Ghosts of the forest
A immersive rainforest enclosure for Borneo pygmy elephants (2.8.2)
The zoo has imported a breeding herd of Borneo Pygmy elephants, and aquired the female from the Portland zoo. Guests enter the Tabin wildlife preserve through large industrial gate with a unaccesable sentry station above it (to show where park rangers would be stationed). As visitors meander through a dirt road, with defined wheel impressions (to show it is traveled quite often. On either sides of the road is a tree line with some warnings of elephant crossings (complete with trails through the trees for keeper access).
The first exhbit guests come accross a Borneo Banteng (1.3.1) and Borneo Muntjak (2.5.1) enclosure, at around two acres. It is planted heavily, but not to the point where you can not see the animals. The animals have a shallow dry moat so they do not escape, but are situated on a hill so they are eyelevel with guests. The barrier from the guests to the exhibit is a three foot glass fence.
As the guests turn a curve in the path they come across a swampy island like enclosure with a mature tree lined enclosure. For Proboscis monkeys (2.12.5) and two species of leaf monkey red and silvered (1.5 each). The monkey enclosure is about an acre in size with a ton of vertical climbing space from natural trees and artificial vines, the barn/holding area is directly behind (hidden by the tree line)
On the far side of the enclosure the water area continues to another island, where the road then dips down and gives you an uderwater view of the false gharial (1.2) and numerous other Indonesian fish (well stocked). the monkey islands and False gharial islands are kept seperate by a barrier made of artificial rock and mud. The road then returns to the normal elevation and you can see the gharial island from ground level.
You then come across a WWF bunker that is quite large. around 5,000 sq feet. here you encounter a wide variety of endemic reptiles/insects/ and small mammals(tree shrew), in spacious terrariums. Through a glass back wall you can clearly see a large aviary enclosure (mesh over grown with Ivy so it seems like a forest floor) that includes borneo bearded pig (1.2.3) along with colorful pheasants and hornbills. Also in the bunker is a video monitor of the zoo's Pygmy elephants along with tracking collars and collected snairs... to show WWF's efforts to save the ecology of Borneo.
A little ways accross the road from the bunker are two medium sized aviary enclosures. On with Colugo and the other with endemic fruti bats. the back and top of the mesh is coverd with ivy to give it an over grown feel.
The last thing you come accross before encountering the elephants is an illegal logging operation just off the road and a small crop of rubber trees growing along with graphics explaining what is happening.
At last you encounter the prized pygmy elephants! From a forest clearing you can see the main paddock 4 acres. It is densely planted, but you can still see the elephants. There are life size graphics to show the size difference of pygmy elephants and their mainland realatives. The enclosure has several mature trees, vertical logs for scratching, mud wallows, grass ground cover, smaller trees and vegetation protected by hot wire, and huts that are rotting in the forest (simulated actually foraging outlets). You then follow the road to find another vantage point of the main yard! A pond with several species of Asian water fowl and cranes. And if you're lucky you may even see the elephants take a swim, the elephants are seperated by a mud bank wall (concrete) that over hangs. Here there is graphics of the entire herd along with Bios of each elephants. Also information on their wild counterparts and ways we can help save them. Again the barrier for the people is three foot high class fencing. As you leave you get a small view of the bull yard 1.5 acres.
(I would picture the San diego Wild animal park being able to do this)