibit in San Diego is a large improvement on what the animals had before, why didn't the zoo take the extra step and disguise all of the metal and brick in the background?
Probably due to lack of space, the SDZ doesn't have much room to expand but lots to redo because they're an old zoo. I think maybe some vines could cover up some of that house though, if only the landscapers thought like us... Lots of areas in Elephant Mesa could use some more heavy foliage, it might look better a few years from now when the plants grow out.
20 years ago with Tiger River hiding barriers and holding buildings, and providing appropriately lush landscapes for animals and visitors alike was part of the plan. Today it's clear SDZS could care less.
The goal there is immersion, and while this exhibit in San Diego is a large improvement on what the animals had before, why didn't the zoo take the extra step and disguise all of the metal and brick in the background?
There aren't enough mock-rock in the world to cover all the metal and tiles found in EO! I am really sorry to say this as I normally have great respect for San Diego Zoo...
Too bad about the ugly building in the background, because the actual exhibit area is not bad and that is a very impressive herd of capybaras. At my zoo (Reid Park) we only have two capybaras and they can't even be together due to fights, so only one out at a time (in probably the best capybara exhibit I have seen, underwater viewing and the building is well hidden).
The square building in the background, the fake rockwork (including a "cave") or the clipped palms in "flowerpots: certainly achieve a "naturalistic" look, @snowleopard...
