Who said this fantasy zoo was going to be in a desert environment??? I certainly never said it would.
Remember, there is a rainforest section in this fantasy zoo.
My vision was that it would be in a temperate climate if anything.
Design a Zoo 2017
- Thread starter elefante
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Who said this fantasy zoo was going to be in a desert environment??? I certainly never said it would.
Remember, there is a rainforest section in this fantasy zoo.
My vision was that it would be in a temperate climate if anything.
Ahhh, I see what you mean now - I put them into the desert section!
Okay, in that case, there are two options:
1. Replace them with Sulcata Tortoises (which I don't think look as pretty)
OR
2. Move the tortoise (and serval) enclosures down to the savannah area, and simply leave the Fennec Fox enclosure as the sole small enclosure in the desert section.
That's the good thing about fantasy zoos - we can make these changes for free and without consequences!
The African Desert is like looking pretty bare with just fennec foxes, maybe you could add a species of oryx, like scimitar horned oryx or maybe a gazelle species like the Dama gazelle. You could also possibly have some species of uromastyx (which is a medium sized lizard) or savannah moniters. Of course you don't have to use my ideas, I am just putting them out there so you can overall improve your zoo. I very much like your ideas. This zoo is very creative!Ahhh, I see what you mean now - I put them into the desert section!
Okay, in that case, there are two options:
1. Replace them with Sulcata Tortoises (which I don't think look as pretty)
OR
2. Move the tortoise (and serval) enclosures down to the savannah area, and simply leave the Fennec Fox enclosure as the sole small enclosure in the desert section.
That's the good thing about fantasy zoos - we can make these changes for free and without consequences!
Sand cats might also be a good addition.
The African Desert section currently has the following:
Dromedary Camel
Addax
Oryx
African Wild Ass
Fennec Fox
So the paddock section is full - though Dama gazelle could easily fit in with them and might be a nice contrast with the larger ungulates in there already. We only have 2 other species of small antelope in the zoo (Blackbuck and Thompson's Gazelle). So it's not too many small antelope.
I'm more concerned about the smaller enclosures along the walkway overlooking the paddock - which at the moment only have Fennec Foxes (and potentially a tortoise species).
Therefore I love the idea of Sand Cats!!!!! Brilliant idea - I hadn't even thought of them!
They are pretty looking, interesting and the zoo doesn't have many small cat species in other areas (only serval, Iberian lynx and Eurasian lynx) - so it's not overkill with too many small cats.
I've been quite careful to include interesting and iconic animals in this zoo - animals which the general public will like or find interesting. So something like Sand Cats fits this theme. I've deliberately not included too many different species of deer, antelope, bovines, pigs, rodents etc - as the public generally don't appreciate the differences.
As for the Savannah Monitors, I'm not actually familiar with this species, so I don't know how big they are. Can they be included in the paddock section with the ungulates? In any case, they could go in the now vacated tortoise enclosure. I don't know a lot about reptiles, but I had envisaged that smaller reptile glass front enclosures could be located around the viewing areas in all sections of the zoo - for example, tree frogs in a small enclosure next to the rainforest monkeys etc.
animal_expert01, I'd love it if you'd be able to select some suitable reptile species for these roles in the various exhibits (if you want to that is, or if you have time).
My reptile knowledge is probably equivalent to that of general members of the public who don't know the difference between a monkey and an ape! (as embarrassing as that is for a zoo enthusiast).
So any help I can get when it comes to outsourcing reptile ideas, I'd more than appreciate!
I think a good zoo has the iconic ABC species to sort of anchor the exhibit and then hopefully includes a variety of lesser known species. I don't know that you can have too many of any species. Regarding savanna monitors, they would likely escape an enclosure with ungulates. They can climb pretty well.
I would be honoured!
Here is a list of a bunch of African desert reptiles, just chuck them into google and then tell me which ones you would like an exhibit for I will add scientific names for the reptiles that don't come up when you put their common name into google.
Desert Crocodile
Any of the Uromastyx species
Any of the Fringe-Toed Lizard species
Namaqua chameleon
Desert Moniter
Cerastes cerastes
Cerastes vipera
Sulcata Tortoise
Egyptian Cobra
Pachydactylus rangei
Acanthodactylus longipes
Acanthodactylus senegalensis
Latastia longicaudata
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Any of these would be great to see an exhibit designed for them. I'll have a few in the one I'm going to post next.
I got this one finished earlier than I had thought I would. Enjoy!
Africa
The Africa exhibit begins with a similar building as the North America section. The front part of this exhibit contains a paddock for leopard and sulcata tortoises on one side of the door and another paddock for meerkats. Both of these contain kopjes that provided sleeping quarters during the day. The visitor enters the building that is split into two corridors in order to provide 24 hour access. The left hand side is closed during the nighttime hours. This houses Egyptian tortoises, Egyptian uromastyx, Mali uromastyx, and Niger uromastyx. These animals are all contained in naturalistic terrariums. On the left hand side are terrariums housing asp, red spitting cobra, and Egyptian cobra. The center contains a large aviary with gold breasted starlings and white headed buffalo weavers. If the visitor is there at night the section facing the snakes is closed off with a gate that blocks the window. The side facing the lizards and tortoises is behind netting. The gate provides quiet for the birds during the night hours. As the visitor exits the building, they find a rocky outcrop. At night, they can enter this area and spot aardvarks, aardwolves, springhaas, and crested porcupines. Visitors can peer into this area with night vision cameras during the day to see the animals in their dens. The Africa complex contains exhibits dedicated to the four desert regions of Africa. As mentioned before, the word desert is inclusive of desert and arid grassland.
The first exhibit is dedicated to the Sahara. This contains a mixed exhibit. Addax, scimitar oryx, and North African ostriches are housed in a mixed enclosure. Addra gazelles are separated by a moat and by a rocky outcrop. This rocky outcrop extends high over the enclosure and even contains cliffs over the walking path. Barbary sheep roam this outcrop.
The next exhibit is a paddock containing species native to the Horn of Africa. The first paddock contains a breeding herd of the critically endangered African ass. In a mixed enclosure with sparse trees and brush coverage, reticulated giraffes, gerenuks, and Speke’s gazelles roam freely. A waterhole separates these animals from a breeding herd of Grevy’s zebras. A flock of Egyptian geese swims in this waterhole.
An area dedicated to the Namib desert and surrounding area is up next. A rocky area with shrubbery and some trees contains mountain zebra. These animals have a waterhole next to them that separates them from a paddock containing plains zebras. Great white pelicans swim in this waterhole. A medium sized paddock behind the waterhole has trees and contains warthogs. The other side of the waterhole has sparse tree covers and is designed to resemble the Etosha Pan. Wildebeest, kudu, and white rhinoceros roam this area. The pan seemingly transitions into a large paddock containing another charismatic species; the African elephant. This is a bachelor herd of bulls. The last section of the Namib desert area is a lagoon containing lesser flamingos and an area resembling the coast that houses African penguins.
The final section of the Africa area resembles the Kalahari. This paddock contains gemsbok, springbok, and steenbok. As with the other areas, little shrubbery and trees is present.
The center section of the Africa area is a rotation exhibit for predators native to the desert and arid spots. This contains lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs, and spotted hyenas. These animals have hills to enable them to look into the prey exhibits as well as overlooking the visitor path.
An Asia exhibit is up next!
Africa
The Africa exhibit begins with a similar building as the North America section. The front part of this exhibit contains a paddock for leopard and sulcata tortoises on one side of the door and another paddock for meerkats. Both of these contain kopjes that provided sleeping quarters during the day. The visitor enters the building that is split into two corridors in order to provide 24 hour access. The left hand side is closed during the nighttime hours. This houses Egyptian tortoises, Egyptian uromastyx, Mali uromastyx, and Niger uromastyx. These animals are all contained in naturalistic terrariums. On the left hand side are terrariums housing asp, red spitting cobra, and Egyptian cobra. The center contains a large aviary with gold breasted starlings and white headed buffalo weavers. If the visitor is there at night the section facing the snakes is closed off with a gate that blocks the window. The side facing the lizards and tortoises is behind netting. The gate provides quiet for the birds during the night hours. As the visitor exits the building, they find a rocky outcrop. At night, they can enter this area and spot aardvarks, aardwolves, springhaas, and crested porcupines. Visitors can peer into this area with night vision cameras during the day to see the animals in their dens. The Africa complex contains exhibits dedicated to the four desert regions of Africa. As mentioned before, the word desert is inclusive of desert and arid grassland.
The first exhibit is dedicated to the Sahara. This contains a mixed exhibit. Addax, scimitar oryx, and North African ostriches are housed in a mixed enclosure. Addra gazelles are separated by a moat and by a rocky outcrop. This rocky outcrop extends high over the enclosure and even contains cliffs over the walking path. Barbary sheep roam this outcrop.
The next exhibit is a paddock containing species native to the Horn of Africa. The first paddock contains a breeding herd of the critically endangered African ass. In a mixed enclosure with sparse trees and brush coverage, reticulated giraffes, gerenuks, and Speke’s gazelles roam freely. A waterhole separates these animals from a breeding herd of Grevy’s zebras. A flock of Egyptian geese swims in this waterhole.
An area dedicated to the Namib desert and surrounding area is up next. A rocky area with shrubbery and some trees contains mountain zebra. These animals have a waterhole next to them that separates them from a paddock containing plains zebras. Great white pelicans swim in this waterhole. A medium sized paddock behind the waterhole has trees and contains warthogs. The other side of the waterhole has sparse tree covers and is designed to resemble the Etosha Pan. Wildebeest, kudu, and white rhinoceros roam this area. The pan seemingly transitions into a large paddock containing another charismatic species; the African elephant. This is a bachelor herd of bulls. The last section of the Namib desert area is a lagoon containing lesser flamingos and an area resembling the coast that houses African penguins.
The final section of the Africa area resembles the Kalahari. This paddock contains gemsbok, springbok, and steenbok. As with the other areas, little shrubbery and trees is present.
The center section of the Africa area is a rotation exhibit for predators native to the desert and arid spots. This contains lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs, and spotted hyenas. These animals have hills to enable them to look into the prey exhibits as well as overlooking the visitor path.
An Asia exhibit is up next!
fruitbatattack
New Member
Short overview of the zoo: The zoo is located in Riverside, California, a large city with no main tourist attractions. This and the good weather/climate made for a good choice on location. The entrance of the park is full of gift shops, small museums, park monuments,and more. There is are several paths for you to take, and a survey showed that many visitors chose the African Adventure trail. There are 4 large paths and sections with the smaller Polar Path not included.
As you go along the African path you will first hear the sounds of birds and the splashing of water. You open the door and close it before moving on to the next door and repeating the process. You walk around and look for, sometimes and mostly seeing, the birds that are within the aviary. Great blue turacos and Ross's turacos display their vibrant crests. Hamerkops wade in the moving water and other, shier birds shelter in the several hiding spots within bushes, underground, or up in the trees. In a few minutes you'll be out of the aviary and continuing on the African path. On your sides are beautiful African plants, mostly from the Wetlands. The first real exhibit lies ahead, and you go down a small set of stairs and under a roof. Ahead of you is a path and beside you is another. The one beside takes you upstairs and the other takes you back on the path. To your other side is the exhibit, which consist of a female Mecistops cataphractus, the Slender-Snouted Crocodile. Sometimes you'll get a good view of the single crocodile (Who is the start of a hopeful breeding program), however other times you'll have to go upstairs to view the crocodile on land. After viewing this wetland reptile you move on to the next exhibit, which is close by. There are another two enclosures with water and birds, the first one being Marabou Storks and the second enclosure consisting of a mixture of four species of birds.
You move on and the sun gets brighter, with the trees spreading out slightly. There is a very large enclosure infront of you that has a elevated bridge portion and a walkway that loops all the way around it. There is a herd of 5 female Waterbuck and a female calve (with a additional two males in another enclosure south of the park). Near the upper quarter of the enclosure there are many rocks and trees for shade. There are several trees in the front and a large pool of water near the trees and rocks.
As you leave that enclosure you have the choice to enter a botanical and succulents/cacti gardens, which features many native California species and the few African succulents. You next go under a tunnel, which on each side are glass enclosures for reptiles and insects. The Dung Beetle, a Emperor Scorpion, and
As you go along the African path you will first hear the sounds of birds and the splashing of water. You open the door and close it before moving on to the next door and repeating the process. You walk around and look for, sometimes and mostly seeing, the birds that are within the aviary. Great blue turacos and Ross's turacos display their vibrant crests. Hamerkops wade in the moving water and other, shier birds shelter in the several hiding spots within bushes, underground, or up in the trees. In a few minutes you'll be out of the aviary and continuing on the African path. On your sides are beautiful African plants, mostly from the Wetlands. The first real exhibit lies ahead, and you go down a small set of stairs and under a roof. Ahead of you is a path and beside you is another. The one beside takes you upstairs and the other takes you back on the path. To your other side is the exhibit, which consist of a female Mecistops cataphractus, the Slender-Snouted Crocodile. Sometimes you'll get a good view of the single crocodile (Who is the start of a hopeful breeding program), however other times you'll have to go upstairs to view the crocodile on land. After viewing this wetland reptile you move on to the next exhibit, which is close by. There are another two enclosures with water and birds, the first one being Marabou Storks and the second enclosure consisting of a mixture of four species of birds.
You move on and the sun gets brighter, with the trees spreading out slightly. There is a very large enclosure infront of you that has a elevated bridge portion and a walkway that loops all the way around it. There is a herd of 5 female Waterbuck and a female calve (with a additional two males in another enclosure south of the park). Near the upper quarter of the enclosure there are many rocks and trees for shade. There are several trees in the front and a large pool of water near the trees and rocks.
As you leave that enclosure you have the choice to enter a botanical and succulents/cacti gardens, which features many native California species and the few African succulents. You next go under a tunnel, which on each side are glass enclosures for reptiles and insects. The Dung Beetle, a Emperor Scorpion, and
fruitbatattack
New Member
Short overview of the zoo: The zoo is located in Riverside, California, a large city with no main tourist attractions. This and the good weather/climate made for a good choice on location. The entrance of the park is full of gift shops, small museums, park monuments,and more. There is are several paths for you to take, and a survey showed that many visitors chose the African Adventure trail. There are 4 large paths and sections with the smaller Polar Path not included.
As you go along the African path you will first hear the sounds of birds and the splashing of water. You open the door and close it before moving on to the next door and repeating the process. You walk around and look for, sometimes and mostly seeing, the birds that are within the aviary. Great blue turacos and Ross's turacos display their vibrant crests. Hamerkops wade in the moving water and other, shier birds shelter in the several hiding spots within bushes, underground, or up in the trees. In a few minutes you'll be out of the aviary and continuing on the African path. On your sides are beautiful African plants, mostly from the Wetlands. The first real exhibit lies ahead, and you go down a small set of stairs and under a roof. Ahead of you is a path and beside you is another. The one beside takes you upstairs and the other takes you back on the path. To your other side is the exhibit, which consist of a female Mecistops cataphractus, the Slender-Snouted Crocodile. Sometimes you'll get a good view of the single crocodile (Who is the start of a hopeful breeding program), however other times you'll have to go upstairs to view the crocodile on land. After viewing this wetland reptile you move on to the next exhibit, which is close by. There are another two enclosures with water and birds, the first one being Marabou Storks and the second enclosure consisting of a mixture of four species of birds.
You move on and the sun gets brighter, with the trees spreading out slightly. There is a very large enclosure infront of you that has a elevated bridge portion and a walkway that loops all the way around it. There is a herd of 5 female Waterbuck and a female calve (with a additional two males in another enclosure south of the park). Near the upper quarter of the enclosure there are many rocks and trees for shade. There are several trees in the front and a large pool of water near the trees and rocks.
As you leave that enclosure you have the choice to enter a botanical and succulents/cacti gardens, which features many native California species and the few African succulents. You next go under a tunnel, which on each side are glass enclosures for reptiles and insects. The Dung Beetle, a emperor scorpion, and a collection of deceased bees and wasps make up one half whilst on the other is a African Rock Python, 3 African Fat Tailed Geckos, and a desert horned viper. Outside is a small, sandy Desert Monitor enclosure. The next stop is the pygmy hippo one, which consists of a retired breeder. Its layout is similar to the alligator one, with the difference being a larger animal enclosure and a smaller viewing port. This is one of the final African wetlands exhibits, however it is hardly the beginning of the actual African Adventure path.
The next exhibit is a medium sized glass monkey enclosure that houses multiple Colobus monkeys. There are several artificial trees with many enrichment items attached to them. There is also a outside cage segment with two African trees and a rope that attaches the artificial treetops to the real treetops.
Nearby you hear more water as you see a mixture of chopped trees and rocks on a small artificial rock/island near a larger base with two caves. One African Clawless Otter resides within the enclosure and he is very playfull.
The next animals are two Striped Hyenas which are in a rocky enclosure which can be viewed through several glass viewing ports. The enclosure is medium sized and has nothing unique to offer besides enrichment items, which haven't been seen unless you've been on a different path before the African one.
Another small exhibit, however even smaller, is the honey badgers. It is a mostly indoors enclosure due to the rocks and other materials that are positioned so that the badger can climb and reach a hanging ball that simulates hunting bees. The badger is the most recent addition to the park.
Once you leave the badger area you will arrive next to the zoo's sole white rhinoceros. A juvenile male, the rhino has one of the largest enclosures in the zoo. After the juvenile reaches full maturity it is intended to house multiple rhino's inside the enclosure. The enclosure decreased in elevation the further from the visitor, with pools on both sides and a feeding station towards the front where the visitors are walking past. You can also walk around to the back to see the rhino over there. After a trek downhill you no longer hear water and the ground is flatter and less tropical. A mixed exhibit is the first thing there, with a flat area full of grass and brush plants. A large herd of gerenuks are accompanied by three Speke's gazelles.
Inhabiting the Speke's gazelle's former enclosure are 8 female and 5 male sulcata tortoises that were all adopted from local shelters due to their overbreeding in America. The sulcata's have diverse enclosures that allow for hiding, burrowing, and resting. The enclosures are split by rocks and a body of water that goes underneath them, allowing both groups of Sulcata tortoises to drink. The next enclosure is easily noticeable from afar, with four giraffes inhabiting it.
The giraffe enclosure consists of a small pool of water in the shade, a large pool of water, two feeding stations, and a large building across from the enclosure that provides keepers and care for the South African giraffes. Two paths split, with one splitting upwards to view the Okapi enclosure which is similar to the gerenuk enclosure except for there is more shading and trees. There is also a section under construction for the addition of two or three new monkey enclosures.
The other path leads to a large cage which hosts the first big cat on the trail. Two leopards, a female and a male, take advantage of the shaded cave (With a glass viewport) and the climbing activities that are provided by the ropes,nets, and trees. Many visitors enjoy watching the leopard.
The first bird-of-prey on the trail is the next enclosure. As you walk up a ramp you might be able to see the two palm-nut vultures residing in it. The next enclosure is full of multiple tropical birds, and you can spot a dome shaped building below. There is a line to see the tree pangolin, monitored by a zookeeper to make sure stress is minimal. After exiting that enclosure you can enter a small reptile house, which has a spitting cobra, a Egyptian cobra, and a green mamba among other reptiles. Mud turtles are in a large indoor pond with a leopard tortoise enclosure near the entrance.
You walk near a large pool of water with flamingos and a exhibit on the geography on Africa. After a decently interactive experience you move on to a small resting place with a BBQ kiosk. A two minute walk allows you to take a left and observe three ostriches, two of which were part of a rescue program and winded up in a local shelter. If you turn around and take another short trail you'll arrive at two exhibits, a Grevy's zhebra enclosure that consists of the zoo's largest breeding group and a nearby group of bontebok. After you go back downhill you'll go past the BBQ and arrive at a meerkat enclosure. You can spot the sentries as you walk past the kiosk and the tunnels the meerkats had made. It is enjoyable to watch them perform their daily tasks. You pass by a small cage and read about the civet, unfortunately not being able to spot the shaded creature. There is a aviary similar to the one at the start of the path however it isn't free flight and has different segments with shoebills and more storks.
As your time in the African Adventures path comes to an end you go up a ramp to look at the different types of eagles and hawks. You can see Ruppels vulture, the Crowned Eagle, and finally a Secretary Bird which glances carefully at you before moving behind the food trough.
The reach the end, pulling out your map and deciding on the next section. Yay, finally im done!
As you go along the African path you will first hear the sounds of birds and the splashing of water. You open the door and close it before moving on to the next door and repeating the process. You walk around and look for, sometimes and mostly seeing, the birds that are within the aviary. Great blue turacos and Ross's turacos display their vibrant crests. Hamerkops wade in the moving water and other, shier birds shelter in the several hiding spots within bushes, underground, or up in the trees. In a few minutes you'll be out of the aviary and continuing on the African path. On your sides are beautiful African plants, mostly from the Wetlands. The first real exhibit lies ahead, and you go down a small set of stairs and under a roof. Ahead of you is a path and beside you is another. The one beside takes you upstairs and the other takes you back on the path. To your other side is the exhibit, which consist of a female Mecistops cataphractus, the Slender-Snouted Crocodile. Sometimes you'll get a good view of the single crocodile (Who is the start of a hopeful breeding program), however other times you'll have to go upstairs to view the crocodile on land. After viewing this wetland reptile you move on to the next exhibit, which is close by. There are another two enclosures with water and birds, the first one being Marabou Storks and the second enclosure consisting of a mixture of four species of birds.
You move on and the sun gets brighter, with the trees spreading out slightly. There is a very large enclosure infront of you that has a elevated bridge portion and a walkway that loops all the way around it. There is a herd of 5 female Waterbuck and a female calve (with a additional two males in another enclosure south of the park). Near the upper quarter of the enclosure there are many rocks and trees for shade. There are several trees in the front and a large pool of water near the trees and rocks.
As you leave that enclosure you have the choice to enter a botanical and succulents/cacti gardens, which features many native California species and the few African succulents. You next go under a tunnel, which on each side are glass enclosures for reptiles and insects. The Dung Beetle, a emperor scorpion, and a collection of deceased bees and wasps make up one half whilst on the other is a African Rock Python, 3 African Fat Tailed Geckos, and a desert horned viper. Outside is a small, sandy Desert Monitor enclosure. The next stop is the pygmy hippo one, which consists of a retired breeder. Its layout is similar to the alligator one, with the difference being a larger animal enclosure and a smaller viewing port. This is one of the final African wetlands exhibits, however it is hardly the beginning of the actual African Adventure path.
The next exhibit is a medium sized glass monkey enclosure that houses multiple Colobus monkeys. There are several artificial trees with many enrichment items attached to them. There is also a outside cage segment with two African trees and a rope that attaches the artificial treetops to the real treetops.
Nearby you hear more water as you see a mixture of chopped trees and rocks on a small artificial rock/island near a larger base with two caves. One African Clawless Otter resides within the enclosure and he is very playfull.
The next animals are two Striped Hyenas which are in a rocky enclosure which can be viewed through several glass viewing ports. The enclosure is medium sized and has nothing unique to offer besides enrichment items, which haven't been seen unless you've been on a different path before the African one.
Another small exhibit, however even smaller, is the honey badgers. It is a mostly indoors enclosure due to the rocks and other materials that are positioned so that the badger can climb and reach a hanging ball that simulates hunting bees. The badger is the most recent addition to the park.
Once you leave the badger area you will arrive next to the zoo's sole white rhinoceros. A juvenile male, the rhino has one of the largest enclosures in the zoo. After the juvenile reaches full maturity it is intended to house multiple rhino's inside the enclosure. The enclosure decreased in elevation the further from the visitor, with pools on both sides and a feeding station towards the front where the visitors are walking past. You can also walk around to the back to see the rhino over there. After a trek downhill you no longer hear water and the ground is flatter and less tropical. A mixed exhibit is the first thing there, with a flat area full of grass and brush plants. A large herd of gerenuks are accompanied by three Speke's gazelles.
Inhabiting the Speke's gazelle's former enclosure are 8 female and 5 male sulcata tortoises that were all adopted from local shelters due to their overbreeding in America. The sulcata's have diverse enclosures that allow for hiding, burrowing, and resting. The enclosures are split by rocks and a body of water that goes underneath them, allowing both groups of Sulcata tortoises to drink. The next enclosure is easily noticeable from afar, with four giraffes inhabiting it.
The giraffe enclosure consists of a small pool of water in the shade, a large pool of water, two feeding stations, and a large building across from the enclosure that provides keepers and care for the South African giraffes. Two paths split, with one splitting upwards to view the Okapi enclosure which is similar to the gerenuk enclosure except for there is more shading and trees. There is also a section under construction for the addition of two or three new monkey enclosures.
The other path leads to a large cage which hosts the first big cat on the trail. Two leopards, a female and a male, take advantage of the shaded cave (With a glass viewport) and the climbing activities that are provided by the ropes,nets, and trees. Many visitors enjoy watching the leopard.
The first bird-of-prey on the trail is the next enclosure. As you walk up a ramp you might be able to see the two palm-nut vultures residing in it. The next enclosure is full of multiple tropical birds, and you can spot a dome shaped building below. There is a line to see the tree pangolin, monitored by a zookeeper to make sure stress is minimal. After exiting that enclosure you can enter a small reptile house, which has a spitting cobra, a Egyptian cobra, and a green mamba among other reptiles. Mud turtles are in a large indoor pond with a leopard tortoise enclosure near the entrance.
You walk near a large pool of water with flamingos and a exhibit on the geography on Africa. After a decently interactive experience you move on to a small resting place with a BBQ kiosk. A two minute walk allows you to take a left and observe three ostriches, two of which were part of a rescue program and winded up in a local shelter. If you turn around and take another short trail you'll arrive at two exhibits, a Grevy's zhebra enclosure that consists of the zoo's largest breeding group and a nearby group of bontebok. After you go back downhill you'll go past the BBQ and arrive at a meerkat enclosure. You can spot the sentries as you walk past the kiosk and the tunnels the meerkats had made. It is enjoyable to watch them perform their daily tasks. You pass by a small cage and read about the civet, unfortunately not being able to spot the shaded creature. There is a aviary similar to the one at the start of the path however it isn't free flight and has different segments with shoebills and more storks.
As your time in the African Adventures path comes to an end you go up a ramp to look at the different types of eagles and hawks. You can see Ruppels vulture, the Crowned Eagle, and finally a Secretary Bird which glances carefully at you before moving behind the food trough.
The reach the end, pulling out your map and deciding on the next section. Yay, finally im done!
I finally had time to finish my next section. Enjoy!
Asia
The Asia of the zoo is smaller than the previous sections and like the South America section does not contain an indoor enclosure. The first section is an enclosed aviary that is planted. This area contains species native to the Mesopotamian marshes, a unique ecosystem in the Middle East that is likely unfamiliar to many zoogoers. This area contains two separate enclosures. The first contains Dalmation pelicans. The second contains marbled teals, mute swans, European wood storks, and red breasted geese. These birds are able to approach the visitor. The Mesopotamian marsh exhibit is closed at night. The two enclosures open 24 hours contain species native to the Middle East and Mongolia. The Middle Eastern section contains Arabian oryx, Nubian ibex and Persian onagers. A troop of Hamadryas baboons has a habitat that appears continuous with this paddock. The monkeys also have a bridge going over the visitors that leads into another enclosure. Similarly, cheetahs are also contained in this paddock. Although these cheetahs are of the African subspecies, these are stand-ins for the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah. The final area of the Middle Eastern section is a large netted enclosure. This contains a rotation exhibit for caracals, leopards (Amurs standing in for Middle Eastern leopards), and sand cats. The final paddock in Asia section is a large enclosure containing Bactrian camels and Mongolian wild horses. In the center of this is a paddock (cleverly seperated by moats) containing dholes. The dholes have a walkway across the path similar to the cheetahs and baboons.
Asia
The Asia of the zoo is smaller than the previous sections and like the South America section does not contain an indoor enclosure. The first section is an enclosed aviary that is planted. This area contains species native to the Mesopotamian marshes, a unique ecosystem in the Middle East that is likely unfamiliar to many zoogoers. This area contains two separate enclosures. The first contains Dalmation pelicans. The second contains marbled teals, mute swans, European wood storks, and red breasted geese. These birds are able to approach the visitor. The Mesopotamian marsh exhibit is closed at night. The two enclosures open 24 hours contain species native to the Middle East and Mongolia. The Middle Eastern section contains Arabian oryx, Nubian ibex and Persian onagers. A troop of Hamadryas baboons has a habitat that appears continuous with this paddock. The monkeys also have a bridge going over the visitors that leads into another enclosure. Similarly, cheetahs are also contained in this paddock. Although these cheetahs are of the African subspecies, these are stand-ins for the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah. The final area of the Middle Eastern section is a large netted enclosure. This contains a rotation exhibit for caracals, leopards (Amurs standing in for Middle Eastern leopards), and sand cats. The final paddock in Asia section is a large enclosure containing Bactrian camels and Mongolian wild horses. In the center of this is a paddock (cleverly seperated by moats) containing dholes. The dholes have a walkway across the path similar to the cheetahs and baboons.
My zoo would be located in either the Town nearest to my home, Wexford, Ireland or in the city of my favorite football club, Bilbao. Both do not currently have zoos. The zoo would be split into 8/9 zones with numerous smaller exhibit areas within.
Entrance Zone: Visitors purchase their tickets at the ticket booth before passing through the turnstiles into the zoo. The entrance building itself is of Asian rain forest theming with a lot of wood and bamboo. Their would be a gift shop, a cafe and bathrooms with the zoos admin offices being on the second floor
The first exhibit visitors would see is Flamingo Lagoon a medium sized netted lagoon similar in size to that of San Diego's. It would be home to Caribbean flamingo, Scarlet ibis, White-faced Whistling Duck, Crested Screamer, White-cheeked Pintail, Ashy-headed Goose and Red shoveler. The exhibit would be flanked by a boardwalk leading into the African rain forest area and would feature a large waterfall at the back.
Also in this area is the Bus stop for the zoos bus service and the cable car terminal.
More to come...
Entrance Zone: Visitors purchase their tickets at the ticket booth before passing through the turnstiles into the zoo. The entrance building itself is of Asian rain forest theming with a lot of wood and bamboo. Their would be a gift shop, a cafe and bathrooms with the zoos admin offices being on the second floor
The first exhibit visitors would see is Flamingo Lagoon a medium sized netted lagoon similar in size to that of San Diego's. It would be home to Caribbean flamingo, Scarlet ibis, White-faced Whistling Duck, Crested Screamer, White-cheeked Pintail, Ashy-headed Goose and Red shoveler. The exhibit would be flanked by a boardwalk leading into the African rain forest area and would feature a large waterfall at the back.
Also in this area is the Bus stop for the zoos bus service and the cable car terminal.
More to come...
I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of this zoo. These are fun to read. You said the lagoon is netted, is it a walk-through aviary?
Here is the end of the Las Vegas Zoo!
Australia
The last section of the Las Vegas Zoo is dedicated to wildlife from Australia. A small building leads up to this exhibit. The center part of this exhibit contains an aviary with budgerigars, cockatiels, and zebra finches. Terrariums around the exhibit contain bearded dragons, thorny devils, black headed monitors, and spiny tailed monitors. Like the other exhibits in this zoo, this area is closed at night. When the visitor leaves this building during the day, a walk through aviary containing sulfur-crested cockatoos, galahs, and diamond doves is entered. At night this aviary is closed. The remainder of the Australia exhibit is two different paddocks. A large paddock contains red kangaroos, common wallaroos, western gray kangaroos, and emus. A second paddock contains camels and horses. This area also contains graphics describing the environmental effects of alien species in Australia. A smaller enclosure exhibit contains Tammar and yellow-footed rock wallabies. The last two exhibits are smaller and contain brush-tailed bettongs and short-beaked echidnas.
Australia
The last section of the Las Vegas Zoo is dedicated to wildlife from Australia. A small building leads up to this exhibit. The center part of this exhibit contains an aviary with budgerigars, cockatiels, and zebra finches. Terrariums around the exhibit contain bearded dragons, thorny devils, black headed monitors, and spiny tailed monitors. Like the other exhibits in this zoo, this area is closed at night. When the visitor leaves this building during the day, a walk through aviary containing sulfur-crested cockatoos, galahs, and diamond doves is entered. At night this aviary is closed. The remainder of the Australia exhibit is two different paddocks. A large paddock contains red kangaroos, common wallaroos, western gray kangaroos, and emus. A second paddock contains camels and horses. This area also contains graphics describing the environmental effects of alien species in Australia. A smaller enclosure exhibit contains Tammar and yellow-footed rock wallabies. The last two exhibits are smaller and contain brush-tailed bettongs and short-beaked echidnas.
Yes the boardwalk goes through the exhibit
The 2nd Zone is The African Rain forest; Visitors would walk along the boardwalk through the Flamingo aviary and would enter the first exhibit complex of the African Rain forest: Island Outposts home to animals from Madagascar and surrounding Indian Ocean islands.
The first exhibit is an acre in size Lemur walk through home to Black and white ruffed lemur, Ring tailed Lemur, Alaotran gentle lemurs and crowned lemurs. This exhibit would be full of vegetation and feeding platforms would be located close to the visitor path to get visitors a good view of lemurs at feeding time. The path would then lead into a second much smaller walk through home to red ruffed lemur, Goodman’s mouse lemur and radiated tortoise. During the colder winter months the two latter species would be kept indoors.
Visitors would then leave the walk through and directly ahead of them is an aviary containing Madagascar crested Ibis, Madagascar white eye, Madagascar Partridge, Red fody, Madagascar Magpie-Robin, Madagascar Bee-eater, Crested Coua, Red-fronted Coua, Crested Drongo, Meller's Duck and Bernier's Teal. A small stream would run through the exhibit into a small pond. A medium sized netted exhibit for Aldabra tortoise, Echo parakeet, Seychelles black parrots, Mauritius kestrel and pink pigeon could be viewed before visitors make their way through an artificial fallen hollow log (similar to the one at Bioparc Fuengirola). The vivariums either side of the log would be home to Tomato frog, Panther chameleon, Millipede, Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, Madagascar Tree Boa, Carpet Chameleon, Madagascar day Gecko and Green burrowing frog. After exiting the log visitors would get another look in at the tortoise exhibit on the right hand side of the path with a substantial exhibit for Coquerel’s Sifaka on the left the path. A tall wooden building known as Sifaka Tower then comes into view. Visitors would enter into the ground floor into a room with skeletons and interactive touch screen displays highlighting the plight of some extinct island animals such as Dodo and Malagasy hippos. The sub zero floor of the tower is a nocturnal room. After coming down the stairs visitors would enter a walk through for Rodrigues fruit bat. At the back of the room are two glass fronted exhibits one for Aye-Aye and the other for lowland streaked tenrec. Going back up two flights of stairs, visitors would be able to view the sifaka's indoor housing. Going up another flight of stairs visitors would be on the top floor of the tower which has great views not only of the sifaka's outdoor exhibit but of the entire Island Outpost complex.
The first exhibit is an acre in size Lemur walk through home to Black and white ruffed lemur, Ring tailed Lemur, Alaotran gentle lemurs and crowned lemurs. This exhibit would be full of vegetation and feeding platforms would be located close to the visitor path to get visitors a good view of lemurs at feeding time. The path would then lead into a second much smaller walk through home to red ruffed lemur, Goodman’s mouse lemur and radiated tortoise. During the colder winter months the two latter species would be kept indoors.
Visitors would then leave the walk through and directly ahead of them is an aviary containing Madagascar crested Ibis, Madagascar white eye, Madagascar Partridge, Red fody, Madagascar Magpie-Robin, Madagascar Bee-eater, Crested Coua, Red-fronted Coua, Crested Drongo, Meller's Duck and Bernier's Teal. A small stream would run through the exhibit into a small pond. A medium sized netted exhibit for Aldabra tortoise, Echo parakeet, Seychelles black parrots, Mauritius kestrel and pink pigeon could be viewed before visitors make their way through an artificial fallen hollow log (similar to the one at Bioparc Fuengirola). The vivariums either side of the log would be home to Tomato frog, Panther chameleon, Millipede, Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, Madagascar Tree Boa, Carpet Chameleon, Madagascar day Gecko and Green burrowing frog. After exiting the log visitors would get another look in at the tortoise exhibit on the right hand side of the path with a substantial exhibit for Coquerel’s Sifaka on the left the path. A tall wooden building known as Sifaka Tower then comes into view. Visitors would enter into the ground floor into a room with skeletons and interactive touch screen displays highlighting the plight of some extinct island animals such as Dodo and Malagasy hippos. The sub zero floor of the tower is a nocturnal room. After coming down the stairs visitors would enter a walk through for Rodrigues fruit bat. At the back of the room are two glass fronted exhibits one for Aye-Aye and the other for lowland streaked tenrec. Going back up two flights of stairs, visitors would be able to view the sifaka's indoor housing. Going up another flight of stairs visitors would be on the top floor of the tower which has great views not only of the sifaka's outdoor exhibit but of the entire Island Outpost complex.
I like the Islands Outpost idea. You don't seem to see many exhibits like that. Madagascar seems pretty popular in zoos but there are quite a few neat species to exhibit. How do warm weather species do in Ireland? Does it usually get very cold there?
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