South American Pampas at Berlin Zoo, 31/08/11

A beautiful pampas paddock - these days the stock is not too remarkable (Patagonian Mara, Capybara, Guanaco, Darwin\'s Rheas, Crested Screamers, Coscoroba Swans) - it\'s stayed nicely green (I expect the absence of tapirs has helped) though and the landscaped paddocks in this extenstion area are really attractive.

I say \'these days\' as this paddock is where I saw my first Grey Brocket (though I missed the Pampas Deer!).

South American Pampas

I see they have Coscoroba Swans in there as well; Darwin's Rheas are still pretty special

FBBird said:

I see they have Coscoroba Swans in there as well; Darwin's Rheas are still pretty special

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Yes, sorry - not sure how I missed those out! Beautiful birds, as well.

Darwin's Rheas are one of the great zoo animal winners of the last few years - spreading like wildfire. But still very nice to see, yes.

Actually, after holding forth on predictable small mammals in the otter exhibit thread, it may be worth adding that I never feel the same about the in theory equally commonplace maras and capybaras - both species I have a real soft spot for. I think part of this is because they are so great in these massive mixed exhibits.

That does look like an extremely nice paddock, can't help but think that every zoo of any note is required to have a mixed South American enclosure though... Almost as commonplace as them damn Asian short claweds!

Brum said:

That does look like an extremely nice paddock, can't help but think that every zoo of any note is required to have a mixed South American enclosure though... Almost as commonplace as them damn Asian short claweds!

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This seems to be a European thing though - I remember in another thread some of our American colleagues commenting that they hardly ever saw such a paddock. Very much a standard over here, and this is one of the best going. Poznan also springs to mind in this department.

Thanks for the info, quite surprising to think it's a European thing though as America try to do things bigger and better! And think of the immersion possibilities...

Brum said:

Thanks for the info, quite surprising to think it's a European thing though as America try to do things bigger and better! And think of the immersion possibilities...

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There are a number of mixed South American "paddocks" in US zoos, including Milwaukee (ugly) and New Orleans (not too bad). But just like their European counterparts, they tend to mix animals that come from very different habitats and geographic ranges, and therefore fail to deliver a very useful message.

While you are free to mock "American immersion" I would point out the very best exhibit of this kind--and the only one I know of that really attempts cultural and landscape immersion--will be opening next year in Zurich ("Pantanal"). And it is certainly "bigger and better" than Berlin's or any I've seen in the US.

reduakari said:

While you are free to mock "American immersion" I would point out the very best exhibit of this kind--and the only one I know of that really attempts cultural and landscape immersion--will be opening next year in Zurich ("Pantanal"). And it is certainly "bigger and better" than Berlin's or any I've seen in the US.

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Having seen the early stages of construction, Zurich's Pantanal will be huge - and if its anything like the quality of the African Mountain or Masoala it will be a cracker.

Re: you comments about mixing species - you're entirely correct to point out that beyond 'being South American', the species in these exhibits tend to have little in common beyond being peaceable and easy to contain. However, given how few first-time zoo visitors will have even heard of a capybara or a guanaco, I'm quite happy for them just to know they exist and come from South America without needing to create a more complicated 'message' at every exhibit.

reduakari said:

There are a number of mixed South American "paddocks" in US zoos, including Milwaukee (ugly) and New Orleans (not too bad). But just like their European counterparts, they tend to mix animals that come from very different habitats and geographic ranges, and therefore fail to deliver a very useful message.

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I agree that it's a bit of a let down to those of us who are familiar with geography and distribution of species but does the average zoo-goer really care?

reduakari said:

While you are free to mock "American immersion" I would point out the very best exhibit of this kind--and the only one I know of that really attempts cultural and landscape immersion--will be opening next year in Zurich ("Pantanal"). And it is certainly "bigger and better" than Berlin's or any I've seen in the US.

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Woah, who's mocking? I was just pointing out that it'd be easy to do an immersion exhibit based on the pampas and I'm surprised that US zoos aren't doing it yet!
I have nothing against immersion exhibits, I just don't see why people think it's the best way to display animals!