Best murals / mosaics at zoos

Mosaic style murals at the Staten Island zoo:

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Photo credits to @TinoPup.
 
OstrichMania said:
Here's the YouTube clip, the timestamp for the murals is 5:42. I think it's recorded inside the Capybara shelter.
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Thanks for sharing @OstrichMania !

So this is a curious one, not sure I like it too much but I'll explain why.

The exhibit looks to be themed on Mayan archeological site with elements of sites like Palenque, Copan, Tikal and Chichen Itza (which was actually Toltec not Mayan but commonly lumped with Mayan site).

The mural that you mention is definitely based on ancient Mayan murals and looks to be copied from the archeological site of Bonampak in Mexico in particular.

So the reason why I find this kind of exhibit problematic is that it is biogeographically incorrect as the animal in the exhibit is not from the region where the Mayans occurred. The capybara is found in lower Central America (Panama) and of course South America whereas the Mayan civilization ruled from present day Mexico to Honduras.
 
Gigit said:
When I was last at Jersey this was a work in progress so I've never seen it finished. It was very interesting watching the skill of the artists. Orangutan, Dagu, seemed to be getting a lot of enjoyment out of watching them too!
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Lol , doesn't suprise me at all, orangs are such intelligent creatures and seem to be always observing human happenings from the corner of their eyes.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Lol , doesn't suprise me at all, orangs are such intelligent creatures and seem to be always observing human happenings from the corner of their eyes.
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I love the way if you're holding up an 'Interesting Thing', they'll sidle over as if they've got to check on some window sealant or something just beyond you and have a crafty look! Some are more blatant and will sit in front of you waiting to be entertained. Gorillas also look at you without looking at you! Wonderfully intriguing creatures.
 
Gigit said:
I love the way if you're holding up an 'Interesting Thing', they'll sidle over as if they've got to check on some window sealant or something just beyond you and have a crafty look! Some are more blatant and will sit in front of you waiting to be entertained. Gorillas also look at you without looking at you! Wonderfully intriguing creatures.
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Absolutely agree, I think that the orangutang seems to be the most observant of the great apes, or at least that is what is what I've seen with these animals in zoos.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Absolutely agree, I think that the orangutang seems to be the most observant of the great apes, or at least that is what is what I've seen with these animals in zoos.
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Definitely. There's evidence of them aping keepers in zoo, for example washing windows when supplied with a bucket and sponge. And they know what keys and tools are for. There's well known footage of orangs in rehab centres in Borneo washing clothes, sawing wood and rowing boats.
 
Gigit said:
Definitely. There's evidence of them aping keepers in zoo, for example washing windows when supplied with a bucket and sponge. And they know what keys and tools are for. There's well known footage of orangs in rehab centres in Borneo washing clothes, sawing wood and rowing boats.
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I've heard of them picking locks and short circuiting the elecric fences of enclosures too which really highlights how incredible their level of intelligence is.

I remember particularly the orangutang brothers at Chapultepec zoo, Toto and Jambi, and how observant they were of the visitors and of their keepers, they were astoudingly intelligent animals.
 
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