Denver Zoo Asian Tropics

Cheers Mario! The entire complex is supposedly going to be around 10 acres in size, but the actual area for the rotating Asian elephants, Indian rhinos and Malayan tapirs will be around 2.5 acres. This project has been gestating for years, and many of us are eagerly awaiting the finished product.
 
Cheers Mario! The entire complex is supposedly going to be around 10 acres in size, but the actual area for the rotating Asian elephants, Indian rhinos and Malayan tapirs will be around 2.5 acres. This project has been gestating for years, and many of us are eagerly awaiting the finished product.

The presentation shown in this video indicates only 1.6 acres will be actual outdoor animal exhibit space. Surprisingly small, but there are a lot of buildings and public facilities being developed as well.

 
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I'm watching the 2nd video in the rotary series. All I can say is 8 male elephants!?!?
 
I think that 1.6 acres is plenty big. Its not about quantity but about quality. I am sure it will be an amazing exhibit. North Carolina's elephant exhibit is the largest, but in my opinion its definitely not the best.
 
I'm watching the 2nd video in the rotary series. All I can say is 8 male elephants!?!?
The SSP has been eagerly awaiting the completion of this exhibit so they can establish a bachelor herd of Asian Elephants (at least attempt it). Personally, I would love to see Bodhi and/or Beco end up here.
 
I think that 1.6 acres is plenty big. Its not about quantity but about quality. I am sure it will be an amazing exhibit. North Carolina's elephant exhibit is the largest, but in my opinion its definitely not the best.

Let's wait and see. The drawings and fly-through indicate that a LOT of fencing, gates, holding buildings etc. will be right out front and center. My favorite elephant exhibits--St. Louis and Nashville--creatively avoid this and create highly naturalistic settings AND good elephant management facilities. I think Denver will build a very good series of enclosures for pachyderms: I'm not convinced it will be particularly believable as a "tropical Asian Forest" natural habitat recreation. The "gasification" system will probably be the most innovative aspect of this project, but it is admirable for its overall ambition. 8 bull elephants indeed!

Found some good info in this document (need to get deep into it):
http://www.denverzoo.org/downloads/301-ATF_GC_RFQ.pdf
 
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I think that 1.6 acres is plenty big. Its not about quantity but about quality. I am sure it will be an amazing exhibit. North Carolina's elephant exhibit is the largest, but in my opinion its definitely not the best.
Actually, I believe DAK had the largest elephant exhibit in U.S.
 
The Denver Zoo now has a separate link/website devoted to the $50 million "Asian Tropics", and the final list of species is now Asian elephants, Indian rhinos, malayan tapirs, white-cheeked gibbons, clouded leopards, fishing cats, flying foxes, sarus cranes and small-clawed otters.

The elephants, rhinos and tapirs will still rotate through 5 separate paddocks, and it seems as if the gibbons might have the opportunity to brachiate over the heads of zoo visitors as they move between 3 island habitats.

Lots more info:

Denver Zoo: Asian Tropics
 
Very glad to see the LEED green construction certification and the impressive gassification system. More and more zoos are doing this and it is one way that zoos are now taking an ACTIVE role in helping wildlife and the environment. (As opposed to the PASSIVE role of the past, by just saying if we display animals people will be inspired to save them).

Other recent LEED certifications include the new entrance complex at Cincinnati Zoo and the education building at my own Reid Park Zoo (which was the first zoo-based project to achieve a Platinum level LEED certification). Also, the new reptile/insect exhibit under construction at Los Angeles Zoo will feature a green/living roof.
 
Denver Zoo: Asian Tropics

The Denver Zoo has constructed a green house to house the plants that will call Asian Tropics home in 2 years. This is a brilliant idea as it will allow the plants to mature before the exhibit opens, meaning the exhibit will already be a lush tropical rain forest on opening day.
 
How do zoos even have tropical plants outdoors with they have something called winter going on part of the year? I've never though of that until now. xD Mind my ignorance, I'm from San Diego.
 
Denver Zoo's "AsianTropics" website contains updated information on the new 55-foot long elephant/rhino/tapir bridge that the animals will cross as they rotate through their yards. Other interesting statistics: the 8 indoor elephant stalls add up to almost 10,000 square feet, and the tapirs and rhinos will have a separate building:

Denver Zoo: Asian Tropics - Update12
 
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