The Las Vegas Zoo - A Revised Speculative Zoo Masterplan

MOG2012

Well-Known Member
Hello, and welcome to my revised spec zoo project. My original speculative zoo project was unsuccessful due to the lack of detail, and research. While it has some of the same concepts of the original, this project is meant to be more realistic, and detailed. Like before, the Las Vegas Zoological Park is located near Henderson, and it's 24-hours (all animals are seen at night unless said otherwise.. Let’s get started.

After passing the Las Vegas Zoological Park’s ticket booths, security, gift shop, and cafe, you will meet the first exhibit surrounded by several gardens of flora native to Las Vegas, encouraging native wildlife to be there.

Here is a list of all of the sectors/zones of my zone. Any alternative sector names are encouraged.

All Zoo Sectors:
Las Vegas Zone
Aquatic Building
Australia Zone
Eurasian Zone
Inside Africa
Deserts of the Americas
Realm of the Night

Planet Hollywood: Journey into the Congo

The first animal attraction is a walkthrough enclosure. During daytime in Spring/Fall, the path requires you to go inside the aviary but at nighttime, a pathway is opened up on the side of the enclosure. During Winter/Summer, regardless of the time, the path makes you go inside the walkthrough. The walkthrough is 225 sq. m large, netted, and 12 m tall. You walk down the elevated pathway which is more like a boardwalk with 0.6 m tall clear barriers to provide safety for the inhabitants. On the left side of the pathway, there is a forest/grassy area which has various forested areas, bushes, and climbing structures while on the right side of the pathway, there is a 2.5 m wide pond with a depth varying from 0.25 m to 1 m of water. These two sides are connected via a bridge in the pathway with a little grassy transition zone under it. During Spring/Fall, the inhabitants of the more forested side include a pair of 1.1 Blue Duiker Philantomba monticola congicus, a breeding pair of 1.1 Congo Peafowl Afropavo congensis, a flock of 1.2 Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus erithacus, and a pair of 0.2 Ross’s Turaco Musophaga rossae. The inhabitants of the aquatic side this time of year are a pair of 1.1 Hartlaub’s Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii and a pair of 1.1 West African Mud Turtle Pelusios castaneus. During Fall/Winter, the inhabitants of the more forested side include a family of 1.2 African Brush-Tailed Porcupine Atherurus africanus and a pair of 1.1 Eroded Hingeback Tortoise Kinixys erosa while the pond is home to a solitary 0.1 Congo Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus osborni, and the same mud turtles as in the Spring/Fall. I’ll talk about all of the animals’ off season/alternate housings later. After walking through this enclosure, there is a three-way fork in the road, the left path leads to Deserts of America, the middle path leads to Las Vegas Sector, and the right path leads to Inside Africa. I’ll explain the Las Vegas Sector later this week.

What do you think so far? Feedback is appreciated.

Mammals: 2
Birds: 4
Reptiles: 3
Amphibians: 0
Fish: 0
Invertebrates: 0
Total: 9
 
Hello, and welcome to my revised spec zoo project. My original speculative zoo project was unsuccessful due to the lack of detail, and research. While it has some of the same concepts of the original, this project is meant to be more realistic, and detailed. Like before, the Las Vegas Zoological Park is located near Henderson, and it's 24-hours (all animals are seen at night unless said otherwise.. Let’s get started.

After passing the Las Vegas Zoological Park’s ticket booths, security, gift shop, and cafe, you will meet the first exhibit surrounded by several gardens of flora native to Las Vegas, encouraging native wildlife to be there.

Here is a list of all of the sectors/zones of my zone. Any alternative sector names are encouraged.

All Zoo Sectors:
Las Vegas Zone
Aquatic Building
Australia Zone
Eurasian Zone
Inside Africa
Deserts of the Americas
Realm of the Night

Planet Hollywood: Journey into the Congo

The first animal attraction is a walkthrough enclosure. During daytime in Spring/Fall, the path requires you to go inside the aviary but at nighttime, a pathway is opened up on the side of the enclosure. During Winter/Summer, regardless of the time, the path makes you go inside the walkthrough. The walkthrough is 225 sq. m large, netted, and 12 m tall. You walk down the elevated pathway which is more like a boardwalk with 0.6 m tall clear barriers to provide safety for the inhabitants. On the left side of the pathway, there is a forest/grassy area which has various forested areas, bushes, and climbing structures while on the right side of the pathway, there is a 2.5 m wide pond with a depth varying from 0.25 m to 1 m of water. These two sides are connected via a bridge in the pathway with a little grassy transition zone under it. During Spring/Fall, the inhabitants of the more forested side include a pair of 1.1 Blue Duiker Philantomba monticola congicus, a breeding pair of 1.1 Congo Peafowl Afropavo congensis, a flock of 1.2 Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus erithacus, and a pair of 0.2 Ross’s Turaco Musophaga rossae. The inhabitants of the aquatic side this time of year are a pair of 1.1 Hartlaub’s Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii and a pair of 1.1 West African Mud Turtle Pelusios castaneus. During Fall/Winter, the inhabitants of the more forested side include a family of 1.2 African Brush-Tailed Porcupine Atherurus africanus and a pair of 1.1 Eroded Hingeback Tortoise Kinixys erosa while the pond is home to a solitary 0.1 Congo Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus osborni, and the same mud turtles as in the Spring/Fall. I’ll talk about all of the animals’ off season/alternate housings later. After walking through this enclosure, there is a three-way fork in the road, the left path leads to Deserts of America, the middle path leads to Las Vegas Sector, and the right path leads to Inside Africa. I’ll explain the Las Vegas Sector later this week.

What do you think so far? Feedback is appreciated.

Mammals: 2
Birds: 4
Reptiles: 3
Amphibians: 0
Fish: 0
Invertebrates: 0
Total: 9
Why is the Congo exhibit located in the Las Vegas Zone? Surely the Africa zone would be more fitting?
 
Why is the Congo exhibit located in the Las Vegas Zone? Surely the Africa zone would be more fitting?
The Congo exhibit doesn't really belong in any zone, it's just supposed to be part of the entrance exhibit. The africa section focuses on arid regions.what do you think so far about this project?
 
Hello, and welcome to my revised spec zoo project. My original speculative zoo project was unsuccessful due to the lack of detail, and research. While it has some of the same concepts of the original, this project is meant to be more realistic, and detailed. Like before, the Las Vegas Zoological Park is located near Henderson, and it's 24-hours (all animals are seen at night unless said otherwise.. Let’s get started.

After passing the Las Vegas Zoological Park’s ticket booths, security, gift shop, and cafe, you will meet the first exhibit surrounded by several gardens of flora native to Las Vegas, encouraging native wildlife to be there.

Here is a list of all of the sectors/zones of my zone. Any alternative sector names are encouraged.

All Zoo Sectors:
Las Vegas Zone
Aquatic Building
Australia Zone
Eurasian Zone
Inside Africa
Deserts of the Americas
Realm of the Night

Planet Hollywood: Journey into the Congo

The first animal attraction is a walkthrough enclosure. During daytime in Spring/Fall, the path requires you to go inside the aviary but at nighttime, a pathway is opened up on the side of the enclosure. During Winter/Summer, regardless of the time, the path makes you go inside the walkthrough. The walkthrough is 225 sq. m large, netted, and 12 m tall. You walk down the elevated pathway which is more like a boardwalk with 0.6 m tall clear barriers to provide safety for the inhabitants. On the left side of the pathway, there is a forest/grassy area which has various forested areas, bushes, and climbing structures while on the right side of the pathway, there is a 2.5 m wide pond with a depth varying from 0.25 m to 1 m of water. These two sides are connected via a bridge in the pathway with a little grassy transition zone under it. During Spring/Fall, the inhabitants of the more forested side include a pair of 1.1 Blue Duiker Philantomba monticola congicus, a breeding pair of 1.1 Congo Peafowl Afropavo congensis, a flock of 1.2 Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus erithacus, and a pair of 0.2 Ross’s Turaco Musophaga rossae. The inhabitants of the aquatic side this time of year are a pair of 1.1 Hartlaub’s Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii and a pair of 1.1 West African Mud Turtle Pelusios castaneus. During Fall/Winter, the inhabitants of the more forested side include a family of 1.2 African Brush-Tailed Porcupine Atherurus africanus and a pair of 1.1 Eroded Hingeback Tortoise Kinixys erosa while the pond is home to a solitary 0.1 Congo Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus osborni, and the same mud turtles as in the Spring/Fall. I’ll talk about all of the animals’ off season/alternate housings later. After walking through this enclosure, there is a three-way fork in the road, the left path leads to Deserts of America, the middle path leads to Las Vegas Sector, and the right path leads to Inside Africa. I’ll explain the Las Vegas Sector later this week.

What do you think so far? Feedback is appreciated.

Mammals: 2
Birds: 4
Reptiles: 3
Amphibians: 0
Fish: 0
Invertebrates: 0
Total: 9
Las Vegas Sector : Part One
the Riverside sponsored by the Venetian


As you go down the Las Vegas pathway (the middle path in the fork in the road), you find yourself in the first Las Vegas sector exhibit, the Riverside which showcases different river ecosystems in the world. The first enclosure you walk through is an aviary that showcases the animals of Southwestern rivers, and is 500 sq. m large. Like the Congo aviary, there is an elevated pathway but this time, there is 1 m tall wooden fencing. On the left side of the pathway, there is a large 100 sq. m pond which ranges from 0.5 to 1 m deep water surrounded by various vegetation. Here, you can see the various free-flight birds in the aviary which include a covert of 2.2 American Coot Fulica americana americana, a diving of 2.2 Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera septentrionalium, a pair of 1.1 Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias herodias, a diving of 2.2 Green-Winged Teal Anas crecca, a flock of 1.2 Northern Pintail Anas acuta, and a flock of 1.2 Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis. On the right side of the pathway, there are 3 ponds. The first pond is 150 sq m large with depths varying from 1 m to 1.5 m, and includes a miniature island. It’s home to a pair of 1.1 North American Beaver Castor canadensis mexicanus. This pond flows into 2 other ponds which are connected but the beavers can’t go in them. The free-flight birds can go in any of the ponds. The 2 ponds’ total area is 150 sq. m varying in depth from 0.5 to 2 m with several floating platforms. The inhabitants of these 2 ponds include a school of 0.0.16 Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus speciosus, a school of 4.2 Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus, a school of 0.0.12 Roundtail Chub Gila robusta, 2.2 Southwestern Pond Turtle Actinemys marmorata pallida, and a school of 0.0.25 Western Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. As you exit the aviary, there is another enclosure which is 150 sq. m large with 0.5 m to 1.5 deep water. The enclosure has land and water sections. It houses a pair of 1.1 North American River Otter Lontra canadensis sonora. Engraved in the rockwork of the barriers of the otter enclosure, there are two terrariums. The first terrarium is 60 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 30 cm tall. It’s home to 0.1 Barred Tiger Salamander Ambystoma ambystoma nebulosum. The other terrarium is 95 cm long, 67.5 cm wide, and 45 cm tall. It’s home to 1.1 Sonoran Desert Toad Incilius alvarius.


As you continue down the path, there is another enclosure. This is a walkthrough aviary themed around East Asian rivers, only available during the day . At nighttime, there is a path that goes around this aviary to not disturb the birds. It’s 500 sq. m large with 1 m tall wooden elevated pathways. On the left side of the pathway, there is a 175 sq. m large pond with 0.3 to 1 m deep water surrounded by vegetation. On the right side of the pathway, there is the pathway. The inhabitant of the pond is a school of 0.0.16 Koi Cyprinus rubrofuscus. The free-flight birds include 2.2 Baikal Teal Sibrionetta formosa, 2.2 Falcated Duck Mareca falcata, 2.2 Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, a solitary 0.1 Red-Crowned Crane Grus japonensis, a flock of 1.2 Scaly-Sided Merganser Mergus squamatus, and a pair of 1.1 Swan Goose Anser cygnoides. During the summer, the merganser and the crane are held behind the scenes due to the weather. If it was nighttime, you would see a different enclosure that is on a path around the aviary. It is 50 sq. m large, mesh-topped, and 5 m tall. The enclosure has a shallow 0.5 m deep pool with several perching areas. It’s home to 0.1 Blakiston’s Fish Owl Bubo blakistoni. After this, both paths lead to a 10 sq. m large enclosure with the deepest water sections being 1 m deep. It’s a rotational exhibit with aquatic plants, shade, and a consistent water flow. During the Fall/Winter, this enclosure is home to 1.0 Japanese Giant Salamander Andrias japonicus while during the Spring/Summer, it houses 0.1 Northern Snakehead Channa argus.

Finally, there is another walkthrough aviary down the path that is not viewable at nighttime. It’s themed around Southern European rivers, and is 350 sq. m large. The path is elevated and has 1 m tall wooden barriers. The main pond area is 125 sq. m large with depths ranging from 0.3 to 1 m deep and is mainly a home for a bale of 2.2 European Pond Turtle Emys orbicularis galloitalica. The free-flight birds in this enclosure are a flock of 2.2 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, a flock of 2.3 Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, a pair of 1.1 Greylag Goose Anser anser anser, and a flock of 2.2 Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris. Before exiting the aviary, there are two terrariums, one on both sides of the exit. These are engraved in the rockwork, and the animals there are not necessarily from rivers but are mainly from moist environments. The left terrarium is 60 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 45 cm tall with a shallow water dish. It’s home to 1.0 Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra gigloiii. The terrarium on the right side is 90 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 60 cm tall with a medium-side water dish. This terrarium is home to 0.1 Asp Vipera aspis. After exiting the aviary, the path continues with Las Vegas exhibits that I will explain sometime next week. What do you think so far? Feedback is appreciated.

Mammals: 4
Birds: 21
Reptiles: 6
Amphibians: 4
Fish: 6
Invertebrates: 0
Total: 41
 
I don't think it's that strange; the Congo exhibit may have been added after the African zone as it was chosen to be the best fit for that space or something. Real zoos do that.
That’s what happened as I needed an exhibit before the fork in the road. Also, the geographically themed sectors focus more on arid regions.
 
Las Vegas Sector : Part One
the Riverside sponsored by the Venetian


As you go down the Las Vegas pathway (the middle path in the fork in the road), you find yourself in the first Las Vegas sector exhibit, the Riverside which showcases different river ecosystems in the world. The first enclosure you walk through is an aviary that showcases the animals of Southwestern rivers, and is 500 sq. m large. Like the Congo aviary, there is an elevated pathway but this time, there is 1 m tall wooden fencing. On the left side of the pathway, there is a large 100 sq. m pond which ranges from 0.5 to 1 m deep water surrounded by various vegetation. Here, you can see the various free-flight birds in the aviary which include a covert of 2.2 American Coot Fulica americana americana, a diving of 2.2 Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera septentrionalium, a pair of 1.1 Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias herodias, a diving of 2.2 Green-Winged Teal Anas crecca, a flock of 1.2 Northern Pintail Anas acuta, and a flock of 1.2 Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis. On the right side of the pathway, there are 3 ponds. The first pond is 150 sq m large with depths varying from 1 m to 1.5 m, and includes a miniature island. It’s home to a pair of 1.1 North American Beaver Castor canadensis mexicanus. This pond flows into 2 other ponds which are connected but the beavers can’t go in them. The free-flight birds can go in any of the ponds. The 2 ponds’ total area is 150 sq. m varying in depth from 0.5 to 2 m with several floating platforms. The inhabitants of these 2 ponds include a school of 0.0.16 Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus speciosus, a school of 4.2 Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus, a school of 0.0.12 Roundtail Chub Gila robusta, 2.2 Southwestern Pond Turtle Actinemys marmorata pallida, and a school of 0.0.25 Western Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. As you exit the aviary, there is another enclosure which is 150 sq. m large with 0.5 m to 1.5 deep water. The enclosure has land and water sections. It houses a pair of 1.1 North American River Otter Lontra canadensis sonora. Engraved in the rockwork of the barriers of the otter enclosure, there are two terrariums. The first terrarium is 60 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 30 cm tall. It’s home to 0.1 Barred Tiger Salamander Ambystoma ambystoma nebulosum. The other terrarium is 95 cm long, 67.5 cm wide, and 45 cm tall. It’s home to 1.1 Sonoran Desert Toad Incilius alvarius.


As you continue down the path, there is another enclosure. This is a walkthrough aviary themed around East Asian rivers, only available during the day . At nighttime, there is a path that goes around this aviary to not disturb the birds. It’s 500 sq. m large with 1 m tall wooden elevated pathways. On the left side of the pathway, there is a 175 sq. m large pond with 0.3 to 1 m deep water surrounded by vegetation. On the right side of the pathway, there is the pathway. The inhabitant of the pond is a school of 0.0.16 Koi Cyprinus rubrofuscus. The free-flight birds include 2.2 Baikal Teal Sibrionetta formosa, 2.2 Falcated Duck Mareca falcata, 2.2 Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, a solitary 0.1 Red-Crowned Crane Grus japonensis, a flock of 1.2 Scaly-Sided Merganser Mergus squamatus, and a pair of 1.1 Swan Goose Anser cygnoides. During the summer, the merganser and the crane are held behind the scenes due to the weather. If it was nighttime, you would see a different enclosure that is on a path around the aviary. It is 50 sq. m large, mesh-topped, and 5 m tall. The enclosure has a shallow 0.5 m deep pool with several perching areas. It’s home to 0.1 Blakiston’s Fish Owl Bubo blakistoni. After this, both paths lead to a 10 sq. m large enclosure with the deepest water sections being 1 m deep. It’s a rotational exhibit with aquatic plants, shade, and a consistent water flow. During the Fall/Winter, this enclosure is home to 1.0 Japanese Giant Salamander Andrias japonicus while during the Spring/Summer, it houses 0.1 Northern Snakehead Channa argus.

Finally, there is another walkthrough aviary down the path that is not viewable at nighttime. It’s themed around Southern European rivers, and is 350 sq. m large. The path is elevated and has 1 m tall wooden barriers. The main pond area is 125 sq. m large with depths ranging from 0.3 to 1 m deep and is mainly a home for a bale of 2.2 European Pond Turtle Emys orbicularis galloitalica. The free-flight birds in this enclosure are a flock of 2.2 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, a flock of 2.3 Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, a pair of 1.1 Greylag Goose Anser anser anser, and a flock of 2.2 Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris. Before exiting the aviary, there are two terrariums, one on both sides of the exit. These are engraved in the rockwork, and the animals there are not necessarily from rivers but are mainly from moist environments. The left terrarium is 60 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 45 cm tall with a shallow water dish. It’s home to 1.0 Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra gigloiii. The terrarium on the right side is 90 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 60 cm tall with a medium-side water dish. This terrarium is home to 0.1 Asp Vipera aspis. After exiting the aviary, the path continues with Las Vegas exhibits that I will explain sometime next week. What do you think so far? Feedback is appreciated.

Mammals: 4
Birds: 21
Reptiles: 6
Amphibians: 4
Fish: 6
Invertebrates: 0
Total: 41
These sound like neat exhibits.
 
Las Vegas Sector : Part One
the Riverside sponsored by the Venetian


As you go down the Las Vegas pathway (the middle path in the fork in the road), you find yourself in the first Las Vegas sector exhibit, the Riverside which showcases different river ecosystems in the world. The first enclosure you walk through is an aviary that showcases the animals of Southwestern rivers, and is 500 sq. m large. Like the Congo aviary, there is an elevated pathway but this time, there is 1 m tall wooden fencing. On the left side of the pathway, there is a large 100 sq. m pond which ranges from 0.5 to 1 m deep water surrounded by various vegetation. Here, you can see the various free-flight birds in the aviary which include a covert of 2.2 American Coot Fulica americana americana, a diving of 2.2 Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera septentrionalium, a pair of 1.1 Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias herodias, a diving of 2.2 Green-Winged Teal Anas crecca, a flock of 1.2 Northern Pintail Anas acuta, and a flock of 1.2 Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis. On the right side of the pathway, there are 3 ponds. The first pond is 150 sq m large with depths varying from 1 m to 1.5 m, and includes a miniature island. It’s home to a pair of 1.1 North American Beaver Castor canadensis mexicanus. This pond flows into 2 other ponds which are connected but the beavers can’t go in them. The free-flight birds can go in any of the ponds. The 2 ponds’ total area is 150 sq. m varying in depth from 0.5 to 2 m with several floating platforms. The inhabitants of these 2 ponds include a school of 0.0.16 Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus speciosus, a school of 4.2 Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus, a school of 0.0.12 Roundtail Chub Gila robusta, 2.2 Southwestern Pond Turtle Actinemys marmorata pallida, and a school of 0.0.25 Western Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. As you exit the aviary, there is another enclosure which is 150 sq. m large with 0.5 m to 1.5 deep water. The enclosure has land and water sections. It houses a pair of 1.1 North American River Otter Lontra canadensis sonora. Engraved in the rockwork of the barriers of the otter enclosure, there are two terrariums. The first terrarium is 60 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 30 cm tall. It’s home to 0.1 Barred Tiger Salamander Ambystoma ambystoma nebulosum. The other terrarium is 95 cm long, 67.5 cm wide, and 45 cm tall. It’s home to 1.1 Sonoran Desert Toad Incilius alvarius.


As you continue down the path, there is another enclosure. This is a walkthrough aviary themed around East Asian rivers, only available during the day . At nighttime, there is a path that goes around this aviary to not disturb the birds. It’s 500 sq. m large with 1 m tall wooden elevated pathways. On the left side of the pathway, there is a 175 sq. m large pond with 0.3 to 1 m deep water surrounded by vegetation. On the right side of the pathway, there is the pathway. The inhabitant of the pond is a school of 0.0.16 Koi Cyprinus rubrofuscus. The free-flight birds include 2.2 Baikal Teal Sibrionetta formosa, 2.2 Falcated Duck Mareca falcata, 2.2 Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, a solitary 0.1 Red-Crowned Crane Grus japonensis, a flock of 1.2 Scaly-Sided Merganser Mergus squamatus, and a pair of 1.1 Swan Goose Anser cygnoides. During the summer, the merganser and the crane are held behind the scenes due to the weather. If it was nighttime, you would see a different enclosure that is on a path around the aviary. It is 50 sq. m large, mesh-topped, and 5 m tall. The enclosure has a shallow 0.5 m deep pool with several perching areas. It’s home to 0.1 Blakiston’s Fish Owl Bubo blakistoni. After this, both paths lead to a 10 sq. m large enclosure with the deepest water sections being 1 m deep. It’s a rotational exhibit with aquatic plants, shade, and a consistent water flow. During the Fall/Winter, this enclosure is home to 1.0 Japanese Giant Salamander Andrias japonicus while during the Spring/Summer, it houses 0.1 Northern Snakehead Channa argus.

Finally, there is another walkthrough aviary down the path that is not viewable at nighttime. It’s themed around Southern European rivers, and is 350 sq. m large. The path is elevated and has 1 m tall wooden barriers. The main pond area is 125 sq. m large with depths ranging from 0.3 to 1 m deep and is mainly a home for a bale of 2.2 European Pond Turtle Emys orbicularis galloitalica. The free-flight birds in this enclosure are a flock of 2.2 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, a flock of 2.3 Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, a pair of 1.1 Greylag Goose Anser anser anser, and a flock of 2.2 Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris. Before exiting the aviary, there are two terrariums, one on both sides of the exit. These are engraved in the rockwork, and the animals there are not necessarily from rivers but are mainly from moist environments. The left terrarium is 60 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 45 cm tall with a shallow water dish. It’s home to 1.0 Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra gigloiii. The terrarium on the right side is 90 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 60 cm tall with a medium-side water dish. This terrarium is home to 0.1 Asp Vipera aspis. After exiting the aviary, the path continues with Las Vegas exhibits that I will explain sometime next week. What do you think so far? Feedback is appreciated.

Mammals: 4
Birds: 21
Reptiles: 6
Amphibians: 4
Fish: 6
Invertebrates: 0
Total: 41
Las Vegas Sector: Part 2
Caesar’s Menagerie, the Flamingo, and the City of Lights


After the riverside exhibit, the next exhibit is Caesar’s Menagerie which is sponsored by Caesars Palace. This exhibit has animals found in Italy, Julius Caesar’s Menagerie, and venationes (animal fights in the Coliseum). The first enclosure is on your left. It’s 1.2 m long, 0.6 m wide, and has 52.5 m tall wooden barriers. It’s home to 1.0 Hermann’s Tortoise Testudo hermanni hermanni, an animal commonly found in Italy, and was also thought to be the inspiration of the military testudo formation. Next, there is a walkthrough aviary. If it’s nighttime, there is a pathway that goes around the aviary as it’s closed. It’s 400 sq. m large, and is 5 m tall, allowing all of the birds to be free-flight and non-pinioned. As you walk along a gravel path in the aviary, there are several birds in there that can approach you. There are also various forms of vegetation such as trees and shrubs native to India. This aviary is home to 1.2 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus, 3.3 Indian Rose-Ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri manillensis, and 1.3 Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus murghi. These birds were likely imported to Rome via merchants from India. If you are there at nighttime, the path around the aviary has an enclosure on the right side. It’s 15 sq. m large, 3 m tall, and is netted. It’s home to 0.1 European Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo bubo, a symbol of the wisdom goddess Minerva.


After these enclosures, the paths meet up with several more enclosures. The next enclosure is 80 sq. m large, and has 4.5 m tall fencing with 1 m tall wooden barriers. The enclosure itself has several multi-level platforms with sheltered perches. The inhabitants of this enclosure is a breeding troop of 1.2 Grivet Monkey Chlorocebus aethiops which were thought to be part of Julius Caesar’s menagerie. The next enclosure is 80 sq. m large with 2.5 m tall fencing, and 1 m tall wooden barriers. There are also 0.5 m deep barriers. It’s home to a solitary 0.1 European Red Fox Vulpes vulpes crucigera, an animal found in Italy and were thought to be tricksters in Roman mythology. After that, there is another enclosure. It’s 200 sq. m large with 1.5 m tall fencing, 2 m tall wooden fencing, 1 m tall clear barriers, and 0.5 m deep barriers. It’s home to a breeding pair of 1.1 Central European Boar Sus scrofa scrofa, a species native to Italy, and commonly found in venationes. The final enclosure on the path is 100 sq. m large, 5.5 m tall, netted, has metal fencing, and 1 m tall wooden barriers. It’s home to a solitary 1.0 European Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos chrysaetos, a symbol of the Roman army.

The next exhibit on the Las Vegas pathway is a walkthrough aviary which is the Zambezi River, sponsored by the Flamingo. It’s 600 sq. m large, 5.5 m tall, and has 1 m tall wooden barriers inside it. It has a 225 sq. m large pond on the right side of the path (the left side of the aviary is just the path), and ranges in depths from 0.3 to 0.5 m deep. There are also various perches, and land areas. During the daytime, it’s home to a group of 3.3 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus, a pinioned flamboyance of 6.6 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, and a skewer of 2.2 Little Egret Egretta garzetta while at nighttime, it’s home to a siege of 1.2 Black-Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax. If guests don’t want to go in the aviary, there is a path that goes around it.

After the aviary, both paths meet up again, with a building ahead. The building has a path that goes around it in case visitors don’t want to go inside. The building has a sign that reads “The City of Lights” and on top of one of the “I”s is an Eiffel Tower. This is because this exhibit is sponsored by Paris (the city of lights nickname is shared between Paris and Las Vegas). The main theme of this exhibit is bioluminescence. If you walk into the building, there is a very dim-lighted education room. It has several signs about bioluminescence and how animals glow under UV lights. In the room, there are 3 terrariums. Two of them are identical; the terrarium is 30 cm long, 30 cm wide, 30 cm tall, and is lit up via an ultraviolet light. One of them is home to a solitary 0.0.1 Emperor Scorpion Pandinus imperator while the other one is home to a solitary 0.0.1 Socotra Island Blue Baboon Spider Monocentropus balfouri. The final terrarium is 20 cm long, 20 cm wide, and 20 cm tall. It’s home to a small culture of Green Pepe Mycena chlorophos. There is an entrance in the education room to a room with more bioluminescent animals, specifically, aquatic ones. A hallway leads to this room, barely lighted.


As you are in the aquatic bioluminescence room, there are several aquariums which light up the room. In this room, there are several signs on how animals use bioluminescence. Several aquariums hold groups of Dinoflagellate Dinoflagellata, a type of glowing algae. There are also two Kreisler tanks with gentle water movement. One of them is 300 litres, and is home to a smack of 0.0.5 Moon Jelly Aurelia aurita while the other one is 200 litres and is home to 0.0.3 Crystal Jelly Aequorea victoria. On the left side wall, there is a large rectangular tank that is 300 litres. It’s home to 1.2 Japanese Pineapplefish Monocentris japonica and 3.3 Twofin Flashlight Fish Anomalops katoptron. There is another aquarium in the room that is the largest one, being 500 litres with several rocks and coves. It’s home to 0.1 Chain Catshark Scyliorhinus retifer. There is an exit in the room that leads to a dim-lit hallway leading back outside. At the end of this week, I’ll explain the Las Vegas Citylife and Locals exhibit. What do you think so far? Feel free to leave feedback.


Mammals: 7
Birds: 30
Reptiles: 7
Amphibians: 4
Fish: 9
Invertebrates: 4
Total: 61
 
Hello, and welcome to my revised spec zoo project. My original speculative zoo project was unsuccessful due to the lack of detail, and research. While it has some of the same concepts of the original, this project is meant to be more realistic, and detailed. Like before, the Las Vegas Zoological Park is located near Henderson, and it's 24-hours (all animals are seen at night unless said otherwise.. Let’s get started.

After passing the Las Vegas Zoological Park’s ticket booths, security, gift shop, and cafe, you will meet the first exhibit surrounded by several gardens of flora native to Las Vegas, encouraging native wildlife to be there.

Here is a list of all of the sectors/zones of my zone. Any alternative sector names are encouraged.

All Zoo Sectors:
Las Vegas Zone
Aquatic Building
Australia Zone
Eurasian Zone
Inside Africa
Deserts of the Americas
Realm of the Night

Planet Hollywood: Journey into the Congo

The first animal attraction is a walkthrough enclosure. During daytime in Spring/Fall, the path requires you to go inside the aviary but at nighttime, a pathway is opened up on the side of the enclosure. During Winter/Summer, regardless of the time, the path makes you go inside the walkthrough. The walkthrough is 225 sq. m large, netted, and 12 m tall. You walk down the elevated pathway which is more like a boardwalk with 0.6 m tall clear barriers to provide safety for the inhabitants. On the left side of the pathway, there is a forest/grassy area which has various forested areas, bushes, and climbing structures while on the right side of the pathway, there is a 2.5 m wide pond with a depth varying from 0.25 m to 1 m of water. These two sides are connected via a bridge in the pathway with a little grassy transition zone under it. During Spring/Fall, the inhabitants of the more forested side include a pair of 1.1 Blue Duiker Philantomba monticola congicus, a breeding pair of 1.1 Congo Peafowl Afropavo congensis, a flock of 1.2 Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus erithacus, and a pair of 0.2 Ross’s Turaco Musophaga rossae. The inhabitants of the aquatic side this time of year are a pair of 1.1 Hartlaub’s Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii and a pair of 1.1 West African Mud Turtle Pelusios castaneus. During Fall/Winter, the inhabitants of the more forested side include a family of 1.2 African Brush-Tailed Porcupine Atherurus africanus and a pair of 1.1 Eroded Hingeback Tortoise Kinixys erosa while the pond is home to a solitary 0.1 Congo Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus osborni, and the same mud turtles as in the Spring/Fall. I’ll talk about all of the animals’ off season/alternate housings later. After walking through this enclosure, there is a three-way fork in the road, the left path leads to Deserts of America, the middle path leads to Las Vegas Sector, and the right path leads to Inside Africa. I’ll explain the Las Vegas Sector later this week.

What do you think so far? Feedback is appreciated.

Mammals: 2
Birds: 4
Reptiles: 3
Amphibians: 0
Fish: 0
Invertebrates: 0
Total: 9
After looking at this entrance again, I decided to modify it a bit with some new species (the Congo aviary will go somewhere else).

The Las Vegas Zoological Park and Aquarium is located near Henderson, and it's 24-hours (all animals are seen at night unless said otherwise. After passing the ticket booths, and security checkpoints, there is a gift shop, and cafe surrounded by several gardens of flora native to Las Vegas, encouraging native wildlife to be there.

In the gift shop, there is a single terrarium, and is in the stuffed animal area, full of animals found in the zoo. The enclosure is 60 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 90 cm tall. It has branches, vines, and is home to 0.1 Veiled Chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus calyptratus. This species is found in a tropical part of one of the most arid regions of the world, the Arabian peninsula. The cafe has an indoor and outdoor setting with an enclosure in the middle of the seating outside. That enclosure is circular, and is 7 sq. m large with 0.5 m tall smooth stane barriers. Inside the enclosure, there are various rocks and boulders to allow hiding spots, shad, and basking areas. It’s home to a creep of 1.2 Crevice Tortoise Malacochersus tornieri, an endangered tortoise species found in the arid regions of Eastern Africa. These two animals are meant to serve as a sneak peek of what’s ahead in the zoo. If you go past the gift shop, and the cafe, you will see the first major exhibit.

All Zoo Sectors and Zones:
  • Deserts of the Americas
    • Atacama Desert
    • Chihuahuan Desert
    • Deserts of the Americas Building
    • Gran Chaco
    • Sonoran Desert
  • Aquatic Building
    • Colorado River
    • Gulf of California
    • Gulf of Mexico
    • Lake Chad
    • Mandalay Bay Ambassador Animals
    • Mediterranean Sea
    • Nile River
    • Okavango Delta
    • Red Sea
  • Nevada Zone
    • Las Vegas Wash
    • Life in the City
    • the Locals
    • Mojave Desert
    • Sierra Nevada
  • Innovation Lab
    • Area 51
    • City of Lights
    • Discovery Garden
    • It’s Electric
    • Journey into the Congo
    • Life at the Poles
  • Realm of Darkness
    • Africa
    • the Americas
    • Australia
    • Madagascar
  • Australia Zone
    • Dry Forest
    • Outback
  • Inside Africa
    • Horn of Africa
    • Land of the Pharaohs
    • Madagascar Spiny Forest
    • Saharo-Arabian Desert
    • Southern Deserts
  • Eurasian Zone
    • Caesar’s Menagerie
    • Gobi Desert
    • Thar Desert

The Zambezi River sponsored by the Flamingo
The first major animal attraction is a walkthrough aviary which is the Zambezi River, sponsored by the Flamingo. It’s 600 sq. m large, 5 m tall, and has 1 m tall wooden barriers inside it. There is a double-gated entry and exit to prevent animals escaping. It has a 250 sq. m large pond on the right side of the path (the left side of the aviary is just the path), and ranges in depths from 0.3 to 1 m deep. There are also various perches, and land areas. During the daytime, it’s home to a group of a pinioned flamboyance of 6.6 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, a skewer of 2.2 Little Egret Egretta garzetta, and a pinioned pod of 1.2 Pink-Backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens while at nighttime, it’s home to a siege of 1.2 Black-Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax. If guests don’t want to go in the aviary, there is a path that goes around it but still looks into it. After walking through this enclosure, there is a three-way fork in the road, the left path leads to Deserts of America, the middle path leads to the Innovation Lab, and the right path leads to Inside Africa.

What do you think of the changes? Feel free to suggest ideas, provide feedback, comments, etc.
 
I quite like the changes. They feel more “grounded”, yet more inventive and creative in some areas. I like the prioritizing of desert habitats, which is especially important in a city in the middle of a desert and with historic water problems. It also adds to the uniqueness of the zoo, as many zoos don’t really exhibit an array of desert species.
 
Innovation Lab: Part 1 (Discovery Garden)
If you walk down the middle path, there is a large building called the Innovation Lab. When you go inside, there is a hallway which has two branches. If you go straight ahead (during nighttime, it's the only direction), you will go to the It's Electric exhibit while if you go to the left branch, you go to the Discovery Garden.

The Discovery Garden is sponsored by Rio with animals with unique adaptations. In the Discovery Garden, first there is a 400 sq. m large indoor garden with plants native to tropical South America. The room is 7 m tall so that the inhabitants are free-flight. There are naturalistic pathways with a small 15 sq. m shallow pond. The garden is home to a breeding pair of free-flight 1.1 Scarlet Macaw Ara macao macao, and a free-roaming group of 1.2 Western Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise Chelonoidis niger porteri. After the garden, there is a hallway with a series of enclosures. The first enclosure is 30 sq. m large, and 3.75 m tall with various branch pathways and platforms. It's home to a family of 2.2 Cotton-Headed Tamarin Saguinus oedipus, and a solitary 0.1 Linneaus's Two-Toed Sloth Choloepus didactylus. The next enclosure takes up most of the right wall, and is 1.75 m long, 2.5 m wide, and 0.3 m deep with transparent acrylic viewing panels. It's home to an established colony of 0.0.55000 Hairy-Headed Leafcutter Ant Atta cephalotes. The third enclosure is back on the left wall, and is a terrarium meant to serve as a transition between the rainforest and the river. It's 150 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 60 cm tall. It's home to a pair of 1.1 Dyeing Poison Dart Frog Dendrobates tinctorius, an army of 1.2 Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog Dendrobates auratus, and a pair of 1.1 Strawberry Poison Dart Frog Oophaga pumilio. Then, there is a 30,000 litre freshwater tank that is 2 m tall with various vegetation and driftwood. It's titled "Amazonian Giants" and is home to 1.0 Barred Sorubim Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, 1.0 Black Ghost Knifefish Apteronotus albifrons, 0.1 Common Pleco Hypostomus plecostomus, 0.1 Giant Arapaima Arapaima gigas, 1.0 Redtail Catfish Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, 0.1 Silver Arowana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, a pair of 1.1 Tambaqui Colossoma macropomum, and 0.1 Xingu River Ray Potamotrygon leopoldi. The final enclosure is a small aquarium/terrarium that is 1 m tall, 2.5 m long, and 1.5 m tall. The water is 45 cm deep, and there is a gentle slope for the transition between land and water. It's home to a solitary 1.0 Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman Paleosuchus palpebrosus. Then, the hallway meets back up with the main hallway.
I'll countinue with It's Electric and a revambed City of Lights enclosure later.
 
Innovation Lab: Part 1 (Discovery Garden)
If you walk down the middle path, there is a large building called the Innovation Lab. When you go inside, there is a hallway which has two branches. If you go straight ahead (during nighttime, it's the only direction), you will go to the It's Electric exhibit while if you go to the left branch, you go to the Discovery Garden.

The Discovery Garden is sponsored by Rio with animals with unique adaptations. In the Discovery Garden, first there is a 400 sq. m large indoor garden with plants native to tropical South America. The room is 7 m tall so that the inhabitants are free-flight. There are naturalistic pathways with a small 15 sq. m shallow pond. The garden is home to a breeding pair of free-flight 1.1 Scarlet Macaw Ara macao macao, and a free-roaming group of 1.2 Western Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise Chelonoidis niger porteri. After the garden, there is a hallway with a series of enclosures. The first enclosure is 30 sq. m large, and 3.75 m tall with various branch pathways and platforms. It's home to a family of 2.2 Cotton-Headed Tamarin Saguinus oedipus, and a solitary 0.1 Linneaus's Two-Toed Sloth Choloepus didactylus. The next enclosure takes up most of the right wall, and is 1.75 m long, 2.5 m wide, and 0.3 m deep with transparent acrylic viewing panels. It's home to an established colony of 0.0.55000 Hairy-Headed Leafcutter Ant Atta cephalotes. The third enclosure is back on the left wall, and is a terrarium meant to serve as a transition between the rainforest and the river. It's 150 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 60 cm tall. It's home to a pair of 1.1 Dyeing Poison Dart Frog Dendrobates tinctorius, an army of 1.2 Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog Dendrobates auratus, and a pair of 1.1 Strawberry Poison Dart Frog Oophaga pumilio. Then, there is a 30,000 litre freshwater tank that is 2 m tall with various vegetation and driftwood. It's titled "Amazonian Giants" and is home to 1.0 Barred Sorubim Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, 1.0 Black Ghost Knifefish Apteronotus albifrons, 0.1 Common Pleco Hypostomus plecostomus, 0.1 Giant Arapaima Arapaima gigas, 1.0 Redtail Catfish Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, 0.1 Silver Arowana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, a pair of 1.1 Tambaqui Colossoma macropomum, and 0.1 Xingu River Ray Potamotrygon leopoldi. The final enclosure is a small aquarium/terrarium that is 1 m tall, 2.5 m long, and 1.5 m tall. The water is 45 cm deep, and there is a gentle slope for the transition between land and water. It's home to a solitary 1.0 Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman Paleosuchus palpebrosus. Then, the hallway meets back up with the main hallway.
I'll countinue with It's Electric and a revambed City of Lights enclosure later.
This will be the final time I will update the entrance but I wanted to improve it as some of the species I planned to have in exhibits had their exhibits deleted.

The Las Vegas Zoological Park and Aquarium is located near Henderson, and it's 24-hours (all animals are seen at night unless said otherwise. After passing the ticket booths, and security checkpoints, there is a rocky 4,500 sq. m large enclosure housing Nevada’s state mammal. It has various grazing areas, water troughs, meadows, and rocky areas with 2.4 m tall fencing. It’s home to a herd of 1.5 Desert Bighorn Sheep Ovis canadensis nelsoni during the daytime, and 1.3 Desert Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus eremicus at night. When any of the species aren’t found in this enclosure, they are in a behind-the-scenes holding area.

After passing this enclosure, there is a gift shop, and cafe with a large pond in the pathway’s centre surrounded by several gardens of flora native to Las Vegas, encouraging native wildlife to be there. The pond is circular with 22,500 litres of water, and is 1.5 m deep with a waterfowl, and various water lilies. Due to the changing temperatures and weather, the pond is temperature-regulated. There is also 200 sq. m of adjacent land in the enclosure with basking platforms in the pond. It’s home to a bale of 1.2 Japanese Pond Turtle Mauremys japonica, and a gasp of 0.0.15 Koi Cyprinus rubrofuscus f. domestica.

In the gift shop, there are four terrariums with a variety of species. The first enclosure is a circular 100 cm tall terrarium with a diameter of 80 cm. This enclosure is in the centre of the shop. It has branches, vines, and is home to 0.1 Veiled Chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus. This species is found in a semi-tropical and mountainous region of one of the most arid regions of the world, the Arabian peninsula. At nighttime, the chameleon is held behind the scenes as they are diurnal creatures. If the individual was transferred/perished, there is a group of 1.3 Mediterranean House Gecko Hemidactylus turcicus BTS to replace them, which would be viewable 24/7 as geckos are nocturnal. In the far end of the gift shop, there are three terrariums full of Persian natives, and are surrounded by books. The first enclosure is more horizontal and arid with several hiding spots. It’s 120 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 40 cm tall. It’s home to a group of 1.2 Common Leopard Gecko Eublepharis macularius. The second terrarium is 120 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 40 cm tall. It is 60% water as the inhabitant is a swimmer. This aquatic species is an armada of 1.2 Lorestan Newt Neurergus kaiseri which is a species only found in the Southern Zagros Mountains. The final terrarium is 60 cm long, 30 cm wide, and 30 cm tall. It’s in a similar tank to the geckos with caves, sand, and it’s home to a solitary 0.1 Indian Red Scorpion Hottentotta tamulus, one of the most poisonous species in the world. Like the chameleon, there is a backup species BTS, but this time, it’s another solitary 0.1 Indian Red Scorpion Hottentotta tamulus.

The cafe has an indoor and outdoor setting with a large 800 litre fish tank which has Lake Tanganyika species. The tank has stacked rock formations, inert rocks, a fine sand substrate, and various plants with a wave maker. The inhabitants of the tank include a colony of 0.0.15 Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi, a group of 0.0.4 Cuckoo Squeaker Synodontis multipunctatus, a group of 1.3 Daffodil Cichlid Neolamprologus brichardi, a group of 1.2 Frontosa Cichlid Cyphotilapia frontosa, a group of 2.2 Golden Julie Julidochromis ornatus, and a school of 5.5 Slender Cichlid Cyprichromis leptosoma.

These animals are meant to serve as a sneak peek of what’s ahead in the zoo. If you go past the gift shop, and the cafe, you will see the first major exhibit.

All Zoo Sectors and Zones (Names are subject to change):
  • Entry Plaza
  • Deserts of the Americas
    • Desert Dome
    • Gran Chaco
  • Aquatic Building
    • Colorado River
    • Gulf of California
    • Gulf of Mexico
    • Lake Chad
    • Life at the Poles
    • Mandalay Bay Ambassador Animals
    • Mediterranean Sea
    • Nile River
    • Red Sea
  • Nevada Zone
    • Las Vegas Wash
    • Life in the City
    • the Locals
    • Sierra Nevada
  • Innovation Lab
    • Ambassador Species
    • Area 51
    • City of Lights
    • Discovery Garden
    • It’s Electric
    • Journey into the Congo
  • Realm of Darkness
    • Africa After Dark
    • the Americas
    • Aquatic Zone
    • Australia
    • Madagascar
  • Australia Zone
    • Dry Forest
    • Outback
  • Inside Africa
    • Horn of Africa
    • Land of the Pharaohs
    • Madagascar Spiny Forest
    • Southern Deserts
  • Eurasian Zone
    • Caesar’s Menagerie
    • Gobi Desert
    • Saharo-Arabian Desert

The Zambezi River sponsored by the Flamingo
The first major animal attraction is a netted walkthrough aviary which is the Zambezi River, sponsored by the Flamingo. It’s 1600 sq. m large, 6 m tall, and has 1.5 m tall wooden barriers inside it (for the humans) surrounding a pathway. There is a double-gated entry and exit to prevent animals escaping. It has a 700 sq. m large pond on the right side of the path (the left side of the aviary is just the path), and ranges in depths from 0.3 to 1 m deep. There are also various perches, and land areas. During the daytime, it’s home to a group of a pinioned flamboyance of 15.15 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, a skewer of 4.4 Western Little Egret Egretta garzetta garzetta, and a pinioned pod of 2.3 Pink-Backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens while at nighttime, it’s home to a siege of 2.2 Old World Black-Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax. If guests don’t want to go in the aviary, there is a path that goes around it but still looks into it. Outside of the exit of the enclosure, there is an enclosure on the left side of the pathway. It’s 200 sq. m large, and 10 m tall. It has a 0.5-1 m deep 20 sq. m large pond, various perches and a nesting platform. It’s home to a lesser-known eagle species, a breeding pair of 1.1 African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer. During nighttime, this species is held BTS for privacy. After this exhibit there is a three-way fork in the road, the left path leads to Deserts of America, the middle path leads to the Innovation Lab, and the right path leads to Inside Africa.

What do you think? I'll continue with a path of the community's choosing by the start of next week. I tried to make this section more realistic, and up to AZA & ZAA standards. Feel free to leave comments, suggestions, etc.

Mammals: 2 (10%)
Birds: 5 (25%)
Reptiles: 4 (20%)
Amphibians: 1 (5%)
Fish: 6 (30%)
Invertebrates: 2 (10%)
Total: 20

Current SSP Programs: 2
 
Nice job. Do you plan on making maps for the areas?
I'm not likely to make plans for individual areas as my zoo is not the easiest to be written 2D but I might make a zoo map at the end of posting the entire zoo (the kind visitors would get. Making maps are just a lot of work as I have to spend lots of time researching the different animals, and the enclosures.
 
This will be the final time I will update the entrance but I wanted to improve it as some of the species I planned to have in exhibits had their exhibits deleted.

The Las Vegas Zoological Park and Aquarium is located near Henderson, and it's 24-hours (all animals are seen at night unless said otherwise. After passing the ticket booths, and security checkpoints, there is a rocky 4,500 sq. m large enclosure housing Nevada’s state mammal. It has various grazing areas, water troughs, meadows, and rocky areas with 2.4 m tall fencing. It’s home to a herd of 1.5 Desert Bighorn Sheep Ovis canadensis nelsoni during the daytime, and 1.3 Desert Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus eremicus at night. When any of the species aren’t found in this enclosure, they are in a behind-the-scenes holding area.

After passing this enclosure, there is a gift shop, and cafe with a large pond in the pathway’s centre surrounded by several gardens of flora native to Las Vegas, encouraging native wildlife to be there. The pond is circular with 22,500 litres of water, and is 1.5 m deep with a waterfowl, and various water lilies. Due to the changing temperatures and weather, the pond is temperature-regulated. There is also 200 sq. m of adjacent land in the enclosure with basking platforms in the pond. It’s home to a bale of 1.2 Japanese Pond Turtle Mauremys japonica, and a gasp of 0.0.15 Koi Cyprinus rubrofuscus f. domestica.

In the gift shop, there are four terrariums with a variety of species. The first enclosure is a circular 100 cm tall terrarium with a diameter of 80 cm. This enclosure is in the centre of the shop. It has branches, vines, and is home to 0.1 Veiled Chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus. This species is found in a semi-tropical and mountainous region of one of the most arid regions of the world, the Arabian peninsula. At nighttime, the chameleon is held behind the scenes as they are diurnal creatures. If the individual was transferred/perished, there is a group of 1.3 Mediterranean House Gecko Hemidactylus turcicus BTS to replace them, which would be viewable 24/7 as geckos are nocturnal. In the far end of the gift shop, there are three terrariums full of Persian natives, and are surrounded by books. The first enclosure is more horizontal and arid with several hiding spots. It’s 120 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 40 cm tall. It’s home to a group of 1.2 Common Leopard Gecko Eublepharis macularius. The second terrarium is 120 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 40 cm tall. It is 60% water as the inhabitant is a swimmer. This aquatic species is an armada of 1.2 Lorestan Newt Neurergus kaiseri which is a species only found in the Southern Zagros Mountains. The final terrarium is 60 cm long, 30 cm wide, and 30 cm tall. It’s in a similar tank to the geckos with caves, sand, and it’s home to a solitary 0.1 Indian Red Scorpion Hottentotta tamulus, one of the most poisonous species in the world. Like the chameleon, there is a backup species BTS, but this time, it’s another solitary 0.1 Indian Red Scorpion Hottentotta tamulus.

The cafe has an indoor and outdoor setting with a large 800 litre fish tank which has Lake Tanganyika species. The tank has stacked rock formations, inert rocks, a fine sand substrate, and various plants with a wave maker. The inhabitants of the tank include a colony of 0.0.15 Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi, a group of 0.0.4 Cuckoo Squeaker Synodontis multipunctatus, a group of 1.3 Daffodil Cichlid Neolamprologus brichardi, a group of 1.2 Frontosa Cichlid Cyphotilapia frontosa, a group of 2.2 Golden Julie Julidochromis ornatus, and a school of 5.5 Slender Cichlid Cyprichromis leptosoma.

These animals are meant to serve as a sneak peek of what’s ahead in the zoo. If you go past the gift shop, and the cafe, you will see the first major exhibit.

All Zoo Sectors and Zones (Names are subject to change):
  • Entry Plaza
  • Deserts of the Americas
    • Desert Dome
    • Gran Chaco
  • Aquatic Building
    • Colorado River
    • Gulf of California
    • Gulf of Mexico
    • Lake Chad
    • Life at the Poles
    • Mandalay Bay Ambassador Animals
    • Mediterranean Sea
    • Nile River
    • Red Sea
  • Nevada Zone
    • Las Vegas Wash
    • Life in the City
    • the Locals
    • Sierra Nevada
  • Innovation Lab
    • Ambassador Species
    • Area 51
    • City of Lights
    • Discovery Garden
    • It’s Electric
    • Journey into the Congo
  • Realm of Darkness
    • Africa After Dark
    • the Americas
    • Aquatic Zone
    • Australia
    • Madagascar
  • Australia Zone
    • Dry Forest
    • Outback
  • Inside Africa
    • Horn of Africa
    • Land of the Pharaohs
    • Madagascar Spiny Forest
    • Southern Deserts
  • Eurasian Zone
    • Caesar’s Menagerie
    • Gobi Desert
    • Saharo-Arabian Desert

The Zambezi River sponsored by the Flamingo
The first major animal attraction is a netted walkthrough aviary which is the Zambezi River, sponsored by the Flamingo. It’s 1600 sq. m large, 6 m tall, and has 1.5 m tall wooden barriers inside it (for the humans) surrounding a pathway. There is a double-gated entry and exit to prevent animals escaping. It has a 700 sq. m large pond on the right side of the path (the left side of the aviary is just the path), and ranges in depths from 0.3 to 1 m deep. There are also various perches, and land areas. During the daytime, it’s home to a group of a pinioned flamboyance of 15.15 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, a skewer of 4.4 Western Little Egret Egretta garzetta garzetta, and a pinioned pod of 2.3 Pink-Backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens while at nighttime, it’s home to a siege of 2.2 Old World Black-Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax. If guests don’t want to go in the aviary, there is a path that goes around it but still looks into it. Outside of the exit of the enclosure, there is an enclosure on the left side of the pathway. It’s 200 sq. m large, and 10 m tall. It has a 0.5-1 m deep 20 sq. m large pond, various perches and a nesting platform. It’s home to a lesser-known eagle species, a breeding pair of 1.1 African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer. During nighttime, this species is held BTS for privacy. After this exhibit there is a three-way fork in the road, the left path leads to Deserts of America, the middle path leads to the Innovation Lab, and the right path leads to Inside Africa.

What do you think? I'll continue with a path of the community's choosing by the start of next week. I tried to make this section more realistic, and up to AZA & ZAA standards. Feel free to leave comments, suggestions, etc.

Mammals: 2 (10%)
Birds: 5 (25%)
Reptiles: 4 (20%)
Amphibians: 1 (5%)
Fish: 6 (30%)
Invertebrates: 2 (10%)
Total: 20

Current SSP Programs: 2
Deserts of the Americas: Desert Dome
If you go down the left path, the first exhibit on the trail is the massive desert dome. The desert dome is open at night and day.

When you go through the doors, you first see a little education room with a terrarium that is 150 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 60 cm tall.

It has simulated rain, and is sandy with a basin and rocky outcrops. All season long, it’s home to a group of 0.0.10 Clown Isopod Armadillidium klugii, a colony of 3.3 Desert Ironclad Beetle Asbolus verrucosus, the apex 1.0 Desert Spiny Lizard Sceloporus magister, a solitary 0.1 Dune Scorpion Smeringurus mesaensis, an eclipse of 0.0.6 Jumping Bean Moth Larvae Cydia saltitans larvae, a colony of 0.0.6 Lesser Mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus, and a group of 0.0.10 Zebra Isopod Armadillidium maculatum. During the rainy season, there is also a troupe of 0.0.15 Beavertail Fairy Shrimp Thamnocephalus platyurus, and 0.0.10 Longtail Tadpole Shrimp Triops longicaudatus. The amount of some of these species is an estimate as there may be more babies. Also, once the jumping bean moths mature, they are replaced in the tank. If you exit this hallway, you stumble upon another hallway which has various species from the Mojave Desert.

In this hallway, there are 8 terrariums. At nighttime, these terrariums are lit up by a dim light. The first one is 60 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 45 cm tall with various hiding spots, and rocks. It’s home to a group of 1.2 Desert Banded Gecko Coleonyx variegatus variegatus, a nocturnal lizard. The next terrarium is 250 long, 100 cm wide, and 120 cm tall with large rocks, hollow logs, plants, and is home to a lounge of 1.2 Desert Collared Lizard Crotaphytus bicinctores, and a solitary Nevada icon, 1.0 Reticulated Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum suspectum. The third terrarium is 60 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 45 cm tall which, like the previous terrarium, has various hiding locations and rocks. It’s home to another venomous desert animal, 0.1 Desert Hairy Scorpion Hadrurus arizonensis.


The three terrariums after that are smaller but all are identical with them being 45 cm long, 30 cm wide, and 30 cm tall. The first of those has a hollowed-out log with various flat rocks with a solitary 0.0.1 Desert Blonde Tarantula Aphonopelma chalcodes as the sole inhabitant. The next one has various hiding spots, a shallow water dish, and is home to a solitary 1.0 Couch’s Spadefoot Scaphiopus couchii, a burrowing amphibian. The last identical terrarium has hiding spots, rocks, and is home to 0.0.1 Common Desert Centipede Scolopendra polymorpha which is found in western North America. The final terrarium after that is large with it being 120 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 45 cm tall. It has various hiding spots, rocks, and is rotational. The inhabitants could either be a 1.0 Northern Mojave Rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus or a 1.0 Mojave Desert Sidewinder Crotalus cerastes cerastes. After these terrariums, there are two large doors which lead to the first parts of the Desert Dome, the area seen during day and nighttime. I’ll continue with this next week. Feel free to note suggestions, feedback, complaints, etc.

Species On-Exhibit Count:
Invertebrates: 13
Fish: 6
Amphibians: 2
Reptiles: 9
Birds: 5
Mammals: 2
Total: 37
 
It has simulated rain, and is sandy with a basin and rocky outcrops. All season long, it’s home to a group of 0.0.10 Clown Isopod Armadillidium klugii, a colony of 3.3 Desert Ironclad Beetle Asbolus verrucosus, the apex 1.0 Desert Spiny Lizard Sceloporus magister, a solitary 0.1 Dune Scorpion Smeringurus mesaensis, an eclipse of 0.0.6 Jumping Bean Moth Larvae Cydia saltitans larvae, a colony of 0.0.6 Lesser Mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus, and a group of 0.0.10 Zebra Isopod Armadillidium maculatum. During the rainy season, there is also a troupe of 0.0.15 Beavertail Fairy Shrimp Thamnocephalus platyurus, and 0.0.10 Longtail Tadpole Shrimp Triops longicaudatus.
Is this inspired by Dr. Plants' desert ecosystem?
 
Deserts of the Americas: Desert Dome
If you go down the left path, the first exhibit on the trail is the massive desert dome. The desert dome is open at night and day.

When you go through the doors, you first see a little education room with a terrarium that is 150 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 60 cm tall.

It has simulated rain, and is sandy with a basin and rocky outcrops. All season long, it’s home to a group of 0.0.10 Clown Isopod Armadillidium klugii, a colony of 3.3 Desert Ironclad Beetle Asbolus verrucosus, the apex 1.0 Desert Spiny Lizard Sceloporus magister, a solitary 0.1 Dune Scorpion Smeringurus mesaensis, an eclipse of 0.0.6 Jumping Bean Moth Larvae Cydia saltitans larvae, a colony of 0.0.6 Lesser Mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus, and a group of 0.0.10 Zebra Isopod Armadillidium maculatum. During the rainy season, there is also a troupe of 0.0.15 Beavertail Fairy Shrimp Thamnocephalus platyurus, and 0.0.10 Longtail Tadpole Shrimp Triops longicaudatus. The amount of some of these species is an estimate as there may be more babies. Also, once the jumping bean moths mature, they are replaced in the tank. If you exit this hallway, you stumble upon another hallway which has various species from the Mojave Desert.

In this hallway, there are 8 terrariums. At nighttime, these terrariums are lit up by a dim light. The first one is 60 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 45 cm tall with various hiding spots, and rocks. It’s home to a group of 1.2 Desert Banded Gecko Coleonyx variegatus variegatus, a nocturnal lizard. The next terrarium is 250 long, 100 cm wide, and 120 cm tall with large rocks, hollow logs, plants, and is home to a lounge of 1.2 Desert Collared Lizard Crotaphytus bicinctores, and a solitary Nevada icon, 1.0 Reticulated Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum suspectum. The third terrarium is 60 cm long, 45 cm wide, and 45 cm tall which, like the previous terrarium, has various hiding locations and rocks. It’s home to another venomous desert animal, 0.1 Desert Hairy Scorpion Hadrurus arizonensis.


The three terrariums after that are smaller but all are identical with them being 45 cm long, 30 cm wide, and 30 cm tall. The first of those has a hollowed-out log with various flat rocks with a solitary 0.0.1 Desert Blonde Tarantula Aphonopelma chalcodes as the sole inhabitant. The next one has various hiding spots, a shallow water dish, and is home to a solitary 1.0 Couch’s Spadefoot Scaphiopus couchii, a burrowing amphibian. The last identical terrarium has hiding spots, rocks, and is home to 0.0.1 Common Desert Centipede Scolopendra polymorpha which is found in western North America. The final terrarium after that is large with it being 120 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 45 cm tall. It has various hiding spots, rocks, and is rotational. The inhabitants could either be a 1.0 Northern Mojave Rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus or a 1.0 Mojave Desert Sidewinder Crotalus cerastes cerastes. After these terrariums, there are two large doors which lead to the first parts of the Desert Dome, the area seen during day and nighttime. I’ll continue with this next week. Feel free to note suggestions, feedback, complaints, etc.

Species On-Exhibit Count:
Invertebrates: 13
Fish: 6
Amphibians: 2
Reptiles: 9
Birds: 5
Mammals: 2
Total: 37
After passing through the Mojave Desert natives hallway, you are in an open-air area where you can see the sides of the panels of the dome. At nighttime, a dim red light is used for viewing. All of the species in this area are somewhat active at both night and day. Throughout the pathway, there are various desert plants such as cacti on both sides of the pathway. There is a pathway with 0.75 m tall wooden barriers.

The first enclosure here is on your left side, and is 25 sq. m large surrounded by 2 m tall fencing . It has burrows, logs, rocks, and is home to a pair of 0.2 Nine-Banded Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus. The next enclosure is around the corner (the pathway is curved, similar to Stone Zoo’s Treasures of Sierra Madre), and is mesh-topped, 27.5 sq. m large with 2 m tall fencing. It has a tree, and various climbing opportunities. The inhabitat is either 1.0 North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum couesi or 0.1 North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum couesi depending on the day. During the breeding season (October to November), both individuals are housed together in this enclosure. The second to last enclosure is a rotational enclosure. This enclosure is 50 sq. m tall, and has a 3 m tall fencing. The top of this enclosure is covered with metal roofing. The enclosure has various platforms varying in height with logs, hides, and rocks. The inhabitants can rotate between a breeding pair of 1.1 Jaguarundi Herpailurus yagouaroundi which are an AZA phase-in species, a breeding pair of 1.1 North American Ocelot Leopardus pardalis pardalis, and 0.1 Western Bobcat Lynx rufus fasciatus. I’ll talk about the other 2 enclosures they rotate around later. The final enclosure is 20 sq. m large, has 2.5 m tall fencing, and is mesh-topped. The enclosure itself is home to various vertical and horizontal structures with various dens which allow its sole inhabitant, 0.1 Eastern Ringtail Bassariscus astutus flavus to have enrichment. After these enclosures, the path leads to an artificial cave, titled “Rattlesnake Cove”.

Species On-Exhibit Count:
Invertebrates: 13
Fish: 6
Amphibians: 2
Reptiles: 9
Birds: 5
Mammals: 8
Total: 43

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Nine-Banded Armadillo
Image Credit -> @TheGerenuk
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North American Porcupine
Image Credit -> @Julio C Castro
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Jaguarundi
Image Credit -> @zoo_enthusiast
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Bobcat
Image Credit -> @wstefan
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Ocelot
Image Credit -> @JigerofLemuria
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Ringtail
Image Credit -> @Julio C Castro
 
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