Western ghats Hitchhike:
This exhibit is located directly across European journey. The entrance is pretty inviting, with a large wooden ornate looking house-like structure as the entrance. The roof is covered with wood planks, and the floor is built over a stream, with an immediate look at the first habitat in this first brief wooden viewing area. Large glass panels with mountain outlines at the bottom of the panel. But you don't have to view this exhibit entirely from this first section, as another long straight path will get you a view of the rocky exhibit. This enclosure is home to several Niligiri tahr, all among their vegetated rock formations. 3 main rocky outcroppings are located in this lengthy exhibit, each very similar. Several formally-planted trees are located around the outcroppings, but also near the edge of the exhibit, so the back fence isn't viewable. Their exhibit is a significant distance away from the viewer, so the tahr are still visible but aren't able to escape or become too close with the visitors. A number of offspring have been born here since the Dream zoos existence, and most have stayed with the zoo, but some batches were sent out to the wild. Following the wide informative path downwards towards another viewing doesn't have much to it, since most of the viewing areas are obscured by mountainous terrain. Before entering the building, identical 2 separate netted tree exhibits for Jungle palm squirrels are located. Both exhibits are accessible by the frolicking squirrels, by taking a small netted tube above you, sort of like the colobus crossing in the Congo basin, except a lot simpler. Entering the building, your surroundings are somewhat rustic, but very polished. Some ancient design styles are used here, and some complicated ones at that. Multiple animal statues are tucked away in the corners of the building, each one with a distinct design style, almost Gothic looking. The animal exhibit is a large vegetated square box tank in the center. This holds Three-colored caecillians. Caecillians as a group of animals are very common in the western ghats, and in my opinion, one of the most signature animals of this Indian mountain range. I always think about caecillians when I think of the western ghats, and I guarantee If I get to go there, I will probably find a caecillian. Numerous species of caecillians are endemic to this mountain range, and sadly, a lot of them are endangered. A small nocturnal exhibit on the side wall of this building is illuminated with blue light, and holds VUB Night frogs. Yes, thats a real animal. It was actually only described in 2011, and is endemic to the western ghats. I should note that this is actually one of 3 of these style of buildings, and this is the smallest. Surprisingly, the last species in the building actually takes up most of large room. It is an absolute colossal rounded fish tank for Kantaka barbs. Their exhibit has quite a large number of these fish, with some slightly muddy-like underwater surfaces for the back and sides of tank, making it look more realistic. A large tree built into the tank actually stretches outward, therefore making this tank open-topped, as the tree stretches out into a sunlight-giving circular greenhouse-like dome in the corner of the building. A non-symmetrical design choice, but a unique and interesting one at that. Exiting out of the large double doors of this exhibit will take you to into a fun yet relaxing looking exhibit for Lion tailed macaques. Countless numbers of majestic small yet humble waterfalls deck out most of the base of this exhibit, making this a very relaxed setting for the macaques. They have a lot of logs and tree branches behind the glass of the exhibit, so the macaques can get their exercise in. But soon you go over another natural stream, and travel through a wooden bridge. The next building is the largest, and has mostly small animals. A glass fronted exhibit is the first habitat, and this is home to the colorful mammal, known as the Nilgiri marten. Their exhibit is actually partially outdoors, but can only be seen from the building. Their exhibit has rocky slopes on the side of the exhibit, but small trees and shrubs in the center, where the martens can scuttle across, or choose to lounge. A colorful mustelid, and probably one of my favorites. More small tanks with some herps deck out the side pockets of this wooden structure. Species include: Warayan's caecillians, Gans caecillian, Coorg night frogs, Ochlandrae reed frog, and my personal favorite that resides in the largest terrarium of the building, the Malabar gliding frog. The gliding frog exhibit is long and rectangular, and well you probably wont see the frogs gliding that often, the trees are a far distance apart from each other that you might catch them in action. A small interesting tank for Dwarf pufferfish is a cool inclusion, and it is always fun to watch these little guys hover in the water. More interesting species are located across the hall to the left, such as the Meowing night frog. They are called this because as you reading this probably would expect this, their call sounds like a meow. But a mysterious species is held directly across from the martens. Another small carnivore, the Malabar civet. This is a fantasy zoo, but it is questionable if this animal is still alive. It is possibly extinct. But the Malabar civet here is alive and well, and has another rocky exhibit, except this one with some water features. In real life, this would never be kept on display, but its a fantasy zoo, so they are on display anyway. Another small habitat selection is home to Variable bush frogs, Aaron bauer's house gecko, Amboli caecillian, and a tank for Melon barbs.
Thats all for now, sorry guys, Im not to motivated this week to do more of the zoo, so Don't expect me to be constantly posting,
This exhibit is located directly across European journey. The entrance is pretty inviting, with a large wooden ornate looking house-like structure as the entrance. The roof is covered with wood planks, and the floor is built over a stream, with an immediate look at the first habitat in this first brief wooden viewing area. Large glass panels with mountain outlines at the bottom of the panel. But you don't have to view this exhibit entirely from this first section, as another long straight path will get you a view of the rocky exhibit. This enclosure is home to several Niligiri tahr, all among their vegetated rock formations. 3 main rocky outcroppings are located in this lengthy exhibit, each very similar. Several formally-planted trees are located around the outcroppings, but also near the edge of the exhibit, so the back fence isn't viewable. Their exhibit is a significant distance away from the viewer, so the tahr are still visible but aren't able to escape or become too close with the visitors. A number of offspring have been born here since the Dream zoos existence, and most have stayed with the zoo, but some batches were sent out to the wild. Following the wide informative path downwards towards another viewing doesn't have much to it, since most of the viewing areas are obscured by mountainous terrain. Before entering the building, identical 2 separate netted tree exhibits for Jungle palm squirrels are located. Both exhibits are accessible by the frolicking squirrels, by taking a small netted tube above you, sort of like the colobus crossing in the Congo basin, except a lot simpler. Entering the building, your surroundings are somewhat rustic, but very polished. Some ancient design styles are used here, and some complicated ones at that. Multiple animal statues are tucked away in the corners of the building, each one with a distinct design style, almost Gothic looking. The animal exhibit is a large vegetated square box tank in the center. This holds Three-colored caecillians. Caecillians as a group of animals are very common in the western ghats, and in my opinion, one of the most signature animals of this Indian mountain range. I always think about caecillians when I think of the western ghats, and I guarantee If I get to go there, I will probably find a caecillian. Numerous species of caecillians are endemic to this mountain range, and sadly, a lot of them are endangered. A small nocturnal exhibit on the side wall of this building is illuminated with blue light, and holds VUB Night frogs. Yes, thats a real animal. It was actually only described in 2011, and is endemic to the western ghats. I should note that this is actually one of 3 of these style of buildings, and this is the smallest. Surprisingly, the last species in the building actually takes up most of large room. It is an absolute colossal rounded fish tank for Kantaka barbs. Their exhibit has quite a large number of these fish, with some slightly muddy-like underwater surfaces for the back and sides of tank, making it look more realistic. A large tree built into the tank actually stretches outward, therefore making this tank open-topped, as the tree stretches out into a sunlight-giving circular greenhouse-like dome in the corner of the building. A non-symmetrical design choice, but a unique and interesting one at that. Exiting out of the large double doors of this exhibit will take you to into a fun yet relaxing looking exhibit for Lion tailed macaques. Countless numbers of majestic small yet humble waterfalls deck out most of the base of this exhibit, making this a very relaxed setting for the macaques. They have a lot of logs and tree branches behind the glass of the exhibit, so the macaques can get their exercise in. But soon you go over another natural stream, and travel through a wooden bridge. The next building is the largest, and has mostly small animals. A glass fronted exhibit is the first habitat, and this is home to the colorful mammal, known as the Nilgiri marten. Their exhibit is actually partially outdoors, but can only be seen from the building. Their exhibit has rocky slopes on the side of the exhibit, but small trees and shrubs in the center, where the martens can scuttle across, or choose to lounge. A colorful mustelid, and probably one of my favorites. More small tanks with some herps deck out the side pockets of this wooden structure. Species include: Warayan's caecillians, Gans caecillian, Coorg night frogs, Ochlandrae reed frog, and my personal favorite that resides in the largest terrarium of the building, the Malabar gliding frog. The gliding frog exhibit is long and rectangular, and well you probably wont see the frogs gliding that often, the trees are a far distance apart from each other that you might catch them in action. A small interesting tank for Dwarf pufferfish is a cool inclusion, and it is always fun to watch these little guys hover in the water. More interesting species are located across the hall to the left, such as the Meowing night frog. They are called this because as you reading this probably would expect this, their call sounds like a meow. But a mysterious species is held directly across from the martens. Another small carnivore, the Malabar civet. This is a fantasy zoo, but it is questionable if this animal is still alive. It is possibly extinct. But the Malabar civet here is alive and well, and has another rocky exhibit, except this one with some water features. In real life, this would never be kept on display, but its a fantasy zoo, so they are on display anyway. Another small habitat selection is home to Variable bush frogs, Aaron bauer's house gecko, Amboli caecillian, and a tank for Melon barbs.
Thats all for now, sorry guys, Im not to motivated this week to do more of the zoo, so Don't expect me to be constantly posting,
