I agree that this is hugely disappointing especially the fact that this was perhaps the best Clouded Leopard exhibit in the US.
San Diego Zoo Animal News
- Thread starter mstickmanp
- Start date
The "zoogeography" of Monkey Trails was always pretty hard to discern: African monkeys viewed from the raised boardwalk with Asian pigs on the ground below them etc. The Clouded leopards are a loss--one of the few exhibits I've seen where they were frequently visible but in a diverse and naturalistic space.
In general, zoogeography or any other thematic organizing principle for a collection is only as good as an institution's management's dedication to following through on it. Never a strong suit at San Diego.
In general, zoogeography or any other thematic organizing principle for a collection is only as good as an institution's management's dedication to following through on it. Never a strong suit at San Diego.
Actually it almost made sense. Starting on the boardwalk trail heading west, the trail was African species and then connecting on to Gorilla Tropics. The ground level north/south walkway was Asian species and connected Absolutely Apes with Tiger River.
1) I don't think they ever intended it to be a geographically themed exhibit. It is called "Monkey Trails" and from the start (according to the member's magazine) it was billed as rainforest animals, but not any one specific rainforest. The theme is habitat type, not habitat location.
2) Was this really the best clouded leopard exhibit? It was the best I've seen, but I've only seen a few. Can anyone compare to the newer ones at Nashville and DC (which I have not seen)?
2) Was this really the best clouded leopard exhibit? It was the best I've seen, but I've only seen a few. Can anyone compare to the newer ones at Nashville and DC (which I have not seen)?
I will have to find the reference for you, but in Zoonooz's and other sources they mention the geographical splitting of the exhibit. The treetop trail (where you found the African species) connects through to Gorilla Tropics. The ground level trail (where the Asian species are found) connects Tiger River to Absolutely Apes. It definitely was done intentionally. It was built to link their existing biogeographic zones. If you look at the map, you can trace an African path and an Asian path. The Asian path starts at the bottom of Tiger River, following up through Tiger River, along the ground level of Monkey Trails, connecting to the langurs and Absolutely Apes, through the Parker Aviary, Wings of Australasia, Owens Rain Forest Aviary and then to Sun Bear Forest.
The African path starts at the treetop trail of Monkey Trails, through the pygmy hippos and reptiles, Gorilla Tropics, bonobos, Scripps Aviary and then down through Ituri Forest. It WAS arranged quite brilliantly.
The African path starts at the treetop trail of Monkey Trails, through the pygmy hippos and reptiles, Gorilla Tropics, bonobos, Scripps Aviary and then down through Ituri Forest. It WAS arranged quite brilliantly.
@Arizona Docent: the clouded leopard exhibit at the National Zoo is extremely impressive, with lots of climbing and hiding opportunities in a naturalistic environment. I think that I'd give the edge to San Diego, but D.C. has the #2 clouded leopard enclosure that I've ever seen. You'll have to ask someone else about the Nashville exhibit, but barely anyone here at ZooChat has even visited that particular zoo.
mstickmanp
Well-Known Member
This is not animal news, but the zoo recently change the entrance sign. I think it's due to the Elephant Odyssey opening.
Here is photo: [ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hugyou/3565189113/"]San Diego Zoo on Flickr - Photo Sharing![/ame]
Here is photo: [ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hugyou/3565189113/"]San Diego Zoo on Flickr - Photo Sharing![/ame]
Wow, I did not notice that when I went there... haha.
Anyway, they essentially moved the Spot Nosed Guenons from one exhibit over. There's a juvenile one in the family and they looked like they enjoyed the exhibit when I went. One clouded leopard is now being held being the Wageforth Bowl and is also in the show. I don't think the zoo was really interested in breeding their clouded leopards, considering their exhibit for them wasn't very large or in-depth.
Anyway, they essentially moved the Spot Nosed Guenons from one exhibit over. There's a juvenile one in the family and they looked like they enjoyed the exhibit when I went. One clouded leopard is now being held being the Wageforth Bowl and is also in the show. I don't think the zoo was really interested in breeding their clouded leopards, considering their exhibit for them wasn't very large or in-depth.