Heading to the opposite coast, the Virginia Zoo is home to a very nice exhibit for fennecs. This exhibit contains natural substrate for the fennecs, along with some nice rockwork (most of which unfortunately doesn't appear to be accessible to the foxes). This exhibit also has some live plants, which is great to see:
Photo by: @blospz
Photo by: @blospz
It’s not even an enclosure. It is just a ferret cage behind a decorative dressing screen.
Yeah, I was debating whether to include this species or not. On one hand, there aren't really any good enclosures for fennec fox. On the other hand, it's one of the most iconic small animals in zoos, and one that I remember seeing a lot in my childhood (primarily at Capron Park Zoo, my childhood home zoo). They are an awesome species, so it'd be great if a zoo tried to create an exhibit that did them justice.I think you have a great point, @Neil chace, in that it is difficult to come up with 5 half-decent exhibits for Fennec Foxes in American zoos. There are so many junky fox enclosures that one could have a whole thread about them. How does the U.S. have such disappointing legislation when it comes to keeping small carnivores? Here are 5 abysmal Fennec Fox exhibits that I've seen over the years, and even if not all are still around, they were awful at the time.
Roscommon Zoo (Michigan):
Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (Texas):
Gone Wild Safari (Louisiana):
Tiger Safari (Oklahoma):
Timbavati Wildlife Park (Wisconsin):
*sigh*. Recent USDA/AZA Documents showed them as having a fennec, so it must be behind-the-scenes. I will retract the Virginia Zoo exhibit, and replace it with the exhibit at The Living Desert. Originally I wasn't going to on the basis it is a rotational exhibit so fennecs aren't always visible, however given the rarity of exhibits that are even adequate for fennecs, it seems like the only option I have is to include it:
Honestly, San Diego's new one looks very good, though that might be just from the photos you provided. It feels partly what I would imagine a big-budget zoo would do with a big-budget fennec fox exhibit.
Congratulations @Neil chace on your bravery with your orangutan selections!This is a great thread so far, but unfortunately the great red ape choices are a little perplexing to many of us. We praise your nice work, but you also have to occasionally deal with some criticism. Saint Louis, Woodland Park and Atlanta are wonderful selections, Indianapolis I haven't seen but I understand your point with including it...but Cleveland? I would put Cleveland in the 5 worst orangutan exhibits I've ever seen because I truly struggle with that all-indoor enclosure. I find it to be very small, with an ugly fake tree, and I have never been a fan whatsoever.
I would have chosen Omaha as the replacement, although now that exhibit is closed and being revamped and modernized.
So, here's another option. It's essentially a big cage, but Fresno Chaffee Zoo renovated its orangutan exhibit and it just reopened in the past month. Many more ropes were added, as well as a huge fake tree with areas for obtaining food or allowing the apes to sit in front of the viewing window. There are 4 Siamangs as well, which creates a terrific dynamic. I don't know if it's top 5 material, but it's a million times better than the junky enclosure in Cleveland.
These photos are hot off the press as I was just at Fresno on Friday.
I know that when I was touring European zoos on my past two road trips, I was told that a way to get orangutans off the ground and up into the canopy part of their enclosure is to have mixed-species exhibits. I saw orangutans with Malayan Tapirs, Small-clawed Otters (which can be feisty little critters) and Binturongs (admittedly an arboreal species) and having tapirs and otters on the ground quite often forced the orangutans to a higher area. Alas, if only North American zoos would get on board with the creation of exciting mixed-species exhibits involving apes...
Tiger Trail is my favorite too! The Tiger Trail allows the exhibits to be very wide, while being slim enough that the tigers don't get too far out of your view. It is a gorgeous exhibit, so I'm glad it made the list! I always get memorable shots of the tigers here too, they seem less shy here.Absolutely love every single entry this very popular species! Having seen Tiger Trail many times, it’s my favorite exhibit. My fiancé and I first walked through the Safari Park 4 years, falling in love with how awesome Tiger Trail is. And it certainly helps that I almost always get some memorable shots of the tigers when visiting each time
Nashville's exhibit really is terrific. The photos don't do it justice; it's much bigger in person and the landscaping is just phenomenal. One more exhibit that I personally think should've gotten a nod is the Andean bear habitat at Saint Louis. It isn't huge, but still very good for a species that often gets the short end of the stick in the US.While the last time a bear species was featured (brown bears) there was no shortage of fantastic exhibits, the same unfortunately cannot be said for today's bear species, the Andean Bear! Also known as the spectacled bear, this is the only bear species native to South America, and one of the two bear species managed as an SSP. While there are some excellent exhibits for this species, it was not as easy to find five excellent exhibits as it was with the brown bear.
The criteria for this post are very similar to the brown bear post, however:
The five exhibits selected for Andean bears are:
- Size: Bears are a species typically housed in more old-fashioned style exhibits, oftentimes too small for the large size of these animals. While the five exhibits mentioned in this post may not be the largest five exhibits for the species, but they are all more than large enough for their andean bear residents.
- Exhibit Complexity: Bears are intelligent animals, and as a result a large exhibit isn't enough for them. Instead, the exhibit needs various furnishings, enrichment opportunities, and more to build a more complex environment for them.
- Natural Substrate and Digging: Bears are known to dig, and while this can be at the frustration of zoo maintenance staff when they destroy parts of their exhibit, it should still be a priority to give bears a safe opportunity to utilize this need to dig and manipulate their environment.
- Climbing Opportunities: Andean bears are one of the best climbers amongst bears, and it's important that their exhibits reflect this fact. It's important that zoos keeping Andean bears give them safe opportunities to climb and exercise this natural behavior.
- By far the greatest Andean bear exhibit in the country can be found at Nashville Zoo, with their impressive Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear exhibit. Nashville Zoo is at its finest with its large mammal exhibits, and this is one of their best. This is a very large exhibit, complete with both impressive climbing opportunities and a large pool:
Photo by: @pachyderm pro
Photo by: @pachyderm pro
Photo by: @pachyderm pro
Photo by: @TinoPup
- While a more traditional exhibit than Nashville's, the Smithsonian's National Zoo has an impressive exhibit for Andean bears outside of its Amazonia building. Despite being an older exhibit, this is still a spacious home for the bears, and contains some live trees for the bears to climb in. There are two connected exhibits for the Andean bears at National Zoo:
Photo by: @TinoPup
Photo by: @TinoPup
Photo by: @TinoPup
Photo by: @carlos55
- By far the best exhibit at the Queens Zoo is their Andean bear habitat. This is a very large exhibit, designed so that the back boundary isn't even visible from the visitor viewing. This exhibit has some very nice rockwork and multiple climbing structures available for the bears:
Photo by: @Neil chace
Photo by: @ZooElephantsMan
Photo by: @uszoo
Photo by: @Baldur
- The Rosamond Gifford Zoo has a much older style of bear exhibit, yet it remains an impressive home for their Andean bear. While the exhibit primarily consists of rockwork, there are still some sections of natural substrate and some live plants in this exhibit. This exhibit is both very large for a traditional-style exhibit, but also makes good use of vertical space with a number of great climbing opportunities for the bear:
Photo by: @TinoPup
Photo by: @TinoPup
Photo by: @Neil chace
Photo by: @CuseZoofan
- Heading further west, the Forests of Uco at Phoenix Zoo is another great exhibit for Andean bears. While this exhibit isn't as well-planted as the others on the list, it remains a good size and makes some great use of rockwork:
Photo by: @snowleopard
Too bad it is currently not being used.Nashville's exhibit really is terrific. The photos don't do it justice; it's much bigger in person and the landscaping is just phenomenal. One more exhibit that I personally think should've gotten a nod is the Andean bear habitat at Saint Louis. It isn't huge, but still very good for a species that often gets the short end of the stick in the US.
Today's post will be dedicated to a very unique pachyderm: the Pygmy Hippo! Much smaller than river hippos, pygmy hippos are also more endangered and less common in US Zoos. Only in recent years has this species started to pop up more outside the AZA, and the population outside the AZA has been quickly growing. Overall, pygmy hippos are a species that likely could be much better choices for most zoos than the river hippo. Not only are they smaller and more in need of conservation help, but being a solitary species means the spatial requirements are much smaller.
The criteria for pygmy hippos are:
The exhibits chosen for pygmy hippos are:
- Water/Land Space: While many zoos excel in one of these two criteria, pygmy hippos are a semi-aquatic species. As such, ample water and land space should be provided in an ideal pygmy hippo exhibit. Overall, however, pygmy hippos tend to be more terrestrial than aquatic, meaning that ideally the habitat should be primarily land with a decent-sized pool rather than the other way around.
- Shady Areas: Pygmy hippos are a rainforest species. Due to this, it's important for the exhibit to include plenty of shady areas. While live plants are ideal, this criteria could also be achieved due to artificially produced shade as well.
- Sometimes, the best exhibit for a species in the country is not at one of the larger, well-known zoos. In the case of pygmy hippos, that zoo is Mississippi's Jackson Zoo. Jackson Zoo exhibits a pair of pygmy hippos in a large outdoor exhibit that resembles a heavily forested, swampy area- akin to where pygmy hippos would live in the wild. While oftentimes small zoos can have exhibits praised with backhanded compliments (e.g. it's good for a small zoo), this exhibit is proof that even smaller, lesser-known, financially-limited zoos can build exhibits that are best of their kind:
Photo by: @SwampDonkey
Photo by: @SwampDonkey
Photo by: @SwampDonkey
Photo by: @snowleopard
- Louisville Zoo won an AZA Exhibit Award for its Gorilla Forest, which also includes a very impressive pygmy hippo exhibit. Home to a pair of pygmy hippos, this exhibit includes both a spacious pool (featuring a waterfall) and access to ample land area. This is a well-planted exhibit, allowing plenty of shaded areas for the hippos to enjoy:
Photo by: @Moebelle
Photo by: @Milwaukee Man
Photo by: @blospz
Photo by: @Moebelle
- For a newer, but still impressive, take on a pygmy hippo exhibit, one should look at the Greensboro Science Center. This exhibit isn't necessarily as naturalistic as the others on the list, but the outdoor yard does still include both a spacious pool and some nice land areas. One nice feature in this exhibit is the inclusion of an indoor exhibit that's accessible to the public as well, which allows the hippos the added choice of where to spend their time. In addition to a pair of pygmy hippos, this exhibit is also home to a recently born baby, which is always a great sight to see:
Photo by: @TinoPup
Photo by: @TinoPup
Photo by: @Arizona Docent
Photo by: @OkapiFan
- Some zoos have had success mixing pygmy hippos with various species of primate. One great example of this is the exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, home to both a pygmy hippo pair and some guenon monkeys. This exhibit includes a very large, impressive underwater viewing area, along with a decent amount of land space. The incorporation of monkeys into this habitat makes for a more dynamic display for both visitors and animals as well, by creating both arboreal and ground-level interest:
Photo by: @snowleopard
Photo by: @twilighter
Photo by: @Moebelle
Photo by: @geomorph
- One very interesting, albeit not geographically accurate, mixed species exhibit involving pygmy hippos can be found at Alabama's Montgomery Zoo. At Montgomery Zoo, pygmy hippos have access to a multi-acre savanna along with giraffes and other African hoof stock. A large water feature is present in this exhibit for the hippos, and the large size of the exhibit means there is plenty of room for them to escape from the larger residents even when on land. Unfortunately, being a savanna exhibit there isn't as much shade as the others on the list, however it still made the list due to its large size and uniqueness. One other interesting feature of this exhibit is that six pygmy hippos call Montgomery Zoo home, a much larger number than what most other zoos have:
Photo by: @snowleopard
Photo by: @snowleopard
Photo by: @snowleopard
Photo by: @snowleopard
Also, didn't San Diego Safari Park use to mix pygmy hippos in their massive savannah with the other ungulates back in the 80s or 90s, or am I wrong? If so, why'd they stop? Not enough shading?Today's post will be dedicated to a very unique pachyderm: the Pygmy Hippo! Much smaller than river hippos, pygmy hippos are also more endangered and less common in US Zoos. Only in recent years has this species started to pop up more outside the AZA, and the population outside the AZA has been quickly growing. Overall, pygmy hippos are a species that likely could be much better choices for most zoos than the river hippo. Not only are they smaller and more in need of conservation help, but being a solitary species means the spatial requirements are much smaller.
The criteria for pygmy hippos are:
The exhibits chosen for pygmy hippos are:
- Water/Land Space: While many zoos excel in one of these two criteria, pygmy hippos are a semi-aquatic species. As such, ample water and land space should be provided in an ideal pygmy hippo exhibit. Overall, however, pygmy hippos tend to be more terrestrial than aquatic, meaning that ideally the habitat should be primarily land with a decent-sized pool rather than the other way around.
- Shady Areas: Pygmy hippos are a rainforest species. Due to this, it's important for the exhibit to include plenty of shady areas. While live plants are ideal, this criteria could also be achieved due to artificially produced shade as well.
- Sometimes, the best exhibit for a species in the country is not at one of the larger, well-known zoos. In the case of pygmy hippos, that zoo is Mississippi's Jackson Zoo. Jackson Zoo exhibits a pair of pygmy hippos in a large outdoor exhibit that resembles a heavily forested, swampy area- akin to where pygmy hippos would live in the wild. While oftentimes small zoos can have exhibits praised with backhanded compliments (e.g. it's good for a small zoo), this exhibit is proof that even smaller, lesser-known, financially-limited zoos can build exhibits that are best of their kind:
Photo by: @SwampDonkey
Photo by: @SwampDonkey
Photo by: @SwampDonkey
Photo by: @snowleopard
- Louisville Zoo won an AZA Exhibit Award for its Gorilla Forest, which also includes a very impressive pygmy hippo exhibit. Home to a pair of pygmy hippos, this exhibit includes both a spacious pool (featuring a waterfall) and access to ample land area. This is a well-planted exhibit, allowing plenty of shaded areas for the hippos to enjoy:
Photo by: @Moebelle
Photo by: @Milwaukee Man
Photo by: @blospz
Photo by: @Moebelle
- For a newer, but still impressive, take on a pygmy hippo exhibit, one should look at the Greensboro Science Center. This exhibit isn't necessarily as naturalistic as the others on the list, but the outdoor yard does still include both a spacious pool and some nice land areas. One nice feature in this exhibit is the inclusion of an indoor exhibit that's accessible to the public as well, which allows the hippos the added choice of where to spend their time. In addition to a pair of pygmy hippos, this exhibit is also home to a recently born baby, which is always a great sight to see:
Photo by: @TinoPup
Photo by: @TinoPup
Photo by: @Arizona Docent
Photo by: @OkapiFan
- Some zoos have had success mixing pygmy hippos with various species of primate. One great example of this is the exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, home to both a pygmy hippo pair and some guenon monkeys. This exhibit includes a very large, impressive underwater viewing area, along with a decent amount of land space. The incorporation of monkeys into this habitat makes for a more dynamic display for both visitors and animals as well, by creating both arboreal and ground-level interest:
Photo by: @snowleopard
Photo by: @twilighter
Photo by: @Moebelle
Photo by: @geomorph
- One very interesting, albeit not geographically accurate, mixed species exhibit involving pygmy hippos can be found at Alabama's Montgomery Zoo. At Montgomery Zoo, pygmy hippos have access to a multi-acre savanna along with giraffes and other African hoof stock. A large water feature is present in this exhibit for the hippos, and the large size of the exhibit means there is plenty of room for them to escape from the larger residents even when on land. Unfortunately, being a savanna exhibit there isn't as much shade as the others on the list, however it still made the list due to its large size and uniqueness. One other interesting feature of this exhibit is that six pygmy hippos call Montgomery Zoo home, a much larger number than what most other zoos have:
Photo by: @snowleopard
Photo by: @snowleopard
Photo by: @snowleopard
Photo by: @snowleopard