Best Southeast Asian exhibit in a UK zoo

[pendraig_milnerae]

I’ve recently been trying to look into some of the Southeast Asian-focused exhibits in the UK and find out what they have in common and how hey differ. Obviously Islands at Chester Zoo is the absolute gold standard (and remains my personal favourite zoo exhibit, period) in everything from enclosure design to theming to the species it houses.

There are of course many other exhibits of similar theme, for instance Colchester Zoo’s ‘Rajang’s Forest’, which (as memory serves) features Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and a variety of Indo-Pacific marine animals, largely fish. There are so many ways a premise like this can be done it seems. What are some of the best? Or perhaps people’s favourites for other reasons?

 

[pangolin12]

Newquay’s ‘Gems of the jungle’ is a cracking exhibit - lots of rare songbirds and the like to see in there

 

[Fallax]

Chester is definitely top of the game when it comes to Southeast Asia considering they have not just one, but two world class exhibits focusing on animals from this region.

 

[Pertinax]

There are of course many other exhibits of similar theme, for instance Colchester Zoo’s ‘Rajang’s Forest’, which (as memory serves) features Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and a variety of Indo-Pacific marine animals, largely fish. There are so many ways a premise like this can be done it seems. What are some of the best? Or perhaps people’s favourites for other reasons?

Unfortunately I think Colchester's 'Rajang's Forest' is among the worst, as its really just a misnomer, as are many of Colchester's other exhibit names. Its just a standard fare Orangutan enclosure with one of the worst-designed outside areas I've seen for Orangutans- due to space constraints largely. 'Forest' is about as stretching it as it gets.

 

[Kalaw]

Tiger Territory at London Zoo includes the greatest Sumatran Tiger enclosure in the country, with an excellent themed viewing area and good use of native lookalike plants to provide the vague illusion of a genuine Southeast Asian setting, along with a decent exhibit for Northern White-cheeked Gibbons and a lovely grassy for Babirusa in front of the historic Casson Terraces (former elephant and rhino house). Not the best selection of species, but excellent quality of displays.

Although it only holds two species, 'Bears of the Rising Sun' at Colchester Zoo is excellent. One of the greatest Sun Bear enclosures in the country, with multi-level viewing, the upper end of which also features Northern and Mindanao Rufous Hornbills, my favourite species, in a pair of lovely aviaries. There is also excellent theming, with haunting displays of bears in the bile farms making a very strong case as to why the visitor should give something to the nearby donation box!

 

[Pertinax]

Tiger Territory at London Zoo includes the greatest Sumatran Tiger enclosure in the country, with an excellent themed viewing area and good use of native lookalike plants to provide the vague illusion of a genuine Southeast Asian setting, along with a decent exhibit for Northern White-cheeked Gibbons and a lovely grassy for Babirusa in front of the historic Casson Terraces (former elephant and rhino house). Not the best selection of species, but excellent quality of displays.

I've always thought London's Tiger Territory is a very good enclosure encompassing the advantages you describe. So I was surprised at Land of the Lions which IMO is a rather messy conversion job with none of the feel they got so right with the Tigers.

 

[Lafone]

Tiger Territory at London Zoo includes the greatest Sumatran Tiger enclosure in the country, with an excellent themed viewing area and good use of native lookalike plants to provide the vague illusion of a genuine Southeast Asian setting, along with a decent exhibit for Northern White-cheeked Gibbons and a lovely grassy for Babirusa in front of the historic Casson Terraces (former elephant and rhino house). Not the best selection of species, but excellent quality of displays.

Although it only holds two species, 'Bears of the Rising Sun' at Colchester Zoo is excellent. One of the greatest Sun Bear enclosures in the country, with multi-level viewing, the upper end of which also features Northern and Mindanao Rufous Hornbills, my favourite species, in a pair of lovely aviaries. There is also excellent theming, with haunting displays of bears in the bile farms making a very strong case as to why the visitor should give something to the nearby donation box!

Definitely agree on Bears of the Rising Sun, indeed I think it emphasises what they could have done / could do to make Rajang's forest more focused. While the fish there are ok, birds or just more inventive and luscious planting would really add something to the idea of creating the illustration of an ecosystem, whereas it's really just a multi layer display space for Orangs.