Common Zoo Exhibits

I can give some perspective to just how difficult it is to come up with unique exhibits and why you often see the same things over and over again. Part of it is the availability of animals - especially in aquariums - and part is public expectations. When designing an aquarium, once you've gone through and picked out all the "must have" exhibits you have very little room left for much else. Zoos can expand much easier than aquariums of course. And, I have to say, there is a lot of pressure to conform to expectations - This week I have been asked to put "Mayan temple" back into the Amazon rainforest designs - regardless of the fact that there were never temples like that in the Amazon - but it's what guests want and expect. It's also not something that I feel like throwing myself on a sword over so I say, ok, we gotta do Mayan temples so I'm gonna design them to make as much sense and tell a story with them as I can. Will the end product be accurate or original - no - but then some kid in Utah who has never been through a walk through Amazon rainforest will think it's the coolest thing ever. As a designer you try to slip the unique things in when no one is looking and hope for the best. I got a 40 foot long, 14 foot high slot canyon for the entrance of the Utah gallery - that will be cool. I slipped in a bat cave and encased part of the ocean gallery within a metal ship that has been turned into an artificial reef (so you are walking within the ship's coral encrusted structure with the water surface above you). I'd love to do a Galapagos Islands exhibit with marine iguanas, penguins and seals but you can't get any of those species... I tried to push for a really huge mangrove exhibit but it's been cut down to a small exhibit. Aquariums are huge projects and ultimately you need to make concessions to the powers that be, to the guests and to the realities of the trade. If it were up to me there wouldn't be any more boring African Savannah/sleeping lion exhibits (as I always bitch about) but then people would complain. So there you go!
 
As for Macaws in free-flight aviaries... they would spend the day tearing apart the H-Vac systems, attacking other birds and potentially biting guests. Putting them on sticks over water is really unhealthy as well and leads to mental problems and stress. The best display for parrots is enclosed with plenty of stimulation and constant husbandry contact. Like dogs or orcas they do best when they can bond with a few select husbandry staff who work with them daily.
 
It's human nature to copy others, otherwise none of us would have learned how to talk, read or write. Zoos see what others are doing and if it is popular they want it in their zoo. Modern zoo exhibits can trace their roots back to Carl Hagenbeck's methods of zoo design and have evolved from there.

Zoos must get punters in the door to stay open, so if their rival has a lorikeet aviary that is drawing visitors away from their zoo they will open one too.

I take your point though about them being very common, but a lot of zoos will put their own little twist on it.

I personally love primate islands with natural trees and the photo opportunities afforded in a walk through aviary. I detest wing clipped macaws however.

Exhibit design is based on the animals that it intends to hold. This in turn is dictated by the species choice which is in turn dictated by the public appetite for certain species. Therefore meerkats, prairies dogs, colourful parrots and impressive big cats are top of the list. When coming up with a display they will think what is the best way to show off these particular species and all come to the same conclusion. I cant think of a better way of displaying otters than showing them in their element underwater. In fact an otter exhibit without an underwater window is nothing in my opinion.

The other factor that comes into account is space. Zoos cant afford to have space taken up by placing ugly houses or maintenance buildings out of sight so in many cases they incorporate them in the exhibit. They have a choice to cover them in mock rock like a cliff or turn them in to a temple. I cant think of too many other solutions to unsightly brick walls.

So I don't think zoos set out to have very common exhibits, I think they pick the animals that will be the most popular with the public then choose the best way to display that animal based on the species.
 
elefante said:
Sorry about that.

@ ThylacineAlive where is CPZ and SNZ? The indoor tropical exhibit is pretty common but that is one thing that I do like in zoos. I would just prefer they exhibit some macaws flying freely, as we have been discussing. I don't like the concrete cells that animals like giraffes and elephants stay in. That seems like it would have to hurt being on that surface. It would be nice to see reptile houses be more innovative but I'm sure that's tough since things like snakes and lizards generally have to be contained.
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It's ok. Arizona Docent already answered about the BTPDs meaning Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (that one I should of just written out) and BeardsleyZooFan mentioned that CPZ is Central Park Zoo and SNZP is the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (I wouldn't written those out but I've seen other people express them like that so I thought everyone would understand- sorry!).

The species of macaw at CPZ (now that we all know what it means I suppose it's ok to use now) that can fly around the exhibit are Blue-Headed Macaws (the ones that almost flew into me) and Blue-And-Yellow Macaws. Maybe Green-Winged Macaws, too, but I don't remember. I know that there's a separate exhibit for the the last two species right outside the rainforest buildings but I'm pretty sure the wings are clipped. Here's a pic (credit to me):
http://www.zoochat.com/553/blue-yellow-macaw-green-winged-macaw-298172/

Here's a photo from the Bronx Zoo gallery (credit to BeardsleyZooFan) showing their indoor Giraffe exhibit:
http://www.zoochat.com/547/african-plains-indoor-giraffe-exhibit-296296/

Some reptile houses definetly need bigger exhibits in them but many are alright. SNZP I remember as having pretty large exhibits (the only thing I found strange was I don't remember seeing a pond in the Philippine Crocodile exhibit).

~Thylo:cool:
 
Perhaps we should start another thread about unique examples of Zoo design.
It would appear that we have a few members on here who design exhibits, so maybe they should share their ideas for exhibits that any Zoo's or Aquarium's would not think about having.
 
An animal may just be presented in a particular way because that species is known to do well in that setting.
 
chrisbarela said:
I can give some perspective to just how difficult it is to come up with unique exhibits and why you often see the same things over and over again. Part of it is the availability of animals - especially in aquariums - and part is public expectations. When designing an aquarium, once you've gone through and picked out all the "must have" exhibits you have very little room left for much else. Zoos can expand much easier than aquariums of course. And, I have to say, there is a lot of pressure to conform to expectations - This week I have been asked to put "Mayan temple" back into the Amazon rainforest designs - regardless of the fact that there were never temples like that in the Amazon - but it's what guests want and expect. It's also not something that I feel like throwing myself on a sword over so I say, ok, we gotta do Mayan temples so I'm gonna design them to make as much sense and tell a story with them as I can. Will the end product be accurate or original - no - but then some kid in Utah who has never been through a walk through Amazon rainforest will think it's the coolest thing ever. As a designer you try to slip the unique things in when no one is looking and hope for the best. I got a 40 foot long, 14 foot high slot canyon for the entrance of the Utah gallery - that will be cool. I slipped in a bat cave and encased part of the ocean gallery within a metal ship that has been turned into an artificial reef (so you are walking within the ship's coral encrusted structure with the water surface above you). I'd love to do a Galapagos Islands exhibit with marine iguanas, penguins and seals but you can't get any of those species... I tried to push for a really huge mangrove exhibit but it's been cut down to a small exhibit. Aquariums are huge projects and ultimately you need to make concessions to the powers that be, to the guests and to the realities of the trade. If it were up to me there wouldn't be any more boring African Savannah/sleeping lion exhibits (as I always bitch about) but then people would complain. So there you go!
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I completely understand most of what you're saying, but the one thing that I don't understand is why zoos and aquariums can't put unique twists on common exhibits. Is there a reason why zoos don't use popular ideas to make interesting exhibits. For example instead of having a Mayan temple, couldn't zoos and aquariums put an area focusing on the people from the Amazon. This could provide an important conservation message, and be geographically correct.

In terms of parrots on a stick, I don't think they need to be in large walk through aviaries, but maybe they could just have a large non walk through aviary, which they share with a few other species.
 
arcticwolf said:
I completely understand most of what you're saying, but the one thing that I don't understand is why zoos and aquariums can't put unique twists on common exhibits.
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I agree... I think a lot of the reason is simply a lack of creativity. I don't mean that is such a snarky way - for a lot of people doing something that deviates from what they are familiar with is a huge risk, "that costs too much" or "no I want it to look just like (fill in name of zoo)'s exhibit" or they simply can't wrap their heads around why it should be different. That is a problem in ANY project - zoo or otherwise.

While designing this aquarium I have tried to do exactly that - put a new twist on common exhibits. Whether I am successful remains to be seen but I think I've managed to squeeze a few surprises in.
 
Bongo said:
Perhaps we should start another thread about unique examples of Zoo design.
It would appear that we have a few members on here who design exhibits, so maybe they should share their ideas for exhibits that any Zoo's or Aquarium's would not think about having.
Click to expand...

I'm going to give you an idea that I would love to see in a zoo that would never ever be built. And I will tell you why as well.

A dream exhibit of mine would be a North American Forest exhibit. It would be treated exactly like your typical South American Rainforest exhibit - A massive enclosed aviary - free flight birds, lots of live plants, fully immersive. You would start at the top, the canopy of a thick redwood forest and work your way down past various enclosed (but looking like they aren't) exhibits that go the entire distance from the ground to the top of the trees allowing animal viewing at any point in the decent. Owls, fishers, squirrels, flying squirrels, martens, porcupines, bats would be featured. Invertebrates such as salamanders and banana slugs. All arboreal species. This would differ from exhibits like NorthTrek or some of the other North American forest exhibits because the focus would not be on the large ground animals like bears or hoofstock. Think walk thru Tropical Rainforest Aviary but North American.

It would be a totally unique exhibit and guests would love it but it's something that would be considered a huge risk - a board of directors would never pass it, guests would not understand it if polled ahead of time. It would be expensive. And while it would focus on a crown jewel of North American ecosystems it would be shot down because it would be hard to understand and difficult to pitch and find funding. You say "Let's built an African Savanah exhibit with lions!" and the money comes pouring in, guests are excited and it's something that can be easily designed because it has been done successfully hundreds of times in every zoo in North America. It's the "Jennifer Aniston Romantic-Comedy" of Zoo exhibits.

It's a minor miracle that the Arizona Desert Museum (my favorite zoo and one of the best in my opinion) even exists.
 
chrisbarela said:
I'm going to give you an idea that I would love to see in a zoo that would never ever be built. And I will tell you why as well.

A dream exhibit of mine would be a North American Forest exhibit. It would be treated exactly like your typical South American Rainforest exhibit - A massive enclosed aviary - free flight birds, lots of live plants, fully immersive. You would start at the top, the canopy of a thick redwood forest and work your way down past various enclosed (but looking like they aren't) exhibits that go the entire distance from the ground to the top of the trees allowing animal viewing at any point in the decent. Owls, fishers, squirrels, flying squirrels, martens, porcupines, bats would be featured. Invertebrates such as salamanders and banana slugs. All arboreal species. This would differ from exhibits like NorthTrek or some of the other North American forest exhibits because the focus would not be on the large ground animals like bears or hoofstock. Think walk thru Tropical Rainforest Aviary but North American.

It would be a totally unique exhibit and guests would love it but it's something that would be considered a huge risk - a board of directors would never pass it, guests would not understand it if polled ahead of time. It would be expensive. And while it would focus on a crown jewel of North American ecosystems it would be shot down because it would be hard to understand and difficult to pitch and find funding. You say "Let's built an African Savanah exhibit with lions!" and the money comes pouring in, guests are excited and it's something that can be easily designed because it has been done successfully hundreds of times in every zoo in North America. It's the "Jennifer Aniston Romantic-Comedy" of Zoo exhibits.

It's a minor miracle that the Arizona Desert Museum (my favorite zoo and one of the best in my opinion) even exists.
Click to expand...

That's honestly one of the most creative exhibit ideas I've heard of on here.
 
chrisbarela said:
I'm going to give you an idea that I would love to see in a zoo that would never ever be built. And I will tell you why as well.

A dream exhibit of mine would be a North American Forest exhibit. It would be treated exactly like your typical South American Rainforest exhibit - A massive enclosed aviary - free flight birds, lots of live plants, fully immersive. You would start at the top, the canopy of a thick redwood forest and work your way down past various enclosed (but looking like they aren't) exhibits that go the entire distance from the ground to the top of the trees allowing animal viewing at any point in the decent. Owls, fishers, squirrels, flying squirrels, martens, porcupines, bats would be featured. Invertebrates such as salamanders and banana slugs. All arboreal species. This would differ from exhibits like NorthTrek or some of the other North American forest exhibits because the focus would not be on the large ground animals like bears or hoofstock. Think walk thru Tropical Rainforest Aviary but North American.

It would be a totally unique exhibit and guests would love it but it's something that would be considered a huge risk - a board of directors would never pass it, guests would not understand it if polled ahead of time. It would be expensive. And while it would focus on a crown jewel of North American ecosystems it would be shot down because it would be hard to understand and difficult to pitch and find funding. You say "Let's built an African Savanah exhibit with lions!" and the money comes pouring in, guests are excited and it's something that can be easily designed because it has been done successfully hundreds of times in every zoo in North America. It's the "Jennifer Aniston Romantic-Comedy" of Zoo exhibits.

It's a minor miracle that the Arizona Desert Museum (my favorite zoo and one of the best in my opinion) even exists.
Click to expand...


That would be nice. You should put that on the Design a Zoo or Design an Exhibit in the Fantasy Zoos forum.
 
chrisbarela said:
A dream exhibit of mine would be a North American Forest exhibit.
.
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I think that sounds great. When I went to the Oregon Zoo I thought it would be amazing if they could enclose the whole Cascades area like a giant aviary.

Helsinki has a small boreal indoor aviary walkthrough exhibit with Finnish birds and small animals in vivarium style enclosoures to the side.
 
chrisbarela said:
I'm going to give you an idea that I would love to see in a zoo that would never ever be built. And I will tell you why as well.

A dream exhibit of mine would be a North American Forest exhibit. It would be treated exactly like your typical South American Rainforest exhibit - A massive enclosed aviary - free flight birds, lots of live plants, fully immersive. You would start at the top, the canopy of a thick redwood forest and work your way down past various enclosed (but looking like they aren't) exhibits that go the entire distance from the ground to the top of the trees allowing animal viewing at any point in the decent. Owls, fishers, squirrels, flying squirrels, martens, porcupines, bats would be featured. Invertebrates such as salamanders and banana slugs. All arboreal species. This would differ from exhibits like NorthTrek or some of the other North American forest exhibits because the focus would not be on the large ground animals like bears or hoofstock. Think walk thru Tropical Rainforest Aviary but North American.
Click to expand...

I love this idea! The whole thing is exceptionally creative. Maybe if you made this one part of a larger North American complex, a zoo board might consider it.
 
I will add most birds of prey exhibits. Large birds being either tied to a tiny ledge, or in a tiny wood-and-wire cage.
 
Bongo said:
Perhaps we should start another thread about unique examples of Zoo design.
It would appear that we have a few members on here who design exhibits, so maybe they should share their ideas for exhibits that any Zoo's or Aquarium's would not think about having.
Click to expand...

done.;)

the ten letter rule is really starting to irritate me.
 
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