Thanks for uploading photos of a relatively unknown facility. Tim Brown in the latest edition of the outstanding Zoo Grapevine magazine gave a full review of Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. However, he wrote that he'd place both Arabia's Wildlife Centre and Alice Springs Desert Park ahead of ASDM in his ranking of great desert zoos. That makes for 3 truly excellent facilities that only showcase desert species, and that is not even including the very good The Living Desert in California. Are there any more memorable zoos that have collections from the dry, dusty, arid zones of the world?
I've not really been to anywhere else which outstandingly displays local desert wildlife (yet), so I can't really comment on how it compares with the other facilities you mention. Given photos of the ADSM on here, uploaded by you and by others, I get the impression that AWC lacks the innovative exhibitry for smaller creatures, and given that all exhibits are either indoors or behind glass, the emphasis on immersive exhibitry is not as strong. But at least now zoochatters can make their own opinions.
Zoochatter ANyhuis visited AWC just a few weeks before I did, so he can probably offer you a different view on the comparison.
how does the photography ban work? Are you allowed to take photos for your own use (i.e. no public release), or is it completely banned? And do you know the reason?
how does the photography ban work? Are you allowed to take photos for your own use (i.e. no public release), or is it completely banned? And do you know the reason?
It's completely banned. Security guards and staff look out for anyone using cameras or camera phones. This is part of the reason that there's such a limited range of photos online.
The reason is apparently cultural. When photography was allowed there were many angry complaints from men about their wives potentially being in photos. It's a very strong feeling out there - I don't think signs would have been enough to settle the issue.
Dubai Zoo is the only zoo where I've actually been assaulted by another visitor. I was standing next to a man, his wife and son in front of a large viewing window in the reptile house. There was a fair bit of space between me and the family. I decided to take a photo, my lens almost flush with the glass. The guy pushed me hard, shouted in Arabic (which I pretended not to understand) and then shouted in English telling me to wait until they'd gone.
There's no way I'd have been able to take more than just a few photos if I'd relied on sneaky opportunities (and CCTV might have caught me out).
I actually managed to secure permission to take photos. It wasn't easy, but stunning good looks and bucketloads of charm go a long way.
(And when they failed, a few emails and some clever conversation did the trick. )
