I always wonder why many zoos keep all the grass and lush foliage on the outside of the elephant enclosure. Another zoo that I noticed in your pictures that does this is Oregon. Instead Memphis and Oregon give the elephants that ugly compact sand. That exhibit need some sort of greenery that is actually in it. I also can't believe they don't have plans to renovate it! This is probably one of the most ugly elephant exhibits in the country.
I totally agree with your statement about both Oregon and Memphis. Two brutal elephant exhibits that should have been either expanded or demolished by now.
o "I always wonder why many zoos keep all the grass and lush foliage on the outside of the elephant enclosure. Another zoo that I noticed in your pictures that does this is Oregon. Instead Memphis and Oregon give the elephants that ugly compact sand. That exhibit need some sort of greenery that is actually in it. I also can't believe they don't have plans to renovate it! This is probably one of the most ugly elephant exhibits in the country."
I don't think it's an intentional effort to "keep the grass and lush foliage on the outside" of these exhibits. Most likely they were at one time planted, but the elephants--as they are wont to do--trashed it. If you see live shrubs or trees inside an elephant exhibit it is only because they have been protected with hotwires or other barriers. And only in very large and relatively low density situations will grass survive (Nashville and Seattle come to mind)
Right on there, several elephant exhibits at one time were very lush and covered in turf. Though quickly ththey either consume it or that they simply demolish it completely. Like at Melbourne zoo all three paddocks a few years ago were covered in grass and had a few plants over hanging the area to provide like an enclosed forest. Now there is just dirt and the whole place is open.
