Small Zoo Challenge:

LowlandGorilla4

LowlandGorilla4

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Hi guys, this thread is where you design a small zoo (hence the title "small zoo challenge). Let me give you the background info. The City of Keona in New York State has decided they want a small public zoo. The City has selected you to run and design the zoo. The city has given you 1 acre of flat and cleared land, the rest is up to you!
 
Here’s my layout for my small public zoo!
The zoo has only 15 species of animals in 1 acre of land. The species lineup goes as follows:

Birds:
Roseate Spoonbill
Nicobar Pigeon
Scarlet Macaw
Chinstrap Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Great Hornbill
Mammals:
Black And White Ruffed Lemur
Amur Leopard
Tasmanian Devil
Red Panda
California Sea Lion
Meerkat
Sulawesi Bear Cuscus
Reptiles & Amphibians:
Tomato Frog
Indian Gharial
Emerald Tree Boa
Fish:
Caribbean Reef Shark

The Historic Bird House
The Historic Bird House is an exhibit of a small building right when you enter the zoo. It’s a large walkthrough aviary, home to the Roseate Spoonbill, Nicobar Pigeon, Scarlet Macaw, and Great Hornbill.

The Tropical Terrarium
The Tropical Terrarium is right across the birds, and you’ll find the zoos reptiles and fish here. Here, you can find the Tomato Frog, Indian Gharial, Emerald Tree Boa, and the Caribbean Reef Shark.

Central Zoo Sea Lion & Penguin Cove
The Central zoo is home to aquatic sea birds and mammals. Here on one side you’ll find the California Sea Lion. They are on one side of the rock outcrops. On the other you’ll find the aquatic Chinstrap Penguin, as well as the Rockhopper Penguin.

Children’s Zoo
A small habitat for two species, the Tasmanian Devil, and Meerkat.

The Old World
The Outdoor exhibits in the back of the zoo, home to animals from Oceania, Africa, and Asia, including the Black And White Ruffed Lemur, Red Panda, Amur Leopard, and the Sulawesi Bear Cuscus. The lemur and cuscus have smaller exhibits, but the leopard has a larger habitat.

 
Holland’s Park Zoological Gardens

The Hippo Camp
This exhibit takes up almost all of the zoos backside. There are two complexes full of mostly water, one bird aviary, and some other species. There is sand, trees, grasslands, rivers, lakes, and waterfalls to make up a hippos habitat.
Species:
- Hippopotamus
- West African Dwarf Crocodile
- Lowland Nyala
- Grey Crowned Crane

The Polar Ark
This exhibit is mostly ice-complexes, with large fake ice statues separating the habitats. There are sea mammals, sea birds, and more. There are rocky outcrop shores, and underwater viewing.
Species:
- Gentoo Penguin
- Macaroni Penguin
- Harbor Seal
- Atlantic Puffin
- Pacific Walrus

The Primate Canopy
The Primate Canopy is home to several primates of the Americas, Asia and even Africa. These are exhibits all creating a circle with a gazebo-style building.
Species:
- Gray-Shanked Douc Langur
- Allen’s Swamp Monkey
- Cotton-Top Tamarin
- Brown Lemur

The Down Under Children’s Zoo
This exhibit is for young children (and adults too), for them to walk on a walkthrough trail to see Australian animals. There’s also two aviaries for Australian birds. This is a wooden-barn like architecture, and that’s also the indoor habitats for the animals.
Species:
- Western Grey Kangaroo
- Tammar Wallaby
- Kookaburra
- Emu

Entrance Aviaries
The entrance building has several exhibits for birds. These exhibits don’t have much description.
Species:
- Palawan Peacock Pheasant
- Bleeding Heart Dove
- Great Hornbill
- Military Macaw
- Victoria Crowned Pigeon
 
Galapagos Penguin said:
Holland’s Park Zoological Gardens

The Hippo Camp
This exhibit takes up almost all of the zoos backside. There are two complexes full of mostly water, one bird aviary, and some other species. There is sand, trees, grasslands, rivers, lakes, and waterfalls to make up a hippos habitat.
Species:
- Hippopotamus
- West African Dwarf Crocodile
- Lowland Nyala
- Grey Crowned Crane

The Polar Ark
This exhibit is mostly ice-complexes, with large fake ice statues separating the habitats. There are sea mammals, sea birds, and more. There are rocky outcrop shores, and underwater viewing.
Species:
- Gentoo Penguin
- Macaroni Penguin
- Harbor Seal
- Atlantic Puffin
- Pacific Walrus

The Primate Canopy
The Primate Canopy is home to several primates of the Americas, Asia and even Africa. These are exhibits all creating a circle with a gazebo-style building.
Species:
- Gray-Shanked Douc Langur
- Allen’s Swamp Monkey
- Cotton-Top Tamarin
- Brown Lemur

The Down Under Children’s Zoo
This exhibit is for young children (and adults too), for them to walk on a walkthrough trail to see Australian animals. There’s also two aviaries for Australian birds. This is a wooden-barn like architecture, and that’s also the indoor habitats for the animals.
Species:
- Western Grey Kangaroo
- Tammar Wallaby
- Kookaburra
- Emu

Entrance Aviaries
The entrance building has several exhibits for birds. These exhibits don’t have much description.
Species:
- Palawan Peacock Pheasant
- Bleeding Heart Dove
- Great Hornbill
- Military Macaw
- Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Click to expand...
It looks great but how are you going to fit all of that on one acre?
 
The one acre size of this challenge pretty much immediately makes a lot of species impossible to keep (elephant, giraffe, polar bear, etc.) and makes one be very careful with how they use space. I will also assume this is an AZA institution so an limiting myself to species managed by the AZA.

1 acre is approximately 50,000 square feet- so I will use this number when planning Exhibits. Since it is in New York, all animals will be cold tolerant. 15,000 square feet will be reserved for visitor amenities, walking paths, etc. All holding facilities will be located underground as a means of saving space (think Disney Magic Kingdom with the underground tunnels)

35,000 square feet of Exhibit space:
- Red Panda, Cabot's Tragopan (500 sq. ft)
- Pallas' Cat (1,000 sq. ft)
- Red-crowned Crane, Western Tufted Deer (3,000 sq. ft)
- Sloth Bear (6,000 sq. ft)
- Amur Leopard (2,000 sq. ft)
- North American River Otter (1,500 sq. ft)
- Japanese Macaque (2,000 sq. ft)
- Transcapian Urial (5,000 sq. ft)
- Harbor Seal (2,000 sq. ft)
- North American Porcupine (500 sq. ft)
- Arctic Fox (500 sq. ft)
- Steller's Sea Eagle (1,000 sq. ft)
- Red-breasted Goose, Baikal Teal, Scaly-sided Merganser (1,000 sq. ft)
- Amur Tiger (7,000 sq. ft)
 
1 acre is about 43560 square feet and about 15000 sq. ft would be used for walking paths, staff office, and visitor amenities, etc. So only 28560 sq. ft for the animal exhibit. Here we go.

The Frozen Planet
-Arctic Fox (500 sq. ft)
-Polar Bear (9200 sq. ft)
-Pallas' Cat (1000 sq. ft)
-Northern Rockhopper Penguin, Atlantic Puffin (2000 sq. ft)
-Snowy Owl (500 sq. ft）

Based on AZA, the minimum dryland area for two polar bears is 5400 sq. ft, the minimum water pond area is 760 sq. ft, the minimum indoor area is 807 sq. ft. Additionally, at least 127 sq. ft for temporarily holding area and 67 sq. ft for cubbing den are required. In total, about 7161 sq. ft is required for a polar bear exhibit at least. Our area is enough to have two polar bears, even it is fine that polar bear breeds cubs. The polar bear would be the Hotstar animal of the Zoo to attract visitors.

The Wonder Garden
-Chilean Flamingo （1600 sq. ft）
-Bennett's Wallaby (1500 sq. ft)
-Red Panda (500 sq. ft)
-Yellow-throated Marten (500 sq. ft)
-North American Otter （1615 sq. ft）
-Kea (700 sq. ft)


The Gondwana Pavilion
-Meerkat (320 sq. ft)
-Black-footed Cat (350 sq. ft)
-Shoebill (920 sq. ft）
-Black and White Ruffed Lemur (500 sq. ft)
-Pygmy Hippo (2000 sq. ft)
-Sulawesi Bear Cuscus (500 sq. ft）
-Spotted Linsang (300 sq. ft）
-Bali Myna, Palawan Peacock Pheasant (400 sq. ft)
-Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Kagu, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Gouldian Finch (900 sq. ft）
-Golden Lion Tamarin (300 sq. ft)
-Emperor Tamarin (300 sq. ft)
-Pygmy Marmoset (60 sq. ft)
-Galapagos Tortoise, Capybara, Hyacinth Macaw, Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth (1200 sq. ft)
The rest area would be used to display the following species and other functions
-Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula
-Titicaca Water Frog
-Tomato Frog
-Panamanian Golden Frog
-Lake Malawi Cichlids
-Spider Tortoise, William Dwarf Gecko
-Emerald Tree Boa
-Reticulated Python
-Jackson's Chameleon, Black and Rufous Elephant Shrew

Underground Night House
A tiny Night House that locates in the underground of the walking path so it does not take extra square feet :p The entrance locates inside of Gondwana Pavilion.
-Chinese Pangolin
-Aye Aye
 
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Zoological Institution Of Willmorre Park

A brand new project, home to 13 exotic animals from around the world. covering 4 acres, dedicated to wildlife conservation of all species, common or rare. See our exhibits below.

Entrance Hall (Outside Of Zoo Borders)
The entrance hall is how you enter the zoo. It is a very small building, roughly the size of an average house. This building is actually not in the zoo, it’s right outside of it. The entrance hall is covered in beautiful paintings of animals including jaguars, giant pandas and whales. There are large, tall white pillars, with decoration of vines and plants around the building to make it feel natural. There’s also an indoor bird habitat, home to the Great Hornbill (Buceros Bicornis), a beautiful bird of southeast Asia. This aviary connects to the rest of the park. We currently have two hornbills, and they are mates. We continue to the main park.

African Aviary (1 Acre)
This aviary covers one acre of the zoos land. It resembles a large flight cage, and it’s a walkover habitat. There is a small bridge that will let you walk over water. There are quite the species in this aviary. There’s the Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica Regulorum), an endangered bird that prefers wetland habitats. separated by a grotto is also the Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis Liberiensis), a small pachyderm. Finally, up in the trees, there is the African Pygmy Kingfisher (Ispidina Picta), and the Red-Crested Turaco (Tauraco Erythrolophus), together, these animals create a natural environment for all animals of the African savanna.

Willmorre’s Aquarium (1 Acre)
The aquarium is a small indoor building home to several birds and fish. There’s also one mammal, the Black And White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia Variegata), a critically endangered lemur of the island of Madagascar. We have two sisters. The zoo is supporting conservation for the lemurs. There’s also another exhibit right next to it for the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis Papua) and the Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes Chrysolophus), two species of penguin that coexist on a rocky shore. There’s an aviary for the Horned Guan (Oreophasis Derbianus), also an endangered bird. Finally, there’s a tank for the Red-Bellied Piranha (Pygocentrus Nattereri) before you walk out.

Snow Leopard Paddock (2 Acres)
This is a 2 acre paddock for our mother Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia), and our two cubs. These are also an endangered species. Their exhibit is a rocky cliff, with trees, grasses, ponds and bushes. Their exhibit is actually not the only one here, right next to them is a small pond for the Malayan Gharial (Tomistoma Schlegelii), and the Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale Parvula), an animal that actually lives in Africa. Their exhibit is like a small termite dome.

-FULL SPECIES LIST-
Mammals
Black And White Ruffed Lemur
Dwarf Mongoose
Pygmy Hippopotamus
Snow Leopard
Birds
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Gentoo Penguin
Great Hornbill
Grey Crowned Crane
Horned Guan
Macaroni Penguin
Red-Crested Turaco

Fish
Red-Bellied Piranha

Reptiles
Malayan Gharial
 
The 4 acres equal 174240 square feet, and about 52272 sq. ft would be used for the walking path, visitors' amenities, staff offices, etc. We still have 121968 square feet to build animal exhibits. After entering the main entrance the visitors can see a zoo-theme carousel, it can bring more fun to kids and lovers but requires an extra payment.

Keona's Terraquarium (1 acre)
This 1-acre building has two floors and one basement, the basement is an aquarium and the building is a terrarium. The first floor displays reptiles (and one mammal species), and the second floor displays amphibians and terrestrial invertebrates. Be noticed that the area of the underground aquarium is larger than the building on the ground. :p
Basement:
-Sea Anemone, Ocellaris Clownfish
-Moon Jellyfish
-Pacific Sea Needle
-Giant Hermit Crab
-Giant Clam, Long-spined Sea Urchin, Sea Apple
-Lemon Shark, Pilot Fish
-Grey Reef Shark, Epaulette Shark, Zebra Shark
-Leopard Shark, Dragon Moray Eel, Humpback Grouper, Map Puffer
-Great Seahorse
-Leafy Seadragon
-Lionfish
-Spotted Garden Eel, Razorfish
-Coral, Pennant Coralfish, Threadfin Butterflyfish, Copperband Butterflyfish, Bluelashed Butterflyfish, Common Clownfish, Quoy's Parrotfish, Blue Tang, Clown Triggerfish
-Cardinal Tetra
-Lake Malawi Cichlids
-Atlantic Mudskipper

First Floor:
-Nile Softshell Turtle
-Malaysian Giant Turtle, Painted Terrapin, False Gharial
-Alligator Snapping Turtle
-Spider Tortoise, William's Dwarf Gecko
-Tuatara
-Emerald Tree Boa
-Yellow Anaconda
-Reticulated Python
-Boelen's Python
-Rhinoceros Ratsnake
-San Francisco Garter Snake
-King Cobra
-Black Mamba
-Gaboon Viper
-Sri Lanka Pit Viper
-Blue Sunda Island Pit Viper
-Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
-Panther Chameleon, Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
-Fiji Banded Iguana
-Blue Iguana
-Chinese Crocodile Lizard

Second Floor:
-Chinese Giant Salamander
-Axolotl
-Cayenne Caecilian
-Oriental Fire-bellied Toad
-Cane Toad
-Lehmann's Poison Frog
-Blue Poison Dart Frog, Strawberry Poison Dart Frog, Dyeing Poison Dart Frog
-Panamanian Golden Frog
-Tomato Frog
-Amazon Milk Frog
-Giant Weta
-Malayan Jungle Nymph
-Giant Malaysia Leaf Insect
-Giant Burrowing Cockroach
-Devil's Flower Mantis
-Hercules Beetle
-Atlas Beetle
-Goliath Beetle
-Rainbow Stag Beetle
-Giant African Millipede
-Giant Forest Scorpion
-Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula
-Goliath Birdeater
-Mexican Redknee Tarantula

Frozen Realm
-Polar Bear (11000 sq. ft)
-Amur Tiger (8000 sq. ft)
-Pallas Cat (1000 sq. ft)
-Arctic Fox (500 sq. ft)
-Sea Otter (2600 sq. ft)
-North Rockhopper Penguin, Atlantic Puffin (2200 sq. ft)
-Snowy Owl (600 sq. ft)

Discovery Wonderland
-Chilean Flamingo (1600 sq. ft)
-Red Panda (500 sq. ft)
-Tasmanian Devil (1200 sq. ft)
-Kea (700 sq. ft)
-Bennett's Wallaby (2000 sq. ft)
-Andean Condor (2000 sq. ft)

Dome Gondwana
-Komodo Dragon (1200 sq. ft)
-Edward's Pheasant, Bali Myna (400 sq. ft)
-Sunda Wrinkled Hornbill (400 sq. ft)
-Sulawesi Bear Cuscus (500 sq. ft)
-Shoebill (920 sq. ft)
-Black and White Ruffed Lemur (500 sq. ft)
-Coquerel's Sifaka (750 sq. ft)
-Western Lowland Gorilla (12000 sq. ft)
-Meerkat (350 sq. ft)
-Black-footed Cat (350 sq. ft)
-Pygmy Hippo (2000 sq. ft)
-Galapagos Tortoise, Capybara, Hyacinth Macaw, Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth (1800 sq. ft)
-Golden Lion Tamarin (300 sq. ft)
-Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Kagu, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Regent Honeyeater, Gouldian Finch (1200 sq. ft)
-Matschie's Tree Kangaroo (1000 sq. ft)

Underground Night House
It locates underground of the walking path so does not take extra area. The entrance of the night house locates inside Dome Gondwana.
-Bengal Slow Loris
-Aye Aye
-Chinese Pangolin

The rest 20838 square feet would be used for the Zoo Veterinary Hospital, other Zoo functions, and extra visitors' amenities.
 
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Another Plan, use the entire 4-acre to build a gigantic greenhouse dome.
Keona's Biodome
Asia (1.2 acre)
-Coconut Crab
-Coastal Horseshoe Crab
-Grey Reef Shark, Zebra Shark, Epaulette Shark, Spotted Wobbegong, Pilot Fish, Loggerhead Turtle
-Siamese Carp, Mekong Giant Catfish, Giant Gourami, Blue Paradise Gourami
-Malaysian Giant Turtle, Painted Terrapin, False Gharial
-Reticulated Python
-Komodo Dragon
-Edward's Pheasant, Bali Myna
-Sunda Wrinkled Hornbill
-Sulawesi Bear Cuscus
-Oriental Small-clawed Otter

Africa (1.2 acre)
-Cichlids of Three Lakes (Tanganyika, Malawi and Victoria)
-Tomato Frog
-Golden Mantella
-Congo Peafowl, Red-crested Turaco, Lilac-breasted Roller, Bearded Barbet, Violet-back Starling, Madagascar Red Fody
-Shoebill
-Western Lowland Gorilla
-Pygmy Hippo
-Shoebill
-Meerkat
-Black-footed Cat

America (0.8 acres)
-Pirarucu, West Indian Manatee
-Red-bellied Piranha
-Razorback Catfish, Tiger Shovelnose Catfish, Redtail Catfish, Royal Panaque
-Atlantic Mudskipper
-Titicaca Water Frog
-Blue Poison Dart Frog, Dyeing Poison Dart Frog, Strawberry Poison Dart Frog
-Galapagos Tortoise, Sunbitten, Hyacinth Macaw, Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth, Capybara
-Caribbean Flamingo
-Roseate Spoonbill, Scarlet Ibis
-Spangled Cotinga, Saffron Finch, Red-capped Manakin
-Geoffroy's Spider Monkey
-Golden Lion Tamarin
-Pygmy Marmoset

Oceania (0.6 acres)
-Australian Lungfish, Fly River Turtle
-Coral, Emperor Angelfish, Flame Angelfish, Pennant Coralfish, Threadfin Butterflyfish, Copperband Butterflyfish, Bluelashed Butterflyfish, Common Clownfish, Quoy's Parrotfish, Blue Tang, Clown Triggerfish
-Tuatara
-Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Kagu, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Eclectus Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, Gouldian Finch
-Tasmanian Devil
-Matschie's Tree Kangaroo
-Swamp Wallaby

The rest 0.2-acre would be used for entrance and visitors amenities (include rest place, restaurant, and souvenir store).
 
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