Best pygmy hippo exhibit?

Yes, but I wrote a comment on Gaipark in the thread to the Overloon photo and that gave me the idea to this thread.
 
The outdoor exhibit in Givskud Zoo, Denmark is better than the one in GaiaPark. In fact, it is the best outdoor exhibit I have ever seen for pygmy hippoes anywhere. It is also quite interesting for visitors and I will soon upload some pictures from it.

But as far as indoor exhibits go my favourites are the ones in Aalborg Zoo and Berlin Zoo. Duisburg Zoo also has both a good outdoor and indoor exhibit.
 
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I agree Toddy, Berlin has great inside and outside areas.
 
so far i'd have to say i rule out singapore's PH exhibit as even being in the top 50 based on its ridiculously small land area. its actually one of the worst.

likewise the netherlands ones posted above - may be in the running - but to be fair the indoor facilities must be judged together with this spaceous outdoor paddock, since thats where the hippo spend a s significant part of their lives.

most of the indoor exhibits linked also seem too concrete for me.

arn't we talking about THE BEST pygmy hippo exhibits?!!!!

the only one i've seen thats worthy so far is melbourne's. the hippo can live there year round. has large pools, plenty of land area, underwater viewing and nice vegatation and immersion landscaping. check it out on zoolex
 
phoenix said:
arn't we talking about THE BEST pygmy hippo exhibits?!!!!
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Maybe that says something about the general low quality of pygmy hippo habitats in zoos?

The one in Melbourne does indeed look very nice but I am affraid that I can only comment on the European exhibits for pygmy hippopotamus, of which I have seen 10. The so far top-three exhibits are:

Indoors
1. Aalborg Zoo
2. Berlin Zoo
3. Duisburg Zoo

Outdoors
1. Givskud Zoo
2. GaiaPark
3. Berlin Zoo
 
Thanks everybody for your contributions to this thread. Some very interesting suggestions although, just like Toddy notes, pygmy hippo exhibits in general seem to be of rather low quality. It´s interesting that only one US exhibit has been mentioned. Are there really no knock-out top quality exhibits for this species in the US?

But I will wait a bit and see if there are any more posts before I comment any further.

Right now, however, I would be extremely interested in seeing photos of the Berlin and Duisburg outdoor enclosures. If anybody have photos of these, would you please show them? I found only one picture in the gallery (Duisburg) and I am not sure that it showed the whole enclosure.
 
Dan said:
Right now, however, I would be extremely interested in seeing photos of the Berlin and Duisburg outdoor enclosures.
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Ask and you shall recieve ;) Both of these pictures were taken in the summer of 2009.

The outdoor exhibit in Berlin. It is a little bigger than what you can see here and the pool is broader. The hippoes can also seek shade beneath the tree to the right.
pygmyhippoberlind.jpg



The outdoor exhibit in Duisburg. This picture shows almost the whole exhibit. It is nice and shaded and the hippoes have access to both a small mudhole for wallowing as well as an actual pool.
pygmyhippoduisburgs.jpg
 
Wow, thanks! Excellent pictures!

Funny thing is, I have been to Berlin Zoo and it is the only time I have seen pygmy hippos. But I don´t remember the outdoor enclosure, only the indoors. Might have something to to with the fact that I was so impressed by the enclosures for the regular hippos (also that I only had 2 or 3 hours to go through the whole zoo, I was in Berlin in my work, not on vacation).

Anyway: Yes, the indoor and outdoor enclosures combined, truly make Berlin and Duisburg special when it comes to pygmy hippos! Great stuff, very nice to see.
 
Just to clarify what we are talking about here are two photos from the indoor exhibits at Berlin and Duisburg as well:

Berlin Zoo has a very nice water area though the land area has a bit too much concrete and no soft substrate. Nice use of plants and natural light though. In Berlin there are two similar indoor exhibits next to each other.
pygmyhippoberlinindoor.jpg



Duisburg Zoo has a spacious indoor exhibit with a very nice land-part. The indoor pool, however, is not quite big enough. Not horrible though and there is a nice use of vegetation in here as well.
pygmyhippoduisburgindoo.jpg
 
Yes - ideally one would want to combine the best features of these two indoor enclosures into one.

Actually, could I ask you one more favour Toddy? Pictures from Aalborg?! Bet you have them in your archive ;)?! You have one great picture of the indoor enclosure already up-loaded in the gallery. Would you happen to have more that you could show? Also, I have never seen photos of the outdoor enclosure at Aalborg, only a drawing of it (before it was built).
 
Aalborg Zoo - Pygmy Hippo exhibit

Yes, I have a few stoved away but they are not particularly good. Last time I went to Aalborg Zoo was in 2006, the year the African Village opened. I was not as addept at zoo-photographing then as I am now but I do have a few to share:



This picture shows about 50 % of the land-area for the pygmy hippoes in the indoor tropical house.
The hippoes have about 30 % more land covered in woodchips and some in mock-rock next to the pool.
The door in the far end leads to the separation stall.
pygmyhippoaalborgindoor.jpg


This picture shows a view from the end of the land-area to the pool still inside the tropical house. The pool is quite a bit larger than you can see here and there is also an underwater viewing window to the right behind the rocks.
pygmyhippoaalborgindoor.jpg



These two pictures show a view from the African observation hut to the outdoor exhibit. They are not good photos, I know, but you sort of get the idea.
pygmyhippoaalborgoutdoo.jpg

pygmyhippoaalborgoutdoog.jpg


I am hoping to visit Aalborg Zoo again sometime soon and will then be able to provide much better photos!
 
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San Diego Zoo's Pigmy Hippo exhibit is really good. One of the coolest thing is that they are mixed with an active family of Wolf's Guenons.
 
Thanks again, Toddy! I think these pictures (together with your comments) are informative enough for me to be able to form an opionion about the exhibit.

Obviously the indoor enclosure is brilliant!

@mstickmamp
San Diego? Ah yes, that rings a bell. I think I have seen pictures of their pygmy hippo exhibit in the gallery. Will check it out again! Thanks!
 
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