@Arizona Docent I think it'll be like Elephant Odyssey in the sense that it'll look a million times better once the plants are established and everything starts to grow in.
@Wyman I think this exhibit has some potential. I mean San Diego clearly now has a style and its not my preferred style of exhibit design. Its rockwork especially has in recent years looked less realistic than say the Bronx Zoo or NC Zoo. The plant choices are great though, I can recognize at least 5 species I have at home on the vertical plant wall. I imagine it has a built in watering system as well.
I don’t think Elephant Odyssey ever started looking good. I saw it in 2016 and its not a bad exhibit but all the plants in the world (not that its lush) would make that exhibit look aesthetically pleasing.
@Arizona Docent I do agree it is lackluster right now but from my talks with staff and docents, the idea is to have the plants on the wall to take over the walls over time with vegetation. Much like @Wyman touched upon how EO with plants needing to be established. I think that with time it will get better but I do not stay too long in this walkway area exhibit due to my equipment on me and also most of the birds being perched high above
@Arizona Docent The rock work could definitely be a little better but "hideously ugly" is a bit harsh. I quite like the aesthetic of this exhibit even with the rocks. As mentioned above, the wall plants will grow to cover a good portion of it within a few years anyway so it will certainly improve with age.
I think we as zoo enthusiasts have the tendency to be rather nitpicky with new exhibits, expecting them to be perfect and whatever isn't is often focused on. Instead of complaining about the flawed rock design, why not talk about all of the great things about this exhibit? The innovative screens that can be lowered during cold tempetures, the unique figure eight setup that allows the birds to be out of view from one another, the green walls that allow for perching opportunities, the 14 different species including several rarities, etc. All wonderful features that make it clear to see the zoo put a lot of attention and care into this habitat.
@pachyderm pro First of all, I was not aware of the features you mention, so thanks for that. However, San Diego is the most well-know, well-respected, and almost certainly well-funded zoo in the world. So yes, I do expect more from them, especially when I have a hummingbird aviary less than half an hour from my home that looks ten times better. I do hope that as people have said it will look better in time as the plants grow.
I completely agree with ArizonaDocent. If you can't get rockwork right, don't use rockwork. They obviously intended it to be a key component of the exhibit unless it wouldn't be everywhere. This will be a bulky, heavy structure that stays for a long time.
