Elephant Odyssey - Two-toed Tree Sloth and Kirks Dik-dik Exhibit

September 2014. This 18-exhibit complex opened in 2009. It replaced the majority of the former area known as Horn and Hoof Mesa. Its theme is an exploration of the extinct animals of Southern California, interpreted through living examples of their descendants or similar animals. The complex is a long path that can be entered at either end.

Strange buddies as the sloth is from South America and the dik-dik Africa

Also, what kind of prehistoric californian animal represents/interprets the dik-dik?

(Did I already mention that I've never been a fan of Elephant Odyssey?)

zoomaniac said:

Also, what kind of prehistoric californian animal represents/interprets the dik-dik?

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Dwarf Pronghorn...

@zooboy28: Okay, if the relationship between dikdiks and dwarf pronghorns fit/are acceptable, then they can put more or less every kind of the Antilopinae family into this exhibit. Even giraffes would fit(Extinct Dwarf Pronghorn Fact Sheet). And tigers instead of lions won't be a problem too.

zoomaniac said:

@zooboy28: Okay, if the relationship between dikdiks and dwarf pronghorns fit/are acceptable, then they can put more or less every kind of the Antilopinae family into this exhibit. Even giraffes would fit(Extinct Dwarf Pronghorn Fact Sheet). And tigers instead of lions won't be a problem too.

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EO is an attempt to replicate southern California during the Pleistocene. Some exhibits show species that still live their today (e.g. Pronghorn), some show relatives of species that used to live there (e.g. two-toed sloth), and some show species that fill a similar niche (e.g. secretary bird). Each exhibited species has a sign explaining the relationship to its Pleistocene "counterpart", in this case, the Kirk's dik-dik fills a similar niche to the dwarf pronghorn. Not sure I see a problem here?

Can't find a problem either. But when you ask, what bothers me/I'm worry about, then it is the "concept" here. It is that much open, so it fits for nearly everything and therefore at least for myself EO is a confusing exhibit and changeable (and not state-of-the-art as former/other exhibits at San Diego Zoo, whom I'm GENERALLY still a fan).

zoomaniac said:

lf EO is a confusing exhibit and changeable (and not state-of-the-art as former/other exhibits at San Diego Zoo, whom I'm GENERALLY still a fan).

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Though I have never visited SD I find the idea behind the Elephant Odyssey one of the most interesting themed elephant exhibits ever, so for me it is still really unique and innovative. Though maybe the presentation is bad, which makes it less state-of-the-art. But I would love to see other zoos copying similar designs, because the educative value is potentially really high...