Theoretical walkthroughs

[Jurek7]

Some of best walkthroughs are designed so that visitor area is unattractive to animals, and there is sufficient space away. So, ideally, there is little difference whether there is a barrier or not.

In Goldau, Switzerland, visitors can enter viewing shelters which open to the enclosures of wildcats and of red foxes without any barrier. Based on this, I suspect there could be a walkthrough with servals or any other small carnivores.

In Innsbruck, there is a concrete visitor path going below a hillside for Alpine ibex. Ibex have no interest of going down to visitor path, although they could. I guess any mountain goat or sheep can be kept this way. And, possibly, if one makes a visitor path without vegetation along one perimeter of exhibit of any small or medium ungulates, the said ungulates would behave like in a normal fenced exhibit and never go towards or interact with visitors.

 

[Mickey]

Some of best walkthroughs are designed so that visitor area is unattractive to animals, and there is sufficient space away. So, ideally, there is little difference whether there is a barrier or not.

In Goldau, Switzerland, visitors can enter viewing shelters which open to the enclosures of wildcats and of red foxes without any barrier. Based on this, I suspect there could be a walkthrough with servals or any other small carnivores.

In Innsbruck, there is a concrete visitor path going below a hillside for Alpine ibex. Ibex have no interest of going down to visitor path, although they could. I guess any mountain goat or sheep can be kept this way. And, possibly, if one makes a visitor path without vegetation along one perimeter of exhibit of any small or medium ungulates, the said ungulates would behave like in a normal fenced exhibit and never go towards or interact with visitors.

The question is thought, how well do these animals breed? I'm much more worried about the carnivores...

 

[Ursus]

The question is thought, how well do these animals breed? I'm much more worried about the carnivores...

The question is thought, do these animals need to be bred?
Are these individuals perhaps of a same sex? Are these individuals perhaps geriatric?

 

[15399]

Some of best walkthroughs are designed so that visitor area is unattractive to animals, and there is sufficient space away. So, ideally, there is little difference whether there is a barrier or not.

In Goldau, Switzerland, visitors can enter viewing shelters which open to the enclosures of wildcats and of red foxes without any barrier. Based on this, I suspect there could be a walkthrough with servals or any other small carnivores.

In Innsbruck, there is a concrete visitor path going below a hillside for Alpine ibex. Ibex have no interest of going down to visitor path, although they could. I guess any mountain goat or sheep can be kept this way. And, possibly, if one makes a visitor path without vegetation along one perimeter of exhibit of any small or medium ungulates, the said ungulates would behave like in a normal fenced exhibit and never go towards or interact with visitors.

The difficulty with exhibits of this nature is that there is a lot of individuality in Animal Behavior, making a boundary that is purely behavioral not ideal. Even within the same species, it's very possible to get individuals (perhaps who behave atypically) who will spend time in the area they "aren't supposed to". If it's a biological/innate behavior being used (ex. a darkened visitor section and a bright aviary, exploiting birds' day-night cycles to keep them in the exhibit), then there's a good chance it'd be fine, but if it's simply a commonly observed behavior, then individual differences would be too likely to cause problems. In essence, due to these behavioral possibilities, and the fact Animal interaction with guests is still possible, safety still needs to be the number one priority. To use, say, your Ibex example, I wouldn't be concerned about an Ibex having interactions with guests, these are species keepers regularly share exhibits with and aren't a particularly dangerous animal (especially females). However, there are other caprids that, even if the behavioral barrier would normally inhibit contact with guests, pose too great of a safety risk for this idea to even be entertained (i.e. I wouldn't want to do this mix with takins).

 

[Ursus]

In Goldau, Switzerland, visitors can enter viewing shelters which open to the enclosures of wildcats and of red foxes without any barrier. Based on this, I suspect there could be a walkthrough with servals or any other small carnivores.

There's a difference between a walkthrough exhibit and a viewing segment without direct barrier.

 

[Jurek7]

The question is thought, do these animals need to be bred?
Are these individuals perhaps of a same sex? Are these individuals perhaps geriatric?

Ibex breed. About wildcats I don't know and foxes are likely non-breeding rescues. None seemed very geriatric or unfit.

I forgot that wildcat and fox enclosures can also be seen though the traditional mesh from another side. This allows closing the walk-in area easily.

 

[JigerofLemuria]

Since they haven't been mentioned yet, what about a walkthrough giant tortoise exhibit? Given some security, a large enclosure size and wide paths for guests, do you think it could work?

 

[Amphibiman]

Since they haven't been mentioned yet, what about a walkthrough giant tortoise exhibit? Given some security, a large enclosure size and wide paths for guests, do you think it could work?

I think there are a couple places that do this. Or used to, anyway. I remember hearing something about it. Walkthrough plazas where grazing Galapagos Tortoises can be hand fed and have supervised interactions with patrons. I, personally, think this is a great idea, so long as there is some sort of way for the animals to get away from the public if they so choose.

 

[Mr Gharial]

Since they haven't been mentioned yet, what about a walkthrough giant tortoise exhibit? Given some security, a large enclosure size and wide paths for guests, do you think it could work?

The main problem with Giant tortoise walkthroughs isn't actually the animals, but the tortoises falling asleep or resting in front of the doors. Petting zoo-like flipping doors would not really be an option.

Aldabra and Galapagos tortoises are too big to simply be contained by a metal grid path that is sometimes used for smaller animals or cattle. And at that point there's a sizeable overlap between the most able-bodied tortoise and the least able-bodied humans

 

[Haliaeetus]

Since they haven't been mentioned yet, what about a walkthrough giant tortoise exhibit? Given some security, a large enclosure size and wide paths for guests, do you think it could work?

In Beauval there's a large walkthrough aviary with Aldabra Giant Tortoises, Fruit Bats, Glossy Starlings and Von der Decken Hornbills.
The path isn't at the floor level, but on a wooden walkway above it.

 

[FBBird]

The main problem with Giant tortoise walkthroughs isn't actually the animals, but the tortoises falling asleep or resting in front of the doors. Petting zoo-like flipping doors would not really be an option.

Aldabra and Galapagos tortoises are too big to simply be contained by a metal grid path that is sometimes used for smaller animals or cattle. And at that point there's a sizeable overlap between the most able-bodied tortoise and the least able-bodied humans

I’ve seen a Giant Tortoise knock someone over….

 

[Van Beal]

I see @Haliaeetus mentioned Von der Decken hornbills, so my curiosity is carrying over and wondering if larger hornbills (greater hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, wreathed hornbill, etc.) would also work in a walkthrough?

 

[JigerofLemuria]

I see @Haliaeetus mentioned Von der Decken hornbills, so my curiosity is carrying over and wondering if larger hornbills (greater hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, wreathed hornbill, etc.) would also work in a walkthrough?

Not sure about that... some zookeepers have told me they can be rather territorial and aggressive towards people. They're barely ever kept with other birds, so I don't see it ending particularly well.

 

[GiratinaIsGod]

I see @Haliaeetus mentioned Von der Decken hornbills, so my curiosity is carrying over and wondering if larger hornbills (greater hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, wreathed hornbill, etc.) would also work in a walkthrough?

Burgers keeps Wrinkled hornbills in their giant tropical hall. But they are a bachlor group in a gaint space, so they are not the best example

 

[Aardwolf]

I’ve taken a southern ground hornbill to the head before, so now I really want to see some in a wall through (run through?) aviary. It would be quite the experience

 

[Mr Gharial]

I see @Haliaeetus mentioned Von der Decken hornbills, so my curiosity is carrying over and wondering if larger hornbills (greater hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, wreathed hornbill, etc.) would also work in a walkthrough?

Artis and Blijdorp both keep wreathed hornbills in smaller tropical halls free-roaming, but it all depends on species and individuals of course

 

[Ursus]

Artis and Blijdorp both keep wreathed hornbills in smaller tropical halls free-roaming, but it all depends on species and individuals of course

Neither of which are particularly considered in a mixed exhibit

 

[Mr Gharial]

Neither of which are particularly considered in a mixed exhibit

The size of these particular tropical halls are as big as a medium-sized aviary I would say. Not nearly comparable to a true greenhouse like Burgers' Bush or Gondwanaland

 

[Van Beal]

Would a walkthrough with underwater viewing for manatees, along with flamingos and various other water birds (herons, ducks, ibises, spoonbills, etc.) be possible?

 

[Mr Gharial]

Would a walkthrough with underwater viewing for manatees, along with flamingos and various other water birds (herons, ducks, ibises, spoonbills, etc.) be possible?

Those birds have been safely together in walkthroughs before, and the manatees won't exactly interact with the guests