Mixed species enclosures and other changes for Burgers Zoo

[JurassicMax]

I realy disagree with you here. The lions and espicially the cheetahs would lose more than they would gain in living conditions. And big living trees are way to valuble to be removed in a Zoo. With most zoos not even dreaming of that privilage.

Agreed, I think Burgers would be very hesitate to cut down their trees. I do believe you would also need a permit before you can start cutting down the trees, which also takes time and could be difficult (depending on the municipality).

 

[Mr Gharial]

I realy disagree with you here. The lions and espicially the cheetahs would lose more than they would gain in living conditions. And big living trees are way to valuble to be removed in a Zoo. With most zoos not even dreaming of that privilage.

Burgers zoo is known for moving trees, They could be moved to different parts of the zoo, probably the woods region

You could chose to install solar panels on the roof to supply the needed energy as well as a green roof (more environmentally friendly), but this is only achievable when no skylights are used.

I was already planning on it, but I want to put as much energy as possible into cooling of the main hall, isolation and proper lighting.

 

[Westcoastperson]

I realy disagree with you here. The lions and espicially the cheetahs would lose more than they would gain in living conditions. And big living trees are way to valuble to be removed in a Zoo. With most zoos not even dreaming of that privilage.

I see what you mean with the trees but the problem is its between the trees and a better and more enriching exhibit for lions and cheetahs. Their current exhibit is more of a flat forest with the exception of a few hills and climbing structures with a basic chain fence in the back. We could try to relocate the trees to somewhere else on the property that way they aren't destroyed. I am not saying that an updated lion exhibit is more important than the lives of the trees but maybe we could accomplish both without negatively affecting the lions or trees. We could also make a rocky kopje and include the trees it would look a bit strange but it would keep the trees and provide a better exhibit for the lions.

 

[Mr Gharial]

I see what you mean with the trees but the problem is its between the trees and a better and more enriching exhibit for lions and cheetahs. Their current exhibit is more of a flat forest with the exception of a few hills and climbing structures with a basic chain fence in the back. We could try to relocate the trees to somewhere else on the property that way they aren't destroyed. I am not saying that an updated lion exhibit is more important than the lives of the trees but maybe we could accomplish both without negatively affecting the lions or trees. We could also make a rocky kopje and include the trees it would look a bit strange but it would keep the trees and provide a better exhibit for the lions.

Basically my plan, maybe we can build rocks around them to make them look like acacias

 

[Westcoastperson]

I was already planning on it, but I want to put as much energy as possible into cooling of the main hall, isolation and proper lighting.

I believe you are overestimating the amount of energy the lighting and cooling need. During the summer the cooling will need lots of energy but it can be redirected from the lights as they won't be used as much because summer in Antartica is a dark season.

 

[Mr Gharial]

I believe you are overestimating the amount of energy the lighting and cooling need. During the summer the cooling will need lots of energy but it can be redirected from the lights as they won't be used as much because summer in Antartica is a dark season.

Good point, and I guess cooling will be lower in winter

 

[Westcoastperson]

So for the lions and cheetahs, we would have something like these two where the pines are growing into the rocks. The first one is an actual kopje so try to think similar to that one, the second one is more of an example of how the trees would fit in the kopje.

 

[Mr Gharial]

So for the lions and cheetahs, we would have something like these two where the pines are growing into the rocks. The first one is an actual kopje so try to think similar to that one, the second one is more of an example of how the trees would fit in the kopje.

Exactly what I had in mind, maybe some can be moved to the greater safari seperations

 

[Mr Gharial]

Alright, so for the Safari region, do we know of anything small that could go with the Spurred tortoises? They don't give a lot of movement and maybe adding something will bring it to something more balanced to look at.
Also I added the Goliath heron and Black-crowned night heron to the wading bird aviary, along with the African sacred ibis and eastern crowned crane, as per MennoPebesma's suggestion, and I might also add an egyptian goose. Would these work together?

Also do we know if anything could go together with the secretairybird, or could the be cool with the vultures and marabou's?

Also: Kori bustard? Vulturine guineafowl?

And yes, I am currently looking into birds

 

[Westcoastperson]

Alright, so for the Safari region, do we know of anything small that could go with the Spurred tortoises? They don't give a lot of movement and maybe adding something will bring it to something more balanced to look at.
Also I added the Goliath heron and Black-crowned night heron to the wading bird aviary, along with the African sacred ibis and eastern crowned crane, as per MennoPebesma's suggestion, and I might also add an egyptian goose. Would these work together?

Also do we know if anything could go together with the secretairybird, or could the be cool with the vultures and marabou's?

And yes, I am currently looking into birds

I only have an answer to the first two and a possible answer for the third
1. Mongoose/meerkat, dik-dik, leopard tortoise, fenec fox, and maybe a ground hornbill
2. yes
3. hornbills maybe

 

[Mr Gharial]

Actually, here's a crazy idea: Make the wading bird aviary a full wading bird aviary and move the guineafowl to the tortoises, eh?

I only have an answer to the first two and a possible answer for the third
1. Mongoose/meerkat, dik-dik, leopard tortoise, fenec fox, and maybe a ground hornbill

I've already though about moving the meerkats and including fennecs, but meerkats are only in southern Africa and Fennecs are Sahara-restricted.
Leopard tortoise is also South Africa only and maybe the ground hornbill could work, but do they fly? Because if so we'd have to turn it into an aviary and that would obstruct the view of the tortoises

 

[Westcoastperson]

Actually, here's a crazy idea: Make the wading bird aviary a full wading bird aviary and move the guineafowl to the tortoises, eh?



I've already though about moving the meerkats and including fennecs, but meerkats are only in southern Africa and Fennecs are Sahara-restricted.
Leopard tortoise is also South Africa only and maybe the ground hornbill could work, but do they fly? Because if so we'd have to turn it into an aviary and that would obstruct the view of the tortoises

I have seen them in exhibits without netting so I assume with wing clipping they are fine, they specifically use Abyssinian ground hornbills but they might be too big for your tortoise enclosure.

 

[Mr Gharial]

I have seen them in exhibits without netting so I assume with wing clipping they are fine, they specifically use Abyssinian ground hornbills but they might be too big for your tortoise enclosure.

I think I'm probably moving the helmeted guineafowl in there, along with vulturine guineafowl and chestnut-bellied sandgrouse. Do you think the kori bustard could go together in the wading bird aviary though?

 

[Westcoastperson]

I think I'm probably moving the helmeted guineafowl in there, along with vulturine guineafowl and chestnut-bellied sandgrouse. Do you think the kori bustard could go together in the wading bird aviary though?

Koti Bustard could be fine in the wading bird aviary and they could work with the vulture aviary

 

[Mr Gharial]

Koti Bustard could be fine in the wading bird aviary and they could work with the vulture aviary

I think I'm going to save it for the wading bird aviary, but that's the final one, I promise.

Now, which species of hornbill would you suggest go with the secretarybird? Maybe multiple different species?

 

[JurassicMax]

The secretarybirds are kept together with the vultures and marabou storks right? Possibly keeping larger species of hornbill (ground hornbills) would be better, so they won't be easily attacked or eaten (which is unlikely).
However they do tend to eat the eggs/chicks of other birds so they could influence any potential breeding in the aviary.
If you want to have breeding pairs of the before mentioned birds then I would recommend smaller species of hornbill like the Von der Decken’s hornbill.

 

[Mr Gharial]

I prefer the Southern hornbill

Remember, East Africa only!
So we have a choice between the Abyssan ground, Eastern yellow-billed, Northern red-billed, Crowned, Von Decken's, African grey and Silvery-cheecked hornbill. Through I'm not sure which ones can go together and which ones can go together with the Secretarybird.

These are all the ones present in europe, according to ZooTierListe

 

[Westcoastperson]

Remember, East Africa only!
So we have a choice between the Abyssan ground, Eastern yellow-billed, Northern red-billed, Crowned, Von Decken's, African grey and Silvery-cheecked hornbill. Through I'm not sure which ones can go together and which ones can go together with the Secretarybird.

These are all the ones present in europe, according to ZooTierListe

I know Abyssans are compatible with ungulates so I would assume they are also compatible with secretaries

 

[Mr Gharial]

I know Abyssans are compatible with ungulates so I would assume they are also compatible with secretaries

That would make sense, though ungulates and hornbills don't threaten each other's territory

 

[JurassicMax]

The secretarybirds are kept together with the vultures and marabou storks right? Possibly keeping larger species of hornbill (ground hornbills) would be better, so they won't be easily attacked or eaten (which is unlikely).
However they do tend to eat the eggs/chicks of other birds so they could influence any potential breeding in the aviary.
If you want to have breeding pairs of the before mentioned birds then I would recommend smaller species of hornbill like the Von der Decken’s hornbill.

With ground hornbills I mean the Abyssan ground hornbill