The national zoo is a largely taxonomic collection, and I’d try to keep it that way. The current buildings have an absolutely outstanding collection as is, and to be honest, I don’t think I’d change it up very much. This is probably less speculative and more fantasy, as I don’t anticipate the zoo doing anything like this. Regardless, given large funds, this is what I would do to the zoo.
Small Mammal House
- If the current collection is to be kept, some major renovations need to be done to the actual exhibits. While optimally the current collection could stay in its entirety, space is limited and some of the horribly outdated exhibits (sand cats, fennec foxes) might have to be combined for the animal’s sake.
- While the outside is beautiful, I’d like to see the inside modernized a bit like the bird house. Either the exhibits could be arranged taxonomically, or the exhibits could be set up to show small mammal variety across many different ecosystems (i.e. a desert room with fennecs and naked mole rats, a rainforest room with anteaters and small primates, etc)
- Outside of the building, there used to be a series of larger exhibits. To my knowledge they held anteaters and capybara at one point? These could be reworked to hold kangaroos, and maybe even koalas if the zoo could obtain them
- The outside’s architecture is very cool, but in the same way the bird house was, I’d touch it up a little.
Reptile House
- My comments about the small mammal house work here as well.
- I feel like the current outdoor exhibits could work indoors given proper space. It’d be really cool to see large and small reptiles exhibited alongside each other, to show the extreme diversity of the reptiles
- Since the exhibit follows the theme of the Mesozoic era anyways, I don’t feel like it’d hurt to add a few fossils in the exhibit next to displays of modern reptiles. In addition to the biome theme, a theme of reptile evolution could work very well.
- I wasn’t able to visit the reptile house on my visit (it was too crowded and the buildings really aren’t designed for that) so the building is in need of being reworked to hold large crowds. Even the small mammal house was noisy and packed in the tiny hallways (I had to shove through hordes of children to see the Pygmy slow loris, lol)
Primate House
- IMO, the current ape building is rather disgusting looking. Given the chance I’d give it a total facelift, and turn it in to a primate house.
Large primates like gorillas and orangs would get expanded outdoor areas, and chimps could be added to the collection.
- With limited room left in the small mammal house, the simians from there could be moved here. While only the great apes would get large outdoor areas, the building could feature a few spacious areas for smaller primates indoors. Some rarities like Proboscis Monkeys would be superb
- The building seems so ugly IMO because of the fact that it doesn’t match with the rest of the zoo’s architecture. Use brick or limestone to make the walls, and give it an older, classic primate house feel. And while you’re at it, make the indoor area look less like a prison
- Not sure think tank needs to exist-that can just be incorporated into the current primate house
Bird House
- I’m honestly quite surprised how little people talk about this. On my most recent visit, I was able to see the renovated bird house-and it was EXCELLENT. This should be the standard for bird houses in AZA zoos IMO. I wouldn’t change much at all, except for bringing in more exotic birds.
- I’d absolutely love to see an Antarctic Penguin area in here. If that’s not realistic, then at least throw in some African or Humboldt penguins.
- While the indoor area is excellent, the outdoors…not so much. Most of the exhibits were boring pens for flightless birds or just sloppy looking mesh aviaries. I’d get rid of these, and use this area later in the masterplan.
- I would like to move andean flamingos somewhere near this building, as they’re an increasingly rare species in the AZA and one I have yet to see.
- A few of the raptors could be kept, and moved into San Diego style aviaries near the entrance of the building
Carnivora (Great Cats, Bears, etc)
- I did incorporate this in my previous masterplan, but not to this extent. The majority of the front of the zoo, from where great cats is to where Amazonia is, would be renovated to become a taxonomic and somewhat geographically themed carnivore area featuring cats, dogs, and bears
Phase One: Great Cats
- This area definitely deserves a facelift. The exhibits are functional, but in the same vain as the Great Ape House, they’re boring and ugly.
- I’d add a brick/limestone building known as the Great Cat house to match with the zoo’s other buildings. Indoors, I would feature several small cats (as well as possibly some other feliforms), as well as naturalistic indoor exhibits for leopards, lions, and tigers reminiscent of those at Berlin. What subspecies of leopard I’d exhibit is up in the air-while Amur is of course the most likely, I’d do literally anything to see Persian or Indian leopards.
- The outdoor portions for lions and tigers would be about the same size as the current ones, but more naturalistic. A big cat trail could be created, allowing visitors to see the cats from multiple angles, as well as allowing the cats to rotate through different exhibits
- The leopard exhibit could use wire mesh similar to the exhibit in San Diego’s acacia forest, and also be integrated into the big cat trail.
Phase Two: Bears (and dogs)
- The current Amazonia, Spectacled Bear, and surrounding area would be turned into an area for bears. The Amazonia building IS great and I’d move the collection elsewhere, but I’d turn that area and the current spectacled bear area into one for polar bears. Grizzlies could be added alongside them.
- If pandas ever return to the zoo, I’d add them here, instead of their current exhibit in Asia Trail. I’d still add heavy Asian theming with actual bamboo and several naturalistic habitats.
- The rest of the area here (probably the current children’s zoo) would go to the dogs. An exhibit for Arctic wolves and African wild dogs would be present here, as well as, possibly, some smaller canids (though they could simply be worked into the small mammal house)
“Pachyderm” House
- By far the biggest change in the zoo’s layout would be a large facility for hippos, rhinoceros, giraffes, and elephants. The giraffes and other Savannah animals (zebras, ostrich, etc) could be moved into the current “African Trail”, replacing the current exhibits with a large Savannah.
- While the Asian elephants could be kept, making an exhibit like the one at Dallas, combining African elephants with other Savannah fauna, would be superb. I’d choose that over the current elephant area, but their building is already so good that I’d keep that core structure.
- Hippopotamus and Indian rhinoceros would both end up getting large exhibits nearby, with Indian rhinoceros taking up most of the current Asia Trail and hippos using the area which once held pandas.
- The current Asian Trail mammals could be phased out, but I’d prefer moving them into the small mammal house or into other miscellaneous areas in the zoo
- The bison nearby could be kept. While American bison absolutely need to stay at the zoo, I’d like to see wisents in a corresponding exhibit as well. Just my thoughts.
- Move some of the displaced hoofstock over here as well, as well as some true rarities (maybe some rare antelope or small cervids?). Camels would be nice too.
- While the American trail wouldn’t exist in near the capacity it once did (or maybe not at all), I’d still keep the pinniped exhibits. While I don’t think there will be enough room left for both sea lions and seals, one of the two could be kept (or they could just be combined)
- Overall, I’d like to see more interactive displays in the indoor exhibits. For the cats, for example, I’d love to use games and displays like Berlin’s felid house.
So, with that aside, those are my current plans for the national zoo, as outlandish as they are. Feel free to comment ideas down in the thread below
