Mixed species enclosures and other changes for Burgers Zoo

[Westcoastperson]

The problem is that you not relaize that the black and rufous elephant shrew would work so well, becuase it is not that smal, similar in size to rabbits. They are nearly 20 times heaver and arround 3 times longer than the round eared lephant shrew, typical kept in zoos. Maby did you (becuase it is not a well known species) not knew about this "giant" elephant shrew

I didn't realize they got that big so I guess you are right they could work well in the exhibit. (Dude seriously I thought they were like 12cm)

Oh damn, I looked it up and they're way bigger than I thought!
You're right, they're perfect!

Do you maybe know of a smaller animal to go into the aardvark seperation? It's smaller and I often see people staring into it, confused as to why they don't see anything inside. Maybe we could fix that problem as well

Maybe a smaller species of elephant shrew or an African Cichlid exhibit + species of turtle to connect to the Black Rufous elephant exhibit, I couldn't find tropical tortoise species but I could find a turtle species like the West African Mud Turtle

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

Hmm, definitely an African or Asian animal though, as the bush is already very South America-dominated with enclosure animals. Broad snouted caimans, capybaras and pacus. While the small-clawed otters and aardvark/elephant shrew are the only Asian and African enclosure animals

I don't belive there is no real option here. It should be used in the same way as before. Which is why I belive to add a african tortois species together with the elephantshrew would work well, for using a bit of extra space.

 

[Westcoastperson]

I don't belive there is no real option here. It should be used in the same way as before. Which is why I belive to add a african tortois species together with the elephantshrew would work well, for using a bit of extra space.

How about a species of Hinge Tortoise (aka Kinixys)

 

[Mr Gharial]

I don't belive there is no real option here. It should be used in the same way as before. Which is why I belive to add a african tortois species together with the elephantshrew would work well, for using a bit of extra space.

That does bring up the problem of the tortoises that are a few meters down the path

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

That does bring up the problem of the tortoises that are a few meters down the path

I know what you mean. That it would be weird to have 2 diffent tortoises next to each other. But I see no problem realy personally. The tortoise is not realy the center of the enclosure, just a roommate to the main attraction

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

How about a species of Hinge Tortoise (aka Kinixys)

This species would fit perfectly (not to big, and evern native to the same region). Iam realy not an expert on tortoises. But from what I read online this mix would probbely work out.

 

[Westcoastperson]

I know what you mean. That it would be weird to have 2 diffent tortoises next to each other. But I see no problem realy personally. The tortoise is not realy the center of the enclosure, just a roommate to the main attraction

But that makes the exhibit with only tortoises look less important compared to the neighboring shrew and tortoise

 

[Mr Gharial]

I don't belive there is no real option here. It should be used in the same way as before. Which is why I belive to add a african tortois species together with the elephantshrew would work well, for using a bit of extra space.

This species would fit perfectly (not to big, and evern native to the same region). Iam realy not an expert on tortoises. But from what I read online this mix would probbely work out.

Perfect!

 

[Mr Gharial]

But that makes the exhibit with only tortoises look less important compared to the neighboring shrew and tortoise

Maybe a small South American species to accompany them?

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

Perfect!

while I looked at your map, I had a good idea about the prairie dogs. They should be included under the Burgers Desert theme (not in the desert hall, but just thematicly). Even though they do not directly live in deserts, they live in very arid habitats, together with many species in Burger Bush themslef.

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

But that makes the exhibit with only tortoises look less important compared to the neighboring shrew and tortoise

The problem with the red-footed tortoise enclosure is that is just not that big. It would probelly get realy overshadowed. It was allready overshowdowed by the caimans, and exists realy only, so that that seperted space feels more alive. It would get overlooked even more. But unlike most kind of exhibits is it not realy pssoble to change parts like that in Burgers Bush. The red-footed tortoise is again eternaly cursed to be there to fill the space in south american/tropical themed exhibits, like in so many other zoos.

 

[Mr Gharial]

while I looked at your map, I had a good idea about the prairie dogs. They should be included under the Burgers Desert theme (not in the desert hall, but just thematicly). Even though they do not directly live in deserts, they live in very arid habitats, together with many species in Burger Bush themslef.

I had the same idea at first, I don't know how much space there is over there though. I'm going there in a few weeks to make see how much space there is. If there's enough space next to the desert hall I'll place them over there.

I needed to add something to that area as it's such a long path with no animals

 

[Mr Gharial]

The problem with the red-footed tortoise enclosure is that is just not that big. It would probelly get realy overshadowed. It was allready overshowdowed by the caimans, and exists realy only, so that that seperted space feels more alive. It would get overlooked even more. But unlike most kind of exhibits is it not realy pssoble to change parts like that in Burgers Bush. The red-footed tortoise is again eternaly cursed to be there to fill the space in south american/tropical themed exhibits, like in so many other zoos.

That's why I wanted to maybe add another South American animal to draw a tiny amount of extra attention

 

[Westcoastperson]

That's why I wanted to maybe add another South American animal to draw a tiny amount of extra attention

Maybe a Brazillian Porcupine. A paca, or agouti would work best but they were already chosen for the night house. Maybe a Coati but they are climbers and carnivores. If there is enough space a peccary could possibly be included.

 

[Westcoastperson]

I had the same idea at first, I don't know how much space there is over there though. I'm going there in a few weeks to make see how much space there is. If there's enough space next to the desert hall I'll place them over there.

I needed to add something to that area as it's such a long path with no animals

So my local zoo also has a path that is very barren like the one at Burgers. So they are going to place a Big horn sheep exhibit on part of the cliff that is adjacent the path. For Burgers, you could add a downward facing Ibex exhibit on the left or right side of the path. I don't know if its big enough for an Ibex heard though.

 

[Mr Gharial]

Maybe a Brazillian Porcupine. A paca, or agouti would work best but they were already chosen for the night house. Maybe a Coati but they are climbers and carnivores. If there is enough space a peccary could possibly be included.

defnitely no room for a peccary, and they only just created a new coati enclosure so moving them is off the list, maras are day active though, but I don't think there's room for them either

Now for another mixed species enclosure, would the Madagascan big-headed side-necked turtle be able to co-exist with aldabra giant tortoises? Bit off-topic, I know. But I wanted to add them and I'd have to make space if they couldn't

 

[Mr Gharial]

So my local zoo also has a path that is very barren like the one at Burgers. So they are going to place a Big horn sheep exhibit on part of the cliff that is adjacent the path. For Burgers, you could add a downward facing Ibex exhibit on the left or right side of the path. I don't know if its big enough for an Ibex heard though.

Definitely too small for that, and I'm already placing an ibex in the european section. Maybe regular children's zoo goat could work though

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

Maybe a Brazillian Porcupine. A paca, or agouti would work best but they were already chosen for the night house. Maybe a Coati but they are climbers and carnivores. If there is enough space a peccary could possibly be included.

you realize that there is little to no space in the tortois/caiman part of the Bush. espically the tortoise enclosure is made in such a way that prettymuch every other anmial, besides tortoises would be able to escape.

So my local zoo also has a path that is very barren like the one at Burgers. So they are going to place a Big horn sheep exhibit on part of the cliff that is adjacent the path. For Burgers, you could add a downward facing Ibex exhibit on the left or right side of the path. I don't know if its big enough for an Ibex heard though.

no, defentivly not enough space for an ibex herd

 

[Westcoastperson]

defnitely no room for a peccary, and they only just created a new coati enclosure so moving them is off the list, maras are day active though, but I don't think there's room for them either

Now for another mixed species enclosure, would the Madagascan big-headed side-necked turtle be able to co-exist with aldabra giant tortoises? Bit off-topic, I know. But I wanted to add them and I'd have to make space if they couldn't

I don't think there is a reason why they couldn't mix. My only fear is that I don't know if Aldabras can swim (correct me if I am wrong) so there could be a danger in having a pond in their enclosure.

 

[Westcoastperson]

you realize that there is little to no space in the tortois/caiman part of the Bush. espically the tortoise enclosure is made in such a way that prettymuch every other anmial, besides tortoises would be able to escape.

no, defentivly not enough space for an ibex herd

Then maybe a free flight aviary. although there is one very close to that area.