I have yet to see a nice exhibit for ...

[LARTIS]

Has anyone ever seen a nice chinchilla enclosure?
Some species seem to get more often dedicated habitats fitting either their native enviorment or at least an aesthetically pleasing composition of more or less natural elements, but there are some species that I have never ever seen in a nice setting once. I am not talking them getting the short end of the stick but specificaly having seen any exception, not even online.
I know chinchillas are nocturnal, but are active occasionaly, and either way deserve both a proper representation of their original enviorment and an enclosure that offers enough space and enrichtment. Most often were they kept in relative small bird cages, that offered neither enough space nor stimulation, let alone protection from the viewers (also looking realy ugly). Annapaulowna used to have a dark shed with a window toward the path, that happily was deinstalled after a few months. The closest to aesthetic and representation along more space was artis zoo amsterdam, but still not realy.

 

[dillotest0]

I think the problem with chinchillas is that the species found in captivity today has been rather removed from the thought of a wild animal, and has been taken to the realm of 'household pet', like a cat or a dog.
The only enclosures I have seen for Chinchillas was one in a pet shop on at least on ocassion [nothing overly special, naturally] and one at Cedars Nature Centre [also fairly standard stuff]. From what I understand, some zoos don't bother having their chinchillas on display at all, using them as ambassador animals.

 

[CMTM]

Brookfield had (and maybe still has?) a really nice one in The Living Coast.

Picture from the gallery

 

[15399]

Has anyone ever seen a nice chinchilla enclosure?
Some species seem to get more often dedicated habitats fitting either their native enviorment or at least an aesthetically pleasing composition of more or less natural elements, but there are some species that I have never ever seen in a nice setting once. I am not talking them getting the short end of the stick but specificaly having seen any exception, not even online.
I know chinchillas are nocturnal, but are active occasionaly, and either way deserve both a proper representation of their original enviorment and an enclosure that offers enough space and enrichtment. Most often were they kept in relative small bird cages, that offered neither enough space nor stimulation, let alone protection from the viewers (also looking realy ugly). Annapaulowna used to have a dark shed with a window toward the path, that happily was deinstalled after a few months. The closest to aesthetic and representation along more space was artis zoo amsterdam, but still not realy.

Keep in mind there is a difference between a good exhibit and one that looks natural. It's more important for an exhibit to allow natural behaviors than to look naturalistic, and many exhibits that look "naturalistic" don't always allow for the naturalistic behaviors that animals should be able to express, while there are some very good exhibits that don't look naturalistic but allow for natural behaviors. I have yet to see a zoo publicly display chinchillas, but I have seen objectively very good chinchilla enclosures both as people's personal pets (i.e. one of my good friends keeps chinchillas), and behind-the-scenes in a zoo (i.e. ambassador animal holdings). Neither of these enclosures may look naturalistic, but both provide ample space for the chinchillas, a robust enrichment repertoire, natural substrate, hiding opportunities, and everything else the chinchillas need.

One place that is well-known for it's rodent exhibits, albeit not somewhere I've visited (yet), is Bronx Zoo's Mouse House. I don't know if chinchillas are included in this exhibit or not though, but @ThylacineAlive would be able to tell you whether or not that exhibit features chinchillas and what their exhibit entails.

 

[TheMightyOrca]

I think the problem with chinchillas is that the species found in captivity today has been rather removed from the thought of a wild animal, and has been taken to the realm of 'household pet', like a cat or a dog.
The only enclosures I have seen for Chinchillas was one in a pet shop on at least on ocassion [nothing overly special, naturally] and one at Cedars Nature Centre [also fairly standard stuff]. From what I understand, some zoos don't bother having their chinchillas on display at all, using them as ambassador animals.

I second this. Along with just not being seen as wild animals, I figure most people aren't going to be excited to see an exhibit featuring an animal that they see regularly at the pet store.

 

[birdsandbats]

Brookfield had (and maybe still has?) a really nice one in The Living Coast.

Picture from the gallery

That enclosure is no longer there, sadly.

Minnesota kept chinchillas in a large exhibit in a nocturnal hall until a few years ago.

 

[Aardwolf]

Smithsonian has a natural themed chinchilla exhibit in the Small Mammal House

 

[RatioTile]

Keep in mind there is a difference between a good exhibit and one that looks natural. It's more important for an exhibit to allow natural behaviors than to look naturalistic, and many exhibits that look "naturalistic" don't always allow for the naturalistic behaviors that animals should be able to express, while there are some very good exhibits that don't look naturalistic but allow for natural behaviors. I have yet to see a zoo publicly display chinchillas, but I have seen objectively very good chinchilla enclosures both as people's personal pets (i.e. one of my good friends keeps chinchillas), and behind-the-scenes in a zoo (i.e. ambassador animal holdings). Neither of these enclosures may look naturalistic, but both provide ample space for the chinchillas, a robust enrichment repertoire, natural substrate, hiding opportunities, and everything else the chinchillas need.

One place that is well-known for it's rodent exhibits, albeit not somewhere I've visited (yet), is Bronx Zoo's Mouse House. I don't know if chinchillas are included in this exhibit or not though, but @ThylacineAlive would be able to tell you whether or not that exhibit features chinchillas and what their exhibit entails.

The Bronx Zoo does have 2 rooms for chinchillas in the Mouse House. They have sand, climbing structures, some dried grass as props, and logs, but the rooms are on the small side.

I haven't seen nice exhibits for red-tailed hawk, Harris's hawk, screech owl, or bobcat. A lot of rescued wildlife tend to get simplistic, lower-budget enclosures. Then again, a lot of them are birds that can no longer fly due to injuries, so they don't need flying space, but they still need to climb around for exercise. Also, I haven't seen that many exhibits for ringtails where they can be reliably seen active.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Also, I haven't seen that many exhibits for ringtails where they can be reliably seen active.

Exmoor

 

[Coelacanth18]

I've seen a lot of bobcat exhibits, ranging from pretty bad to quite good. The one I like the most that springs to mind is at Living Desert in California: it's a good size, has rock ledges for climbing, vegetation for shade and privacy, and somewhat resembles a natural habitat. The piano wire is also better for photography than glass IMO, since glare is not an issue.

(my photo)

Incidentally, Living Desert also has a decent enclosure for a Western Screech Owl.

(also my photo)

I've rarely seen Ringtail active, but they're a nocturnal species and most enclosures in the States for them are not reverse-light.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I've rarely seen Ringtail active, but they're a nocturnal species and most enclosures in the States for them are not reverse-light.

Funnily enough, neither is the one at Exmoor to which I referred!

 

[ThylacineAlive]

One place that is well-known for it's rodent exhibits, albeit not somewhere I've visited (yet), is Bronx Zoo's Mouse House. I don't know if chinchillas are included in this exhibit or not though, but @ThylacineAlive would be able to tell you whether or not that exhibit features chinchillas and what their exhibit entails.

@TinoPup has uploaded two photos of the two chinchilla enclosures onto the forum.

Bronx - Mouse House - Chinchilla - ZooChat
Bronx - Mouse House - Chinchilla - ZooChat

I think they're quite nice.

~Thylo

 

[Aardwolf]

I think there's a lot of benefit in zoos having quality, natural exhibits for exotic species that are commonly kept as pets - especially the ones that are so commonly kept that people forget that their natural habitat ISN'T Petsmart. A ball python doesn't deserve a lesser enclosure than an Angolan just because one is a rarity and the other isn't; one facebook group I'm in once showed pics of a ball python in an exhibit that a Burmese python would have found reasonably-sized. I think visitors seeing common pet species in natural, appropriately-sized habitats with proper lighting, heating, furnishings, enrichment, etc would help encourage people (and especially aspiring petowners) to think of these species as actual animals and consider their level of commitment before making a purchase.

 

[TinoPup]

@TinoPup has uploaded two photos of the two chinchilla enclosures onto the forum.

Bronx - Mouse House - Chinchilla - ZooChat
Bronx - Mouse House - Chinchilla - ZooChat

I think they're quite nice.

~Thylo

I was trying to find any photos I had of Smithsonian's, I forgot about Bronx photos

I think there's a lot of benefit in zoos having quality, natural exhibits for exotic species that are commonly kept as pets - especially the ones that are so commonly kept that people forget that their natural habitat ISN'T Petsmart. A ball python doesn't deserve a lesser enclosure than an Angolan just because one is a rarity and the other isn't; one facebook group I'm in once showed pics of a ball python in an exhibit that a Burmese python would have found reasonably-sized. I think visitors seeing common pet species in natural, appropriately-sized habitats with proper lighting, heating, furnishings, enrichment, etc would help encourage people (and especially aspiring petowners) to think of these species as actual animals and consider their level of commitment before making a purchase.

I completely agree!! I have been pleased with some recent guinea pig exhibits, notably at Smithsonian and Nashville. The downside to Nashville's is how many animals they have, making people assume you need to have dozens to give your animals a nice area like that. Rabbits seem to often get the short end of the stick, put in to mostly empty yards (which is still eons better than the tiny cages pet stores sell).

 

[Great Argus]

I haven't seen nice exhibits for red-tailed hawk, Harris's hawk, screech owl, or bobcat. A lot of rescued wildlife tend to get simplistic, lower-budget enclosures. Then again, a lot of them are birds that can no longer fly due to injuries, so they don't need flying space, but they still need to climb around for exercise.

Harris's Hawk and Bobcat usually get a decent exhibit, and I've seen a few good ones. Also there's plenty of rescued birds that can still fly just fine, but remain captive for other reasons.

 

[elefante]

I don't think I've ever seen a good exhibit for the "pet store" species like green iguanas, North American freshwater turtles, or birds like budgies. They usually look like they're in a pet store

 

[15399]

I don't think I've ever seen a good exhibit for the "pet store" species like green iguanas, North American freshwater turtles, or birds like budgies. They usually look like they're in a pet store

Really? I've never seen a zoo exhibit budgies in pet-store like cages. Rather, I've only ever seen them in large walk-through aviaries where people can feed them, which is certainly an engaging attraction for many zoo visitors.

 

[elefante]

Really? I've never seen a zoo exhibit budgies in pet-store like cages. Rather, I've only ever seen them in large walk-through aviaries where people can feed them, which is certainly an engaging attraction for many zoo visitors.

I've never seen pet store cages for budgies, but the walk throughs seem to be lacking. I guess seeing them in a naturalistic exhibit would be interesting.

 

[TinoPup]

I don't think I've ever seen a good exhibit for the "pet store" species like green iguanas, North American freshwater turtles, or birds like budgies. They usually look like they're in a pet store

Tons of great exhibits out there for native turtles.

 

[birdsandbats]

Really? I've never seen a zoo exhibit budgies in pet-store like cages. Rather, I've only ever seen them in large walk-through aviaries where people can feed them, which is certainly an engaging attraction for many zoo visitors.

Brookfield was exhibiting Budgies (and Cockatiels) in pet store-like cages until a few years ago.