Mersus Emergo and Western pygmy hippopotamus and Great white pelican exhibit, 2021-09-03

Is the land portion as small as it seems?

@SivatheriumGuy The photo below gives you a different/better view of the land area.

I would say that it is small, especially compared to the water area (which is, however, appropriately large for the sizable pelican flock). Also, the land area is I think too open and too little shaded for forest animals like pygmy hippopotamuses.

Land area of the Pygmy hippopotamus and Great white pelican exhibit, 2020-09-02 - ZooChat

This exhibit was originally built a far more aquatic and coastal species (namely Cape fur seals) and wasn't modified that much structurally, so I would say it is not super well suited for pygmy hippos.

@KevinB was it just meant for cape fur seals or were there other aquatic species is mind? (the use of namely is throwing me off a bit)

@Westcoastperson I believe it was originally intended for Cape fur seals, or at least that was the species they originally housed here. If any other species was ever intended for this area I never heard or read anything about that.

I apologize for the confusion, perhaps due to incorrect word usage.

I don't know that many pygmy hippo enclosures with so much swimming opportunities and acceptable land surface (Gaia Zoo in The Netherlands comes to my mind). I think the latter only looks a bit small due to the surface of the swimming pool.
The second photo proves there's enough shade imo.

Maybe there're too many viewing points (if accessible by public)