Sassuolo Wildlife Park- An Italian Zoo Project

[AmazonianHippo]

Hello everyone, this new project has been planned for over a year, and I have been wanting to share it ever since I joined ZooChat.


Sassuolo Wildlife Park is set in the outskirts of Sassuolo, Northern Italy near Modena. You can get access to it by driving or the zoo’s very own coach network.


To enter the zoo, you park your car or walk round the car park if you took the coach and follow a Mediterranean art style mosaic path, filled with lots of planters.


You will pass through a grand metal gate supported by circular buildings similar to the ones at Zoologico Lisboa. The entrance plaza features a gift shop that has a view over the lake.


Additionally, there is a view into a Bactrian Camel and Prewalski’s Horse habitat (2,400 sq metres) for 0.3.0 Camels and 1.3.0 Horses. Note that this enclosure will also feature in a different exhibit to come later.

Possible look of Camel and Horse habitat.


The entrance plaza has a centrepiece planter for a variety of flowers and statues of the following animals: Red Kangaroo, Bornean Orangutan, Southern Cassowary, Komodo Dragon, Malayan Tapir, Asian Elephant, Hippopotamus, Masai Giraffe, West African Lion, Western Lowland Gorilla, Red River Hog, Secretary Bird, Nilgai, Greater-One Horned Rhino, Red Panda, Amur Tiger, Bactrian Camel, Burrowing Owl, Sand Cat, Scottish Red Deer, Iberian Wolf, Eurasian Screech Owl, King Penguin, Polar Bear, California Sea Lion, Bottlenose Dolphin, Blacktip Reef Shark, Lowland Tapir, Capybara, Jaguar, Linne’s Two-Toed Sloth, Goeffroy’s Spider Monkey, Yacare Caiman, Harpy Eagle and Hyacinth Macaw, all painted bronze. So yes, a very big planter .


I think this is the right place to announce that the zoo will be divided into 10 major themed exhibits:

-European Wonders

-Deserts and Drylands

-The Asian Journey

-The Malagasy

-Creatures of the Night

-Frozen Planet

-Ocean Depths

-Expedition:Africa

-Islands of the Far East


We will start our zoo trip with European Wonders, which shall be coming out soon.


Until then, feel free to enjoy and speculate!

 

[AmazonianHippo]

Just a note, but I forgot to mention the 11th zone being Amazonia. I seriously don’t know how I forgot these things

 

[AmazonianHippo]

Through the entrance is a small plaza, featuring a restaurant called the House of Asia featuring many dishes originating from India, China, Korea and Eastern Russia, but we will get to that in a separate post.


The plaza has a nice ‘typical Italian’ feel, with a rustic base and a very detailed bridge going over a river. (sorry I could not find a single reference image that looked anything at all like my vision).


Opposite the restaurant are 2 hills where the ground suddenly rises up, each with an equally rocky cliff and heavy fern and brambles. These miniature cliffs are supports for an old wooden arch displaying the words ‘European Wonders’, the entrance to the first area.



Walking down a simple dirt path, we come across a break in the forest, with a view onto a small-slope based heath, full of grasses, saltworts and bushes. There are 2 ancient oaks at either ends of the enclosure, providing great homes for a herd of Scottish Red Deer (2.4.0) in a 2,300 sq metres enclosure.

Possible look of Red Deer enclosure.


Continuing on, we get to an 1,600 sq metre aviary in the style of a Central European wetlands, featuring: Grey Heron (0.2.0), Mallard (4.5.3), Barnacle Geese (1.2.0), Little Egret (0.3.0), Eurasian Coot (2.2.0), Common Shelduck (2.3.0), Eurasian Great Cormorant (1.1.0), Eurasian Curlew (3.0.0) and Mute Swan (1.2.0).

Possible look of Wetlands aviary (but with a much bigger lake).


Going back into woodland, we soon come across a wooden cabin which appears to be attached to a large mesh structure. The cabin bears the words ‘Squirrel Forest’.


Inside, there is education about how Red Squirrels have been driven up North by their invasive counterparts in Britain, and about the projects trying to boost their numbers.


Passing through two layers of hanging ropes, we enter the walk-through habitat, full of rocks and pine trees. The way it’s designed is the path is surrounded by a gradual slope on either side, meaning they are looking up at the 4.5.2 Central European Red Squirrels, but also can be in a different space to the more ground-dwelling Ringed Pheasant (1.3.0). The enclosure totals at 1,200 sq metres.

Possible look of walk-through enclosure.


Continuing out of the enclosure, after some very squirrelly encounters, we are plunged again into forest.


The path gives a small view into an enclosure 2 metres below the path that is seemingly embedded into the forest, but in reality the mesh fences at the back are just well-hidden by foliage. This enclosure is for Eurasian Wolverines (3.0.0), about 900 sq metres and features many climbing opportunities via pine trees and rock structures, as well as a stream that the wolverines can climb over via branch-bridges

Possible look of Wolverine enclosure.


I think I will end it here as it is getting long, but feel free to share your thoughts and speculate to your heart’s content.


Oh and by the way, here is the map of where we have come.

 

[Mickey]

‘typical Italian’ feel [...] (sorry I could not find a single reference image that looked anything at all like my vision).

Then perhaps it isn't "typically Italian" as you think

Italy, throughout its variety of climates, has equally variegated infrastructures depending on where you are: near the Alps you may find houses similar to those you find in Austria or Switzerland, near Rome typical Roman Mediterranean houses, in Sicily houses influenced by Arab architects, in Sardinia "Campidanese" houses, which I find somewhat similar to Spanish houses, but much more rustic and less tacky.

Of course there's much more variety even within the same region, but I would argue there is no such thing as an "Italian" style, from an Italian perspective.

Scottish Red Deer

This is on the practical side, but why would anyone bring a doubtful Red deer ssp to Italy all the way from the UK when we already have 2 threatened ssp on national territory (corsicanus likely conspecific of barbarus) and italiensis, restricted to a single location in the Po delta, which is seemingly distinctive from the other populations.

Mute Swan (1.2.0)

Aren't Mute swans exclusively monogamous?
Or is one bird doomed to be lonely for life?

 

[AmazonianHippo]

Then perhaps it isn't "typically Italian" as you think

Italy, throughout its variety of climates, has equally variegated infrastructures depending on where you are: near the Alps you may find houses similar to those you find in Austria or Switzerland, near Rome typical Roman Mediterranean houses, in Sicily houses influenced by Arab architects, in Sardinia "Campidanese" houses, which I find somewhat similar to Spanish houses, but much more rustic and less tacky.

Of course there's much more variety even within the same region, but I would argue there is no such thing as an "Italian" style, from an Italian perspective.

This is on the practical side, but why would anyone bring a doubtful Red deer ssp to Italy all the way from the UK when we already have 2 threatened ssp on national territory (corsicanus likely conspecific of barbarus) and italiensis, restricted to a single location in the Po delta, which is seemingly distinctive from the other populations.

Aren't Mute swans exclusively monogamous?
Or is one bird doomed to be lonely for life?

Perhaps I should've said stereotypically Italian, what comes first to mind when foreigners think of Italy, something like the small, cafe filled plazas of somewhere like Venice. And I agree with your opinion on an Italian style and perspectives, but note I do have that perspective as I am part Italian, it's kind of why I decided to base the zoo in Italy .

As for the Red Deer situation, I thought there were only 2 subspecies, Scottish and Central European. And anyway the exhibit is designed so it takes you down from North Europe, the UK and Scandinavia, down to finish in Italy and Iberia. But if you feel the matter is important, I will change it...

And with the swans, you are asking the wrong guy.

 

[Mickey]

2 subspecies, Scottish and Central European

For more information on deer (and ungulate in general) taxonomy you're welcome to read this amazing thread by Lintworm here .

You could have either ssp or generic "farmed" deer as stand-ins for the Scottish.

If you want to be realistic then this is the most likely way one would do in a real situation, if you want Scottish deer and no other but Scottish deer go ahead, it's your zoo not mine.

And with the swans, you are asking the wrong guy

So not even doing research on the most basic husbandry I see...

 

[AmazonianHippo]

For more information on deer (and ungulate in general) taxonomy you're welcome to read this amazing thread by Lintworm here .

You could have either ssp or generic "farmed" deer as stand-ins for the Scottish.
Thank you.

So not even doing research on the most basic husbandry I see...

Yeah believe or not, I don't have the most time on my hands at the minute, have you any idea how many animals are in this zoo? I'm sorry but I don't have time to research every single animal's exact needs, let alone find a source or care manual for all of these animals. It is a speculative zoo, it will never exist. Frankly, you are coming across as rude.

 

[Mickey]

I'd like to quote Simon Hampel on the guidelines of the Speculative Zoo Design and Planning:

individual designs for a fictional zoo where you have thought out how you might design exhibits, choose species to keep and encourage visitors - where other members may critique your design and make suggestions for improvement. The key word here is "design" - we expect some thought and detail, not simply listing species of animals.

I am simply exercising my right to suggest improvements; however I do apologise for my rude statement, but I think at least looking at the reproduction behaviour of animals should be enough to know how many should share an enclosure, otherwise it's a list of names and numbers without much thought behind (something that I have done in the past as well)...

And no I do not know how many animals will live in this zoo, but it sounds like a chore by the way you're phrasing it.

 

[steveroberts]

Through the entrance is a small plaza, featuring a restaurant called the House of Asia featuring many dishes originating from India, China, Korea and Eastern Russia, but we will get to that in a separate post.


The plaza has a nice ‘typical Italian’ feel, with a rustic base and a very detailed bridge going over a river. (sorry I could not find a single reference image that looked anything at all like my vision).


Opposite the restaurant are 2 hills where the ground suddenly rises up, each with an equally rocky cliff and heavy fern and brambles. These miniature cliffs are supports for an old wooden arch displaying the words ‘European Wonders’, the entrance to the first area.



Walking down a simple dirt path, we come across a break in the forest, with a view onto a small-slope based heath, full of grasses, saltworts and bushes. There are 2 ancient oaks at either ends of the enclosure, providing great homes for a herd of Scottish Red Deer (2.4.0) in a 2,300 sq metres enclosure.

Possible look of Red Deer enclosure.


Continuing on, we get to an 1,600 sq metre aviary in the style of a Central European wetlands, featuring: Grey Heron (0.2.0), Mallard (4.5.3), Barnacle Geese (1.2.0), Little Egret (0.3.0), Eurasian Coot (2.2.0), Common Shelduck (2.3.0), Eurasian Great Cormorant (1.1.0), Eurasian Curlew (3.0.0) and Mute Swan (1.2.0).

Possible look of Wetlands aviary (but with a much bigger lake).


Going back into woodland, we soon come across a wooden cabin which appears to be attached to a large mesh structure. The cabin bears the words ‘Squirrel Forest’.


Inside, there is education about how Red Squirrels have been driven up North by their invasive counterparts in Britain, and about the projects trying to boost their numbers.


Passing through two layers of hanging ropes, we enter the walk-through habitat, full of rocks and pine trees. The way it’s designed is the path is surrounded by a gradual slope on either side, meaning they are looking up at the 4.5.2 Central European Red Squirrels, but also can be in a different space to the more ground-dwelling Ringed Pheasant (1.3.0). The enclosure totals at 1,200 sq metres.

Possible look of walk-through enclosure.


Continuing out of the enclosure, after some very squirrelly encounters, we are plunged again into forest.


The path gives a small view into an enclosure 2 metres below the path that is seemingly embedded into the forest, but in reality the mesh fences at the back are just well-hidden by foliage. This enclosure is for Eurasian Wolverines (3.0.0), about 900 sq metres and features many climbing opportunities via pine trees and rock structures, as well as a stream that the wolverines can climb over via branch-bridges

Possible look of Wolverine enclosure.


I think I will end it here as it is getting long, but feel free to share your thoughts and speculate to your heart’s content.


Oh and by the way, here is the map of where we have come.

Cool ideas man

 

[AmazonianHippo]

I'd like to quote Simon Hampel on the guidelines of the Speculative Zoo Design and Planning:

I am simply exercising my right to suggest improvements; however I do apologise for my rude statement, but I think at least looking at the reproduction behaviour of animals should be enough to know how many should share an enclosure, otherwise it's a list of names and numbers without much thought behind (something that I have done in the past as well)...

And no I do not know how many animals will live in this zoo, but it sounds like a chore by the way you're phrasing it.

No it’s alright, I probably shouldn’t have reacted like that. Don’t get me wrong I research group numbers of the animals, but notably only the ‘major’ ones which is a mistake on my part.

 

[AmazonianHippo]

I should apologise for not posting in a while as I’ve been extremely busy with revision, football, acting, athletics and going out with my friends and my girlfriend. But I assure you Sassuolo Wildlife Park will be back in progress before you know it!