I have one objection concerning this exhibit. I knew about it earlier, since it has been featured on Zoolex. My impression is that the dogs have no outlook from the enclosure, they cannot see outside of it. Is that correct, snowleopard? If so, they are in effect forever locked into a 465 m2 big HOLE IN THE GROUND. That is their entire universe.
On the other hand, of course, I agree that the design of the enclosure is an outstanding piece of zoo landscaping. The impressing details are endless and they are all SO well executed. The cost was 1 410 000 US Dollars according to Zoolex.
But a 465 m2 hole in the ground, from which the animals can´t see the outside world?
Let me give you an interesting counter-example. In a Swedish zoo - Borås Djurpark - they simply put up a fence around 7000 m2 of Swedish forest. There lives a happy pack of African Wild Dogs! The cost of creating this exhibit was of course next to nothing, compared to the Woodland Park exhibit. But the animals were provided with an appr. 15 times bigger space. A space consisting of Swedish Pine forest, yes... not giving the slightest resemblance of an African savanna, of course, but still..... Hmmh, I should have written this on the forum instead of here in the gallery, I guess....
But now it is written and so I hit the "Submit" button...
Interesting response Dan, and I'm glad that you took the time to challenge notions about what is and what isn't a top-notch exhibit. I'm aware that big cats, and in particular cheetahs, adore large hilly enclosures so that there is a wide-reaching lookout of some type. If african wild dogs feel the same, then that would make me rethink my comments on what I perceive as an excellent habitat.
On a side note, the Mountain View Conservation Centre in British Columbia has 32 african wild dogs (the largest pack outside of Africa) in a massive, multi-acre exhibit that allows for countless views and in my opinion is the best of its kind.
I have no scientific data, just a gut feeling that surely any zoo animal must be enriched by having an outlook on the rest of the world from its enclosure? May of course be of different importance to different species, but nevertheless?
Compare, for instance, the argument on Zoolex considering Black Rhinos at Zoo Atlanta: “Borrowed landscapes allow the rhino to extend their psychological space.”
