This is a thread where we make a mockery of the rockery, acknowledge the foliage, and honour the polymer.
To be clearer, a place where the best and the worst of anything fake from the Zoochat gallery, such as fake trees, mock rock, fake termite mounds, plastic plants, river banks, themed buildings, enclosure boundaries etc. etc., can be posted and scored out of five based on how real they look.
Now not everything fake is trying to look real/naturalistic. This may be debateable based on how bad the outcome is, but in general a climbing frame isn't meant to look like a tree, a water dish isn't meant to look like a natural pond, an enclosure wall isn't supposed to be cliff face, and a basic wooden/metal shelter isn't trying to look like a small cave or burrow. Those things are all about functionality, whereas this thread is purely for comparing intentional mimicry.
Enclosures as a whole may also be included based on how close they look to the animal's natural habitat, but only if significant obvious effort and expense has been made to make the enclosure look that way. For example, a basic grass paddock isn't trying hard to look exactly like the African savannah, so wouldn't count.
I'd prefer for this to stay as a light-hearted thread and not turn into a huge heated debate, especially the naturalistic vs non-naturalistic argument. Additionally, if you agree with someone's scoring then by all means like their post if you wish, but if you disagree with someone's scoring then don't worry about it; it's just their opinion.
Template
What is it supposed to be?
Where is it (what zoo/ collection)?
Which enclosure (if applicable)?
What year was the photo taken?
Your score out of 5.
(Link to photo on ZooChat)
Additional comments (optional): (be brief).
Examples
What is it: Tree
Where is it: London zoo, UK
Which enclosure: Gorilla kingdom
What year: 2009
Score: 2 out of 5
Gorilla Kingdom | ZooChat
Additional comments: An entry point for colobus to access the gorilla enclosure.
To be clearer, a place where the best and the worst of anything fake from the Zoochat gallery, such as fake trees, mock rock, fake termite mounds, plastic plants, river banks, themed buildings, enclosure boundaries etc. etc., can be posted and scored out of five based on how real they look.
Now not everything fake is trying to look real/naturalistic. This may be debateable based on how bad the outcome is, but in general a climbing frame isn't meant to look like a tree, a water dish isn't meant to look like a natural pond, an enclosure wall isn't supposed to be cliff face, and a basic wooden/metal shelter isn't trying to look like a small cave or burrow. Those things are all about functionality, whereas this thread is purely for comparing intentional mimicry.
Enclosures as a whole may also be included based on how close they look to the animal's natural habitat, but only if significant obvious effort and expense has been made to make the enclosure look that way. For example, a basic grass paddock isn't trying hard to look exactly like the African savannah, so wouldn't count.
I'd prefer for this to stay as a light-hearted thread and not turn into a huge heated debate, especially the naturalistic vs non-naturalistic argument. Additionally, if you agree with someone's scoring then by all means like their post if you wish, but if you disagree with someone's scoring then don't worry about it; it's just their opinion.
Template
What is it supposed to be?
Where is it (what zoo/ collection)?
Which enclosure (if applicable)?
What year was the photo taken?
Your score out of 5.
(Link to photo on ZooChat)
Additional comments (optional): (be brief).
Examples
What is it: Tree
Where is it: London zoo, UK
Which enclosure: Gorilla kingdom
What year: 2009
Score: 2 out of 5
Gorilla Kingdom | ZooChat
Additional comments: An entry point for colobus to access the gorilla enclosure.
What is it: Baobab tree
Where is it: Fuengirola Zoo, Spain
Which enclosure: Lemur enclosure
What year: 2009
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Fake Baobab tree in lemur enclosure at Fuengirola Zoo, 30 April 2009 | ZooChat
What is it: Termite mound
Where is it: Dudley zoo, UK
Which enclosure: Giant anteater
What year: 2017
Score: 2 out of 5
Giant anteater | ZooChat
Additional comments: Odd texture and colour.
What is it: Rock shelter
Where is it: Colchester zoo, UK
Which enclosure: Striped Hyena
What year: 2009
Score: 2 out of 5
Striped Hyaenas at Colchester 29/11/09 | ZooChat
Where is it: Fuengirola Zoo, Spain
Which enclosure: Lemur enclosure
What year: 2009
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Fake Baobab tree in lemur enclosure at Fuengirola Zoo, 30 April 2009 | ZooChat
What is it: Termite mound
Where is it: Dudley zoo, UK
Which enclosure: Giant anteater
What year: 2017
Score: 2 out of 5
Giant anteater | ZooChat
Additional comments: Odd texture and colour.
What is it: Rock shelter
Where is it: Colchester zoo, UK
Which enclosure: Striped Hyena
What year: 2009
Score: 2 out of 5
Striped Hyaenas at Colchester 29/11/09 | ZooChat
