Luke da Zoo nerd
Well-Known Member
Hi! I had the idea, (that has probably been thought of before) of a fantasy zoo made entirely of animals only found on islands. No continents are allowed.
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Islands zoo 11-20-19
- Thread starter Luke da Zoo nerd
- Start date
Hmm, interesting idea. I'll give it a shot!
I'll try this out too.
I don't know where it'd be located, but I'll call it the Insular Ecological Park. Visitors enter through a cobblestone walkway bordered by tropical plants and bamboo as well as rushing brooks and rock gardens. They eventually come to the main plaza, the entrance, where they get their tickets and enter the zoo. Metal Statues of a Komodo Dragon, a Galapagos Giant Tortoise, a Ring-Tailed Lemur, and a Kiwi sit outside. There are paying stations nearby for visitors who would like to donate to save these animals, where visitors can watch their coin roll down and into a funnel. There are also restrooms and a gift shop. Beyond the main plaza is a large grassy area with a few hills, that is meant to be a show area as well as a place guests can relax or meet up.
No species yet, but stay tuned!
I don't know where it'd be located, but I'll call it the Insular Ecological Park. Visitors enter through a cobblestone walkway bordered by tropical plants and bamboo as well as rushing brooks and rock gardens. They eventually come to the main plaza, the entrance, where they get their tickets and enter the zoo. Metal Statues of a Komodo Dragon, a Galapagos Giant Tortoise, a Ring-Tailed Lemur, and a Kiwi sit outside. There are paying stations nearby for visitors who would like to donate to save these animals, where visitors can watch their coin roll down and into a funnel. There are also restrooms and a gift shop. Beyond the main plaza is a large grassy area with a few hills, that is meant to be a show area as well as a place guests can relax or meet up.
No species yet, but stay tuned!
Not sure what to call it, but figured out a species list and exhibits. I will note I did use the fantasy card a bit, although the majority of species are kept in zoos, or have been historically.
The first area is: Hawaii.
This is a relatively small area, planted tropically to resemble the native state of the Hawaiian islands. The first exhibit is a small pond, home to Nene (Branta sandvicensis) and Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana). Next is a pair of moderately sized aviaries, containing Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo hawaiiensis) and Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis). The two species are not mixed. A much smaller aviary exhibits two of the Hawaiian honeycreepers, the Akeke’e (Loxops caeruleirostris) and the I’iwi (Vestiaria coccinea). Signage tells the sad story of the honeycreepers, how many have gone extinct due to mosquitos, humans, and introduced species. The foliage opens up to reveal a large pool with a sandy shore, showcasing one of Hawaii's few native mammals: the Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi). The seals are all rescues, with injuries preventing their release. A much smaller pool/aquarium opposite the seals presents some of Hawaii's endemic marine fish.
Species list for the tank:
Potter’s Angelfish (Centropyge potteri)
Masked Angelfish (Genicanthus personatus)
Bluestriped Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fremblii)
Oval Chromis (Chromis ovalis)
Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudefduf abdominalis)
Sunset Basslet (Liopropoma aurora)
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby (Canthigaster jactator)
Hawaiian Squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum)
Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
Elegant Coris (Coris venusta)
Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides pthirophagus)
The next group of exhibits jumps oceans into the Atlantic, with the Caribbean. The first exhibits are a trio of rocky ones, home to a trio of Cyclura iguanas. These are the Lesser Antillean Iguana (Cyclura delicatissima), Blue Rock Iguana (Cyclura lewisi), and Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta). Another large reptile lounges in a nearby pool: the Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer). Farther along the path we come to exhibits for a pair of island mammals and two endangered parrots. Two wetland style exhibits hold Cuban Hutia (Capromys pilorides) and the Cozumel Raccoon (Procyon pygmeus). Two moderately sized aviaries each hold a flock of amazon parrots, namely the Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata) and the Imperial Amazon (Amazona imperialis). Coming into view around the next bend is a large building, and upon entering the doors a darkened exhibit for a very unusual animal appears. This is the Cuban Solenodon (Solenodon cubanus). Another pair of much smaller nocturnal exhibits follow, one for the Aruba Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor), and one for the Puerto Rican Boa (Chilabothrus inornatus). Becoming brighter again, there is an exhibit for Knight Anole (Anolis equestris). Passing through a set of doors into daylight, guests now find themselves in a large aviary. Many of them are rare, and signage talks about limited resources and how catastrophes can have a devastating effect on tiny islands.
Species found in here are: Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus pygmeus), West Indian Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arborea), Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala), Blue-headed Quail-Dove (Staroenas cyanocephala), Key West Quail-Dove (Geotrygon chrysia), Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita), Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes porticensis), Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus), Palmchat (Dulus dominicus), Western Spindalis (Spindalis zena), and Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi).
A small aviary between sections of the building houses some much smaller species, but just as interesting ones. Bahama Woodstar (Calliphlox evelynae), Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus), Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor), Black-crowned Palm Tanager (Phaenicophilus palmarum), and Blue Anole (Anolis gorgonae).
Leaving the little jewels behind, we jump the Panamian isthmus to the Pacific, and with a crashing of waves we arrive on the Galapagos. The last room of the building houses a trio of sea-going Galapagos endemics, the Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus), Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), and the iconic Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristata). This trio of seemingly standard animals are all unusual: the gull hunts at night, the penguin is found farther north than any other, and the iguana is the only sea-going lizard. Now exiting the building guests encounter another lizard, this time the Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus). A small exhibit houses the Galapagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis), one of relatively few landbirds on the Galapagos. Guests then encounter the biggest animal on the islands, the Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra spp). Signage compares shell types to the different islands and their environments, explaining the benefits of the shell variations to the tortoise's survival.
Stay tuned for more... Madagascar, Indonesia, and Oceania.
The first area is: Hawaii.
This is a relatively small area, planted tropically to resemble the native state of the Hawaiian islands. The first exhibit is a small pond, home to Nene (Branta sandvicensis) and Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana). Next is a pair of moderately sized aviaries, containing Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo hawaiiensis) and Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis). The two species are not mixed. A much smaller aviary exhibits two of the Hawaiian honeycreepers, the Akeke’e (Loxops caeruleirostris) and the I’iwi (Vestiaria coccinea). Signage tells the sad story of the honeycreepers, how many have gone extinct due to mosquitos, humans, and introduced species. The foliage opens up to reveal a large pool with a sandy shore, showcasing one of Hawaii's few native mammals: the Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi). The seals are all rescues, with injuries preventing their release. A much smaller pool/aquarium opposite the seals presents some of Hawaii's endemic marine fish.
Species list for the tank:
Potter’s Angelfish (Centropyge potteri)
Masked Angelfish (Genicanthus personatus)
Bluestriped Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fremblii)
Oval Chromis (Chromis ovalis)
Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudefduf abdominalis)
Sunset Basslet (Liopropoma aurora)
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby (Canthigaster jactator)
Hawaiian Squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum)
Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
Elegant Coris (Coris venusta)
Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides pthirophagus)
The next group of exhibits jumps oceans into the Atlantic, with the Caribbean. The first exhibits are a trio of rocky ones, home to a trio of Cyclura iguanas. These are the Lesser Antillean Iguana (Cyclura delicatissima), Blue Rock Iguana (Cyclura lewisi), and Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta). Another large reptile lounges in a nearby pool: the Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer). Farther along the path we come to exhibits for a pair of island mammals and two endangered parrots. Two wetland style exhibits hold Cuban Hutia (Capromys pilorides) and the Cozumel Raccoon (Procyon pygmeus). Two moderately sized aviaries each hold a flock of amazon parrots, namely the Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata) and the Imperial Amazon (Amazona imperialis). Coming into view around the next bend is a large building, and upon entering the doors a darkened exhibit for a very unusual animal appears. This is the Cuban Solenodon (Solenodon cubanus). Another pair of much smaller nocturnal exhibits follow, one for the Aruba Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor), and one for the Puerto Rican Boa (Chilabothrus inornatus). Becoming brighter again, there is an exhibit for Knight Anole (Anolis equestris). Passing through a set of doors into daylight, guests now find themselves in a large aviary. Many of them are rare, and signage talks about limited resources and how catastrophes can have a devastating effect on tiny islands.
Species found in here are: Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus pygmeus), West Indian Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arborea), Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala), Blue-headed Quail-Dove (Staroenas cyanocephala), Key West Quail-Dove (Geotrygon chrysia), Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita), Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes porticensis), Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus), Palmchat (Dulus dominicus), Western Spindalis (Spindalis zena), and Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi).
A small aviary between sections of the building houses some much smaller species, but just as interesting ones. Bahama Woodstar (Calliphlox evelynae), Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus), Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor), Black-crowned Palm Tanager (Phaenicophilus palmarum), and Blue Anole (Anolis gorgonae).
Leaving the little jewels behind, we jump the Panamian isthmus to the Pacific, and with a crashing of waves we arrive on the Galapagos. The last room of the building houses a trio of sea-going Galapagos endemics, the Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus), Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), and the iconic Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristata). This trio of seemingly standard animals are all unusual: the gull hunts at night, the penguin is found farther north than any other, and the iguana is the only sea-going lizard. Now exiting the building guests encounter another lizard, this time the Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus). A small exhibit houses the Galapagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis), one of relatively few landbirds on the Galapagos. Guests then encounter the biggest animal on the islands, the Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra spp). Signage compares shell types to the different islands and their environments, explaining the benefits of the shell variations to the tortoise's survival.
Stay tuned for more... Madagascar, Indonesia, and Oceania.
Luke da Zoo nerd
Well-Known Member
Great zoo so far! Are you gonna do Galapagos islands?Not sure what to call it, but figured out a species list and exhibits. I will note I did use the fantasy card a bit, although the majority of species are kept in zoos, or have been historically.
The first area is: Hawaii.
This is a relatively small area, planted tropically to resemble the native state of the Hawaiian islands. The first exhibit is a small pond, home to Nene (Branta sandvicensis) and Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana). Next is a pair of moderately sized aviaries, containing Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo hawaiiensis) and Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis). The two species are not mixed. A much smaller aviary exhibits two of the Hawaiian honeycreepers, the Akeke’e (Loxops caeruleirostris) and the I’iwi (Vestiaria coccinea). Signage tells the sad story of the honeycreepers, how many have gone extinct due to mosquitos, humans, and introduced species. The foliage opens up to reveal a large pool with a sandy shore, showcasing one of Hawaii's few native mammals: the Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi). The seals are all rescues, with injuries preventing their release. A much smaller pool/aquarium opposite the seals presents some of Hawaii's endemic marine fish.
Species list for the tank:
Potter’s Angelfish (Centropyge potteri)
Masked Angelfish (Genicanthus personatus)
Bluestriped Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fremblii)
Oval Chromis (Chromis ovalis)
Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudefduf abdominalis)
Sunset Basslet (Liopropoma aurora)
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby (Canthigaster jactator)
Hawaiian Squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum)
Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
Elegant Coris (Coris venusta)
Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides pthirophagus)
The next group of exhibits jumps oceans into the Atlantic, with the Caribbean. The first exhibits are a trio of rocky ones, home to a trio of Cyclura iguanas. These are the Lesser Antillean Iguana (Cyclura delicatissima), Blue Rock Iguana (Cyclura lewisi), and Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta). Another large reptile lounges in a nearby pool: the Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer). Farther along the path we come to exhibits for a pair of island mammals and two endangered parrots. Two wetland style exhibits hold Cuban Hutia (Capromys pilorides) and the Cozumel Raccoon (Procyon pygmeus). Two moderately sized aviaries each hold a flock of amazon parrots, namely the Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata) and the Imperial Amazon (Amazona imperialis). Coming into view around the next bend is a large building, and upon entering the doors a darkened exhibit for a very unusual animal appears. This is the Cuban Solenodon (Solenodon cubanus). Another pair of much smaller nocturnal exhibits follow, one for the Aruba Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor), and one for the Puerto Rican Boa (Chilabothrus inornatus). Becoming brighter again, there is an exhibit for Knight Anole (Anolis equestris). Passing through a set of doors into daylight, guests now find themselves in a large aviary. Many of them are rare, and signage talks about limited resources and how catastrophes can have a devastating effect on tiny islands.
Species found in here are: Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus pygmeus), West Indian Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arborea), Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala), Blue-headed Quail-Dove (Staroenas cyanocephala), Key West Quail-Dove (Geotrygon chrysia), Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita), Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes porticensis), Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus), Palmchat (Dulus dominicus), Western Spindalis (Spindalis zena), and Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi).
A small aviary between sections of the building houses some much smaller species, but just as interesting ones. Bahama Woodstar (Calliphlox evelynae), Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus), Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor), Black-crowned Palm Tanager (Phaenicophilus palmarum), and Blue Anole (Anolis gorgonae).
Leaving the little jewels behind, we jump the Panamian isthmus to the Pacific, and with a crashing of waves we arrive on the Galapagos. The last room of the building houses a trio of sea-going Galapagos endemics, the Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus), Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), and the iconic Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristata). This trio of seemingly standard animals are all unusual: the gull hunts at night, the penguin is found farther north than any other, and the iguana is the only sea-going lizard. Now exiting the building guests encounter another lizard, this time the Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus). A small exhibit houses the Galapagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis), one of relatively few landbirds on the Galapagos. Guests then encounter the biggest animal on the islands, the Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra spp). Signage compares shell types to the different islands and their environments, explaining the benefits of the shell variations to the tortoise's survival.
Stay tuned for more... Madagascar, Indonesia, and Oceania.
Does this work similar to the Zoo Community game?
Luke da Zoo nerd
Well-Known Member
Not really, Be creative and just make a zoo. This game is a little similar to the zoo chat thread make an exhibit for that country. Except for islands.
Been a while, but here's my first exhibit: Greenland and Nunavut (specifically Baffin and Ellesmere Islands)
Guests come to a grassy area with a few coniferous trees planted around and a mock fishing town as well. A wooden sign says “Welcome to the Arctic.” This area is based around Greenland, Baffin Island, and Ellesmere Island. Large rocks are covered with lichen and a nearby restaurant, Ellesmere Island Eatery, serves up some soup, sandwiches, and the like. The town plaza is where the “Arctic Raptors” presentations take place. It is here where several species of birds are periodically taken out and a presentation is given about them and the threats they face. The zoo has either 0.1 or 1.0 of the following species: White-Tailed Eagle, Snowy Owl, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, and Common Raven (I know, it’s a corvid, but whatever). The stone path goes trough the town plaza and eventually climbs into the Arctic wilderness. The path boundaries are made up of a mix of old, broken wooden fence and worn orange mesh fencing.
The first exhibit guests come to is a very large one, crossed over by a wooden bridge over a large ravine. This exhibit is about an acre in size, and displays 1.6 Muskox, 2.7 Barren-Ground Caribou, and 2.8 Peary Caribou. Binoculars on the bridge allow guests to see the animals better. Rocks hidden by hills serve as fencing, but because of the varying elevation of the exhibit, it seems to melt into the surrounding landscape. It is planted with grasses and sedges, with the odd shrub, patch of willow, or conifer here and there for shade. There are also rocks and logs to serve as scratching posts. Underneath the bridge itself is actually a gate that can be used to bisect the exhibit if for some reason animals need to be separated. There is a large lake as well within the enclosure.
The next exhibit is about a 600 square foot tundra exhibit. The exhibit is somewhat flat but does have a hill in the back. Moats are the hidden barriers in this enclosure. There are a few patches of willow shrubs, and lichen covered rocks and logs. A pond is present within the exhibit as well. A large rock outcropping sits in the middle of the exhibit. It is home to 1.1 Arctic Foxes. This is not crossed via bridge but rather visible on the side of the path.
The last large (half acre) exhibit for this area is a wide, tundra exhibit that utilizes the same hills to hide boundaries as the ungulate exhibit does. It is for a pack of 1.5 Arctic Wolves. It is for the most part the same, with the exhibit actually having a hill so that the inhabitants can watch the ungulates as well as the foxes, but so that none of the other species can see the wolves. It has logs and rocks, as well as a mock broken down house to use for shelter, willow clumps, a pond, and one conifer tree. A wooden bridge crosses over this exhibit as well: the hills the bridge connects are actually the wolves’ indoor quarters.
The next few exhibits are still for tundra animals but are for the most part smaller. A 400 square foot mesh covered aviary comes next, supported by wooden posts and two conifer trees. It is mostly grassy and hilly, but has stands of willow, bilberry, and more, as well as a marshy pond. Old houses provide some nesting structures. The number of animals will not be listed for mass aviaries like these. It exhibits Rock Ptarmigan, Northern Wheatear, Fieldfare, Redwing, White Wagtail, American Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Arctic Redpoll, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, and Hoary Redpoll.
An aviary on the side of the path is around 400 square feet in size, also mesh supported by wooden poles, and has a large rock outcropping coming down the hill towards guests. It is visible through a glass panel situated in mock rock. This aviary has sedges, a small pond, and some conifers. It is home usually to a species of bird that is not presently in a presentation: of the 5 species of birds used in the Arctic Raptors show, one will always be here, while the others will be off-exhibit. As such, it can hold an eagle, an owl, one of two species of falcons, or a raven on any given day.
The next exhibit is actually within a faux hill that is even planted with actual grasses and low-lying shrubs. Visitors enter and find themselves in a subterranean dirt chamber. On one side of the vaguely oval shaped room is an exhibit for 1.0 Stoats, and on the other side is a similar mixed-species exhibit for 0.2 Northern Collared Lemmings and 0.1 North American Brown Lemming. The Stoat exhibit has a series of tunnels with grass in them that the stoat can use, and also has an 8 x 5 foot indoor exhibit with a skylight (invisible when looking at the hill head-on because of a well placed boulder) that recreates the arctic tundra, having some bare, hollow driftwood, rocks, patches of shrubbery, and a rock outcrop. The lemmings also have a system of tunnels, though the tunnel system in the lemming exhibit is far more expansive to accommodate more animals and the more regularly burrowing activity of the inhabitants. They have a similar but smaller (5 x 4 foot) exhibit which is mostly similar to the stoat’s, with a skylight, but has more open area and only one log.
All of the exhibits above have snow placed in them during hot summer days and also have treats encased in ice that the animals have to work to break apart or wait for it to thaw.
After exiting the hill, guests start to find themselves in more rocky terrain. Large worn boulders and driftwood become more common, with patches of grass becoming scarce and sand making up the substrate outside the path. The trail slopes down somewhat steeply, with wooden handrails on either side. A few patches of mock ice can also be found here and there. Guests are now entering the coast portion of the exhibit, having exited the tundra.
Guests are now in a rocky area bordered by fairly high (about 20 foot) rocky cliffs on all sides and enter a stone plaza. On one side is an artificial tide pool, which gushes in cold saltwater as a wave every few minutes. The left hand path leads to the polar bear exhibit, while the right leads to the pinniped enclosures and aquarium portion of the exhibit.
The left hand path leads slightly up again and is bordered by rocks. The rocky cliff borders the path on the left hand side and is covered with lichen and moss of different colors. The path then splits, with a left hand path leading straight and the right descending down a flight of stone stairs/ramp. The left path leads to viewing for the tundra exhibit for the bears. It is visible via a wooden ramp that overlooks the exhibit. Within is a mock town with storefronts, patios, and even a broken down truck the bears can use as shelter. There are also a few conifer trees, boulders, and pieces of driftwood.
The right path leads to underwater viewing for the polar bears and viewing for their second habitat. It is a large exhibit visible with above and below water viewing. It is rocky, with a few patches of grass, and lots of sand above water. There are several small pools and one very large cold one, which is the primary underwater viewing. The pool is at most 20 feet deep, and contains several thousand gallons of water. A cold stream runs from the top of this exhibit down into the central pool. Another slightly smaller pool is ringed with ice and has chunks of “ice” floating within it. This pool is a bit colder than the main one.
Both of the exhibits, obviously, are home to 1.2 Polar Bears.
The right hand path from the beach pavilion leads down into the ice and rock caves and into a building disguised as a rocky cliff. The lighting here is blue and mostly comes from the tanks themselves. Mock starfish are plastered onto the walls. The first tank is a near 360-immersion experience for Arctic fish. Fish can swim on the left, right, and even above the heads of guests. The tank is large, (I’m not good with gallons, so I’ll say it’s a 500,000 US gallon tank) and consists of a tunnel that wraps around, with some parts of it hidden by mock rock on the visitor side. The tunnel is blue lit because of the lights filtering through the water. The tank is mostly open water, with a pebbly substrate with some sand and mud patches. It has a few boulders as well, and is covered by a mock ice sheet. It is home to Atlantic Cod, Arctic Cod, Pacific Cod, Atlantic Salmon, Arctic Char, Atlantic Halibut, Greenland Halibut, Atlantic Wolffish, Greenland Cod, Capelin, and Pacific Herring.
Further on the path are the pinniped and seabird exhibits. Guest scan take an elevator or flight of stairs to get above water viewing, or can stay underneath to get face-to-face views with the animals. The pinniped room is fairly large, about 10,000 square feet, and has multiple 20 foot glass windows to see into animal habitats. Above visitors’ heads, replicas of narwhals, porpoises, and belugas hang suspended from the ceiling. The pinniped exhibits are all fairly similar, and are designed to be so that rotation can be fairly easy. They all have mostly rock bottoms with a few patches of sand and mud, some rock archways and outcroppings in the water, sandy beaches, some conifer trees, and part of a fictional cannery company. The story goes that the seals are attracted to the cannery by the disposable fish parts that the workers throw away into the water, which also attracts the birds. The exhibits are thousands of gallons each and are around 25 feet deep for each one. There are 4 pinniped exhibits for 5 species, and most of the seals can be mixed together without issue, having been slowly introduced to each other over a period of time. The pinniped tanks exhibit 1.2 Walrus, 0.1 Harp Seal, 1.1 Bearded Seal, 0.2 Harbor Seal, and 0.1 Ringed Seal. The walruses are not exhibited with the seals, however.
Further on are the aviaries. There are 3 bird exhibits: 1 for shorebirds, another for diving birds, and a third for gulls and jaegers. Only the diving bird aviary has underwater viewing, with the other two aviaries only having above water viewing. The gull and shorebird aviaries are less than 10 feet deep, while the diving bird aviary is nearly 30 feet deep. They all have a mix of rock, pebble, mud, and sand bottoms and small fish are placed in for live feedings (often young herring from the aforementioned tank).
The shorebird aviary is a long rocky shore (300 square feet) with patches of sand and some clumps of grass backed by a rocky cliff. The pool is less than a foot deep for most of the water, with it getting to a maximum of 3 feet deep at its deepest. It is covered in mesh and is home to Black-Bellied Plover, American Golden Plover, Killdeer, Common Ringed Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Baird’s Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Red-Necked Phalarope, and Red Phalarope. There is a slight artificial wave generator turned on at different points of the day that causes low and high tides. There are also tubes that can be placed in the sand and filled with food around the beach that the birds can find for enrichment.
The gull aviary is around 500 square feet and has more space for the birds to fly around in. It consists of a large pool with rock outcroppings, chunks of mock ice, archways, and logs lying about, and also has buildings of the mock cannery present. It is about 9 feet deep at its deepest and 4 feet deep at the shallowest. It is home to generally more aggressive birds who would take food from the diving birds and shorebirds. It is sometimes stocked with live fish for feedings. It exhibits Parasitic Jaeger, Long-Tailed Jaeger, Black-Legged Kittiwake, Ivory Gull, Sabine’s Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Ross’s Gull, Glaucous Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, and Northern Fulmar.
And, for the final exhibit of the whole complex, the diving bird aviary. This is the deepest aviary, but is only around 300 square feet in size. Still, it is also very tall and has plenty of room for the birds to fly about in. It has a similar design as the gull aviary, with the mock cannery, rocks, archways, and ice chunks. It also has pipes underwater to match that industrialized feel. It is similarly stocked with live fish. There are some beach areas with sand, patches of grass, boulders, and driftwood. On display are Dovekie, Common Murre, Thick-Billed Murre, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Atlantic Puffin, Steller’s Eider, King Eider, Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Long-Tailed Duck, Red-Throated Loon, Common Loon, Red-Breasted Merganser, and Great Cormorant.
That concludes the Greenland/Nunavut section of the zoo. The path eventually winds about and connects back to the zoo passing the polar bear exhibit on the other side.
Next up should be some tropical islands, probably Hawaii but maybe the Northern Mariana Islands.
Guests come to a grassy area with a few coniferous trees planted around and a mock fishing town as well. A wooden sign says “Welcome to the Arctic.” This area is based around Greenland, Baffin Island, and Ellesmere Island. Large rocks are covered with lichen and a nearby restaurant, Ellesmere Island Eatery, serves up some soup, sandwiches, and the like. The town plaza is where the “Arctic Raptors” presentations take place. It is here where several species of birds are periodically taken out and a presentation is given about them and the threats they face. The zoo has either 0.1 or 1.0 of the following species: White-Tailed Eagle, Snowy Owl, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, and Common Raven (I know, it’s a corvid, but whatever). The stone path goes trough the town plaza and eventually climbs into the Arctic wilderness. The path boundaries are made up of a mix of old, broken wooden fence and worn orange mesh fencing.
The first exhibit guests come to is a very large one, crossed over by a wooden bridge over a large ravine. This exhibit is about an acre in size, and displays 1.6 Muskox, 2.7 Barren-Ground Caribou, and 2.8 Peary Caribou. Binoculars on the bridge allow guests to see the animals better. Rocks hidden by hills serve as fencing, but because of the varying elevation of the exhibit, it seems to melt into the surrounding landscape. It is planted with grasses and sedges, with the odd shrub, patch of willow, or conifer here and there for shade. There are also rocks and logs to serve as scratching posts. Underneath the bridge itself is actually a gate that can be used to bisect the exhibit if for some reason animals need to be separated. There is a large lake as well within the enclosure.
The next exhibit is about a 600 square foot tundra exhibit. The exhibit is somewhat flat but does have a hill in the back. Moats are the hidden barriers in this enclosure. There are a few patches of willow shrubs, and lichen covered rocks and logs. A pond is present within the exhibit as well. A large rock outcropping sits in the middle of the exhibit. It is home to 1.1 Arctic Foxes. This is not crossed via bridge but rather visible on the side of the path.
The last large (half acre) exhibit for this area is a wide, tundra exhibit that utilizes the same hills to hide boundaries as the ungulate exhibit does. It is for a pack of 1.5 Arctic Wolves. It is for the most part the same, with the exhibit actually having a hill so that the inhabitants can watch the ungulates as well as the foxes, but so that none of the other species can see the wolves. It has logs and rocks, as well as a mock broken down house to use for shelter, willow clumps, a pond, and one conifer tree. A wooden bridge crosses over this exhibit as well: the hills the bridge connects are actually the wolves’ indoor quarters.
The next few exhibits are still for tundra animals but are for the most part smaller. A 400 square foot mesh covered aviary comes next, supported by wooden posts and two conifer trees. It is mostly grassy and hilly, but has stands of willow, bilberry, and more, as well as a marshy pond. Old houses provide some nesting structures. The number of animals will not be listed for mass aviaries like these. It exhibits Rock Ptarmigan, Northern Wheatear, Fieldfare, Redwing, White Wagtail, American Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Arctic Redpoll, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, and Hoary Redpoll.
An aviary on the side of the path is around 400 square feet in size, also mesh supported by wooden poles, and has a large rock outcropping coming down the hill towards guests. It is visible through a glass panel situated in mock rock. This aviary has sedges, a small pond, and some conifers. It is home usually to a species of bird that is not presently in a presentation: of the 5 species of birds used in the Arctic Raptors show, one will always be here, while the others will be off-exhibit. As such, it can hold an eagle, an owl, one of two species of falcons, or a raven on any given day.
The next exhibit is actually within a faux hill that is even planted with actual grasses and low-lying shrubs. Visitors enter and find themselves in a subterranean dirt chamber. On one side of the vaguely oval shaped room is an exhibit for 1.0 Stoats, and on the other side is a similar mixed-species exhibit for 0.2 Northern Collared Lemmings and 0.1 North American Brown Lemming. The Stoat exhibit has a series of tunnels with grass in them that the stoat can use, and also has an 8 x 5 foot indoor exhibit with a skylight (invisible when looking at the hill head-on because of a well placed boulder) that recreates the arctic tundra, having some bare, hollow driftwood, rocks, patches of shrubbery, and a rock outcrop. The lemmings also have a system of tunnels, though the tunnel system in the lemming exhibit is far more expansive to accommodate more animals and the more regularly burrowing activity of the inhabitants. They have a similar but smaller (5 x 4 foot) exhibit which is mostly similar to the stoat’s, with a skylight, but has more open area and only one log.
All of the exhibits above have snow placed in them during hot summer days and also have treats encased in ice that the animals have to work to break apart or wait for it to thaw.
After exiting the hill, guests start to find themselves in more rocky terrain. Large worn boulders and driftwood become more common, with patches of grass becoming scarce and sand making up the substrate outside the path. The trail slopes down somewhat steeply, with wooden handrails on either side. A few patches of mock ice can also be found here and there. Guests are now entering the coast portion of the exhibit, having exited the tundra.
Guests are now in a rocky area bordered by fairly high (about 20 foot) rocky cliffs on all sides and enter a stone plaza. On one side is an artificial tide pool, which gushes in cold saltwater as a wave every few minutes. The left hand path leads to the polar bear exhibit, while the right leads to the pinniped enclosures and aquarium portion of the exhibit.
The left hand path leads slightly up again and is bordered by rocks. The rocky cliff borders the path on the left hand side and is covered with lichen and moss of different colors. The path then splits, with a left hand path leading straight and the right descending down a flight of stone stairs/ramp. The left path leads to viewing for the tundra exhibit for the bears. It is visible via a wooden ramp that overlooks the exhibit. Within is a mock town with storefronts, patios, and even a broken down truck the bears can use as shelter. There are also a few conifer trees, boulders, and pieces of driftwood.
The right path leads to underwater viewing for the polar bears and viewing for their second habitat. It is a large exhibit visible with above and below water viewing. It is rocky, with a few patches of grass, and lots of sand above water. There are several small pools and one very large cold one, which is the primary underwater viewing. The pool is at most 20 feet deep, and contains several thousand gallons of water. A cold stream runs from the top of this exhibit down into the central pool. Another slightly smaller pool is ringed with ice and has chunks of “ice” floating within it. This pool is a bit colder than the main one.
Both of the exhibits, obviously, are home to 1.2 Polar Bears.
The right hand path from the beach pavilion leads down into the ice and rock caves and into a building disguised as a rocky cliff. The lighting here is blue and mostly comes from the tanks themselves. Mock starfish are plastered onto the walls. The first tank is a near 360-immersion experience for Arctic fish. Fish can swim on the left, right, and even above the heads of guests. The tank is large, (I’m not good with gallons, so I’ll say it’s a 500,000 US gallon tank) and consists of a tunnel that wraps around, with some parts of it hidden by mock rock on the visitor side. The tunnel is blue lit because of the lights filtering through the water. The tank is mostly open water, with a pebbly substrate with some sand and mud patches. It has a few boulders as well, and is covered by a mock ice sheet. It is home to Atlantic Cod, Arctic Cod, Pacific Cod, Atlantic Salmon, Arctic Char, Atlantic Halibut, Greenland Halibut, Atlantic Wolffish, Greenland Cod, Capelin, and Pacific Herring.
Further on the path are the pinniped and seabird exhibits. Guest scan take an elevator or flight of stairs to get above water viewing, or can stay underneath to get face-to-face views with the animals. The pinniped room is fairly large, about 10,000 square feet, and has multiple 20 foot glass windows to see into animal habitats. Above visitors’ heads, replicas of narwhals, porpoises, and belugas hang suspended from the ceiling. The pinniped exhibits are all fairly similar, and are designed to be so that rotation can be fairly easy. They all have mostly rock bottoms with a few patches of sand and mud, some rock archways and outcroppings in the water, sandy beaches, some conifer trees, and part of a fictional cannery company. The story goes that the seals are attracted to the cannery by the disposable fish parts that the workers throw away into the water, which also attracts the birds. The exhibits are thousands of gallons each and are around 25 feet deep for each one. There are 4 pinniped exhibits for 5 species, and most of the seals can be mixed together without issue, having been slowly introduced to each other over a period of time. The pinniped tanks exhibit 1.2 Walrus, 0.1 Harp Seal, 1.1 Bearded Seal, 0.2 Harbor Seal, and 0.1 Ringed Seal. The walruses are not exhibited with the seals, however.
Further on are the aviaries. There are 3 bird exhibits: 1 for shorebirds, another for diving birds, and a third for gulls and jaegers. Only the diving bird aviary has underwater viewing, with the other two aviaries only having above water viewing. The gull and shorebird aviaries are less than 10 feet deep, while the diving bird aviary is nearly 30 feet deep. They all have a mix of rock, pebble, mud, and sand bottoms and small fish are placed in for live feedings (often young herring from the aforementioned tank).
The shorebird aviary is a long rocky shore (300 square feet) with patches of sand and some clumps of grass backed by a rocky cliff. The pool is less than a foot deep for most of the water, with it getting to a maximum of 3 feet deep at its deepest. It is covered in mesh and is home to Black-Bellied Plover, American Golden Plover, Killdeer, Common Ringed Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Baird’s Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Red-Necked Phalarope, and Red Phalarope. There is a slight artificial wave generator turned on at different points of the day that causes low and high tides. There are also tubes that can be placed in the sand and filled with food around the beach that the birds can find for enrichment.
The gull aviary is around 500 square feet and has more space for the birds to fly around in. It consists of a large pool with rock outcroppings, chunks of mock ice, archways, and logs lying about, and also has buildings of the mock cannery present. It is about 9 feet deep at its deepest and 4 feet deep at the shallowest. It is home to generally more aggressive birds who would take food from the diving birds and shorebirds. It is sometimes stocked with live fish for feedings. It exhibits Parasitic Jaeger, Long-Tailed Jaeger, Black-Legged Kittiwake, Ivory Gull, Sabine’s Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Ross’s Gull, Glaucous Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, and Northern Fulmar.
And, for the final exhibit of the whole complex, the diving bird aviary. This is the deepest aviary, but is only around 300 square feet in size. Still, it is also very tall and has plenty of room for the birds to fly about in. It has a similar design as the gull aviary, with the mock cannery, rocks, archways, and ice chunks. It also has pipes underwater to match that industrialized feel. It is similarly stocked with live fish. There are some beach areas with sand, patches of grass, boulders, and driftwood. On display are Dovekie, Common Murre, Thick-Billed Murre, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Atlantic Puffin, Steller’s Eider, King Eider, Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Long-Tailed Duck, Red-Throated Loon, Common Loon, Red-Breasted Merganser, and Great Cormorant.
That concludes the Greenland/Nunavut section of the zoo. The path eventually winds about and connects back to the zoo passing the polar bear exhibit on the other side.
Next up should be some tropical islands, probably Hawaii but maybe the Northern Mariana Islands.
Luke da Zoo nerd
Well-Known Member
Oops, sorry. I meant The Comoros.Thanks! I already did the Galapagos, it's at the end of the first post.
No, I'm not doing the Comoros. Not a whole lot of endemics there overall.
Not sure what to call it, but figured out a species list and exhibits. I will note I did use the fantasy card a bit, although the majority of species are kept in zoos, or have been historically.
The first area is: Hawaii.
This is a relatively small area, planted tropically to resemble the native state of the Hawaiian islands. The first exhibit is a small pond, home to Nene (Branta sandvicensis) and Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana). Next is a pair of moderately sized aviaries, containing Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo hawaiiensis) and Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis). The two species are not mixed. A much smaller aviary exhibits two of the Hawaiian honeycreepers, the Akeke’e (Loxops caeruleirostris) and the I’iwi (Vestiaria coccinea). Signage tells the sad story of the honeycreepers, how many have gone extinct due to mosquitos, humans, and introduced species. The foliage opens up to reveal a large pool with a sandy shore, showcasing one of Hawaii's few native mammals: the Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi). The seals are all rescues, with injuries preventing their release. A much smaller pool/aquarium opposite the seals presents some of Hawaii's endemic marine fish.
Species list for the tank:
Potter’s Angelfish (Centropyge potteri)
Masked Angelfish (Genicanthus personatus)
Bluestriped Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fremblii)
Oval Chromis (Chromis ovalis)
Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudefduf abdominalis)
Sunset Basslet (Liopropoma aurora)
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby (Canthigaster jactator)
Hawaiian Squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum)
Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
Elegant Coris (Coris venusta)
Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides pthirophagus)
The next group of exhibits jumps oceans into the Atlantic, with the Caribbean. The first exhibits are a trio of rocky ones, home to a trio of Cyclura iguanas. These are the Lesser Antillean Iguana (Cyclura delicatissima), Blue Rock Iguana (Cyclura lewisi), and Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta). Another large reptile lounges in a nearby pool: the Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer). Farther along the path we come to exhibits for a pair of island mammals and two endangered parrots. Two wetland style exhibits hold Cuban Hutia (Capromys pilorides) and the Cozumel Raccoon (Procyon pygmeus). Two moderately sized aviaries each hold a flock of amazon parrots, namely the Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata) and the Imperial Amazon (Amazona imperialis). Coming into view around the next bend is a large building, and upon entering the doors a darkened exhibit for a very unusual animal appears. This is the Cuban Solenodon (Solenodon cubanus). Another pair of much smaller nocturnal exhibits follow, one for the Aruba Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor), and one for the Puerto Rican Boa (Chilabothrus inornatus). Becoming brighter again, there is an exhibit for Knight Anole (Anolis equestris). Passing through a set of doors into daylight, guests now find themselves in a large aviary. Many of them are rare, and signage talks about limited resources and how catastrophes can have a devastating effect on tiny islands.
Species found in here are: Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus pygmeus), West Indian Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arborea), Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala), Blue-headed Quail-Dove (Staroenas cyanocephala), Key West Quail-Dove (Geotrygon chrysia), Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita), Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Melanerpes porticensis), Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus), Palmchat (Dulus dominicus), Western Spindalis (Spindalis zena), and Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi).
A small aviary between sections of the building houses some much smaller species, but just as interesting ones. Bahama Woodstar (Calliphlox evelynae), Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus), Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor), Black-crowned Palm Tanager (Phaenicophilus palmarum), and Blue Anole (Anolis gorgonae).
Leaving the little jewels behind, we jump the Panamian isthmus to the Pacific, and with a crashing of waves we arrive on the Galapagos. The last room of the building houses a trio of sea-going Galapagos endemics, the Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus), Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), and the iconic Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristata). This trio of seemingly standard animals are all unusual: the gull hunts at night, the penguin is found farther north than any other, and the iguana is the only sea-going lizard. Now exiting the building guests encounter another lizard, this time the Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus). A small exhibit houses the Galapagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis), one of relatively few landbirds on the Galapagos. Guests then encounter the biggest animal on the islands, the Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra spp). Signage compares shell types to the different islands and their environments, explaining the benefits of the shell variations to the tortoise's survival.
Stay tuned for more... Madagascar, Indonesia, and Oceania.
And now we venture to the island of Madagascar!
A pair of aviaries start the Madagascar track, one holds a pair of Madagascar Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides radiatus), and the other holds one of the rarest and most special animals in our collection: the incredibly rare and poorly known Madagascar Serpent-Eagle (Eutriorchis astur). The path then leads to a carefully enclosed pond, with plenty of reeds. Inhabitants are: Gentle Bamboo-Lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis), Madagascar Pochard (Aythya innotata), and Meller’s Duck (Anas melleri). Around the way, a large complex for a number of lemur species towers skyward. Living in this complex are Indri (Indri indri), Black & White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia vareigata), Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra), Mongoose Lemur (Eulemur mongoz), Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta), Black Lemur (Eulemur macao), Red-fronted Lemur (Eulemur rubrifrons), and Coquerel’s Sifaka (Propithecus coquereli). The species are able to be mixed and separated as necessary. Following the lemurs is their main predator, the Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox). Two separate onshow exhibits try to keep at least one animal viewable. The track winds around to a large building; Madagascan Nights.
Species list of this unique nocturnal house:
Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
Greater Hedgehog Tenrec (Setifer setosus)
Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus)
Rodrigues Flying Fox (Pteropus rodricensis)
Giant Striped Mongoose (Galidicteris grandidieri)
Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei)
Madagascar Tree Boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis)
Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides)
Phantasmic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus)
Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)
Tomato Frog (Dyscophus antonglii)
Golden Mantella (Mantella aurantica)
Green Mantella (Mantella viridis)
Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa)
Exiting the nocturnal house, a string of small aviaries appears. Housed here are species that are not a good fit for the walk-through aviary. Such species are Blue Coua (Coua caerulea) to avoid hybridization with the other Coua species, and two species of vanga due to their predatory inclinations; Helmet Vanga (Euryceros prevostii) and Blue Vanga (Cyanolanius madagascarinus). Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) are present in these aviaries as well. Last but not least on the Madagascan track is the free-flight aviary. Free flying birds are:
Madagascar Partridge (Margaroperdix madagascarensis)
Subdesert Mesite (Monias benschi)
Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri)
Madagascar Crested Ibis (Lophotibis cristata)
Crested Coua (Coua cristata)
Cuckoo-Roller (Leptosomus discolor)
Long-tailed Ground-Roller (Uratelornis chimaera)
Pitta-like Ground Roller (Atelornis pittoides)
Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher (Corythornis madagascariensis)
Madagascar Lovebird (Agapornis canus)
Greater Vasa (Coracopsis vasa)
Safely protected for the mesite, Cuckoo-roller, coua, kingfisher, and ground-rollers are a few reptiles and a very unique insect, housed in the exit cave. These are:
Madagascar Collared Iguana (Oplurus cuvieri)
Madagascar Giant Day Gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis)
Yellow-headed Day Gecko (Phelsuma klemmeri)
Gold-dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda)
Rainbow Sand Lizard (Tracheloptychus petersii)
Giraffe-necked Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa)
Guests now wave good-bye to day-geckos and weevils, and head towards the land of dragons, red apes, and too many hornbills! Which is coming once I have some more time.
Reef View Zoo
This small facility is located on a Caribbean island. (not sure which) It is a small zoo but has some rare treasures, and is a breeding facility for many endangered species. It is full of many tropical flowers and palms. The zoo is split into 3 sections, Caribbean islands, Indian Ocean islands, and the Wallace's line.
Caribbean
After entering through the gates, you soon approach a raised viewing shelter to your left. Supposed to look like a patio, it overlooks a medium-sized pond for Caribbean flamingos. At the back of the exhibit, three large "sails" hidden by trees give a glimpse of what is to come. (Which we'll discuss later.) You enter through a straw roofed archway to the Caribbean Islands. As soon as you enter, the pathways are shaded by tropical trees and heavy foliage. The first exhibit is a small pond for two Cuban crocodiles. Very similar to Zoo Miami's. A display nearby discusses how rare these crocodiles are. Moving on, to the side of the pathway is a shaded structure which contains three tanks for Grand Cayman blue iguanas, boa constrictors and Desmarest's hutias. Reef View is one of the most successful breeders of the rare iguanas, and maintains a breeding program behind the scenes. At the end of the pathway is a the medium sized Caribbean Aviary. It is a walk-in netted aviary (Walk in, not walk through!) And was includes scarlet ibises, roseate spoonbills, cattle egrets, Caribbean coots, northern jacanas, Saint Vincent parrots and Jamaican tody. (Unsure of plural form!) As of all my aviaries, theres a giant nest for the kids to play in
. To your left is a path which leads to the "sails" we were talking about! The Caribbean Aquarium! This building has "sails" in downsizing heights, supposed to look like waves. Before you enter the main aquarium, between the set of doors is a small tank for Puerto Rican toads. The aquarium is a hallway with tanks going in this order (Notice, the order I am going in is right, left, right, left, ect.) Coral nursery: Fairy basslets, cleaning gobies, shrimps, corals. Seahorses: Longsnout seahorse. Sea caves: glass sweepers. Pufferfish: Caribbean sharpnose puffer, balloon fish. Brackish waters: Atlantic spadefish. Invaders!: Lionfish Octopus garden: Caribbean octopus Caribbean Christmas: Christmas tree worms At the end of the hallway is the main reef tank. A gigantic tank for Spotfin butterflyfish, queen angelfish, sergeant major, striped parrotfish (Anyone know if these would mix in well?) queen triggerfish, and blue tang. This building also doubles as an education and veterinary facility. Outside is a small saltwater pool for rescued green sea turtles. Alongside nurse sharks and southern stingrays. The pool has underwater viewing and displays talk about the troubles sea turtles face due to humans
Up next: Old reptiles, zany primates, and humongous crabs in the Indian Ocean Islands!
This small facility is located on a Caribbean island. (not sure which) It is a small zoo but has some rare treasures, and is a breeding facility for many endangered species. It is full of many tropical flowers and palms. The zoo is split into 3 sections, Caribbean islands, Indian Ocean islands, and the Wallace's line.
Caribbean
After entering through the gates, you soon approach a raised viewing shelter to your left. Supposed to look like a patio, it overlooks a medium-sized pond for Caribbean flamingos. At the back of the exhibit, three large "sails" hidden by trees give a glimpse of what is to come. (Which we'll discuss later.) You enter through a straw roofed archway to the Caribbean Islands. As soon as you enter, the pathways are shaded by tropical trees and heavy foliage. The first exhibit is a small pond for two Cuban crocodiles. Very similar to Zoo Miami's. A display nearby discusses how rare these crocodiles are. Moving on, to the side of the pathway is a shaded structure which contains three tanks for Grand Cayman blue iguanas, boa constrictors and Desmarest's hutias. Reef View is one of the most successful breeders of the rare iguanas, and maintains a breeding program behind the scenes. At the end of the pathway is a the medium sized Caribbean Aviary. It is a walk-in netted aviary (Walk in, not walk through!) And was includes scarlet ibises, roseate spoonbills, cattle egrets, Caribbean coots, northern jacanas, Saint Vincent parrots and Jamaican tody. (Unsure of plural form!) As of all my aviaries, theres a giant nest for the kids to play in
. To your left is a path which leads to the "sails" we were talking about! The Caribbean Aquarium! This building has "sails" in downsizing heights, supposed to look like waves. Before you enter the main aquarium, between the set of doors is a small tank for Puerto Rican toads. The aquarium is a hallway with tanks going in this order (Notice, the order I am going in is right, left, right, left, ect.) Coral nursery: Fairy basslets, cleaning gobies, shrimps, corals. Seahorses: Longsnout seahorse. Sea caves: glass sweepers. Pufferfish: Caribbean sharpnose puffer, balloon fish. Brackish waters: Atlantic spadefish. Invaders!: Lionfish Octopus garden: Caribbean octopus Caribbean Christmas: Christmas tree worms At the end of the hallway is the main reef tank. A gigantic tank for Spotfin butterflyfish, queen angelfish, sergeant major, striped parrotfish (Anyone know if these would mix in well?) queen triggerfish, and blue tang. This building also doubles as an education and veterinary facility. Outside is a small saltwater pool for rescued green sea turtles. Alongside nurse sharks and southern stingrays. The pool has underwater viewing and displays talk about the troubles sea turtles face due to humansUp next: Old reptiles, zany primates, and humongous crabs in the Indian Ocean Islands!
Luke da Zoo nerd
Well-Known Member
I love it!Reef View Zoo
This small facility is located on a Caribbean island. (not sure which) It is a small zoo but has some rare treasures, and is a breeding facility for many endangered species. It is full of many tropical flowers and palms. The zoo is split into 3 sections, Caribbean islands, Indian Ocean islands, and the Wallace's line.
Caribbean
After entering through the gates, you soon approach a raised viewing shelter to your left. Supposed to look like a patio, it overlooks a medium-sized pond for Caribbean flamingos. At the back of the exhibit, three large "sails" hidden by trees give a glimpse of what is to come. (Which we'll discuss later.) You enter through a straw roofed archway to the Caribbean Islands. As soon as you enter, the pathways are shaded by tropical trees and heavy foliage. The first exhibit is a small pond for two Cuban crocodiles. Very similar to Zoo Miami's. A display nearby discusses how rare these crocodiles are. Moving on, to the side of the pathway is a shaded structure which contains three tanks for Grand Cayman blue iguanas, boa constrictors and Desmarest's hutias. Reef View is one of the most successful breeders of the rare iguanas, and maintains a breeding program behind the scenes. At the end of the pathway is a the medium sized Caribbean Aviary. It is a walk-in netted aviary (Walk in, not walk through!) And was includes scarlet ibises, roseate spoonbills, cattle egrets, Caribbean coots, northern jacanas, Saint Vincent parrots and Jamaican tody. (Unsure of plural form!) As of all my aviaries, theres a giant nest for the kids to play in
Up next: Old reptiles, zany primates, and humongous crabs in the Indian Ocean Islands!