Elephants vs trees 0:1
- Thread starter Jurek7
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mstickmanp
Well-Known Member
In the Los Angeles Zoo's current elephant exhibit does not have any kind of vegitation at all. In the new exhibit, that is currently under construction and is due to open in Nov. 2009, it looks as though the zoo has saved some of the mature trees that are on site so the elephants could have some shade. I don't know how successful it will be.
I've also been to other zoos, but none kept trees and bushes in the exhibit. I've seen pics here in the gallery and it shows that the zoos have hot-wire around the trees and bushes.
I've also been to other zoos, but none kept trees and bushes in the exhibit. I've seen pics here in the gallery and it shows that the zoos have hot-wire around the trees and bushes.
UntBwe
Well-Known Member
The most beautiful exhibit in The Netherlands is that of Burgers' Zoo. I have some pictures on my webpage: Burgers_Buitenverblijf_Eng
As you can see, some trees with hotwires are standing in the exhibit, and the enclosure is surrounded with many trees. This give you an idea of standing in a forest with some elephants. Very good.
As you can see, some trees with hotwires are standing in the exhibit, and the enclosure is surrounded with many trees. This give you an idea of standing in a forest with some elephants. Very good.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
It is difficult to keep trees healthy where elephants are. You can protect the bark - altho the animals will find ways to get through the protection and new measures will be required - and you can remove all limbs they might reach - if they tear off a branch they open the tree to infections - but the real problem is the roots. Tree roots may extend a hundred meters (a large tree in good soil) and the weight of elephants compacts the soil, driving out needed air and making it hard for water to penetrate. Also, elephants dig. There are ways to protect the roots, of course.
In planning the elephant exhibit at the Nashville Zoo (Tennessee, USA), I included groups of new, 30' trees to create shade in locations where visitors could get a good look at the elephants.
"Hot wire" works with elephants until it doesn't. They avoid protected shrubbery only to the extent they feel like it.
In planning the elephant exhibit at the Nashville Zoo (Tennessee, USA), I included groups of new, 30' trees to create shade in locations where visitors could get a good look at the elephants.
"Hot wire" works with elephants until it doesn't. They avoid protected shrubbery only to the extent they feel like it.
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Dan
Well-Known Member
I guess keeping live trees and plants, accessible to the animals, in elephant enclosures is only possible if the enclosure is REALLY big by zoo standards. Apart from the example below though, I am sure that I have seen it be possible in one US zoo. Unfortunately I can´t remember which one, but I know that I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the enclosure. Perhaps something like 3-4 acres (12-16 000 square meters). The trees etc there did not seem to be protected by hot-wire. The grass was growing high, too - suggesting that the elephants simply could not eat it all.
Then there is the elephant enclosure at Disney´s Animal Kingdom which is lush to the extreme! But there is probably something fishy about that, Disney being Disney....
Then there is the elephant enclosure at Disney´s Animal Kingdom which is lush to the extreme! But there is probably something fishy about that, Disney being Disney....
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Yes, space helps. And agreeable animals.
Some zoos keep elephants a distance from their trees using piled boulders (too big for them to move easily and half buried). Then there is no hot wire.
But if the animals can get to the trees, they will strip the bark off as they do in the wild.
Some zoos keep elephants a distance from their trees using piled boulders (too big for them to move easily and half buried). Then there is no hot wire.
But if the animals can get to the trees, they will strip the bark off as they do in the wild.
Brookfield once had grass in the elephants' outdoor enclosure, but most of it was naturally trampled away so that it's just dirt.
The only vegetation now are very small patches of grass next to the moats, branches hanging down from outside on one side of it, and a small fake baobab tree that the elephants actually seem to love.
The only vegetation now are very small patches of grass next to the moats, branches hanging down from outside on one side of it, and a small fake baobab tree that the elephants actually seem to love.
Taronga and Melbourne Zoos in Australia have some vegetation in their enclosures, though many of the trees like the big poplars in the Melbourne paddock or the fig in the exhibit at Taronga are dead or dying. Fortunately, not all the trees are dead and some grass has persisted.
Perth Zoo in Western Australia has the right idea, a heaped mound with the plants growing in it, giving their roots plenty of uncompacted, well-drained soil, and large boulders keep the animals at trunks length.
Perth Zoo in Western Australia has the right idea, a heaped mound with the plants growing in it, giving their roots plenty of uncompacted, well-drained soil, and large boulders keep the animals at trunks length.