Indoor Exhibits in California?
- Thread starter Krogull
- Start date
Weather is the simplest answer. You tend to see more large indoor complexes in Northern zoos, whether that be on the East Coast (e.g., New York, Pennsylvania, New England), the Midwest (e.g., Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota), or the west coast (e.g., Oregon, Washington). Large indoor complexes aren't common in the southern US whether that be Florida, Texas, Arizona, or California.
Reptile houses are the exception since temperature and humidity for herps (and more broadly all ectotherms) is typically much more important than it is for mammals and birds (not to say there aren't exceptions), and historically zoos have managed these species indoors since that makes climate control a lot easier. That's not to say they can't be housed outside successfully, but generally indoors is more common with herps due to temperature/humidity constraints.
Most herps are also much smaller than most of the small mammals that are common in zoos, and this could be another factor influencing why reptile houses are the "exception" to the fact indoor exhibits are less common in the south. In many other cases, southern zoos have an outdoor versions of indoor exhibits instead. For example, while many northern zoos have large bird houses or indoor aviaries (e.g., Bronx, Toledo, Cincinnati, Lincoln Park, Milwaukee), and many more feature indoor Rainforest attractions (e.g., Roger Williams, Franklin Park, Cleveland, Brookfield, Minnesota, Omaha), southern zoos instead often have large outdoor aviaries (e.g., Miami, Disney, San Diego), or outdoor areas with a Rainforest theme instead (e.g., Jacksonville, Disney, Los Angeles). There aren't as many examples of southern zoos, whether they be in California, Florida, or anywhere in between, that have outdoor reptile themed areas.
@Neil chace is 100% correct. Even some herp exhibits are outdoors - SDZ and LA both have a large group of outdoor herp exhibits next to their buildings, and SDZ, SDZSP, OC, etc all have herps areas that have roofs but are outdoors. Before my recent trip, I think the only herps I've seen on display outside have been American alligators and the occasional tortoise in warmer weather.
Roger Williams used to have their Chinese alligator outside in the summer months, in what is now the North American river otter exhibit. I'm surprised you've never seen any outdoor turtle exhibits. I know Southwick's have long kept Japanese pond turtles outside, and Franklin Park Zoo has some outdoor exhibits for native turtles. I want to say Toronto had a snapping turtle outside too. Other than that, excluding Disney's Animal Kingdom (which is of course in a warmer climate), the only herps I can recall seeing outdoors are also alligators and tortoises.
While not California, Wildlife World in Arizona may be an exception in a number of ways. They have several indoor mammal houses including Small Mammal house, North American mammals, South American "critters", and Dragon World for larger herps and Reptile House for smaller herps and inverts. They also have an outdoor enclosure for common water snake, green iguana (under construction), large torts, and American alligators.
Common Water Snake encolosure:
And they are building an outdoor iguana enclosure:
Un-pictured is an outdoor yard for large torts and an alligator pond.
Central Florida Zoo keeps Blue iguana and crocodile monitors in semi-outdoor enclosures (mesh tops and partially open to allow real plants and direct sunlight:
Common Water Snake encolosure:
And they are building an outdoor iguana enclosure:
Un-pictured is an outdoor yard for large torts and an alligator pond.
Central Florida Zoo keeps Blue iguana and crocodile monitors in semi-outdoor enclosures (mesh tops and partially open to allow real plants and direct sunlight:
That does remind me, I saw the Philippine croc outside at Pittsburgh once. It's almost never out, though, and isn't viewable otherwise.
Thinking about it, I've seen a few outdoor turtle exhibits for local species, but rarely see any turtles in them and they're just not memorable. Mostly just a lot of brown. Always native species (and often at nature centers). Lehigh Valley and Maine wildlife park come to mind, Bear Mountain, claws n paws had a snapping turtle. I saw turtles at cape may and richmond but I don't know if they're captive or wild. Nothing nearly as nice as in CA, or non-native!
I believe that the Virginia Zoo also has something similar with their turtles. I don't know if they are rescues though.
If it's the area I think you mean, it opened soon after my last visit a few years ago.