Wow, so much hate over this one. Okay, firstly it is completely outdoors. Yes, it seems grotto-ish because it is built around a building hence the high walls and angular shape (which i don't like as well). The planter beds are accessible to the otters and the pair where digging about the plants and snoozing there. I also agree that more enrichment should be added and it probably will be as time goes on. And its been open 3 days, the plants have literally been transplanted out of pots so give it some time and nature will take care of the rest.
What won me over was the underwater view. Standing in the tunnel and watching the frisky pair play-fighting all around you was magical.
Wow, so much hate over this one. Okay, firstly it is completely outdoors. Yes, it seems grotto-ish because it is built around a building hence the high walls and angular shape (which i don't like as well). The planter beds are accessible to the otters and the pair where digging about the plants and snoozing there. I also agree that more enrichment should be added and it probably will be as time goes on. And its been open 3 days, the plants have literally been transplanted out of pots so give it some time and nature will take care of the rest.
What won me over was the underwater view. Standing in the tunnel and watching the frisky pair play-fighting all around you was magical.
No hate, just high expectations not being met. WRS has a great history of innovative exhibitry, but a lot of what you have documented (thank you, by the way) does not seem as sophisticated or thoughtful as past efforts at the Zoo, Bird Park and Night Safari.
No hate, just high expectations not being met. WRS has a great history of innovative exhibitry, but a lot of what you have documented (thank you, by the way) does not seem as sophisticated or thoughtful as past efforts at the Zoo, Bird Park and Night Safari.
I find this quite a disappointing exhibit, maybe Leipzigs exhibit is to good to compare with this, but it looks very sterile and designed in the way that you always see otters instead of giving otters a really varied exhibit. This is just a deep water part, a sand bank and some little plants....
Despite the many negative views about this exhibit, the otters seem to like it enough. The 3-year-old female from Duisburg is pregnant and has been confined in the off-show den to give her privacy.
Correction to the above information, the female had already given birth in August to a male pup. Both mother and pup are still in confinement in the den.
