Masterplan of my "absolute" zoo

[Haliaeetus]

Hello,

today I start the description of the South American Zone of the Zoo (labelled "I" on the general map).
This zone contains a lot of species of this amazing continent (plus the Caribbean Isles and the Southern Central America, up to Southern Mexico), some of them are very rare and endangered.

Here's the map of this Zone :

As the previous zone, this one is subdivided in several subzones.
The first one (and by far the largest) is the Rainforest subzone, dedicated to the wildlife of Amazonia, Central America and Atlantic Forest.
There are smaller subzones dedicated to the Andes and to the Galapagos Islands.
The last subzone displays species from the cold shores of Chile and Argentina (you can guess what species will be seen there...).

The first exhibit (1), on the model of the Florida aviary (exhibit n° 20 of the North American Zone) is a 680 m² netted aviary, with lush vegetation (trees, reedbeds) and a pond.

Two species live there :

• Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber (2.0)
• Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi (1.1)

The Cocoi Herons, a young pair that come from the Aviario Nacional de Colombia, are unique in European zoos. It's hoped they will breed soon.

Conversely, the Scarlet Ibises are very common in European zoos. Formerly a large group (ca. 20 birds) lived and bred in the aviary but nearly all the birds have been transferred to other zoos, waiting for the building of a new aviary especially for them.
Only 2 old males remains for now.

In this place there's information about a mangrove and coastline conservation program that takes place in the Réserve Naturelle de l'Amana (French Guiana), a laying site for Leatherback and other Marine Turtles, that is supported by the Zoo.

Scarlet Ibis and Cocoi Heron aviary :

(Credits : Gil)

Scarlet Ibis :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Cocoi Heron :

(Credits : Therabu)

The next enclosure (2) is adjacent to the Ibis aviary.
With a 845 m² surface, it's a sandy plain, with a few trees to provide shade to the animals, and areas with mud, clay and mulch for the specifical needs of the animals.

It's the home of a troop of Collared Peccaries Tayassu tajacu (4.2).
Two baby Peccaries (2.0) are born in the Zoo in 2020.

Collared Peccary enclosure :

(Credits : Mattheus Carbonero)

Collared Peccary :

(Credits : Ituri)

The next exhibits (3-4) are large enclosures, with many trees, wooden platforms and large pools.
They have respectively surfaces of 2.385 and 2.210 m² and are located around a 505 m² building (A) that have the aspect of a Mayan pyramide, and hosts the night quarters of the animals (4 inner enclosures of 50 m² each, filled with mulch, with perches and platforms above the ground).

The animals can be seen from observation places with glass panels (and submarine vision in front of the pools), like in the Wolverine, Kodiak Bear and Puma enclosures of the North American Zone.
I add that the n° 4 exhibit can be seen only from a single place, in order to provide more tranquillity to the animals.
The night quarters can also be visited year-round.

This complex is the home of Jaguars Panthera onca (1.1), the male is called MACHO and the female LIDIA.
Each animal have usually its own enclosure, but both can be connected if the breeding (that has already occurred in the Zoo) is desired.

It's possible to see the feeding of the female Jaguar (with fish, in the pool) in the n° 3 enclosure.

The night quarter building contains a presentation about the symbolic of the Jaguar in the Ancient and Modern cultures of tropical Americas.
There's also information about a conservation program led at the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay (near Iguazu National Park), where the Jaguars are especially rare and endangered.
The program provides censuses of the Jaguars, education of the population, conservation of the habitats and also help to the farmers in order to prevent the conflicts between them and the wildlife.

A glimpse on the Jaguar exhibit :

(Credits : TinoPup)

Another glimpse on the Jaguar exhibit ("dry" part, without water) :

(Credits : amur leopard)

Jaguar :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

On the path to the Jaguar night quarters, we can see a 155 m² aviary (5), quite small but densely forested, so it could be quite difficult to find its dwellers, the Spectacled Owls Pulsatrix perspicillata (0.2).
Nonetheless the Owls aren't especially shy, and it's possible to admire them easily when one knows their favourite perchs !

Spectacled Owl aviary :

(Credits : KevinB)

Spectacled Owl :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

In the next week I'll describe a masterpiece of the South American Zone, the Amazonian Pavillion (B), plus a lot of aviaries disposed along it (6 to 17).

I would be curious what species you would expect to see in this complex.
I wait your answers and suggestions !

Stay in touch !

 

[Platypusboy]

Amazing as always!

 

[Bengal Tiger]

Hello,

today I start the description of the South American Zone of the Zoo (labelled "I" on the general map).
This zone contains a lot of species of this amazing continent (plus the Caribbean Isles and the Southern Central America, up to Southern Mexico), some of them are very rare and endangered.

Here's the map of this Zone :

As the previous zone, this one is subdivided in several subzones.
The first one (and by far the largest) is the Rainforest subzone, dedicated to the wildlife of Amazonia, Central America and Atlantic Forest.
There are smaller subzones dedicated to the Andes and to the Galapagos Islands.
The last subzone displays species from the cold shores of Chile and Argentina (you can guess what species will be seen there...).

The first exhibit (1), on the model of the Florida aviary (exhibit n° 20 of the North American Zone) is a 680 m² netted aviary, with lush vegetation (trees, reedbeds) and a pond.

Two species live there :

• Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber (2.0)
• Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi (1.1)

The Cocoi Herons, a young pair that come from the Aviario Nacional de Colombia, are unique in European zoos. It's hoped they will breed soon.

Conversely, the Scarlet Ibises are very common in European zoos. Formerly a large group (ca. 20 birds) lived and bred in the aviary but nearly all the birds have been transferred to other zoos, waiting for the building of a new aviary especially for them.
Only 2 old males remains for now.

In this place there's information about a mangrove and coastline conservation program that takes place in the Réserve Naturelle de l'Amana (French Guiana), a laying site for Leatherback and other Marine Turtles, that is supported by the Zoo.

Scarlet Ibis and Cocoi Heron aviary :

(Credits : Gil)

Scarlet Ibis :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Cocoi Heron :

(Credits : Therabu)

The next enclosure (2) is adjacent to the Ibis aviary.
With a 845 m² surface, it's a sandy plain, with a few trees to provide shade to the animals, and areas with mud, clay and mulch for the specifical needs of the animals.

It's the home of a troop of Collared Peccaries Tayassu tajacu (4.2).
Two baby Peccaries (2.0) are born in the Zoo in 2020.

Collared Peccary enclosure :

(Credits : Mattheus Carbonero)

Collared Peccary :

(Credits : Ituri)

The next exhibits (3-4) are large enclosures, with many trees, wooden platforms and large pools.
They have respectively surfaces of 2.385 and 2.210 m² and are located around a 505 m² building (A) that have the aspect of a Mayan pyramide, and hosts the night quarters of the animals (4 inner enclosures of 50 m² each, filled with mulch, with perches and platforms above the ground).

The animals can be seen from observation places with glass panels (and submarine vision in front of the pools), like in the Wolverine, Kodiak Bear and Puma enclosures of the North American Zone.
I add that the n° 4 exhibit can be seen only from a single place, in order to provide more tranquillity to the animals.
The night quarters can also be visited year-round.

This complex is the home of Jaguars Panthera onca (1.1), the male is called MACHO and the female LIDIA.
Each animal have usually its own enclosure, but both can be connected if the breeding (that has already occurred in the Zoo) is desired.

It's possible to see the feeding of the female Jaguar (with fish, in the pool) in the n° 3 enclosure.

The night quarter building contains a presentation about the symbolic of the Jaguar in the Ancient and Modern cultures of tropical Americas.
There's also information about a conservation program led at the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay (near Iguazu National Park), where the Jaguars are especially rare and endangered.
The program provides censuses of the Jaguars, education of the population, conservation of the habitats and also help to the farmers in order to prevent the conflicts between them and the wildlife.

A glimpse on the Jaguar exhibit :

(Credits : TinoPup)

Another glimpse on the Jaguar exhibit ("dry" part, without water) :

(Credits : amur leopard)

Jaguar :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

On the path to the Jaguar night quarters, we can see a 155 m² aviary (5), quite small but densely forested, so it could be quite difficult to find its dwellers, the Spectacled Owls Pulsatrix perspicillata (0.2).
Nonetheless the Owls aren't especially shy, and it's possible to admire them easily when one knows their favourite perchs !

Spectacled Owl aviary :

(Credits : KevinB)

Spectacled Owl :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

In the next week I'll describe a masterpiece of the South American Zone, the Amazonian Pavillion (B), plus a lot of aviaries disposed along it (6 to 17).

I would be curious what species you would expect to see in this complex.
I wait your answers and suggestions !

Stay in touch !

Wonderful

 

[Haliaeetus]

Hello,

tonight we discover a masterpiece of the South American Zone, dedicated to the Amazonian fauna : the Amazonian Ark.

Before discovering the building and the inner exhibits, we discover a long row of aviaries (6-17) for many birds, mammals and even reptiles coming from this part of the Americas.
The Zoo works with many Latin American research institutes, that have given some of the rarest species, sometimes unique in Europe.

The aviaries are medium-sized (from 75 to 215 m²) and garnished with dense vegetation, except if the needs of the animals require free spaces to fly.

Here's the list of the exhibits, their size and the species displayed :

• 6) 75 m² - Sunbittern Eurypyga helias (3.2), Yellow-crowned Amazon Amazona ochrocephala (5.1)
• 7) 75 m² - Callimico Callimico goeldii (4.1)
• 8) 80 m² - Brazilian Porcupine Coendou prehensilis (1.2)
• 9) 75 m² - Emperor Tamarin Saguinus imperator (0.5)
• 10) 75 m² - Black Curassow Crax alector (1.1), Black-headed Parrot Pionites melanocephalus (0.3)
• 11) 85 m² - Bald Uakari Cacajao calvus (1.2), unique in Europe (the animals come from a Brazilian refuge)
• 12) 90 m² - Purplish-backed Jay Cyanocorax beecheii (4.2), unique in Europe
  
• 13) 90 m² - Andean Cock-of-the-Rock Rupicola peruvianus (1.2), Ultramarine Grosbeak Cyanoloxia brissonii (1.5)
• 14) 100 m² - Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin (1.3), unique in Europe (the birds come from a CNRS centre of French Guiana)
• 15) 90 m² - Pileated Parrot Pionopsitta pileata (0.4), Orange-breasted Bunting Passerina leclancherii (3.3) ; the latter is unique in Europe
• 16) 90 m² - White-throated Toucan Ramphastos tucanus (1.2), Common Green Iguana Iguana iguana (0.1) ; the Iguana can be seen outside in summer only
• 17) 215 m² - Scarlet Macaw Ara macao (8.9).

Except the Iguana, all the species can go either outside or in inside aviaries (visible by the public) year-round.

I add that many births have occurred in 2020 in this complex : 1 Brazilian Porcupine (0.1), 3 Purplish-backed Jays (2.1), and 6 Scarlet Macaws (3.3 from 2 clutches).

Sunbittern :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Yellow-crowned Amazon :

(Credits : Gil)

Callimicos :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Brazilian Porcupine :

(Credits : AWP)

Emperor Tamarin :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Emperor Tamarin outside exhibit :

(Credits : TinoPup)

Black Curassow :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

Black-headed Parrot :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

Bald Uakari :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

Purplish-backed Jay :

(Credits : @alexkant, uploaded by TeaLovingDave)

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Ultramarine Grosbeak :

(Credits : gentle lemur)

Hoatzin :

(Credits : RadioTile)

Pileated Parrot :

(Credits : Zooish)

White-throated Toucan :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

Toucan and Iguana aviary :

(Credits : Mr Gharial)

Common Green Iguana :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Scarlet Macaw :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Scarlet Macaw aviary :

(Credits : gulogulogulo)

In the next days I'll present the inner part of the Amazonian Ark, of course with other species !

Now I let you comment the first part of this building, the exhibits and the species collection.

Stay in touch !

 

[Bengal Tiger]

Hello,

tonight we discover a masterpiece of the South American Zone, dedicated to the Amazonian fauna : the Amazonian Ark.

Before discovering the building and the inner exhibits, we discover a long row of aviaries (6-17) for many birds, mammals and even reptiles coming from this part of the Americas.
The Zoo works with many Latin American research institutes, that have given some of the rarest species, sometimes unique in Europe.

The aviaries are medium-sized (from 75 to 215 m²) and garnished with dense vegetation, except if the needs of the animals require free spaces to fly.

Here's the list of the exhibits, their size and the species displayed :

• 6) 75 m² - Sunbittern Eurypyga helias (3.2), Yellow-crowned Amazon Amazona ochrocephala (5.1)
• 7) 75 m² - Callimico Callimico goeldii (4.1)
• 8) 80 m² - Brazilian Porcupine Coendou prehensilis (1.2)
• 9) 75 m² - Emperor Tamarin Saguinus imperator (0.5)
• 10) 75 m² - Black Curassow Crax alector (1.1), Black-headed Parrot Pionites melanocephalus (0.3)
• 11) 85 m² - Bald Uakari Cacajao calvus (1.2), unique in Europe (the animals come from a Brazilian refuge)
• 12) 90 m² - Purplish-backed Jay Cyanocorax beecheii (4.2), unique in Europe
  
• 13) 90 m² - Andean Cock-of-the-Rock Rupicola peruvianus (1.2), Ultramarine Grosbeak Cyanoloxia brissonii (1.5)
• 14) 100 m² - Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin (1.3), unique in Europe (the birds come from a CNRS centre of French Guiana)
• 15) 90 m² - Pileated Parrot Pionopsitta pileata (0.4), Orange-breasted Bunting Passerina leclancherii (3.3) ; the latter is unique in Europe
• 16) 90 m² - White-throated Toucan Ramphastos tucanus (1.2), Common Green Iguana Iguana iguana (0.1) ; the Iguana can be seen outside in summer only
• 17) 215 m² - Scarlet Macaw Ara macao (8.9).

Except the Iguana, all the species can go either outside or in inside aviaries (visible by the public) year-round.

I add that many births have occurred in 2020 in this complex : 1 Brazilian Porcupine (0.1), 3 Purplish-backed Jays (2.1), and 6 Scarlet Macaws (3.3 from 2 clutches).

Sunbittern :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Yellow-crowned Amazon :

(Credits : Gil)

Callimicos :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Brazilian Porcupine :

(Credits : AWP)

Emperor Tamarin :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Emperor Tamarin outside exhibit :

(Credits : TinoPup)

Black Curassow :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

Black-headed Parrot :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

Bald Uakari :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

Purplish-backed Jay :

(Credits : @alexkant, uploaded by TeaLovingDave)

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Ultramarine Grosbeak :

(Credits : gentle lemur)

Hoatzin :

(Credits : RadioTile)

Pileated Parrot :

(Credits : Zooish)

White-throated Toucan :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

Toucan and Iguana aviary :

(Credits : Mr Gharial)

Common Green Iguana :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Scarlet Macaw :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Scarlet Macaw aviary :

(Credits : gulogulogulo)

In the next days I'll present the inner part of the Amazonian Ark, of course with other species !

Now I let you comment the first part of this building, the exhibits and the species collection.

Stay in touch !

Wow, this is great, I love it!!!

 

[CrashMegaraptor]

Y'know what...I love drawing animals and I'll sometimes draw large montages of animals together. I think I may have found my next big drawing project - based on your absolute zoo. It's been so much fun to see. X3

 

[Matheus Carbonero]

Wow, great job! And an honor to have my picture and local zoo featured.

 

[Haliaeetus]

Hello,

tonight I describe the inner parts of the Amazonian Ark, a pavilion that houses many species that live in the South (and Central) American rainforests, including very rare ones.

Here's the map of this pavilion :

Before the visit, I would say a few words about this building, whose shape (and even decoration) looks like a kind of boat, with inscriptions in Spanish and Portuguese.
This building is an illustration of the full involvement of my facility (and zoos in general) in favour of the conservation of rainforests.

In a time of renewed assaults over the Amazonia, a single visit of this pavilion makes sense, with a lot of information about the rainforest ecology, and the conservations programs supported and led by the Zoo.

Three main programs are highlighted :

• the conservation and expansion of bird sanctuaries in Andean montane forests of Colombia (one of the richest countries in the world for biodiversity)
• the reforestation and connection of forest patches in the Atlantic forest of Brazil, a zone historically deforested, where many endemics remain
• the comunity conservation of French Guianan jungle areas, with programs of sustainable development to deter noxious activities like illegal gold mining and poaching.

Additionnally there's a scenic exposition about the symbolic of several charismatic Amazonian animals in the ancient and modern South/Latin American cultures, including the Amerindian beliefs, the Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Caribbean folklores and even pop culture references.

The Zoo supports a Latin American cultural festival every year, and many personalities of this continents (conservationists, ecologists but also singers, actors, football players, writers...) have been invited in this place.

But let's see our animals !

The first row of exhibits (1-12) displays mostly heat-dependent or delicate species that hardly can be presented outside. There are also reptiles that can escape otherwise.
All the enclosures are delimited by glassy windows.

In the four first exhibits (40 m² each), you can see different small mammal species, in enclosures with a mulch substrate, vegetations and many hides :

• 1) Silvery Marmoset Mico argentatus (0.2), Red Acouchy Myoprocta acouchy (5.1), the latter is unique in Europe
• 2) Golden Lion Tamarin Leontopithecus rosalia (4.0)
• 3) Cotton-top Tamarin Saguinus oedipus (1.5)
• 4) Cuban Solenodon Solenodon cubanus (1.2), this species, unique in Europe and extremely rare, has been sent by the Havana Zoo! They are very difficult to see.

In 2020 a Cotton-top Tamarin (0.1) is born in this sector.

Silvery Marmoset :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Silvery Marmoset enclosure :

(Credits : gulogulogulo)

Golden Lion Tamarin :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Cotton-top Tamarin :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The next exhibit (5) that's also the largest of the inner exhibits is a large aquaterrarium (115 m²) with natural lighting (except in the darkest months of winter). Here there's a reptilian cohabitation of 2 impressive species :

• Common Anaconda Eunectes murinus (0.2)
• Mata-Mata Chelus fimbriata (2.1)

Although there are only 2 adult females now in the exhibit, there used to be a male too, deceased during 2020. He engendered 30 young Anacondas (0.0.30) during the last year, that can still be seen in the Nursery.

Common Anaconda :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Mata-Mata :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The Anaconda and Mata-Mata exhibit :

(Credits : geomorph)

I haven't the time to present the next exhibits of the Amazonian Ark tonight (I may describe them tomorrow or this weekend), so I let you comment this first part of the building.

See you later !

 

[Bengal Tiger]

Nice job!!! Looking forward to some Amazonian birds. Will you be doing a walk through are for this?

 

[Daniel Funk]

You made an awesome job describing this house. Reminds me of the Amazonia house at the Dortmund Zoo.

 

[Haliaeetus]

Amazonian Ark, part III :

Now we discover a row of aviaries (6-11) in the inner part of the building. There isn't access to outdoor aviaries because nearly all the species are very sensitive and don't support the cold weather.
To answer to @Bengal Tiger there isn't a walkthrough exhibit for the same reason (conversely there's a large walkthrough pavilion, called "Bird House" in the South Asian Zone, where most species roam freely, with some few exceptions).

Each aviary has a 25 m² surface, is densely filled with vegetation (in most cases), and hosts different species of birds, but also some mammals and reptiles.
All of them are enlighted with natural lighting.

Here's the list of the displayed species :

• 6) Plate-billed Mountain Toucan Andigena laminirostris (2.0), Red-footed Tortoise Chelonoidis carbonarius (4.3)
• 7) Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis (3.4), Inca Dove Columbina inca (4.5)
• 8) Toucan barbet Semnornis ramphastinus (2.1), this species is unique in Europe
• 9) Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota (2.1), Large hairy Armadillo Chaetophractus villosus (0.2)
• 10) Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno (1.2), this species is unique in Europe
• 11) Ruby Topaz Chrysolampis mosquitus (0.4)

Plate-billed Mountain Toucan :

(Credits : TheoV)

Red-footed Tortoise :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Orange-chinned Parakeet :

(Credits : newzooboy)

Toucan Barbet :

(Credits : toto98)

Blue-crowned Motmot :

(Credits : TheGerenuk)

Large Hairy Armadillo :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Resplendent Quetzal :

(Credits : newzooboy)

Ruby Topaz :

(Credits : Therabu)

Ruby Topaz (Hummingbird) aviary :

(Credits : LegoOwl)

The next exhibit (12) in the bottom of the pavilion, is a 20 m² terrarium filled with branches for Boa constrictor Boa constrictor (1.1).

The reptiles can climb and hide in the many trees, stumps, rocks and other structures.

Boa constrictor :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Boa constrictor enclosure :

(Credits : WhistlingKite24)

Now we go back to the exit, seeing the inner enclosures (13-23) of the animals displayed outside and described earlier. They are filled with mulch on the ground, with trees and perches for the animals (mainly birds and primates).

I present the sizes of all these exhibits :

• 13) 50 m² (White-throated Toucan, Common Iguana)
• 14) 40 m² (Pileated Parrot, Orange-breasted Bunting)
• 15) 50 m² (Hoatzin)
• 16) 50 m² (Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Ultramarine Grosbeak)
• 17) 25 m² (Purplish-backed Jay)
• 18) 35 m² (Bald Uakari)
• 19) 35 m² (Black Curassow, Black-headed Parrot)
• 20) 35 m² (Emperor Tamarin)
• 21) 25 m² (Brazilian Porcupine)
• 22) 50 m² (Callimico)
• 23) 40 m² (Sunbittern, Yellow-crowned Amazon)

Emperor Tamarin exhibit :

(Credit : Nix)

In the next days I'll post the following exhibits of this South American Zone.

Stay in touch !

 

[Haliaeetus]

Hello,

tonight I present a complex of aviaries for some of the most charismatic birds of South America (18-23).
These aviaries are located around a building that's used for the shelter of some birds at night or (for some species) in cases of unclement weather.
They encompass several ecosystems : tropical rainforest, Andean mountains and even Galapagos islands.
There's information about the symbolic of all these birds in the ancient and modern cultures of South America.

The first aviary (18) has a 605 m² surface, it's mainly open with perches, a few scrubs, and a nesting cliff at the bottom.

It hosts two species of tropical rainforest :

• Green-winged Macaw Ara chloropterus (3.3)
• Razor-billed Curassow Mitu (mitu) tuberosum (1.2)

Although none of these species is globally threatened, they suffer declines and even local extinctions in some countries ; the Zoo supports a reintroduction project of Green-winged Macaws in Northern Argentina, and has already sent chicks to a reintroduction centre based there.

Macaw and Curassow aviary :

(Credits : Gil)

Green-winged Macaw :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Razor-billed Curassow :

(Credits : Zooish)

The next exhibit (19) is the largest of all the unit. This aviary has a surface of 750 m², is high and densely forested.

It's home of rare Harpy Eagles Harpia harpyja (1.2).
This young trio is born in Itaipu breeding centre in Brazil, a centre renowned for the husbandry of this species, still very rare in European zoos.
For now they're still very young and probably not able to breeding.

I add that the Zoo supports a monitoring project of Harpy Eagles in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, where the Harpy is extremely rare, with an unclear status.
This project aims to understand better the biology of this giant eagle in such places, in order to priorize efficient conservation actions.

Possible look of the Harpy Eagle aviary (without the jungle vegetation) :

(Credits : David Matos Mendes)

Harpy Eagle :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The third aviary (20) presents another very rare species, in a 375 m² aviary (twice smaller than the Harpy aviary).
This aviary contains trees, but also rocky areas and cacti.

It's the habitat of Galapagos Hawks Buteo galapagoensis (2.0).
These birds (unique in captivity worldwide !) have been sent by a rescuing centre of the Galapagos National Park. They have been found injured in the park (respectively after a storm and a gunshot) and aren't able to fly correctly, so unable to be reintroduced in the nature.

The fourth aviary (21) is the smallest with only 330 m² surface.
It contains a pool and rocky cliffs, and is designed for coastal South American birds.

For now we can see Blue-footed Boobies Sula nebouxii (5.0).

This species (not threatened in the wild) is unique in captivity in Europe.
The birds have been sent by the Bioparque Amaru (Ecuador) for the same reason as for the Hawks described earlier (injured birds, unable to fly and fish in the wild).

Both species are interesting to introduce the public to the ecology of the Galapagos archipelago, their ecological value but also their role in the comprehension of evolution, with the famous expedition of Charles Darwin in the 1830's.

Blue-footed Boobies :

(Credits : AWP)

With the fifth aviary (22), we go back to the lowland forests.
This aviary has a 460 m² surface, as the Harpy aviary described earlier.
There are less trees but a lot of perches for the birds.

We can see there King Vultures Sarcoramphus papa (2.1).
This species has already bred successfully in the Zoo.

King Vulture aviary :

(Credits : toto98)

King Vulture :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

We close the description of this bird complex with the last aviary (23), a long, open aviary of 570 m². The ground is mainly sandy with a small pond, some small scrubs, and a rocky cliff.

It's dedicated to the real king of the South American avifauna, the Andean Condor Vultur gryphus (0.2).
For now only 2 females are displayed in this aviary.

Obviously there are several panels to show the importance of this bird in the folklore of all the Andean countries, and its conservation issues.

The Zoo supports a rewilding project of Condors in Argentinian Patagonia, for now only financially and technically. But if a male comes in the group of birds, the offspring could probably be finally sent to the Andes !

Andean Condor aviary :

(Credits : gulogulogulo)

The Andean Condor :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Now you can give me your impressions about this section of the South American Zone, the bird species displayed here and the projects and pedagogy of this section.

I'll present more South American exhibits and species in the coming days, before the end of November.

Stay in touch !

 

[CrashMegaraptor]

Very interesting.

I see the last few enclosures have a lot of water, so I suspect that the residents could like to swim (although one of them could be a monkey island).

 

[Haliaeetus]

Hello,

now we discover the last exhibits of the South American Zone. They are mainly dedicated to aquatic and marine wildlife.

Behind the Amazonian Ark (the shelters of the animals displayed here are mainly boxes in this building), there are 4 large exhibits with pools for different bird and mammal species. There aren't monkeys (sorry @CrashMegaraptor) but...

The first enclosure (24) is the narrowest, it has a 1.335 m² surface.
Its inhabitants can be seen on the ground and in the water, thanks to glass panels that allow a submarine vision.
There are a sandy beach, large flat rocks, bushy vegetation and open, grassy areas.
The decoration it themed on the Amazon River, with even a fake wooden fishing boat on the beach near the pool.

Here we can see a Giant Otter Pteronura brasiliensis (0.1).
The single female, CHIQUITA, lives alone since the death of the male in 2019 (he lived in the next exhibit).
It isn't planned for now to import new individuals.

Giant Otter exhibit :

(Credits : Geomorph)

Giant Otter :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The next exhibit (25) is quite large (2.035 m²), its land part is mainly bushy, with few notable elements.
For now we can see Black-necked Swans Cygnus melancoryphus (1.4).
Of course these birds have very little conservation value, but they are maintained since the death of the male Giant Otter that was displayed here once.

Maybe this exhibit will be reshaped in the future as an island for large Neotropical primates as Spider Monkeys or Howler Monkeys.

Black-necked Swans' enclosure :

(Credits : Maguari)

Black-necked Swan :

(Credits : NRJMelvinT)

Then we can see a large plain (26) of 2.115 m² where lives a troop of Capybaras Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (1.4) that have already bred in this installation.

It's mainly grassy, but with a lot of riparian vegetation, a pond in the centre of the enclosure and even many trees.

Capybara enclosure :

(Credits : mrcriss)

Capybara :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The last enclosure of the row (27) has a 2.845 m² surface, it's mostly a large shallow pond with muddy islets. The whole exhibit is designed for birds, the currently displayed species are :

• Chilean Flamingos Phoenicopterus chilensis (8.3)
• Rosy-billed Pochards Netta peposaca (4.2).

Before 2019, the Black-necked Swans lived here too, but have been removed as they disturbed the small colony of Flamingos in their attempts of breeding.

In 2020, a young Chilean Flamingo (1.0, called PEDRO) has hatched here.

The Zoo hopes to have, in the near future, a few pairs of rarer species as Andean or James Flamingo.

Chilean Flamingos' enclosure :

(Credits : MagpieGoose)

Chilean Flamingos :

(Credits : MagpieGoose)

Rosy-billed Pochard :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Near this complex, a smaller (680 m²), netted aviary, is the home of another bird species, the Red-legged Seriema Cariama cristata (0.1).

This aviary is covered with grass and gravel, in order to let this steppe bird run and walk.

Red-legged Seriema aviary :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Red-legged Seriema :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

I add that ca. 1 ha left remains near this complex for enlargements or new enclosures, in order to house diverse Andean and grassland/wetland South American animals.

If possible I will continue in the next days to describe the very last South American exhibits, dedicated to marine species, before going to Antarctica...

Stay in touch !

 

[Bengal Tiger]

Hello,

now we discover the last exhibits of the South American Zone. They are mainly dedicated to aquatic and marine wildlife.

Behind the Amazonian Ark (the shelters of the animals displayed here are mainly boxes in this building), there are 4 large exhibits with pools for different bird and mammal species. There aren't monkeys (sorry @CrashMegaraptor) but...

The first enclosure (24) is the narrowest, it has a 1.335 m² surface.
Its inhabitants can be seen on the ground and in the water, thanks to glass panels that allow a submarine vision.
There are a sandy beach, large flat rocks, bushy vegetation and open, grassy areas.
The decoration it themed on the Amazon River, with even a fake wooden fishing boat on the beach near the pool.

Here we can see a Giant Otter Pteronura brasiliensis (0.1).
The single female, CHIQUITA, lives alone since the death of the male in 2019 (he lived in the next exhibit).
It isn't planned for now to import new individuals.

Giant Otter exhibit :

(Credits : Geomorph)

Giant Otter :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The next exhibit (25) is quite large (2.035 m²), its land part is mainly bushy, with few notable elements.
For now we can see Black-necked Swans Cygnus melancoryphus (1.4).
Of course these birds have very little conservation value, but they are maintained since the death of the male Giant Otter that was displayed here once.

Maybe this exhibit will be reshaped in the future as an island for large Neotropical primates as Spider Monkeys or Howler Monkeys.

Black-necked Swans' enclosure :

(Credits : Maguari)

Black-necked Swan :

(Credits : NRJMelvinT)

Then we can see a large plain (26) of 2.115 m² where lives a troop of Capybaras Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (1.4) that have already bred in this installation.

It's mainly grassy, but with a lot of riparian vegetation, a pond in the centre of the enclosure and even many trees.

Capybara enclosure :

(Credits : mrcriss)

Capybara :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The last enclosure of the row (27) has a 2.845 m² surface, it's mostly a large shallow pond with muddy islets. The whole exhibit is designed for birds, the currently displayed species are :

• Chilean Flamingos Phoenicopterus chilensis (8.3)
• Rosy-billed Pochards Netta peposaca (4.2).

In 2020, a young Chilean Flamingo (1.0, called PEDRO) has hatched here.

The Zoo hopes to have, in the near future, a few pairs of rares species as Andean or James Flamingo.

Chilean Flamingos' enclosure :

(Credits : MagpieGoose)

Chilean Flamingos :

(Credits : MagpieGoose)

Near this complex, a smaller (680 m²), netted aviary, is the home of another bird species, the Red-legged Seriema Cariama cristata (0.1).

This aviary is covered with grass and gravel, in order to let this steppe bird run and walk.

Red-legged Seriema aviary :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Red-legged Seriema :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

I add that ca. 0,5 ha left remains near this complex for enlargements or new enclosures, in order to house grassland/wetland South American animals.

If possible I will continue in the next days to describe the very last South American exhibits, dedicated to marine species, before going to Antarctica...

Stay in touch !

Ooooh Antarctica I’m excited

 

[CrashMegaraptor]

Judging that the last exhibit is connected to the Antarctica building, I'm going to assume it's a penguin enclosure. Maybe Humboldt or Magellanic.

 

[Haliaeetus]

Hello,

first I express my thanks to the administrators who "saved" my topic and allowed me to continue it.

Then I'm thankful to the zoochatters who have proposed my topic as a nominee for the Thread of the Year, it's really heartwarming and a true achievement for a project I started privately many years ago.

And to end the month of November, I bring you to the chills of Chilean and Argentinian coasts, with the last exhibits of the South American Zone.

The first (29) is a long enclosure of 2.590 m² with a large pool and rocky shores.
Once there were two separate pools, that have been lumped by a streamy "pass" that acts as an enrichment for the pinnipeds that live here.
Historically several species, as Californian and South African Sea Lions, lived here but they have left the Zoo. Maybe one day they will be back if they will have another large pool.

Now the species displayed here is the South American Sea Lion Otaria byronia (2.2), the males PABLO and QUITO, and the females PLATA and QUECHUA.
Of course they are common and not-threatened, but they remain popular critters for the visitors.
Sea Lion shows have been stopped, but it's still possible to see the feeding and medical training sessions of the Sea Lions, that remain very attended.

Sea Lion pool (partial view) :

(Credits : Gil)

South American Sea Lion :

(Credits : Macaw16)

Near the Sea Lion pool there's an eatery called El Costeño (C), where it's possible to eat (mainly fish and seafood-based meals) in a harbor ambiance.
Note that all the fish and seafood come from sustainable sources. I've already said that earlier but I think it's important to repeat it.

Near El Costeño there's a large picnic area, that could be partially or totally converted in enclosures for pampa animals in the near future (see previous posts).

The last South American exhibit (30) hosts another very popular animal.
It's a smaller enclosure of 1.050 m², with a pool (the animals can be seen underwater thanks to glass panels with submarine vision) and a quite steep slope with rocks and gravels, and burrows for the nesting (yes @CrashMegaraptor you have correctly guessed that this exhibit is designed for Penguins).

Here we can see a small colony of Humboldt Penguins Spheniscus humboldti (8.10).

This species is Vulnerable in the wild, and subjects to pressures (overfishing, climate change, oilspills...), so it's important to maintain an effective protection of its nesting and feeding areas.
For these reasons the Zoo supports a conservation project on Peruvian coast, that includes interestingly the sustainable harvesting of guano (seabird poop, utilized as a fertilizer by the peasants since Precolombian times) and thus the improvement of coastal comunities.

Humboldt Penguin pool :

(Credits : Idk)

Humboldt Penguin :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

We've finished the South American Zone !

The Humboldt Penguin pool is a good transition for the next zone, that includes a sole building, Le Continent Blanc.

Of course it's the Antarctic Zone, labelled as "J" on the general map.

Coming in this building, the visitors walk along a path in a kind of white-bluish cave-like scenery, with screens displaying informations and samples of documentaries about the Antarctic ecosystems.
Then they come along a single large refrigerated exhibit with a pool with shallow and deep zones, bays and islands, overhung by steep, rocky zones covered by ice and snow.
There are long glass panels that allow a submarine vision of the enclosure.

This area displays now three penguin species that are rare or even unique in European zoos :

• Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri (2.3)
• Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua (6.5)
• Adelie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae (10.4)

Emperor Penguins have already bred successfully here (!), that isn't the case of the two others.

Antarctic Penguin pool :

(Credits : Tiger)

Emperor Penguin :

(Credits : FunkyGibbon)

Gentoo Penguin :

(Credits : Jambi)

Adelie Penguin :

(Credits : Elephantlover)

I add finally that the Zoo supports a conservation program of the marine birds and mammals in the Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises, especially in the Terre Adélie.

After this (short) visit of the intense colds of Antarctica, I bring you to spend the month of December in the warmth of the Vivarium, where live most species of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

That will be the last part of the description of the 2021 edition of my "absolute" zoo...

Now I let you comment your impressions about the "marine" enclosures of the South American Zone, and about the Antarctica Zone, the species displayed and/or the projects supported and the pedagogy of these areas.

Stay in touch !

 

[Haliaeetus]

Precision : the Antarctic Penguin exhibit has a surface of 1.800 m².

 

[Randomname0183]

An amazing thread so far! Have you considered doing exhibits for the other Penguin species?

 

[Batto]

Thank you for this thread. It has been an interesting read so far.
A few remarks:
- Reptiles, amphibians and arthropods do not really appear to be your focus of interest, do they
- Which French caves currently keep olms? I'm just aware of the Hermannshöhle in Germany as well as Zagreb Zoo and one Slovenian institute keeping the species.

Unfortunately, and please don't get this the wrong way, I'm getting the impression that you're heading into the same direction most of these fantasy zoos take at ZooChat: that your "absolute zoo" would be a financially implausible, vast megazoo, mainly dedicated to zoo nerds and species collectors. Filled to the brink with a plethora of exclusive animals (including their already fictional, individually named offspring), which seem to be mainly chosen based on a) their nonexistence or rarity in European zoos and b) your personal preference. I doubt that normal visitors, in particular families with children, would appreciate your vision.