Urban themed Exhibits

[Arocknamedblock]

I have a vivid memory of seeing an exhibit named “urban jungle” at an American zoo. I went to find it and discovered that there seems to be no record of ANY zoos having ever had an exhibit with an urban or city themed exhibit whatsoever.

I am requesting people post exhibits (temporary or not) that relate to this theming.

 

[Jurek7]

Lots.
No longer existing sewer for rats at Emmen (copied by several other zoos in the meantime),
City canal aquarium at Artis zoo,
Railway station for indian lions at London zoo - not highly regarded by zoo enthusiasts.

But I prefer natural exhibits, and I can see enough urban habitat outside zoo gates.

 

[Chlidonias]

I have a vivid memory of seeing an exhibit named “urban jungle” at an American zoo. I went to find it and discovered that there seems to be no record of ANY zoos having ever had an exhibit with an urban or city themed exhibit whatsoever.

Literally the entire first page of hits I get on Google for "American zoo Urban Jungle" is for San Diego Zoo's exhibit named Urban Jungle.

 

[birdsandbats]

I would love to see more zoos use this concept and keep animals like House Sparrows that have adapted well to urban areas.

 

[Arizona Docent]

I am with @Jurek7 I like entirely natural exhibits, largely for photography. I even hate when zoos put Land Rovers in lion or savanna exhibits (why, please tell me, why?). However off the top of my head, here are a few I have seen.

Ringtail exhibit at Oregon Zoo by @Arizona Docent

Mouse house at Langenberg (Wildnispark Zurich) by @Arizona Docent

Doormouse exhibit at Langenberg (Wildnispark Zurich) by @Glutton

Egyptian cobra exhibit at Staten Island Zoo by @TinoPup

 

[Westcoastperson]

You are looking for the aforementioned Urban Jungle at San Diego Zoo. It isn't what you think it is, the Urban Jungle is more of a strange amalgamation of ABC animals and animal encounters. One exhibit keeps donkeys, red kangaroos, and zebras together for no real reason. There are Indian Rhinos across from Giraffes, a random flock of Caribbean Flamingos, and a long exhibit that sometimes holds Arctic Wolves or Cheetahs (with their emotional support dogs). So no Urban Jungle is not city-themed or modern architecture-themed, it's more of a shrine to San Diegos space and theming issues.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I think the concept of exhibits based on urban habitats of wildlife in zoos is actually a very interesting one and particularly as it is essentially a portrayal of the reality of what is happening.

Optimum or "natural" wild habitat for wildlife is fast disappearing in the anthropocene and being replaced by urbanization which results in either partially or wholely anthropogenic environments.

The beloved concept of a "pristine" habitat or undisturbed "wilderness" across much of the world is pretty much just a myth and the sad fact is that conserving most species will be dependent on their adaption to artificial environments.

So I do think these kind of exhibits at zoos when done well (unlike at ZSL with "land of the lions") can have an enormous potential for environmental education of visitors about animal adaption to urban environments, threat of habitat destruction and the importance of conservation.

The best exhibits that I've personally seen done in this theme are not for any large or glamorous species but the nocturnal exhibits for species like black and brown rats, house mice and dormice at the Bristol zoo in the UK.

 

[Haliaeetus]

I am with @Jurek7 I like entirely natural exhibits, largely for photography. I even hate when zoos put Land Rovers in lion or savanna exhibits (why, please tell me, why?). However off the top of my head, here are a few I have seen.

Ringtail exhibit at Oregon Zoo by @Arizona Docent

Mouse house at Langenberg (Wildnispark Zurich) by @Arizona Docent

Doormouse exhibit at Langenberg (Wildnispark Zurich) by @Glutton

Egyptian cobra exhibit at Staten Island Zoo by @TinoPup

I love the Dormouse exhibit.

 

[Philipine eagle]

I am with @Jurek7 I like entirely natural exhibits, largely for photography. I even hate when zoos put Land Rovers in lion or savanna exhibits (why, please tell me, why?). However off the top of my head, here are a few I have seen.

Ringtail exhibit at Oregon Zoo by @Arizona Docent

Mouse house at Langenberg (Wildnispark Zurich) by @Arizona Docent

Now that's a mouse house! Plenty of space, check. Heater in case of cold winters, check. Some lighting for the long dark evenings, check. High level sleeping in case of any floods, check. Separate kitchen so all the smells stay behind, check. Only a decent shoe cabinet is missing.

However, that ring-tailed cat is a stunning picture imo and as i read on wiki ''It is commonly found in rocky desert habitats, where it nests in the hollows of trees or abandoned wooden structures." it's in a certain way an almost natural exhibit.

I totally agree on landrovers in any kind of exhibits. There are so many that you would think it's a product placement of the car manufacturer.

 

[Jurek7]

So I do think these kind of exhibits at zoos when done well (unlike at ZSL with "land of the lions") can have an enormous potential for environmental education of visitors about animal adaption to urban environments, threat of habitat destruction and the importance of conservation.

The best examples I know are rather old, from the 1970s or so. Bronx zoo has a skeleton of an elephant 'killed by poachers' on its savanna, and in the World of Birds there was a rifle, a chainsaw, a hacked hollow tree etc.

I wonder why zoos moved away from it. In the later decades, the trend shifted (or maybe degenerated) to semi-fantastic buildings in the style of a children fairytale or Indiana Jones movie. Not my kind of thing. And I feel it is wasted opportunity to teach people additionally about not-animal aspect of faraway countries, instead of showing them e.g. a fake broken jeep or a fake human skeleton.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

The best examples I know are rather old, from the 1970s or so. Bronx zoo has a skeleton of an elephant 'killed by poachers' on its savanna, and in the World of Birds there was a rifle, a chainsaw, a hacked hollow tree etc.

I wonder why zoos moved away from it. In the later decades, the trend shifted (or maybe degenerated) to semi-fantastic buildings in the style of a children fairytale or Indiana Jones movie. Not my kind of thing. And I feel it is wasted opportunity to teach people additionally about not-animal aspect of faraway countries, instead of showing them e.g. a fake broken jeep or a fake human skeleton.

I think I've seen a picture of that skeleton and I think its a great idea and certain packs a punch in terms of environmental education for conservation.

Also agree with you the tacky Indiana Jones movie set feel of many exhibits and share your dislike of these.

But I don't know what that has to do with urban-themed exhibits / urbanization ?

 

[Haliaeetus]

In London Zoo there were several vivariums and aquaria with urban themes (in the 2000s at least).

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

In London Zoo there were several vivariums and aquaria with urban themes (in the 2000s at least).

The most impressive of these and impactful IMO is the turtle / kitchen exhibit:

Photo credit to @Goura and @zoogiraffe.

 

[akasha]

I quite liked these exhibits at Featherdale. A faux general store like you might find in a country town as shelter for the macropods, and a barn for the Barn Owls.
The Tasmanian Devil Unzoo tries to replicate habitats, and in one case they’ve opted for an old farmyard theme.

Themed Macropod Shelter

• akasha
• 27 Apr 2021
• 1

24.04.2021

Barn Owl Aviary

• akasha
• 27 Apr 2021

24.04.2021

Tasmanian Devil

• akasha
• 13 Jun 2018
• 1
• australia tasmania tasmanian devil tasmanian devils exhibits

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I quite liked these exhibits at Featherdale. A faux general store like you might find in a country town as shelter for the macropods, and a barn for the Barn Owls.
The Tasmanian Devil Unzoo tries to replicate habitats, and in one case they’ve opted for an old farmyard theme.

Themed Macropod Shelter

• akasha
• 27 Apr 2021
• 1

24.04.2021

Barn Owl Aviary

• akasha
• 27 Apr 2021

24.04.2021

Tasmanian Devil

• akasha
• 13 Jun 2018
• 1
• australia tasmania tasmanian devil tasmanian devils exhibits

I quite like the Tasmanian devil one and I suppose it is quite accurate too considering how much of the natural habitat of this species has been replaced by farmland.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Domestic cat exhibit at Skansen zoo, Sweden:

Goldfish / Asiatic carp & water pollution exhibit at Toledo zoo, USA:

Photo credit to@Daniel Sörensen and @fkalltheway.

 

[Haliaeetus]

I

Domestic cat exhibit at Skansen zoo, Sweden:

Goldfish / Asiatic carp & water pollution exhibit at Toledo zoo, USA:

Photo credit to@Daniel Sörensen and @fkalltheway.

I like the cat exhibit, I would even like to live with them.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I

I like the cat exhibit

I don't think either of these are aesthetically pleasing, far from it actually as they are really kitsch.

However, I do think both of these exhibits illustrate the ugly reality of the anthropocene and urbanization really well and have the power to shock visitors which I think is just great.

 

[Haliaeetus]

I don't think either of these are aesthetically pleasing, far from it actually as they are really kitsch.

However, I do think both of these exhibits illustrate the ugly reality of the anthropocene and urbanization really well and have the power to shock visitors which I think is just great.

The cat exhibit isn't properly shocking nor ugly!?

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

The cat exhibit isn't properly shocking nor ugly???

For me it looks kitsch but that is precisely why I like it because it shows the reality (probably unintentionally) of what our species is doing to the planet and biodiversity.

All over the world we replace habitat with our urbanization / comfy domestic home environments and biodiversity with the ubiquitous domestic cat and we tend to just sweep that inconvenient / unsettling fact under the carpet and go about our lives as if its all ok.

Maybe just my interpretation of the exhibit though.