Design a Zoo 2017

[elefante]

{Note from mods - this thread continued from here: Design a Zoo}

I managed to compile 2 small exhibits in my zoo. Both are based on primates.

Japanese Lagoon

Mammals
Japanese Macaque
Amphibians
Japanese Giant Salamander
Fish
Koi

A open air room will provide a few things. Shade for visitors, glass viewing windows for the primates, and the salamander tank viewing. The windows will show the lowest point of the macaque habitat. It will go up will with logs and boulders. The highest point of the island can be viewed from the island part of the habitat. Koi dominate the water, so visitors can pay to feed the fish. A log will lead to a smaller island.

Monkeys of the flooded temple

Mammals
Crab Eating Macaque

A simple exhibit. Glass viewing windows will show under and above water viewing for the aquatic primates. Trees, logs, and climbing platforms make up the back part of the exhibit. Better above water viewing can be viewed from netting on the other side of the exhibit.

I don't now how I missed these exhibit designs. I must have taken a break from Zoochat. These exhibits you have are very creative. I enjoyed this thread so much. I've been kicking around a few ideas in my head lately.

 

[animal_expert01]

I managed to compile 2 small exhibits in my zoo. Both are based on primates.

Japanese Lagoon

Mammals
Japanese Macaque
Amphibians
Japanese Giant Salamander
Fish
Koi

A open air room will provide a few things. Shade for visitors, glass viewing windows for the primates, and the salamander tank viewing. The windows will show the lowest point of the macaque habitat. It will go up will with logs and boulders. The highest point of the island can be viewed from the island part of the habitat. Koi dominate the water, so visitors can pay to feed the fish. A log will lead to a smaller island.

Monkeys of the flooded temple

Mammals
Crab Eating Macaque

A simple exhibit. Glass viewing windows will show under and above water viewing for the aquatic primates. Trees, logs, and climbing platforms make up the back part of the exhibit. Better above water viewing can be viewed from netting on the other side of the exhibit.

You could also add Japanese fire belly newts, Japanese fire belly toads and for an unusual lizard, some Takydromus Toyamai.

 

[pachyderm pro]

I don't now how I missed these exhibit designs. I must have taken a break from Zoochat. These exhibits you have are very creative. I enjoyed this thread so much. I've been kicking around a few ideas in my head lately.

You could also add Japanese fire belly newts, Japanese fire belly toads and for an unusual lizard, some Takydromus Toyamai.

Thank you both for the kind words and new ideas. I suppose I could surround the large giant salamander terrarium with 3 adjacent ones for the mentioned species. I have also decided to make a new exhibit across from one side of the macaque habitat. A grassy hillside for Japanese serow. Though they are currently a phase-out species, so I will have to see what happens.
I have more ideas that I might post soon,. You see, I hate being rushed to do things, so I usually take weeks even months to perfect an exhibit. I am wrapping up planning for a massive African exhibit that I will post soon.

Elefante, I would like to see what ideas you have so if you could please post them .

 

[elefante]

Thank you both for the kind words and new ideas. I suppose I could surround the large giant salamander terrarium with 3 adjacent ones for the mentioned species. I have also decided to make a new exhibit across from one side of the macaque habitat. A grassy hillside for Japanese serow. Though they are currently a phase-out species, so I will have to see what happens.
I have more ideas that I might post soon,. You see, I hate being rushed to do things, so I usually take weeks even months to perfect an exhibit. I am wrapping up planning for a massive African exhibit that I will post soon.

Elefante, I would like to see what ideas you have so if you could please post them .

I have two different ideas for two different zoos, a desert themed one and just a regular run of the mill sort of zoo with a bit of a different design. Which should I start with? I'll get on that tomorrow and have the first exhibit done hopefully.

 

[pachyderm pro]

I have two different ideas for two different zoos, a desert themed one and just a regular run of the mill sort of zoo with a bit of a different design. Which should I start with? I'll get on that tomorrow and have the first exhibit done hopefully.

Take your time, and whichever one you choose is fine.

 

[elefante]

Here is the first one I have. I'm going with the desert zoo.


Las Vegas Zoo

The Las Vegas Zoo focuses on desert wildlife. The term desert is extended to desert grassland/savanna, xeric scrublands, and desert woodland. This zoo is a unique zoo in that it is open 24 hours a day, given its location a city with a 24 hour culture. Deserts from each continent with a desert are represented in this zoo.


The entrance to the zoo contains a central building.This building explains the uniqueness of the world’s desert environments. This area also has a botanical garden displaying plants from desert environments around the world.


North America

The North America complex contains wildlife native to the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan Deserts. The building is set up in a loop, as are all of the exhibits. This is in order to allow guests to enjoy part of their experience in air conditioning. The entrance to this exhibit contains a simulated scrubland that would be found in the US deserts. This environment contains black bears. The bears are of the black and cinnamon variety, proving that the name black bear is not necessarily an accurate name. The bears have access to the indoor exhibit which forms the center part of the building. The other side of the wall contains a large aviary behind glass with Gila woodpeckers, cactus wrens, pyrrhuloxia, phainopeplas, varied buntings, Costa’s hummingbirds, and verdins. Adjacent to the aviary is an aquarium containing desert pupfish. A second aviary behind glass contains road runners. The visitor then exits the building. If it is in the daylight hours, the visitor goes enters the Southwest Aviary. This aviary contains Gambel’s quails, white winged doves, band tailed pigeons, mourning doves, and thick-billed parrots. Desert iguanas, chuckwallas, and desert tortoises freely roam this exhibit as well. At night corridor is closed. After leaving the aviary, the visitor enters Canine Gulch. Canine Gulch contains Mexican gray wolves, coyotes, gray foxes, and kit foxes. The canines present in this area are rotated between exhibits. The largest area of the loop is Ungulates of the Southwest. This mixed species exhibit contains simulated scrubland and numerous rocky outcrops. Pronghorn, mule deer, Coues deer, desert bighorn sheep, and javelinas roam this area. The third area of the loop is Feline Mesa. This rocky area with sparse trees and a stream is home to mountain lions, jaguars, bobcats, and ocelots. Like the canines, these animals are also rotated between exhibits. The last section of this loop is Raptor Row. Raptor Row contains Harris’ hawks, golden eagles, turkey vultures, and prairie falcons. These animals are injured and unable to be returned to the wild. Keepers hold talks with these birds. If the visitor is in the zoo at night, they may enter a nocturnal outdoor exhibit. This contains elf owls, ringtail cats, hognosed skunks, and black-tailed jackrabbits. During the day this area is not accessible. The main section of the outdoor loop contains areas where the diurnal species are able to retreat and be away from gawking tourists. This is the case with all of the outdoor enclosures. These are lit up with low powered lighting.

The visitor then enters the building again. A darkened room contains bark scorpions, stripe tailed scorpions, California leaf-nosed bats, desert millipedes, desert toads, Sonoran desert toads, spadefoot toads, red-spotted toads, kangaroo rats, and grasshopper mice. This room is closed off during the day. Rows of reptile and invertebrate terrariums are along the corridors. These contain gopher snakes, Mojave green rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, Mexican beaded lizards, collared lizards, western diamondback rattlesnakes, red tiger rattlesnakes, rosy boas, Mexican red-kneed tarantulas, and black-tailed rattlesnakes. At night the snakes’ exhibits are lit up with a night light.

 

[elefante]

South America

The South America section is much smaller than the North America section. This one features wildlife from the Atacama Desert and the Gran Chaco.

This exhibit begins with a small building that houses three species of armadillos with outdoor access. As this is a 24 hour zoo, these armadillos are best viewed at night. The species contained are nine-banded, screaming hairy armadillos, and southern three banded armadillos. A paddock containing giant anteater is adjacent to this armadillo complex. If the visitor is in the zoo during the day, they proceed down a loop. The first part of the loop represents the driest desert on Earth; the Atacama Desert. This exhibit contains simulated cacti that provide their water. There are numerous rocky outcrops for the inhabitants, guanacos, to climb on. The rocky outcrops go over an area resembling the Atlantic coast. This area, with plenty of water, contains Andean flamangoes and Humboldt penguins.

The next part of the loop contains species native to the Gran Chaco. This area has sparse palm trees and some sparse grassy areas. A spacious enclosure for Chacoan peccaries is present as is a paddock containing greater rhea. A large netted in aviary is adjacent to the rheas. This houses red-fronted and blue-throated macaws. Finally, the visitors find an area with more trees that is not enclosed. This one has a rope going over their heads into another exhibit. This one houses black howler monkeys.

An extensive Africa exhibit is up next!

 

[Grant Rhino]

Okay, here's mine:

PART ONE

This zoo will be shaped in a large rectangular shape, running from East to West. The shape has been specifically selected, with the zoo gates at the far West end of the zoo. This way, when visitors enter the zoo, they can see the sun rising in the East and when leaving the zoo, they can see the sun setting in the West - both of which allow for nicer photo opportunities.

Going from West to East, the zoo has geographical zones, with the Western half of the zoo all flat land. A river running from North to South runs down the centre of the zoo, and to the East of the river again running from North to South is a densely forested area which ends before it can meet the Southern quarter of the zoo. In this quarter, the forest is replaced with an arid, desert area. To the East of the 'belt of forest' are a large pair of mountains, with a valley dividing them. These are visible from the Western gate of the zoo, and thus the visitors can see the sun rising over the mountains whenever they are travelling East through the zoo. Beyond the mountains, flat land continues until to Eastern edge of the zoo.

The paths and enclosures will be in a roughly symmetrical shape through most of the zoo, with a basic loop shape following the rectangular shape. The zoo has both an 'open range safari' option and a more traditional walking option. The safari bus circumnavigates the zoo by going through the larger, outer enclosures, while the walking track follows the loop through the inner part of the zoo. All large enclosures accessed by the safari bus can also be seen by visitors on foot - via the walking trails.

The Northern half of the zoo is dedicated to Asia, while the Southern half is dedicated to Africa. An Australian section is at the far North West end of the zoo and a Europe section is at the far East end along with a small Americas section at the far North East corner.

Walking anti-clockwise from the gate, the first zone will be the African Savannah - which can be seen on the right hand side of the path if on foot, or up close from the windows of the bus - which goes through this large area. In the main Savannah enclosure, the following can be seen from the bus:

White Rhino
Giraffe
Zebra
Thompson's Gazelle
Ostrich
Guineafowl
Black and White Colobus Monkey
Vervet Monkey

The monkeys will not be free range within the drive through savannah, but will be on 'islands' within the savannah - smaller enclosures within the larger enclosure. They will also have second enclosures right along the path, and walkways allowing them to access either the savannah islands or the path enclosures. The colobus will be at the Eastern end of the savannah and the vervets at the Western end. The savannah can easily be seen from the walking path, and about halfway through, a walkway juts out into the savannah so that visitors can see the savannah animals and take photos with more time than the bus allows. Enrichment and feeding trees are close to the platform that juts out into the savannah to encourage the animals to make use of this area closer to the visitors. The rhino wallow is also close to this area.

From the path, and right next to the large drive through savannah are small enclosures housing:

Meerkat
African Porcupine
Tortoise

These can not be seen from the bus - only from the walking track. On the inner side of the zoo (on the left of the walking track, 3 large predator enclosures house the following:

Lion
Cape Hunting Dog
Spotted Hyena

These can also only be seen from the walking trail. At the Eastern end of the African Savannah, is the river. On the Western side of the river is the zoo café/restaurant. A second meerkat enclosure is adjoined to the café and visitors can see the savannah as they eat. On the other side of the river, are two enclosures - both of which can be accessed with the bus or from the paths. These enclosures house:

Black Rhino
Cheetah
Hippo
(I haven't decided whether 2 of these species will share an enclosure yet - and if so, which two - so it may be best to make this 3 enclosures)

From the café, visitors can also see:

Flamingo
Pelican
Native waterfowl

Now back to the gate:

Walking clockwise from the gate, the northern half of the zoo follows the same symmetry as the southern half. The equivalent enclosure to the African savannah on the northern section is the Indian Grassland exhibit. This enclosure can be accessed via the bus, and via the walking trail and is the mirror image of the African savannah in the southern part of the zoo. The species in this enclosure are:

Indian Rhino
Axis Deer
Blackbuck
Common Langur Monkey
Rhesus Macaque Monkey

Once again, the monkeys have 'islands' within the grasslands (see the African savannah idea for details), as well as a 'temple' style enclosure next to the walking trail, with the monkeys able to access both enclosures. The 2 monkey species have adjoining sides of the temple enclosure and can interact with each other through the barriers. A water filled moat separates the temple enclosures from the grassland area. Once again, a viewing platform juts out into the Indian Grassland enclosure so that visitors can spend time there looking at the animals.

To the south of the northern path, are 2 large enclosures which are back to back with the lion/dog/hyena enclosures. These house:

Tiger
Asian Elephant

The tigers are at the Western end and the elephants at the Eastern end, and opposite the elephant enclosure, the walkway becomes a bridge underneath which is a walkway for the elephants to cross into the grasslands enclosure - as an occassional form of enrichment. Here the Asian Grasslands also meets the river. Another café is situated here, where visitors have full view of the elephants, as well as an enclosure housing:

Oriental Small Clawed Otter

The otters can be seen from the café and the walking trail - and are the northern sections equivalent to the meerkats on the southern path and café.

 

[Grant Rhino]

PART TWO

On the Eastern side of the river is the belt of forest running from North to South, and the small desert section in the far south, next to the African area.

The Northern forest zone is the Asian Rainforest section - which can only be accessed on foot. It involves an elevated walkway, through lush forested enclosures with lakes and islands. The following species inhabit this forest:

Malayan Tapir
Dusky Leaf Monkey
Silvery Gibbon
Orang-utan

The primates each have their own island with trees and can be seen easily from the walkways, while the tapirs have access to all 3 islands via the shallow lake areas. Bird avairys are dotted sparodically through this area.

In the middle section of the zoo, also only accessible from the walking trail is the African Rainforest. This section is larger than the Asian equivalent, as the species housed are bigger. The species here are:

Gorilla
Okapi
Mandrill
Pygmy Hippo
Red River Hog

Like in the Asian section, the mandrill have their own island, whereas the ungulates have access to it via the water, but they also have other areas too (as mandrill can bother other animals). The gorillas have a separate section and can be seen from an elevated walkway and a lower viewing window. This section does not link up to the Asian rainforest and can only be accessed from the southern African path.

South of this area, and to the East of the river, bordering the southern edge of the zoo is the African desert area - which can be accessed from both the walking path and the bus. In the main enclosure here are:

Dromedary Camel
Addax
Oryx
African Wild Ass

Again, a viewing platform juts into this enclosure. Next to the path are smaller enclosures for:

Fennec Fox
Serval
Tortoise

Here to the East of the forest and the desert are the 2 mountains and the valley dividing them. The southern mountain contains only 2 species on it's Western 'African' side:

Barbary Sheep
Hamadryas Baboon

The sheep can be seen from the bus, but the baboons only from the path through the valley. On the Eastern 'European' side of the same mountain, are the following:

Chamois
Ibex
Barbary Macaque Monkeys

The chamois and Ibex can be seen from the bus, as can the monkeys, which have a walkway between 2 enclosures: the Barbary sheep enclosure and a 'Gibraltar' rock enclosure with a walkway between the two - as the species exists in both continents (Africa and Europe).

The Northern mountain can only be accessed from the Asian rainforest, and is called 'The Himalayas'. Species found on this mountain are all housed in separate enclosures - all of which can be seen from the walking path through the valley. These are:

Snow Leopard
Red Panda
Himalayan Black Bear
Pika

While both paths go through the valley, they don't actually meet up yet - this happens in the furthest East zone - another flat zone:

After travelling along the (anti-clockwise) Africa - Europe route, the mountain subsides to a European section called 'A Walk In The Woods'. This section is a walk through area where visitors are in with the animals. It is forested with large oak trees mostly. In this enclosure are:

Roe Deer
European Red Squirrel
European Rabbit

This enclosure is fully enclosed to prevent squirrel escapes! Beyond this are 4 enclosures - 2 on each side of the path - housing:

Eurasian Lynx
Red Fox
Iberian Lynx
Badger

Beyond these is a huge enclosure which can be seen from the bus and the trail. The enclosure is called 'The Ice Age' and links up Europe with North America. The theme is based on the cave paintings in France and the animals featured there. The Southern half of the enclosure houses

Prezwalski Horse

The northern half houses

American Bison

This is at the Easternmost part of the zoo. The trail now turns West again and visitors now walk through a heated, forested enclosure based on the Amazon and rainforest of Central America, which houses:

Squirrel Monkey
Cotton Top Tamarin
Emperor Tamarin
Golden Lion Tamarin
Common Marmoset
Pygmy Marmoset

The tamarins and marmosets are rotated through the walkthrough enclosure for enrichment and are also found in adjoining enclosures accessible from the path. 'Encounters' for visitors with these engaging monkeys occur here. A small café is in this section. Next the trail goes through a walkthrough American section housing:

Llama
Capybara
Patagonian Cavy

before joining up with the Asian mountain valley trail.

 

[Grant Rhino]

PART THREE

The only other section of the zoo, is on the far West of the northern trail, and is dedicated to Australian animals. It is also a walkthrough area, but contains enclosures within the walkthrough section as well as a lake for Australian waterbirds. In the walkthrough section are:

Wallaby (Tammar, Swamp, Parma) (including albino ones)
Koala
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Emu
Cape Barren Goose
Assorted waterfowl

These animals can be fed pellets etc. In the enclosures within this walkthrough area are more endangered Australian species and parrot species which would otherwise fly away:

Tasmanian Devil
Goodfellows Tree Kangaroo
Echidna
Sulphar Crested Cockatoo
Galah
Crimson Rosella
Rainbow Lorrikeet
Budgiarigar
other parrots

The parrots and other birds are in their own aviary within this section.

To recap, if going through the zoo on foot clockwise, one would see the following:

1. Australian section
2. Indian Grasslands
3. SE Asian Rainforest
4. Himalayas
5. Andes (American mountains)
6. American Rainforest
7. Ice Age
8. A Walk In The Woods (Europe)
9. African / European Mountain
10. African Desert
11. African Rainforest
12. African Savannah

I hope you enjoyed it people Tell me what you think!

 

[Grant Rhino]

Oh - and if going clockwise on the safari bus, you will see the following:

1. Indian Grassland
2. Elephants
3. Ice Age
4. Barbary Sheep + Macaques (on their mountain)
5. African Desert
6. African Savannah

 

[elefante]

This is quite the zoo! How big are you envisioning it to be? I'm particularly fond of the Ice Age section. So creative. I'm guessing you're envisioning it in Australia? Likely a lot of those species are in captivity there but not in the USA. When you say encounters with the monkeys, what do you mean? What kinds of tortoises do you imagine in the African desert area?

 

[Grant Rhino]

This is quite the zoo! How big are you envisioning it to be? I'm particularly fond of the Ice Age section. So creative. I'm guessing you're envisioning it in Australia? Likely a lot of those species are in captivity there but not in the USA. When you say encounters with the monkeys, what do you mean? What kinds of tortoises do you imagine in the African desert area?

Yes, it is a big zoo - it would have to be huge - probably as big as Monarto Zoo in South Australia (not sure how big that is, but it's Australia's biggest zoo).

Yes, I'd have it in Australia (as I'm Australian).

As for the species selection, a lot of those are seen quite often in Australian zoos, but then there are none of the following in Australia:
Thompson's Gazelle
Okapi
Common Langur Monkey
African Wild Ass
Iberian Lynx
Red Squirrel
Red River Hog

In Australia, we generally have animals from Australia, Africa and Asia - we don't have many animals from Europe or North America.

The encounters with squirrel monkeys, tamarins and marmosets are something some of the private zoos do here in Australia: Basically, you pay $70 - $100, and you get to take the enrichment in to the enclosure and the monkeys climb all over you and the keeper takes photos of you with them on you. The money goes to improving the enclosures and the zoos in general.

If I get some time, I might design a small, city based zoo next

 

[animal_expert01]

Hate to break it to you, but you probably won't be able to get flamingoes, if you are doing this realistically. The only flamingo left in Australia is a Chilean at Adelaide. This individual is sadly very old and will bite the dust in the very near future, dying with it will be flamingo kind which will probably never return to Australia.

 

[elefante]

Yes, it is a big zoo - it would have to be huge - probably as big as Monarto Zoo in South Australia (not sure how big that is, but it's Australia's biggest zoo).

Yes, I'd have it in Australia (as I'm Australian).

As for the species selection, a lot of those are seen quite often in Australian zoos, but then there are none of the following in Australia:
Thompson's Gazelle
Okapi
Common Langur Monkey
African Wild Ass
Iberian Lynx
Red Squirrel
Red River Hog

In Australia, we generally have animals from Australia, Africa and Asia - we don't have many animals from Europe or North America.

The encounters with squirrel monkeys, tamarins and marmosets are something some of the private zoos do here in Australia: Basically, you pay $70 - $100, and you get to take the enrichment in to the enclosure and the monkeys climb all over you and the keeper takes photos of you with them on you. The money goes to improving the enclosures and the zoos in general.

If I get some time, I might design a small, city based zoo next

I've seen Thompson's gazelles, okapis, and red river hogs here in the USA. I don't know if there are langurs or red squirrels in captivity here and I'm pretty sure there are no Iberian Lynx. But this is a fantasy zoo so what the hell.

I've seen pictures of the Monarto Zoo. Isn't that the world's largest? It's one I'd like to see. It's interesting how not many North America species are present there nor are many Australian ones here. Especially since those exhibits are likely ones we would gloss over in our respective countries.

What do you think of my designs so far?

 

[Grant Rhino]

Hate to break it to you, but you probably won't be able to get flamingoes, if you are doing this realistically. The only flamingo left in Australia is a Chilean at Adelaide. This individual is sadly very old and will bite the dust in the very near future, dying with it will be flamingo kind which will probably never return to Australia.

Oh, I knew that already. But this is a fantasy zoo - not a real one. (If I had the money to open a zoo as big as the one I've described, I'd be over the moon!). Of course it would also be very hard to get Okapis, Thompson's Gazelles and other hoofed mammals in as well due to the restrictions on foot and mouth disease. I also can't picture the Australian government wanting squirrels in the country either - although I have heard that Perth has a species of them in their zoo.

 

[Grant Rhino]

What do you think of my designs so far?

I like yours actually - I especially like the idea of a 24 hour zoo.

 

[Grant Rhino]

What kinds of tortoises do you imagine in the African desert area?

I thought either Leopard Tortoises, or Radiated Tortoises. I'm not an expert on reptiles, so the exact species wasn't that important to me.

 

[elefante]

I like yours actually - I especially like the idea of a 24 hour zoo.

I think Vegas is the only place that could pull that off. I'll hopefully get the Africa section done by the end of this weekend. I'll really be interested in your feedback when I get to the Australia section.

 

[animal_expert01]

I thought either Leopard Tortoises, or Radiated Tortoises. I'm not an expert on reptiles, so the exact species wasn't that important to me.

No offence or anything, but neither of those species would do well in a true desert like environment, with leopard tortoises being from grasslands as well as semi arid areas. Radiated tortoises prefer dry bush land. Some better tortoises would be the sulcata tortoise.