Planckendael - Africa (Giraffe savannah)

Toddy · 11 Dec 2011

The giraffe savannah in the African Area in Planckendael. This savannah is centered around the Giraffe House and can be divided into several parts. This savannah houses kordofan giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum), common elands (Taurotragus oryx) and impalas (Aepyceros melampus). Notice the two fake hippopotami in the water moat. When visitors pass them a speaker with hippo noises is activated.
The new savannah area opened in 2008 with animal exhibits, models, ambient sounds of hyenas, hippos etc. and a new giraffe house.

Planckendael, July 2011.

Animal · 11 Dec 2011

I am not sure what to think about the fake hippos

Toddy · 11 Dec 2011

Animal said:
I am not sure what to think about the fake hippos

Actually, I thought they worked really well! I was sceptical too but all the ambient savannah sounds (including the hippos snorting) added well to the savannah experience and they don't cost very much to install.

DavidBrown · 11 Dec 2011

Toddy said:
Actually, I thought they worked really well! I was sceptical too but all the ambient savannah sounds (including the hippos snorting) added well to the savannah experience and they don't cost very much to install.

Have the real animals ever reacted to the hippos? I suppose after awhile they become just another normal part of their home.

I think that this is pretty cool and have never seen this done before anywhere. Does this zoo have real hippos, or is this it?

Toddy · 11 Dec 2011

DavidBrown said:
Have the real animals ever reacted to the hippos? I suppose after awhile they become just another normal part of their home.

I am not a regular visitor so I cannot know. However, I doubt it. They are probably just another "zoo noise" for the other animals.

DavidBrown said:
I think that this is pretty cool and have never seen this done before anywhere. Does this zoo have real hippos, or is this it?

Planckendael has plans to extend their African savannah area with more exhibits but I don't think that hippos are part of the plans. Like they do in Berlin the two zoos that make up the KMDA (Antwerpen ZOO and Planckendael) are trying to diversify their collection and not keep the same species and the ZOO built the large Hippotopia facility a few years ago.

Planckendael - Africa (Giraffe savannah)

Toddy

Animal

Toddy

DavidBrown

Toddy

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