Ryan Blackwood
Active Member
That Is probably the case, but I wasn't born around the time it was there
What animals tend to have the worst exhibits?
- Thread starter Pleistocene891
- Start date
Lafone
Well-Known Member
The space at Dudley zoo is still there (albeit used for something else) and you could actually see that for yourself and form your own view.
You have to factor in the waterline change etc they had if you look at old pictures - the water level is lower now for the sealions. You can see the enclosure however size wise.
Indeed they apparently broke building regulations to change the pool for the orca and were ordered to restore it but he died before anything concluded. Frankly the whole thing sounds grim - there are some good photos and discussions on it on this site if you have a search.
Based on looking at it I wouldn’t keep a killer whale in it indeed the fact they dont just shows how much zoos have evolved and Dudley comment on that themselves.
Ok so I don't think hippos are kept in God awful exhibits but I feel, compared to elephants and rhinos, their accomodations in many zoos can be considered mediocre to decent.
I think the only ones that hit all the marks are Didneyworl and Cheyenne, even if the latter doesn't have underwater viewing. Tho tbh, I don't consider that super necessary for hippo enjoyment
I think the only ones that hit all the marks are Didneyworl and Cheyenne, even if the latter doesn't have underwater viewing. Tho tbh, I don't consider that super necessary for hippo enjoyment
Ryan Blackwood
Active Member
I'll have a look at it, thanks
Thats the other extreme
But you know what I mean; some animals there is no point in displaying
eg at local Toronto Zoo, they removed the Tree Kangeroos (too bad they were really interesting) and replaced them with ... something... (I can't remember name off top of my head and ironically enough they don't even list on website)
But these tiny animals are either nocturnal or burrow or very skittish and you NEVER see them
Despite it being a small-medium enclosure (as Tree Kangeroos were so lazy and its hardly a huge indoor room)
And from pictures they are not anywhere near as interesting looking (if I had to describe it they look like some sort of rodent, prob marsupial since in Australasia enclosure)
antilio capra
Well-Known Member
They are woylie's/ brush tailed bettongs.(I'm not entirely sure though)
willwilliam
New Member
You're right in observing that mountain lions and leopards often have suboptimal exhibits in some zoos. Their natural abilities as climbers and jumpers require large, complex enclosures to provide adequate space and stimulation. Unfortunately, the limited space and lack of enriching features in many enclosures don't adequately meet their needs for movement and exercise.
Van Beal
Well-Known Member
The tree-kangaroo space is home to the (still unseen by me) short-beaked echidna and, as @antilio capra said, brush tailed bettong. And the factors are a combination of all three, with the echidna for sure burrowing and being (I believe) nocturnal, while the bettongs are incredibly skittish and, again, nocturnal. Not great for such a well-lit and sizeable habitat when you realize how small both species are
Bettong thats it! Thank you to @antilio capra
I caught a glimpse of him once (how I knew was small) but yeah in general most times can never find him
(like 1 in 20 trips)
That is a terrible exhibit now
I caught a glimpse of him once (how I knew was small) but yeah in general most times can never find him
(like 1 in 20 trips)
That is a terrible exhibit now
Jacob Blackwood
Well-Known Member
Malayan Tapirs in America
TheImmigrant1
Well-Known Member
I myself am going to go with Galapagos Tortoises. These huge marvels roam across hills, grasslands, and prairies in the wild yet in zoos they're almost always given a fenced flat gravel yard with a few rocks. I'm not asking for elephant sized enclosures for some tortoises but different levels of elevation in their terrain and different kinds of substrate would be great for them. This is exactly why Houston went from having one of the worst to possibly the best Galapagos Tortoise exhibits. Varied hilly terrain that survived the Houston summer and now the winter, sand, dirt, grass, stone, mud, and even a pool, and enough space for ten of these giants. They're living like royalty in Houston.
There aren't prairies in the Galapagos. The habitat there is mostly arid scrub with some closed canopy forest. Also, tortoises don't need much more than a fenced yard, honestly. They're pretty really easy animals to care for.
TheImmigrant1
Well-Known Member
My bad, I didn’t know how else to describe the environment of the Galapagos. You definitely explained it better.
I was also approaching more so from a visual appeal perspective. An flat dusty sand or gravel yard doesn’t do justice to these tortoises imo. Varied terrain helps emulate the landscape of the Galapagos while also helping the tortoises be more physically active than they would otherwise.
Juan Magallanes
New Member
To give an idea of the environs of the Galapagos, it is best to understand that the islands are of volanic origin. Having said this the tortoises environment is in the highlands close to the grasslands and although no prairies, mountain cloudforest would be more apropriate.
Here you can read and see about the different vegetation zones in Galapagos:
Galapagos Vegetation Zones | Plant-life per zones and islands
Remember, the worst exhibits are those that fail to provide even basic requirements for the animal's physical and mental well-being. By understanding the Galapagos tortoise's natural environment and incorporating key elements into their enclosures, zoos can move towards creating enriching and species-appropriate homes for these gentle giants.
Houston example: As mentioned, the Houston exhibit serves as a positive example, incorporating varied terrain, diverse substrates, and a pool, offering a more stimulating and enriching environment for the tortoises. This approach should be celebrated and serve as inspiration for other zoos to improve their tortoise exhibits.
Here you can read and see about the different vegetation zones in Galapagos:
Galapagos Vegetation Zones | Plant-life per zones and islands
Remember, the worst exhibits are those that fail to provide even basic requirements for the animal's physical and mental well-being. By understanding the Galapagos tortoise's natural environment and incorporating key elements into their enclosures, zoos can move towards creating enriching and species-appropriate homes for these gentle giants.
Houston example: As mentioned, the Houston exhibit serves as a positive example, incorporating varied terrain, diverse substrates, and a pool, offering a more stimulating and enriching environment for the tortoises. This approach should be celebrated and serve as inspiration for other zoos to improve their tortoise exhibits.
Lori Patton
Well-Known Member
Aquariums seem to be very hit-and-miss for exhibits of adequate size. When I visited the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, I saw several exhibits which were much too small for their marine occupants. Although the circular windows were attractive and well-lit with ambient music in the background, the presentation didn't make up for the lack of space. I've noticed this at other aquariums as well and it's particularly worrisome for certain species which would definitely benefit from more room, such as the two-spot octopus at the Santa Barbara facility.
PantheraLeoMelanochaita
Well-Known Member
Fully agree. The Amur leopard exhibit in JungleWorld at the Bronx Zoo is honestly one of my top three least favorite exhibits out of all the AZA zoos I’ve been to (alongside parrot-on-a-stick exhibits and SeaWorld San Diego’s tiny pinniped pools with blaring music). When I was there I heard several tourists commenting on the size. Obviously the average zoo visitor isn’t qualified to judge animal welfare, but I feel like it’s a terrible look for the Bronx Zoo nonetheless.
Also, this is less related to exhibit quality and more to collection quality, but the amount of zoos (both AZA and non-AZA) that have just two lions who are brother and sister is annoying to me as a lion enthusiast. A male lion would never live with his female littermate his whole life in the wild. I know it can be hard for zoos to hold large amounts of a single species, but I wish there were more zoos where lion pride dynamics could be expressed fully.
I've always thought the same about lion exhibits. Are the Bronx Zoo elephants still alive? That's a really bad look for them.
The more I learn about animal behavior, the more I know that mammal social structure can be a lot less rigid than it at first seems. Despite their being seemingly "text book" social groupings, these are seldom followed by all animals in the wild. Nature is simply way more complicated than that.
Furthermore, in captivity many animals will routinely interact with social groupings in ways that would never be seen in the wild, and this isn't necessarily a bad thing. In the case of gorillas, for example, bachelor males will form much closer bonds than what would ever be seen in the wild. Cases like this are important, because zoos have a difficult balancing act between acting in the best interests of populations and in the best interests of individual animals.
Given that social groupings can be fluid, with many successful possible arrangements, it makes it much easier to manage populations in a way that works for the animals, even if in social groupings that aren't "natural", per say. I am not a lion enthusiast by any means, so I don't know much specific about the lion management practices (and it is news to me keeping brothers/sisters together is a common practice), but I'd imagine this is similarly a case where just because the social grouping isn't what textbook "natural" social structure is, it manages to work fairly well for the individuals.
How is it a bad look the elephants are still alive? Both are very old, and it is a testament to their good care how long they've lived. Bronx has made the best out of a difficult situation with their current elephants, and I am sure in the future they will either phase out elephants or transition to a more natural social structure. It's only a small contingent of Animal Rights Activists that are complaining about Bronx's elephant program.
That used to be the consensus for decades. However, if you look closer (and take in Situ observations, chelonian biology, health check and necropsy reports etc. in consideration), you will understand that it's far more complex if done well. The right diet, UV radiation, soil, plants, bathing options, group constellations, disease prevention strategies etc. etc.: it comes to no surprise that zoo tortoise exhibits and exhibits at private expert tortoise keepers can differ considerably in terms of quality and benefits for the tortoises. The local climate is important, too. Year-long outdoor husbandry with optimal sun radiation and native feeding plants growing outside in abundance is a situation tortoise keepers in Northern countries can only dream about.