Evilmonkey239's Speculative Zoo Thread

[evilmonkey239]

Hello all,

In the infancy of my Zoochat days back in 2018, I shared my plans on this website for what was essentially my dream zoo. You can se them here:

Design a Zoo 2018

Even at the time, I knew that a zoo of this size, with so many species rare to nonexistent in the US (where my fictional zoo was set) and in the case of some, in captivity, period, could never quite exist in real life, but I didn't let that get in the way of my dreaming. However, 6+ years since my last post in that series, I have decided to start a new series of posts about a new speculative zoo I have come up with, which is of course what this thread is for. This new zoo, which I don't have a name for yet, is set somewhere in the northern half of the US but doesn't have a location more specific than that. All of the species that will be in this zoo, which will perhaps still be a bit larger than any real one (in terms of utilized acreage), are present in North America IRL in some capacity, though not all have an SSP or are widely kept in the AZA. Certainly not all are ones that would likely be included in a new AZA facility opening in the 2020s, but since this is still a speculative thread, I'm not going to be adhering to complete realism in this department.

With that out of the way, below are the zones and sub-zones the zoo will be divided into, with a point being made to include animals from all 7 continents in the zoo.

• Africa
  • The Savanna
  • The Desert
  • The Forest
  • Madagascar
• Eurasia
  • Jewels of Southeast Asia
  • Mountains & Temperate Forests
• North America
  • The Arctic
  • Yellowstone
  • Sonora
  • Everglades
• South America
  • Andes and Atacama
  • Cerrado
  • Atlantic Rainforest
• Australia
  • The Outback
  • Eastern Forests and Coasts
• Antarctica
  • Penguinarium

I look forward to posting in this thread! Expect the info about the African area of my zoo first!

 

[evilmonkey239]

For many zoo nerds, the words "African Savanna" likely represent one of the overdone concepts for a geographically-themed area. But, I'm hoping that the portion of my African area known simply as The Savanna won’t feel too run-of-the-mill.


Guests start their journey across the savanna with a village-themed plaza. This has an African-themed restaurant with restroom locations, etc, as well as a small gift shop. What will likely be the biggest draw for the kids, though, is a contact yard home to Nigerian dwarf goat. Nearby, a pen is home to Watusi cattle - I think they fit much better as part of a farm area than mixed with wild African hoofstock as they far-too-often are -- and a smallish aviary cage holds helmeted Guineafowl, since they are often kept as livestock in Africa. Also included in the entry plaza is the first view of the massive 20-acre mixed-species savanna enclosure. Good look spotting all of these on any given day, but this enclosure holds marabou stork, saddle-billed stork, common ostrich, Thompson’s gazelle, common eland, blue wildebeest, greater kudu, impala, Grant’s zebra, Maasai giraffe, southern white rhinoceros, and sable antelope. And yes, it does include an obligatory giraffe feeding station. The rest of the species in this section are seen on a winding trail, which also offers some views of the savanna. The first exhibit guests will come to on this route features a mob of banded mongoose, a similarly social but less popular cousin of the meerkats that are so often included in sections like these. Nearby, a much larger yard displays a much larger feliform predator — the South African cheetah. The cheetahs have an expansive yard that includes several fake termite mounds they can climb onto to survey their surroundings, much as they would in the wild. Going above the habitat is also a line that meat can be pulled along for the cheetahs to chase. The next habitat visitors come to is netted over the top, to allow for free flight for the wattled cranes, gray crowned cranes, and Kori bustards it houses. Naturally, it also contains a pond for the cranes. On the opposite side of the path, the first of three expansive carnivore habitats come into view. These three enclosures, which from the visitor perspective appear to merge with the mixed-species savanna, are each home to a kind of large predator: African lion, spotted hyena, and African wild dog. A la Denver Zoo, these three species are rotated between the different habitats, which provides them with stimulation as does the view of the ungulates in the savanna that would of course be their prey in the wild. Nearby, more meat-eaters, these of the raptor variety, are to be found in a second aviary-style enclosure: white-backed vulture, lappet-faced vulture, and secretarybird. The final enclosure of this loop is home to an iconic water-going behemoth, the common hippopotamus. It contains both a large pool with underwater viewing windows and an extensive grassy yard, to encourage natural grazing behavior. After going through the hippo underwater viewing area, guests find themselves back in the entry village.


And so, that concludes the savanna portion of my African area. Hope you enjoyed this post! Next time, we’ll be visiting another part of Africa: The Desert.

 

[evilmonkey239]

As promised, the next area of the zoo we’ll be taking a look at here is The Desert, a subsection of my larger Africa continental-themed area. This loop has animals from well, the desert, specifically those of Africa, both the Sahara-Sahel region of the continent’s north and the Kalahari-Namib of its south.

Beginning with North African desert animals, guests are greeted with an enclosure that features a large artificial mesa in the center and holds a troop of Hamadryas baboons. Continuing along the path, a small yard is home to African spurred tortoise, and there is also a small building attached to it that guests can look inside to view the tortoises when it is too cold for them to be outdoors. The largest enclosure of the section is located nearby and is a grassy yard with some sandy patches that holds three species of critically endangered North African desert antelope: Dama gazelle, addax, and scimitar-horned oryx. Nearby, a pair of meshed-over, sandy enclosures are home to sand cats and fennec fox respectively. Also off this part of the path is a restroom location and a seasonally open food stall that serves North African/Middle Eastern style food. The final animal from the North African desert is held in another larger enclosure, for it is the striped hyena. Guests can see the hyenas both through a mesh fence and a glass viewing area. The reminder of the trail is home to animals from the deserts of Southern Africa, which occupy only three habitats. Two are both smaller, open-topped ones that adults can peer over the sides of and kids can see their inhabitants through the glass. One of them is home to Cape porcupines, and the other to that Southern African mongoose no area like this would be complete without, the meerkat. The Desert ends with another hoofstock yard, this one shared by gemsbok and springbok.

Hope anyone who sees this post enjoys it! Next time, we’ll be seeing some animals from Western and Central Africa in The Forest.

 

[MOG2012]

Guests start their journey across the savanna with a village-themed plaza. This has an African-themed restaurant with restroom locations, etc, as well as a small gift shop. What will likely be the biggest draw for the kids, though, is a contact yard home to Nigerian dwarf goat. Nearby, a pen is home to Watusi cattle - I think they fit much better as part of a farm area than mixed with wild African hoofstock as they far-too-often are -- and a smallish aviary cage holds helmeted Guineafowl, since they are often kept as livestock in Africa. Also included in the entry plaza is the first view of the massive 20-acre mixed-species savanna enclosure. Good look spotting all of these on any given day, but this enclosure holds marabou stork, saddle-billed stork, common ostrich, Thompson’s gazelle, common eland, blue wildebeest, greater kudu, impala, Grant’s zebra, Maasai giraffe, southern white rhinoceros, and sable antelope. And yes, it does include an obligatory giraffe feeding station. The rest of the species in this section are seen on a winding trail, which also offers some views of the savanna. The first exhibit guests will come to on this route features a mob of banded mongoose, a similarly social but less popular cousin of the meerkats that are so often included in sections like these. Nearby, a much larger yard displays a much larger feliform predator — the South African cheetah. The cheetahs have an expansive yard that includes several fake termite mounds they can climb onto to survey their surroundings, much as they would in the wild. Going above the habitat is also a line that meat can be pulled along for the cheetahs to chase. The next habitat visitors come to is netted over the top, to allow for free flight for the wattled cranes, gray crowned cranes, and Kori bustards it houses. Naturally, it also contains a pond for the cranes. On the opposite side of the path, the first of three expansive carnivore habitats come into view. These three enclosures, which from the visitor perspective appear to merge with the mixed-species savanna, are each home to a kind of large predator: African lion, spotted hyena, and African wild dog. A la Denver Zoo, these three species are rotated between the different habitats, which provides them with stimulation as does the view of the ungulates in the savanna that would of course be their prey in the wild. Nearby, more meat-eaters, these of the raptor variety, are to be found in a second aviary-style enclosure: white-backed vulture, lappet-faced vulture, and secretarybird.

I'm excited to see more but here are a few things I was wondering/thought/noticed.

• Zebras are a bit risky with all of those species and I feel like having all of those species is a bit ambitous. Have only one stork as they can be aggressive and territorial. The vast size posed a question too, how will viewing be possible? Is it like a monorail/cart that goes past it (both result in poor visibility). Simply walking and looking at one of it's sides would lead to a long-ish pathway. However, maybe having the entire pathways look over the exhibit with multiple viewing places could be interesting. Maybe having a giraffe feeding station with some terrariums.
• The cheetahs should be near quieter animals as they are easily stressed by noise
• Just have grey crowned cranes and Kori bustards due to wattled cranes being a little more aggressive and there would be competition
• Everything else looks cool.

Beginning with North African desert animals, guests are greeted with an enclosure that features a large artificial mesa in the center and holds a troop of Hamadryas baboons. Continuing along the path, a small yard is home to African spurred tortoise, and there is also a small building attached to it that guests can look inside to view the tortoises when it is too cold for them to be outdoors. The largest enclosure of the section is located nearby and is a grassy yard with some sandy patches that holds three species of critically endangered North African desert antelope: Dama gazelle, addax, and scimitar-horned oryx. Nearby, a pair of meshed-over, sandy enclosures are home to sand cats and fennec fox respectively. Also off this part of the path is a restroom location and a seasonally open food stall that serves North African/Middle Eastern style food. The final animal from the North African desert is held in another larger enclosure, for it is the striped hyena. Guests can see the hyenas both through a mesh fence and a glass viewing area. The reminder of the trail is home to animals from the deserts of Southern Africa, which occupy only three habitats. Two are both smaller, open-topped ones that adults can peer over the sides of and kids can see their inhabitants through the glass. One of them is home to Cape porcupines, and the other to that Southern African mongoose no area like this would be complete without, the meerkat. The Desert ends with another hoofstock yard, this one shared by gemsbok and springbok.

• Hamadryas baboon aren't found in North Africa though you could potentially expand the area to the Horn of Africa and/or the Middle East
• If you have a small building with African Spurred tortoises indoor housing, maybe have some animals in there (ie. scorpions, Egyptian tortoises, vipers, spiny mice, etc.)
• Sand cats are extremely sensitive to humidity (prefer extremely arid places) so the zoo should either be in an arid place to house them outside, or they could be in the Tortoise building indoors

Looks really cool though. I'm excited to see the Atacama, and Atlantic Forest though it's cool that you're mostly focusing on less-focused places for exhibits

 

[evilmonkey239]

I'm excited to see more but here are a few things I was wondering/thought/noticed.

• Zebras are a bit risky with all of those species and I feel like having all of those species is a bit ambitous. Have only one stork as they can be aggressive and territorial. The vast size posed a question too, how will viewing be possible? Is it like a monorail/cart that goes past it (both result in poor visibility). Simply walking and looking at one of it's sides would lead to a long-ish pathway. However, maybe having the entire pathways look over the exhibit with multiple viewing places could be interesting. Maybe having a giraffe feeding station with some terrariums.
• The cheetahs should be near quieter animals as they are easily stressed by noise
• Just have grey crowned cranes and Kori bustards due to wattled cranes being a little more aggressive and there would be competition
• Everything else looks cool.

• Hamadryas baboon aren't found in North Africa though you could potentially expand the area to the Horn of Africa and/or the Middle East
• If you have a small building with African Spurred tortoises indoor housing, maybe have some animals in there (ie. scorpions, Egyptian tortoises, vipers, spiny mice, etc.)
• Sand cats are extremely sensitive to humidity (prefer extremely arid places) so the zoo should either be in an arid place to house them outside, or they could be in the Tortoise building indoors

Looks really cool though. I'm excited to see the Atacama, and Atlantic Forest though it's cool that you're mostly focusing on less-focused places for exhibits

I really appreciate your feedback! To address the points you raised:

1. You’re right that zebras don’t always make the best roommates with other species, although that said they’re very frequently in mixed enclosures IRL (maybe not usually those with quite this many, though). Birds aren’t my strongest area and so I actually didn’t consider that about the storks, but now you mention it, then sure, maybe I’ll just have saddle-billed storks in there instead. My idea for the guest viewing of the exhibit was to have a few different viewpoints all from one side of the savanna, with some other animal exhibits interspersed along the opposite side before the trail winds away from the large mixed-species yard. Granted, I didn’t really indicate this in my original post.
   
2. I felt like being near banded mongooses and the crane/kori bustard aviary would be pretty good for them? I will add that their placement a bit further away from the other large predators was deliberate as I’ve heard being housed in close proximity to larger cats at least can negatively impact their reproduction in zoo settings.
3. I actually didn’t know that about the cranes, but now that you have enlightened me, I’ll put the wattleds in a separate aviary of their own.
   
4. You’re right that they aren’t found in the Sahara-Sahel region like the other animals here, TBH I kind of forgot they were restricted to the Horn region, but I would argue that they still fit the rough theme of the area.
   
5. Having some smaller animals housed in the same building as the tortoises is a good idea.
   
6. Didn’t know that, but know that I do I suppose I would move them to the interior of the tortoise building.

 

[evilmonkey239]

Today I will be taking us through The Forest section of Africa. This area is specifically themed around the rainforests of Western and Central Africa, particularly the Congo.

This area is split into two main portions: indoor and outdoor. We will first be looking at the latter.

When guests enter Africa: The Forest, they are greeted with a couple of towering mesh enclosures for monkeys. One holds mantled guereza and the other is home to Allen’s swamp monkey. Both feature large climbing structures, and the swamp monkey habitat also has a pool that even includes a small underwater viewing area for if the primates want to take a dip. Nearby, a third mesh enclosure is a free-flight aviary for crowned eagle. The next two animal enclosures are a couple of expansive, wooded paddocks. One is shared by bongo and red river hog, and the other houses okapi and blue duiker. Next is a habitat home to pygmy hippopotamus, containing both a large pool with underwater viewing and a decently-sized grazing paddock. Attached to it is also a small building where guests can view the hippos in winter.

Guests then enter a building to see the indoor portion of The Forest. When they come in, the hallway is lined with terrariums of various sizes housing reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Contained in these are sun beetles, Goliath beetles, African bullfrogs, African clawed frogs, gaboon vipers, rhinoceros vipers, and ball pythons, with the two largest terrariums housing West African dwarf crocodile and Nile monitor respectively. Both of these last two also have underwater viewing. Viewed from behind glass are also two bird enclosures. One is home to western long-tailed hornbill while the other houses African gray parrot. Guests then enter an indoor walk-through aviary. In here you can find sacred ibis, white-faced whistling duck, African pygmy goose, red-crested turaco, Lady Ross’s turaco, and Congo peafowl. In the final leg of the building, a series of large, modern indoor habitats are home to three kinds of large African primate: Western lowland gorilla, common chimpanzee, and mandrill. All have natural mulch substrate on the floor and numerous climbing and enrichment opportunities. Exiting the building, guests can see the outdoor gorilla, chimp, and mandrill habitats by walking around its perimeter. They are also all very large and complex.

Hope you guys enjoyed this latest post!

 

[MOG2012]

Today I will be taking us through The Forest section of Africa. This area is specifically themed around the rainforests of Western and Central Africa, particularly the Congo.

This area is split into two main portions: indoor and outdoor. We will first be looking at the latter.

When guests enter Africa: The Forest, they are greeted with a couple of towering mesh enclosures for monkeys. One holds mantled guereza and the other is home to Allen’s swamp monkey. Both feature large climbing structures, and the swamp monkey habitat also has a pool that even includes a small underwater viewing area for if the primates want to take a dip. Nearby, a third mesh enclosure is a free-flight aviary for crowned eagle. The next two animal enclosures are a couple of expansive, wooded paddocks. One is shared by bongo and red river hog, and the other houses okapi and blue duiker. Next is a habitat home to pygmy hippopotamus, containing both a large pool with underwater viewing and a decently-sized grazing paddock. Attached to it is also a small building where guests can view the hippos in winter.

Guests then enter a building to see the indoor portion of The Forest. When they come in, the hallway is lined with terrariums of various sizes housing reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Contained in these are sun beetles, Goliath beetles, African bullfrogs, African clawed frogs, gaboon vipers, rhinoceros vipers, and ball pythons, with the two largest terrariums housing West African dwarf crocodile and Nile monitor respectively. Both of these last two also have underwater viewing. Viewed from behind glass are also two bird enclosures. One is home to western long-tailed hornbill while the other houses African gray parrot. Guests then enter an indoor walk-through aviary. In here you can find sacred ibis, white-faced whistling duck, African pygmy goose, red-crested turaco, Lady Ross’s turaco, and Congo peafowl. In the final leg of the building, a series of large, modern indoor habitats are home to three kinds of large African primate: Western lowland gorilla, common chimpanzee, and mandrill. All have natural mulch substrate on the floor and numerous climbing and enrichment opportunities. Exiting the building, guests can see the outdoor gorilla, chimp, and mandrill habitats by walking around its perimeter. They are also all very large and complex.

Hope you guys enjoyed this latest post!

I think this zone might be my favorite so far but I noticed a couple of things.

• Are there any visual barriers near the crowned eagle’s aviary to prevent the adjacent animals from feeling stressed
• The duikers, okapi, and bongos can get stressed so they shouldn’t be in an extremely noisy area. Pygmy hippos are also easily stressed too
• The hornbills, monitor, crocodile, parrots , and the other birds should have the ability to go to outside (maybe seasonal enclosure) for enrichment
• Having multiple turaco species in an aviary might not work because they’re territorial
• In the walkthrough aviary, is there a pond for the waterfowl?

Otherwise, everything looks really cool. I’m excited to see the Madagascar section next (spiny Forest or nocturnal area?)

 

[evilmonkey239]

I think this zone might be my favorite so far but I noticed a couple of things.

• Are there any visual barriers near the crowned eagle’s aviary to prevent the adjacent animals from feeling stressed
• The duikers, okapi, and bongos can get stressed so they shouldn’t be in an extremely noisy area. Pygmy hippos are also easily stressed too
• The hornbills, monitor, crocodile, parrots , and the other birds should have the ability to go to outside (maybe seasonal enclosure) for enrichment
• Having multiple turaco species in an aviary might not work because they’re territorial
• In the walkthrough aviary, is there a pond for the waterfowl?

Otherwise, everything looks really cool. I’m excited to see the Madagascar section next (spiny Forest or nocturnal area?)

1. Yes.
2. Noted.
3. That’s a good idea.
4. Didn’t know that, in that case maybe I’ll just stick with the red-crowned.
5. I didn’t specify as such in my post, but yes, that’s how I imagined it.
6. Yes and yes!

 

[LadyA91]

I think this zone might be my favorite so far but I noticed a couple of things.

• Are there any visual barriers near the crowned eagle’s aviary to prevent the adjacent animals from feeling stressed
• The duikers, okapi, and bongos can get stressed so they shouldn’t be in an extremely noisy area. Pygmy hippos are also easily stressed too
• The hornbills, monitor, crocodile, parrots , and the other birds should have the ability to go to outside (maybe seasonal enclosure) for enrichment
• Having multiple turaco species in an aviary might not work because they’re territorial
• In the walkthrough aviary, is there a pond for the waterfowl?

Otherwise, everything looks really cool. I’m excited to see the Madagascar section next (spiny Forest or nocturnal area?)

I am thinking about this for my own fantasy zoo, can a blue duiker be in a tropical themed aviary?

 

[MOG2012]

I am thinking about this for my own fantasy zoo, can a blue duiker be in a tropical themed aviary?

A blue duiker could be in a tropical aviary as long as there isn’t any noisy and territorial animals as the duikers can get stressed. Additionally, more active, ground-dwelling animals can prevent the visibility of the duiker (they might hide). In my opinion, I wouldn’t have blue duiker as there are better duikers that are recommended by the AZA, mainly the yellow-backed duiker

 

[KevinB]

With regards to duikers in aviaries: please also note that duikers are known to hunt and eat small birds, from songbirds up to dove or pigeon size, as well as raid nests. So habitat, feeding areas and nesting areas for the birds away from the duiker will need to be provided, or the species chosen accordingly.

 

[evilmonkey239]

This time, we will be visiting the final African section of my zoo, Madagascar. It is primarily indoors but features outdoor displays as well.

When guests first enter the building, they arrive in the Dry Deciduous Forest. Two enclosures each hold a species of lemur in here: one houses blue-eyed black lemur and the other Coquerel’s sifaka. Both enclosures feature complex climbing structures, as well as mulch floors with live plants, and the two species are rostated between them. In terrariums built into the wall, there are panther chameleons, Henkel’s leaf-tailed geckos, Malagasy giant hognose snakes, Malagasy ground boas, and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. A much larger enclosure, this one with underwater viewing, is home to Nile crocodiles.

The exhibit then directs visitors into the Rainforest. A lush enclosure is home to a troop of red-ruffed lemurs. Terrariums nearby display Madagascar day geckos, golden mantellas, and tomato frogs. Separated from visitors by mesh, another display is home to lesser vasa parrots and crested couas.

Guests then enter the Nocturnal Room. One of the three enclosures in here is home to gray mouse lemurs, while the other two, much larger ones are respectively home to aye-ayes and fossas. A reverse light cycle encourages the animals to be active when people are visiting the zoo.

The final section of the building is the Spiny Forest. In a dry enclosure with a combination of Malagasy plants, substitutes, and replicas, that takes many cues from the Bronx Zoo, a troop of ring-tailed lemurs is housed. One side display has lesser hedgehog tenrec, and another is shared by spider tortoise and radiated tortoise.

Around the exterior of the building, there are duplicate enclosures for the ring-tailed, red-ruffed, blue-eyed black, and Coquerel’s sifaka lemurs as well as the fossas that allow them to be outside during the warmer months.

Hope whoever reads this post enjoys it! Next time, we’ll be looking at the first section of Eurasia.

 

[MOG2012]

This time, we will be visiting the final African section of my zoo, Madagascar. It is primarily indoors but features outdoor displays as well.

When guests first enter the building, they arrive in the Dry Deciduous Forest. Two enclosures each hold a species of lemur in here: one houses blue-eyed black lemur and the other Coquerel’s sifaka. Both enclosures feature complex climbing structures, as well as mulch floors with live plants, and the two species are rostated between them. In terrariums built into the wall, there are panther chameleons, Henkel’s leaf-tailed geckos, Malagasy giant hognose snakes, Malagasy ground boas, and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. A much larger enclosure, this one with underwater viewing, is home to Nile crocodiles.

The exhibit then directs visitors into the Rainforest. A lush enclosure is home to a troop of red-ruffed lemurs. Terrariums nearby display Madagascar day geckos, golden mantellas, and tomato frogs. Separated from visitors by mesh, another display is home to lesser vasa parrots and crested couas.

Guests then enter the Nocturnal Room. One of the three enclosures in here is home to gray mouse lemurs, while the other two, much larger ones are respectively home to aye-ayes and fossas. A reverse light cycle encourages the animals to be active when people are visiting the zoo.

The final section of the building is the Spiny Forest. In a dry enclosure with a combination of Malagasy plants, substitutes, and replicas, that takes many cues from the Bronx Zoo, a troop of ring-tailed lemurs is housed. One side display has lesser hedgehog tenrec, and another is shared by spider tortoise and radiated tortoise.

Around the exterior of the building, there are duplicate enclosures for the ring-tailed, red-ruffed, blue-eyed black, and Coquerel’s sifaka lemurs as well as the fossas that allow them to be outside during the warmer months.

Hope whoever reads this post enjoys it! Next time, we’ll be looking at the first section of Eurasia.

I really like this area but I noticed a couple more things

• The lemurs might get stressed from the rotations but it's possible if done right
• Is the Nile crocodile enclosure built with extra space in case the Nile crocodile significantly grows?
• The parrots, coua, and tortoises could theoretically be housed with the ring-tailed lemur, similar to Bronx Zoo though that's not needed. Similarily, the tenrec can be housed with the grey mouse lemur which could possibly increase the visibility of them as they are nocturnal
• Is the fossa enclosure outside as they should have more outdoor space as they could get stressed?

I'm excited to see the Jewels of Southeast Asia soon!

 

[evilmonkey239]

I really like this area but I noticed a couple more things

• The lemurs might get stressed from the rotations but it's possible if done right
• Is the Nile crocodile enclosure built with extra space in case the Nile crocodile significantly grows?
• The parrots, coua, and tortoises could theoretically be housed with the ring-tailed lemur, similar to Bronx Zoo though that's not needed. Similarily, the tenrec can be housed with the grey mouse lemur which could possibly increase the visibility of them as they are nocturnal
• Is the fossa enclosure outside as they should have more outdoor space as they could get stressed?

I'm excited to see the Jewels of Southeast Asia soon!

1. Noted.
2. I imagined the enclosure as being large enough to support a couple of full-sized crocs.
3. Good ideas.
4. I imagined them as having both an indoor and an outdoor enclosure.
5. You won’t be disappointed!

 

[Zhao yun]

I think this zone might be my favorite so far but I noticed a couple of things.

• Are there any visual barriers near the crowned eagle’s aviary to prevent the adjacent animals from feeling stressed
• The duikers, okapi, and bongos can get stressed so they shouldn’t be in an extremely noisy area. Pygmy hippos are also easily stressed too
• The hornbills, monitor, crocodile, parrots , and the other birds should have the ability to go to outside (maybe seasonal enclosure) for enrichment
• Having multiple turaco species in an aviary might not work because they’re territorial
• In the walkthrough aviary, is there a pond for the waterfowl?

Otherwise, everything looks really cool. I’m excited to see the Madagascar section next (spiny Forest or nocturnal area?)

The turaco mix should work if they are all female. If not, as you said, it will not work.

 

[evilmonkey239]

We’re finally moving away from Africa with this next region of the zoo. The largest section in the park species-wise, it is none other than Jewels of Southeast Asia!


The section begins with a pair of open-environment habitats. One is shared by three species of hoofstock native to the Indian subcontinent: chital, blackbuck, and nilgai. Across the path, a more modestly-sized one that is meshed-over is home to a pair of sarus crane.


The path then becomes more forested. The first habitat seen here is home to a pack of Asian-small clawed otters. A waterfall cascades into an artificial stream, which culminates in a wider pool, around which viewing windows allow guests to see the otters below the surface of the water. Opposite, a row of pheasant aviaries are attached to a holding building. Kept in the different cages here are Bornean crested fireback, great Argus, silver pheasant, and gray peacock pheasant. Moving along the trail, a tall mesh enclosure is home to the first primates of the section, Francois langur. In addition to viewing them from the level of the path, guests can also climb onto a balcony where glass viewing windows into the enclosuure allow guests to see the monkeys on their level when they are atop their climbing structures. Continuing down the trail a trio of wooded hoofstock yards respectively house lowland anoa, North Sulawesi babirusa, and Malayan tapir. The tapir enclosure also includes a large pond that allows the ungulates to fully submerge themselves. Speaking of water-loving animals, nearby a meshed-over enclosure is home to a breeding pair of fishing cat. Like the small-clawed otters, they also have an underwater viewing area of their pool, which keepers sometimes throw live fish into so visitors can see them live up to their colloquial name.


Walking further up the path reveals a few habitats that can be connected and separated for Bornean orangutan. Several towering climbing structures give the great apes ample opportunities to display natural behaviors and a great view of the zoo. They can also be seen indoors in several large, complex day rooms in the Orangutan Pavilion, one of two large public buildings in this section of the zoo. In addition to indoor viewing of the orangutans, species of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates from Southeast Asia can also be found inside this building. Among these are Chinese crocodile lizard, tokay gecko, blood python, mangrove snake, Burmese vine snake, Roti Island snake-necked turtle, Borneo eared frog, Malayan jungle nymph, giant Malaysian leaf insect, and giant forest scorpion. There are some giants as well. Large terrariums house reticulated python and king cobra, with the python enclosure providing underwater viewing. Even larger are the Asian water monitors, Komodo dragons, and gharials. Expansive indoor enclosures are provided for all of these, especially the more active varanids, and the gharials and water monitors also have underwater viewing. During the warmer months, the Komodo dragons also have access to a connected outdoor yard.


Outside the Orangutan Pavilion, the exhibit continues with three carnivoran habitats. A pair of mesh enclosures providing a lot of climbing opportunities and vertically are rotated between binturong and clouded leopard. Two much larger ones are rotated between a pair of sloth bear, with them being capable of being connected when the zoo is trying to breed the ursids. Both provide lots of natural planting (with some hotwired off so the bears can’t damage it), large climbing structures, and water features, with glass viewing windows for the guests. Further up the trail, a meshed-over enclosure with a pond is shared by several species of waterfowl: Philippine duck, spotted whistling duck, Baer’s pochard, fulvous whistling duck, and knob-billed duck. Next, a pair of large enclosures in a similar setup to the sloth bear habitat hold the zoo’s Malayan tigers. Both the tiger enclosures are again, lushly planted with water features, and one even offers underwater viewing.


The finale of Jewels of Southeast Asia features what is appropriately one of the largest pairs of animal enclosures in the zoo: the Asian elephant habitat. A four-acre yard is home to a family herd of elephants, and an adjacent two-acre one houses a bachelor herd, the members of which periodically get turns in the other yard to try and breed with the females. Both yards have large pools and numerous enrichment opportunities, and their large size also allows some grass to grow in them. Inside the Elephant Pavilion, guests can see the pachyderms in spacious rooms during the winter, and can sometimes watch training demonstrations as well. Also seen in the pavilion are numerous smaller species of mammal and bird (plus one reptile). There is an enclosure shared by white-handed gibbon and siamang, which is connected to one where guests can view the lesser apes outside. Both the indoor and outdooor enclosures provide their inhabitants with lots of room and climbing opportunities, and the outdoor one features several live trees as well. Also given both indoor and outdoor access are a few species of bird guests can see inside in glass-fronted enclosures and outside behind mesh. They are knobbed hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, and the Extinct in the Wild Guam kingfisher. This building also has a small nocturnal room, where a reverse light-cycle allows visitors to see pygmy slow loris and Luzon giant cloud rat active. Finally, an all-indoor walk-through aviary allows guests to walk among Nicobar pigeon, crested wood-partridge, green peafowl, white-crested laughingthrush, Asian fairy bluebird, Bali mynah, and Asian forest tortoise.


And so that concludes this long description of this large section of the park! Let me know of any thoughts you have about this area, and next time, things are getting a little chillier with Northern Eurasia!

 

[MOG2012]

We’re finally moving away from Africa with this next region of the zoo. The largest section in the park species-wise, it is none other than Jewels of Southeast Asia!


The section begins with a pair of open-environment habitats. One is shared by three species of hoofstock native to the Indian subcontinent: chital, blackbuck, and nilgai. Across the path, a more modestly-sized one that is meshed-over is home to a pair of sarus crane.


The path then becomes more forested. The first habitat seen here is home to a pack of Asian-small clawed otters. A waterfall cascades into an artificial stream, which culminates in a wider pool, around which viewing windows allow guests to see the otters below the surface of the water. Opposite, a row of pheasant aviaries are attached to a holding building. Kept in the different cages here are Bornean crested fireback, great Argus, silver pheasant, and gray peacock pheasant. Moving along the trail, a tall mesh enclosure is home to the first primates of the section, Francois langur. In addition to viewing them from the level of the path, guests can also climb onto a balcony where glass viewing windows into the enclosuure allow guests to see the monkeys on their level when they are atop their climbing structures. Continuing down the trail a trio of wooded hoofstock yards respectively house lowland anoa, North Sulawesi babirusa, and Malayan tapir. The tapir enclosure also includes a large pond that allows the ungulates to fully submerge themselves. Speaking of water-loving animals, nearby a meshed-over enclosure is home to a breeding pair of fishing cat. Like the small-clawed otters, they also have an underwater viewing area of their pool, which keepers sometimes throw live fish into so visitors can see them live up to their colloquial name.


Walking further up the path reveals a few habitats that can be connected and separated for Bornean orangutan. Several towering climbing structures give the great apes ample opportunities to display natural behaviors and a great view of the zoo. They can also be seen indoors in several large, complex day rooms in the Orangutan Pavilion, one of two large public buildings in this section of the zoo. In addition to indoor viewing of the orangutans, species of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates from Southeast Asia can also be found inside this building. Among these are Chinese crocodile lizard, tokay gecko, blood python, mangrove snake, Burmese vine snake, Roti Island snake-necked turtle, Borneo eared frog, Malayan jungle nymph, giant Malaysian leaf insect, and giant forest scorpion. There are some giants as well. Large terrariums house reticulated python and king cobra, with the python enclosure providing underwater viewing. Even larger are the Asian water monitors, Komodo dragons, and gharials. Expansive indoor enclosures are provided for all of these, especially the more active varanids, and the gharials and water monitors also have underwater viewing. During the warmer months, the Komodo dragons also have access to a connected outdoor yard.


Outside the Orangutan Pavilion, the exhibit continues with three carnivoran habitats. A pair of mesh enclosures providing a lot of climbing opportunities and vertically are rotated between binturong and clouded leopard. Two much larger ones are rotated between a pair of sloth bear, with them being capable of being connected when the zoo is trying to breed the ursids. Both provide lots of natural planting (with some hotwired off so the bears can’t damage it), large climbing structures, and water features, with glass viewing windows for the guests. Further up the trail, a meshed-over enclosure with a pond is shared by several species of waterfowl: Philippine duck, spotted whistling duck, Baer’s pochard, fulvous whistling duck, and knob-billed duck. Next, a pair of large enclosures in a similar setup to the sloth bear habitat hold the zoo’s Malayan tigers. Both the tiger enclosures are again, lushly planted with water features, and one even offers underwater viewing.


The finale of Jewels of Southeast Asia features what is appropriately one of the largest pairs of animal enclosures in the zoo: the Asian elephant habitat. A four-acre yard is home to a family herd of elephants, and an adjacent two-acre one houses a bachelor herd, the members of which periodically get turns in the other yard to try and breed with the females. Both yards have large pools and numerous enrichment opportunities, and their large size also allows some grass to grow in them. Inside the Elephant Pavilion, guests can see the pachyderms in spacious rooms during the winter, and can sometimes watch training demonstrations as well. Also seen in the pavilion are numerous smaller species of mammal and bird (plus one reptile). There is an enclosure shared by white-handed gibbon and siamang, which is connected to one where guests can view the lesser apes outside. Both the indoor and outdooor enclosures provide their inhabitants with lots of room and climbing opportunities, and the outdoor one features several live trees as well. Also given both indoor and outdoor access are a few species of bird guests can see inside in glass-fronted enclosures and outside behind mesh. They are knobbed hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, and the Extinct in the Wild Guam kingfisher. This building also has a small nocturnal room, where a reverse light-cycle allows visitors to see pygmy slow loris and Luzon giant cloud rat active. Finally, an all-indoor walk-through aviary allows guests to walk among Nicobar pigeon, crested wood-partridge, green peafowl, white-crested laughingthrush, Asian fairy bluebird, Bali mynah, and Asian forest tortoise.


And so that concludes this long description of this large section of the park! Let me know of any thoughts you have about this area, and next time, things are getting a little chillier with Northern Eurasia!

The exhibits are just getting better and better!

• What do you mean by open environment enclosures? Nilgai can jump high and blackbuck can escape through gaps. Side Note: Blackbuck and Nilgai males are extremely dominant, territorial, and aggressive
• Is the pair bonded for the Sarus Cranes? They tend to be in monogamous pairs. Sarus cranes are also extremely large so the aviary would have to be spacious
• Anoas and fishing cats are shy so they might be stress if close to loud noises
• Having live prey for food is sometimes controversial despite the enrichment due to welfare concerns
• Are any of the terrarium animals mixed? For example, you can mix the crocodile lizard and some of the snakes with the turtles
• Why doesn't the Asian water monitor and gharial get outdoor access if the komodo dragons do?
• Clouded leopards are territorial and can get stressed by the strong odor of the binturong
• The philippine ducks and Baer's pochards might be outcompeted by knob-billed ducks
• Bull elephants may become aggressive if they sense females in estrus
• I feel like 6 acres isn't enough though, it just seems not large enough so maybe 7 acres?
• Gibbons and siamangs can compete in food and space so that might be a problem
• How are you going to prevent obesity in the pygmy slow lorises?
• Nicobar pigeons are shy and can get stressed from extremely loud noises and/or excessive visitor interaction

 

[Paul.Haerle]

Nicobar pigeons are shy and can get stressed from extremely loud noises and/or excessive visitor interaction

I think, that wouldn't be a problem with enough plants.

Green Peafowl would attack or kill the Crowned Wood Partridge ( two or more galliformes in one aviary normaly won't work, but there are some exceptions)
Green Peafowl could attack visitors too.

It's a nice project, I'm looking forward the whole project

 

[evilmonkey239]

The exhibits are just getting better and better!

• What do you mean by open environment enclosures? Nilgai can jump high and blackbuck can escape through gaps. Side Note: Blackbuck and Nilgai males are extremely dominant, territorial, and aggressive
• Is the pair bonded for the Sarus Cranes? They tend to be in monogamous pairs. Sarus cranes are also extremely large so the aviary would have to be spacious
• Anoas and fishing cats are shy so they might be stress if close to loud noises
• Having live prey for food is sometimes controversial despite the enrichment due to welfare concerns
• Are any of the terrarium animals mixed? For example, you can mix the crocodile lizard and some of the snakes with the turtles
• Why doesn't the Asian water monitor and gharial get outdoor access if the komodo dragons do?
• Clouded leopards are territorial and can get stressed by the strong odor of the binturong
• The philippine ducks and Baer's pochards might be outcompeted by knob-billed ducks
• Bull elephants may become aggressive if they sense females in estrus
• I feel like 6 acres isn't enough though, it just seems not large enough so maybe 7 acres?
• Gibbons and siamangs can compete in food and space so that might be a problem
• How are you going to prevent obesity in the pygmy slow lorises?
• Nicobar pigeons are shy and can get stressed from extremely loud noises and/or excessive visitor interaction

• Open as in grassland-style, maybe I should’ve just said that…
• I’d imagine so, and yes, I was visualizing a large aviary.
• Noted.
• I’m aware but I believe some AZA facilities still do it.
• I wasn’t visualizing any of the terrarium animals as being mixed but that’s a good idea.
• With the gharials, mainly the difficulty of moving a large crocodilian back and forth between indoor and outdoor enclosures. I’ve never seen water monitors given outdoor access in a cold-climate zoo IRL but I suppose allowing them to use the Komodo dragon yard sometimes wouldn’t be the worst idea, though I would have to have a decently-sized pool in it.
• Noted, maybe a rotational exhibit wouldn’t be the best idea then.
• Perhaps, but I have seen these three species combined IRL so I think it could work.
  
• Noted, there should definitely be some kind of visual/olfactory barrier between the yards then.
  
• Expanding the elephant enclosure wouldn’t the worst idea, sure.
• I don’t doubt that, but similar to the ducks I have seen these two species mixed in real zoos before. The individuals might have to be carefully selected.
  
• However the primate keepers see fit.
  
• Noted, maybe they’re best left out of the walk-through, then.

 

[evilmonkey239]

I think, that wouldn't be a problem with enough plants.

Green Peafowl would attack or kill the Crowned Wood Partridge ( two or more galliformes in one aviary normaly won't work, but there are some exceptions)
Green Peafowl could attack visitors too.

It's a nice project, I'm looking forward the whole project

1) Maybe I’ll just stick with the peafowl, in that case.
2) Noted, though I have seen them in a walk-through IRL.