Off-Exhibit Housing

[RandomConservationist]

Hey All, I wanted to create this thread to pose another question, do you think zoological institutions have adequate behind the scenes and off exhibit facilities? At most institutions where I've been able to peek behind the curtain, I find that it's always quite crowded and unplanned. I don't mean it's not pretty, off exhibit areas aren't meant to be pretty simply efficient and functional, but it generally just seems as if during construction of a new building most zoos don't provide adequate space for the staff and specimens that aren't on display. Granted at alot of institutions they're working out of half century or older structures, but even in newer facilities they still seem to have this issue.

So what's your opinion on it? Do you think they're adequate, do you think they should be expanded? I could even go so far as to ask do you believe zoological institutions should even keep large numbers of animals in off exhibit housing? Looking forward to the opinions and discussions.

 

[Echobeast]

Honestly, you are pretty spot on with your observations. When new exhibits are designed, ease of use by keepers and other staff are often overlooked in favor of a nicer facade for the public to view the animals. In other words, the back areas often aren't seen by upper management as in need of improvements as public exhibits because public pressure is often a stronger influence than staff needs. Granted, any off exhibit space is adequate for the species housed but it often isn't enough for additional housing which often is the need by species management programs and not the need of the individual facility building the new exhibit. Truly great facilities are able to look ahead at the needs of the future and not just the current animals or exhibit that need improvement. Those that build large off exhibit breeding spaces for animals without any public viewing are those that have the needs of the species and animals in mind.

 

[RandomConservationist]

Honestly, you are pretty spot on with your observations. When new exhibits are designed, ease of use by keepers and other staff are often overlooked in favor of a nicer facade for the public to view the animals. In other words, the back areas often aren't seen by upper management as in need of improvements as public exhibits because public pressure is often a stronger influence than staff needs. Granted, any off exhibit space is adequate for the species housed but it often isn't enough for additional housing which often is the need by species management programs and not the need of the individual facility building the new exhibit. Truly great facilities are able to look ahead at the needs of the future and not just the current animals or exhibit that need improvement. Those that build large off exhibit breeding spaces for animals without any public viewing are those that have the needs of the species and animals in mind.

I agree, I'm also someone who's in favor of zoological institutions maintaining large off exhibit breeding centers that look towards the future of what breeding programs are needed now to change the future. I'd even go so part as to say that I think most institutions when an where able should create entirely different sites and facilities like the Freeport-Mcmoran Audubon Survival Center, and it's always great to see groups coming together like the Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife a Bronx-SDZG-Audubon collaboration that operates out of the Survival center that focuses on larger hoofed stock breeding programs in large naturalized enclosures away from the public eye, as well as behind the scenes breeding programs for smaller species at the actual zoological institution itself.