Can somebody who knows about the design of this exhibit illuminate for me what kind of barriers keep the eles inside? I see that there is a wall in the background, but in the vistas where you can get a clear view of the elephants then what is holding them back...is there a hidden moat or wall? I was wondering this because I was at the LA Zoo yesterday looking at the new Asian elephant exhibit and wondering why they couldn't have done something like this in terms of exhibit barriers. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks very much Ituri. Can you help me interpret what I'm looking at here? I see a steep wall along the upper part of the exhibit facing the road. In the areas with open views with no vegetation is that a moat at the base of the wall or can the eles walk right up to the wall?
What is the barrier keeping the eles in the pond facing the road (by the fake baobab)?
Is the lower part of the exhibit surrounded by a wall also like the upper part, or is that a fence of some kind?
Does anyone know if the Disney elephant space is still at 9.5 acres? What is intriguing to see is when one juxtaposes the hot grass barrier with the steel poles at many other elephant exhibits just how immense that difference can be. Seeing elephants almostly completely unobstructed versus seeing them lumber past huge poles is eye-opening in terms of aesthetics, and the overhead view of one of the habitats is fabulous. The only negative thought that flits through my mind is that when I went on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride I saw the elephant exhibit for about 60 seconds, and then another 60 seconds on a second go-around. I can spend more time studying the exhibit on ZooChat! For that reason alone I'd take North Carolina, Nashville, Dallas and many other elephant exhibits over Disney any day of the week.
Disney currently has 9.5 acres allotted to their elephants. Their barn is close to 20,000 sq ft.
They recently transferred two adult male elephants to other facilities, allotting their breeding bull 24/7 access to their bull yard.
The breeding program is prolific as well.
2003, Tufani, 1.0, Maclean x Moyo
2004, Kianga, 0.1, Jackson x Vasha
2005, Nadirah, 0.1, Jackson x Donna
2008, Tsavo, 1.0, Jackson x Moyo
2010, Luna, 0.1, Maclean x Donna
2011, Jabali, 1.0, Ali x Vasha
Moyo is pregnant with her third calf, due in 2013
Does anyone know if the Disney elephant space is still at 9.5 acres? What is intriguing to see is when one juxtaposes the hot grass barrier with the steel poles at many other elephant exhibits just how immense that difference can be. Seeing elephants almostly completely unobstructed versus seeing them lumber past huge poles is eye-opening in terms of aesthetics, and the overhead view of one of the habitats is fabulous. The only negative thought that flits through my mind is that when I went on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride I saw the elephant exhibit for about 60 seconds, and then another 60 seconds on a second go-around. I can spend more time studying the exhibit on ZooChat! For that reason alone I'd take North Carolina, Nashville, Dallas and many other elephant exhibits over Disney any day of the week.
Just a detail: the hot grass used here is NOT a substitute for the ubiquitous cable fences gracing just about every other new elephant exhibit in the world. Disney had the space and the budget to develop completely hidden barriers (fences or walls depressed below viewing sightlines) or highly-naturalistic features that serve as animal containment ("eroded mudbanks" and ponds). The use of hot grass all happens within the contained exhibit space, either to discourage the animals from walking down into depressed areas where the containment barriers are hidden, or to protect vegetation. These subtle electric fences can in no way be considered primary barriers--just think of "Jurassic Park" or what an elephant could do to these flimsy constructions if motivated.
But no question the experience of seeing "uncontained" elephants in such a brilliant replication of their natural habitat is far superior to the more typical utilitarian views through steel cables and posts....even if here it is only for a few fleeting seconds.
