The larger of the two bear enclosures, with plenty of space and a mix of terrain, comprehensive (rather than half-hearted) theming, and, best of all, a wave machine making the pool look like an ocean inlet.
The larger of the two bear enclosures, with plenty of space and a mix of terrain, comprehensive (rather than half-hearted) theming, and, best of all, a wave machine making the pool look like an ocean inlet.
By all accounts this is a rather splendid polar bear exhibit, complete with wave machine and vast viewing windows that allow access to the underwater theatrics of the bears. Is that ship part of the backdrop for the penguin exhibit?
By all accounts this is a rather splendid polar bear exhibit, complete with wave machine and vast viewing windows that allow access to the underwater theatrics of the bears. Is that ship part of the backdrop for the penguin exhibit?
Even then, lot of the enclosure isn't visible in this photo. The penguin enclosure is on the ship, and the lower levels (of both the ship and the viewing platforms) provide educational displays and underwater viewing for the penguins, polar bears and pinniped enclosures.
There's no doubt at all that this is a fantastic polar bear exhibit: one of the very best in Europe, and one of the absolute highlights of this zoo. There are excellent opportunities to view the bears, and the space that is afforded to them - and the variety within that space - is impressive.
However, by placing the bears within a 'human' setting, I think the design takes something away from the visitor experience of these wonderful animals. I would rather view wild bears in the true wilderness than see them foraging on the outskirts of Churchill, Manitoba. Likewise, if I am seeing them in a zoo, I would rather see them in something that represents true wilderness, rather than this rather odd theme park version of a frontier town.
I do appreciate, of course, that neither approach is in any way truly natural and that the artificiality of each is equal.
I agree with Animal, the polar bear exhibit is one of the ones in Hannover where you can get a feeling of wilderness, seen from the main viewing point. I've just posted a picture here: http://www.zoochat.com/gallery/data/811/11781636_10207865524622582_1071614632605070320_n.jpg to give an impression of it, but that only shows a tiny part of the rocky/grassy area the bears have.
But yes, most of the exhibits in Hannover do put the animals in a "human" setting, and of course it's a matter of taste what you think of that. I don't think the animals mind.
