What is the manatee tank like in regards to furnishings, viewing and water clarity? I've heard it's pretty bare, "like a pet shop fish tank" to quote a friend of mine. Surely it can't be that bad?
Viewing's not too bad - there a big window and a good amount of top-level viewing, and water clarity's OK (but not the best). It's pretty stark though, with no attempt to make it pretty. There's a small island in the middle making the exhibit a loop, but with one side quite narrow. Size-wise, it's not huge, but it's probably better than other manatee exhibits of its generation, such as the previous one at Nuremberg, which was very dark and poky, and certainly far better than the tiny one at Artis. (But of course, both of those are no longer in use!)
Viewing's not too bad - there a big window and a good amount of top-level viewing, and water clarity's OK (but not the best). It's pretty stark though, with no attempt to make it pretty. There's a small island in the middle making the exhibit a loop, but with one side quite narrow. Size-wise, it's not huge, but it's probably better than other manatee exhibits of its generation, such as the previous one at Nuremberg, which was very dark and poky, and certainly far better than the tiny one at Artis. (But of course, both of those are no longer in use!)
I wouldn't exactly say that this manatee exhibit is better than others of it's generation. In fact, it was outdated before it was even opened. The manatee exhibit in Nürnberg is from 1979 and the ARTIS exhibit even older (I think). That makes the Tierpark exhibit (which opened in 1994) in generation with the next manatee exhibits to be built in Europe: Beauval Zoo Parc in 1997, Odense Zoo in 2001 and Randers Tropical Zoo in 2003. All of which are far superior to the one in Tierpark Berlin.
Thanks for the info Maguari, could tell the water clarity was pretty bad from the pic. And Toddy. I didn't realise it was such a recent exhibit, I thought it was from the '70's or even earlier! Guess you learn something new every day. (Well I do at least).
I wouldn't exactly say that this manatee exhibit is better than others of it's generation. In fact, it was outdated before it was even opened. The manatee exhibit in Nürnberg is from 1979 and the ARTIS exhibit even older (I think). That makes the Tierpark exhibit (which opened in 1994) in generation with the next manatee exhibits to be built in Europe: Beauval Zoo Parc in 1997, Odense Zoo in 2001 and Randers Tropical Zoo in 2003. All of which are far superior to the one in Tierpark Berlin.
I actually haven't seen the exhibit in Beauval but I know how much we on ZooChat love to judge by pictures only
Joking aside, I live just a few hours away from the other two exhibits (Odense and Randers) and these have easily been the best exhibits in Europe for the last 8-10 years (especially the one in Odense). The new one in Nürnberg that opened this year might be better but I have yet to see that one.
The Beauval exhibit is indeed very nice, and it is certainly more spacious than that at the Tierpark. I'm not sure that it has any greater sense of being anything other than a big fish tank though.
In my experience, the water quality at the Tierpark is fine - no worse than at any of the other places at which I have seen manatees. I think it a bit unfair to be too critical of the Tierpark's enclosure: it was built just as East Germany was stumbling out of the communist era, when building was not always of the highest quality. The enclosures at Beauval and the Danish zoos, on the other hand, were built in wealthy countries, at wealthy times.
I have attached some pictures of Beauval's manatee enclosure.
The Beauval exhibit looks very nice indeed but as Sooty Mangabey said, it is just a fish tank but at least it appears to be furnished. Beauval on the whole seems to be a very nice zoo.
