Wild Planet 2023

[Davdhole]

Wild Planet is a large wildlife park set in western North Carolina. This institution is inspired and modeled by several of my favorite zoos such as Miami, DAK, and North Carolina, among others.

After entering past the booths, the first habitat is a large pool in the front and in the back, a large land area. On the land area, lots of foliage is about and an artificial waterfall rushes further back. In this habitat, a flamboyance of Chilean flamingo.

The first section is a small area called Wild Paradise. This area is a smaller section with a few identical habitats and animals from various parts of the world. The first habitat is another pond with a foliated land area. In here, 1.1 coscoroba swan and 1.1 black swan. Swimming within the water of this habitat is a small school of redear sunfish. A bit further down and to the opposite side of this small trail, a fence of logs bound together keeps viewers from the moat keeping the animals within. In this habitat, 1.1 southern pudus. Not too far away, another large pond sits in a foliated habitat with a few species of waterfowl.

White-faced whistling duck
Ruddy duck
Silver teal
Northern shoveler

Further down on the opposite side again, another moat habitat with large mock rock spread about and some live plants. A small pond is in the back, and living in here, a 0.2 Eastern box turtles. On the same side and down the trail, another pond habitat for-
Emperor goose
Plumed whistling duck
Northern pintail
Cinnamon teal
Wood duck

The next habitat is similar to the pudus', and in here, 0.2 Patagonian maras.

One of the final areas of this trail is an indoor exhibit featuring native reptiles. Just across the entrance to the building is a large wooden aviary with perches and some artificial trees and hollow logs for 1.1 tayras. Inside to the right, a row of vivariums for native reptiles and amphibians. They mostly have a similar design, with a sand-topsoil mix substrate, along with pine needles, dead leaves, pieces of corkwood for hiding in addition to log and rock hides, and live plants. In order-
Eastern ratsnake
Mole kingsnake
Timber rattlesnake
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
Plain-bellied watersnake
Eastern copperhead

One of the last vivariums is a water and land area with sand-topsoil substrate, river rocks coating the bottom of the water section, and some live plants. In here, an American bullfrog.
In the next hall and before the exit, a large tank with driftwood, logs, and some aquatic plants.
Largemouth bass
Blue catfish
Redbreast sunfish
Bluegill
Black crappie
Yellow perch
Longnose gar
Painted turtle

On to the next area.

 

[Davdhole]

Wildlife Walkthrough
This is the hub of the park. At the center, a fence keeps guests from the fence holding in the small group of American alligators, and with the gators, river cooters. The reptiles have a large grassy area to bask and a sandy area nearing the pond in the front of the habitat.

Similar to Discovery Island at DAK, guests can walk around the gator habitat and find themselves on a small trail. The next habitat sits a bit lower and is high enough to keep the animals in. A log-like fence keeps viewers a safe distance back and allows them to look in to see-
Red kangaroo
Yellow-footed rock wallaby
Common wallaroo
Down this trail and to the left, a moderately foliated habitat for 1.1 Southern hairy-nosed wombats, with each individual wombat in the habitat during different times. Not far away, a large grassy mesh enclosure with hollow logs, some foliage, and a small pond houses 0.2 red foxes.

Near the end of the trail, a water and land area similar to the fox habitat houses 1.1 spotted-necked otters.

A large pool near the otters mimics a small lake in appearance. Guests can peer below them into the water to catch a glimpse of the lake sturgeon.

At the end of the trail, another large mesh habitat keeps a rotating breeding pair of fossa.

More to come later on, as this is just a bit of what there is to this place, and most of the coming sections will be geographically based and have species from the same continent and areas.

 

[Davdhole]

From Wildlife Walkthrough guests can go down any trail. We'll start with the Pantanal, with some Amazon species here and there.

Expedition Pantanal
This trail is heavily foliated, and speakers hidden in the bushes and trees play the buzzing sounds of insects and calls of frogs, with the occasional calls of monkeys and birds. The first habitat is a large mesh exhibit with perches, moderate foliage, artificial trees, a large artificial termite mound, and large hollow logs. In this habitat, 1.0 southern tamandua.
Down the trail, a mesh-top habitat with two glass viewing windows is next. This habitat also features perches, trees, and lots of plants, making a home for a small troop of 1.3 black howler monkeys. Within view of the monkey habitat, a small indoor area themed to resemble the homes of the indigenous people of the rainforest. This area allows a view into the habitat, similar to the bat habitat at DAK but with a mesh barrier. A large pond is in the front of the habitat, while the rest has some plants and small trees scattered about and some in clusters. In here, 1.2 Hoffman's two-toed sloths, 1.1 golden lion tamarin, 1.1 cotton-top tamarins, and 1.1 emperor tamarins.
Leaving this habitat, a large wooden and mesh aviary houses-
0.2 scarlet macaws
0.2 blue-throated macaws
0.2 hyacinth macaws
Another similar aviary nearby keeps 1.1 toco toucans. Down the trail comes another building for reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

Not too far from these birds, a savanna-like habitat separated with a moat and a log-like fence, and inside, a large artificial termite mound and a fallen tree making a shelter for 0.1 giant anteater. With the anteater, 1.1 greater rheas.

The first vivarium is large and contains a pool, lots of live plants, some perches, and logs for a green anaconda. Nearby, a long tank similar in appearance, just with smaller plants, logs, and a small artificial stream contains-
Green thornytail iguana
Strawberry poison dart frog
Dyeing poison dart frog
Zimmermann's poison dart frog

On the other side of this tank, another tank for an Amazon basin emerald tree boa and golden poison dart frogs. On the same side further down, a smaller habitat housing mona coqui and white-spotted glass frogs. Nearing the end, there are aquatic habitats. One of the large habitats contains driftwood, sandy substrate, and a land area for red-headed Amazon river turtles, yellow-spotted river turtles, and Arrau turtles.
On the other side, a large tank for a shoal of red-bellied piranhas with a smaller similar tank next to it for an electric eel.
Back outside, we're nearing the last few habitats. Ahead, a glass barrier stands above the large pool below, and behind the water, a large land area with a small cave, logs, and some foliage scattered about. In this habitat, 1.1 giant river otters. Past the otters, a large fake cave gapes open, and on the ground leading into the cave, paw prints. Guests enter and first see a vivarium with some live plants, a log hide, and corkwood for a goliath birdeater. Across the spider, a larger and similar vivarium for an Amazonian giant centipede.
Piles of fake bones and more paw prints lead guests to a large hollowed area in the "cave" where glass keeps the cats in and a fence keeps guests safe. A large fake log extends over the "lake" and rests a bit over the viewing window. A large critical rock wall in the back has ledges for the animals to rest and climb, and the majority of the habitat contains clusters of bushes and some trees. Living in here, a male and female jaguar that rotate, one standard and another a black jaguar.

Exiting the cave, the last habitat is a walkthrough aviary. Guests walk on an elevated path that allows them to look down at the birds and even at eye level at the birds in the trees towering next to the path. The pond beneath has lilies on top and some logs in the water and "fallen trees" above the pond. On the right of the path, a large mesh habitat with live and artificial trees, bushes, and ropes connected around the habitat for 0.4 South American squirrel monkeys and 1.4 capybaras.

In the rest of the aviary, flying and perching about-
Sunbittern
Venezulean troupial
Red-crested cardinal
Roseate spoonbill
Guira cuckoo
Comb duck
Ringed teal
Yellow-rumped cacique
Giant wood-rail
Wattled jacana
Green aracari
Southern screamer

Although we have some Amazon species here, I wanted to showcase the Pantanal to the general public more and what species live there in addition to the Amazon. Now on to the next trail.

 

[Davdhole]

African Journey
This area is set to represent an East African village, with markets and buildings themed to such. As we enter, to the left we can glimpse over the savanna where hoofstock and some birds live. Guests can view the animals this way and over a ledge safely, with several signs stating the species that can be seen. Similar to North Carolina Zoo, this massive habitat can be viewed via foot and on a truck that takes you through the habitat.

In the queue for the safari, there are some exhibits. The first is a meshed exhibit with a fence keeping guests back. Two thatched-roof huts with perches are shelters for the animals. In here, 1.1 milky eagle owls.
Further down on the other side of the queue, an indoor habitat is viewed through a glass window. A dry habitat with a medium-sized pond nearby keeps a small group of African-spurred tortoises. Further down closer to loading is the last habitat, similar to the owls'. In this larger meshed habitat are taller thatched-roof shelters for the colony of straw-colored fruit bats.

Guests load onto the trucks and zoom into the first area, over the cattle guards.
Great Deserts
The first section of the safari is an arid expansive area with some trees and other plants scattered around. Roaming in this section-
1.4 Addax
1.3 Scimitar-horned oryx
1.4 Addra gazelle
1.2 Aoudad

Driving over the next cattle guards, more plants began to appear as it gets grassier. We soon enter savanna yard 1. This massive grassy area is modeled after the African savanna of course, but zoo-wise, this habitat is most inspired by DAK, Busch Gardens, and North Carolina's savanna habitats. Trees are sparse and pruned to resemble Masai trees, and bushes and other foliage is sparse. This is the yard viewable on foot when guests first enter African Journey.
Savanna- Yard 1
Free-roaming here-
1.4 Reticulated giraffe
1.4 Grevy's zebra
0.3 Common ostrich
1.3 Sable antelope
1.2 Lowland nyala
1.1 Grant's gazelle
1.2 Common eland
In this yard on the left side of the truck's path, a thatched-roof shelter hangs over a large boma-like habitat for a breeding pair of lappet-faced vultures to nest, but they can free roam as well.

Driving over the next cattle guards we enter the second yard.
Savanna- Yard 2
The first habitat is to the left and separated by a moat. In this large grassy yard, 1.3 Cape buffalo and 0.4 cattle egrets. There's also another habitat similar to the vultures' in yard 1 to the right, but this time for 1.1 Southern ground hornbills to nest and shelter in as well, with the option to free roam the savanna.

Free-roaming in the rest of this slightly smaller and open woodland-like area.
1.5 Southern white rhinoceros
2.0 Common ostrich
1.7 Impala
0.3 Gemsbok
1.1 Marabou stork
1.1 Kori bustard
1.3 Egyptian goose

To the left, a chain fence hidden in foliage keeps a grassy habitat with some trees and a rock den in the center. A medium-sized pond is near the den, and artificial fallen trees make more dens and shelters. In here, a pack of 1.4 African painted dogs earlier in the day, and later on rotate with 1.1 cheetahs.
A bit further down and to the right, a moat habitat with a mock rock wall, a few live trees, artificial trees, and some rocky dens accompany the bushes spread around the habitat. During the earlier time of the day, a troop of 1.4 vervet monkeys lives in this habitat. Later, they go inside and the 1.2 olive baboons use the habitat for the rest of the day.
The truck continues on, and large round footprints appear in the ground, as well as some trampled vegetation. Soon, a 3-acre grassy yard with some trees and other foliage appears, and a massive pool in the front. Another tall, thick barrier hidden by plants holds back the 1.0 African bush elephant. Next to the bull elephant, a larger yard similar in appearance with fake baobab trees keeps a small herd of 0.3 African bush elephants.

Further down to right, the truck drives over a bridge after passing over another set of cattle guards. Below the sturdy bridge, a large pool with islands of grassy land about, and a large chunk of land toward the back. Here, a float of 8.0 Nile crocodiles.
Next is a large pond habitat with a chunk of land in the back and a few small islands scattered in the water. In here, a flamboyance of lesser flamingo.

After passing the flamingos, we enter yard 3.
Savanna- Yard 3
The last savanna yard with some trees and bushes. Here-
1.1 Bontebok
1.4 Nile lechwe
1.1 Gray-crowned crane

A kopje comes within view to the left. In the middle of the kopje, a rock den. The huge rock formation rests in a grassy habitat with a few trimmed trees and some other foliage. A tall leaf-covered fence keeps the animals back, however, due to the trucks' height, the guests get a clear view into the habitat for the pride of 1.3 African lions.

The cattle guard ahead is almost the last and leads into the final habitat. More trees, bushes, and other plants appear.

Congo Rainforest
To the right is a habitat fenced away by bound logs. Here, 1.1 okapi live with 1.1 yellow-backed duiker.
Roaming in the forest-
1.3 Eastern bongo
1.2 Sitatunga
1.1 Abdim's stork
Another habitat separated by a moat is the last to be seen. In the moat, logs and fallen artificial trees provide shelter along with the various burrows. The animals in also explore the grassy and foliated area over the moat. Here, 1.3 red river hogs.

The truck drives back, drops off the riders, and leaves them to explore more of African Journey.

 

[Davdhole]

Karibu Trek
This is the main walking trail in African Journey and comes after walking from the safari drop-off. African folk music plays as a sign in Neuland Inline font and greets the guests. Large African mask sculptures on both sides of the entrance add to the ambiance. Here a trail splits between Congo or the Savanna, although both trails eventually come together. We'll go down Congo and make our way to the savanna from there. This section is themed on research in the wild.

Congo
This trail is heavily foliated. Before the first animals appear, a large wooden board holds a map of the explored areas of the Congo Rainforest by the "research team." The first habitat is a large foliated mesh habitat with perches, live trees, and ropes connected from perches to trees. Living in this habitat, 1.1 Wolf's guenons and 1.3 Angolan colobus monkeys. A bit further down, a larger similar mesh habitat houses 1.2 mandrill and 1.1 De Brazza's monkey. Both monkey habitats have signage stating threats to African forest primates such as the bushmeat trade and habitat loss. A display table behind a log fence nearby has replicas of items representing issues in this forest, such as replica forest elephant tusks and coltan.

Further down the heavily green trail, another mesh habitat to the left side is filled with plants, a small pond, and hollow logs for hiding. In here, 1.1 blue duiker. A sign displaying detailed illustrations of different duikers is next to the habitat, featuring the blue duiker, yellow-backed duiker, black duiker, and more. Each duiker in the picture has a quick fact about their behavior.

Down the trail, we soon come across an underwater viewing. In the water, several species of cichlids and a few other fish.
Blue peacock cichlid
Electric blue hap
Demanson's cichlid
Lyretail cichlid
Giraffe cichlid
Red zebra cichlid
Humphead cichlid
Electric yellow cichlid
Blue dolphin cichlid
Maingano cichlid
Lemon cichlid
Golden mbuna
Other fish in this habitat.
Mbu pufferfish
Mottled bichir

Mock rock and driftwood coat the bottom of the large pond along with a sandy substrate. The land area has some live trees close to create a forest look, and some bushes add to the cover. In here, 1.1 saddle-billed storks share the habitat with the main draw, 1.1 pygmy hippopotamus. To the right of the hippos, birds, and fish, an artificial tree trunk has a tank in it. Coating the surface are lillies, and driftwood and aquatic plants decorate underwater, along with dark sandy substrate. In the tank, a leopard bush fish. Nearby an education display has replica skulls comparing two animals. One is a common hippo skull, the other a pygmy hippo skull. A large sign near the display has realistic illustrations of a common hippo and a pygmy hippo with a list under each animal that highlights their differences, besides the obvious size difference. To the right, we leave the underwater viewing and continue through the forested trail, and soon, primate footprints appear in the ground with the sounds of grunts from the foliage.

A log fence keeps guests away from the large moat. A large lush habitat is within view. Trees tower over the animals and provide a forest look alongside the plentiful plants clustered in the habitat. Large artificial logs and fallen trees are scattered around. Mock rock dens and ledges are also here for resting and more shelter, and ropes are connected to live and fake trees. A waterfall rushes into the stream in the moat. Here, a troop of 1.4 Western lowland gorillas. Further down to the right, a similar foliated habitat with logs, artificial and live trees, connected ropes, and a stream in a moat is for the bachelor troop of 3.0 Western lowland gorillas. A large sign near the family group's habitat displays the two species of gorilla and each subspecies under the species. Another sign near the bachelor troop habitat tells the habits of gorillas such as nest building and some of their human-like behaviors. Next to this sign is a display with the handprints of a silverback gorilla where people can put their hands next to or in the prints to compare the size.

Past the gorillas, fewer trees and foliage become apparent. The trail leads us to the Savanna sign. The first habitat has a log fence to keep guests back from the moat. In this grassy habitat with sparse trees, a large den, and some bushes scattered, two species rotate. In the earlier part of the day, 1.0 aardvark has its time here. Later in the day, 1.1 spotted hyena takes over the habitat. A sign shows the four species of hyena and also tells the hyena's true nature, about how this animal is a more successful predator than lions and how intelligent they are. A bit down the trail on the same side is another moat habitat, but a tall glass barrier allows guests to view the moat up close. In the moat with logs, some plants, and dens for a small group of banded mongoose. In the grassy area in the back, the main habitat, there are large hollow logs, some trees, and foliage for 1.1 common warthogs. The nearby sign shows and tells about the symbiotic relationship between warthogs and mongooses.

A bit down the trail, there are two habitats to view. One is up a short flight of stairs and a ramp and gives a view over savanna yard 3 where the lechwe, bontebok, crowned cranes, and lions are. Across the safari yard, a log fence keeps guests away from the chain fence covered by a bush. Behind the fence is a savanna habitat with some trimmed trees and little foliage. In here-
1.1 Lesser kudu
0.5 Blue wildebeest
1.1 Ruppell's vulture
0.3 Grant's zebra
1.4 Springbok

Ahead, a small building appears. This is the Savanna Research Center. This building contains several vivariums varying in size and appearance based on the animal. On the back wall of the building are several small-medium windows that give a view of the naked mole-rat colony. For theming, a few old African animal guidebooks are placed on a table behind a barrier with replica animal skulls of a warthog and lion. On the opposite end of the building, a tall display case with a screen barrier protecting the artifacts is here. The first shelf contains a baboon skull, a hyena skull, and a Nile crocodile skull. On the middle shelf, a puff adder skeleton poised to strike, and next to it, an East African reptile guidebook. Next to the case is a large tank with shredded aspen, log hides, sticks for climbing, a rock hide, and chopped corkwood all for 1.1 African soft-furred mice. The rest of the vivariums, varying in size and appearance, house-

Nile monitor
Spider tortoise
Giant plated lizard
Orange baboon tarantula
Taxicab beetle
African rock python
Leopard tortoise
Meller's chameleon
Aurora house snake
Madagascar rain frog

Upon exiting the research center, guests can go left or straight ahead. To the left, we pass through the double doors and through hanging chains and another set of doors before entering the walkthrough aviary. This aviary has moderate foliage, mainly trees, with a small pond and stream running over a low bridge, and logs, mock rock, and branches in the aviary extending over the stream. In the aviary-
Taveta golden weaver
White-headed buffalo weaver
African jacana
Blue-bellied roller
Amethyst starling
Hamerkop
Southern carmine bee-eater
Purple glossy starling
Green woodhoopoe
Speckled mousebird
Great blue turaco
Racket-tailed roller
Superb starling
Ring-necked dove
Crested coua
Golden-breasted starling
Speckled pigeon
Yellow-billed teal
Von der Decken's hornbill
Crested guineafowl
Spotted thick-knee

Outside of the aviary and down the path, we soon come across a large mesh habitat with lots of plants and live and fake trees. A rock den is nearly hidden by the foliage. In this big habitat, 0.2 leopards. A sign states the abilities and behavior of leopards, and on the bottom to go along with the theme, states the recently-observed behavior of the leopards in the area as if this was in the wild. Not far from the big cats, a tall barrier with multiple viewing windows keeps 0.3 African crested porcupines in a semi-grassy habitat with hollow logs, climbing branches, some live plants, and mock rock. Across the porcupines, a similar more grassy habitat with two large viewing windows lets guests see the 0.2 servals.

The final habitat is a tall, wide mesh enclosure with lots of bushes, some live trees, artificial trees, and perches. A medium-sized pond nearby is also in here, for the breeding pair of African fish eagles.

African Journey is done, and soon we move to the next continent-themed trail.

 

[Davdhole]

Asian Quest
On each side of the entrance are stone sculptures, one a tiger, the other a dragon. Thickets of bamboo tower on the sides of this trail's path along with some other plants. To the right, guests go to a glass viewing window and peer into the moderately foliated and grassy habitat. A rock cave is in the center and a medium-sized pond is at the viewing window. During the warmer time of the year, 1.0 Asian water monitor lives in this habitat. During the colder months, the monitor lives in the indoor habitat with some plants, a sandy and rocky substrate, a rock cave, and a smaller pond. Down the trail is a building that resembles ruins. The first vivarium is to the left and is a massive enclosure cluttered with plants, large pieces of wood stacked for shelter, a moderately shallow pool at the bottom, and several sturdy climbing branches. A mainland reticulated python lives in this habitat. Close by on the same side, another glass viewing window into a habitat with mock rock dens, artificial trees with rope, and a few live plants for 0.1 binturong. Down the hall are a few more vivariums. On the same side as the python and binturong is another large habitat similar to the binturong's, but with more plants and a large rocky cave. A pond is near the window. In here, 1.0 Komodo dragon. On the right side of this temple, a vivarium with a small fake mangrove tree that is near the heat lamp, its root system in the shallow water with river stones coating the bottom, and a foliated land area with a log hide. A mangrove snake lives here. The final vivarium has a sand-topsoil mix substrate, a few plants, a rock hide, and a log hide for a rough-scaled sand boa. The last habitat in the temple is separated by mesh. Some foliage decorates the ground while several fake trees have ropes connected to one another. A mock rock wall with ledges is in the back, giving the animals another place to rest. A colony of Indian flying foxes lives in this habitat.

Outside, a bush-covered barrier keeps 1.2 Indian rhinoceros in their semi-grassy paddock with some foliage and a few trees providing cover. Across the rhinos, a wall resembling ruins with glass viewing windows gives a look into the foliated habitat with hollow logs, fallen trees, and a medium-sized pool. Here, 1.1 North Sulawesi babirusa live. Further down the bamboo and forest-like trail, a temple-like barrier keeps viewers safe from the incline that places them a bit higher than the large, lush, and grassy yard. There are quite a few trees to provide the forest look and feel. In this habitat-
1.2 Javan banteng
1.5 Blackbuck
1.1 Sarus crane
1.4 Axis deer
1.1 Painted stork

Past the Asian hoofstock and birds, another glass viewing comes. Right behind the glass is a large pool, but the rest of the habitat is lush and grassy with a cave in the mock rock wall in the back. Thickets of bamboo decorate this habitat, and a small stream rushes through and into the pool. In here, 0.1 Sumatran tiger. A large stone wall off to the side of the female tiger's habitat is a separation between hers and the other habitat. This habitat is also viewed through glass and is similar to the female tiger's, but for 1.0 Sumatran tiger. The male tiger enclosure can also be viewed from the side as guests leave the window viewing, via a tall mesh barrier that is connected to more mesh covering the entire top of the male tiger habitat. Not far ahead, an enclosure separated by a moat comes within view. This habitat is very lush and has plentiful trees and other plants, as well as rope and artificial trees for more climbing opportunities. In this habitat, a male Bornean orangutan has the habitat to himself for some time before rotating with 0.3 Bornean orangutans. A bit further from the great apes, two habitats close by with moats filled with water keep the animals in their lush habitats, both that resemble the orangutans', with trees and ropes. In the first, 1.1 siamangs. In the second habitat, 1.1 white-handed gibbon. A bridge is within sight, but before crossing, another glass viewing window that gives a look into the lush sloth bear habitat for a rotating male and female.

We soon cross a curving bridge over a stream filled with koi. Peaceful erhu music plays as we cross into the second section of Asian Quest. A tall, wide viewing window allows us to see into the foliated habitat with live and artificial trees, a flowing stream, and climbing branches for 1.1 red pandas. Past the pandas, a building based on East Asian architecture appears. Before entering, a fenced-in yard contains 1.1 red-crowned cranes. Now in the building, we can learn about East Asian culture and see some more East Asian and Southeast Asian animals. One of the first habitats, like all in here, is viewed through glass. This one contains a fake tree with a hole in it for nesting, as well as some plants, perches, a twisting branch-like structures, for the 1.1 Prevost's squirrels. Down the hall, a long vivarium full of plants, rock and log hides, and climbing branches are for an Indochinese rat snake. The last enclosure houses 1.1 harvest mice.

Leaving the building, we make our way to the final habitat in Asian Quest: another walkthrough aviary. This jungle-like habitat has a variety of plants including bamboo, creating the forest look. In the aviary-
Common green magpie
Pied Imperial pigeon
White-crested laughingthrush
Indian paradise flycatcher
Straw-necked ibis
Palawan peacock pheasant
Mandarin duck
Blue-crowned hanging parrot
Victoria crowned pigeon
White-breasted woodswallow
Goldie's lorikeet
Common myna
Scaly-sided merganser
Metallic starling
Nicobar pigeon
Black-naped oriole
Red junglefowl
Masked lapwing
Golden pheasant
Indian peafowl
Bali myna
Jambu fruit dove
Siamese fireback
Red-billed leiothrix
Crested wood partridge
A netted-off section lush with foliage and with perches and large artificial trees is for a male and female rhinoceros hornbill.

We are done with Asian Quest and will be heading to the next trail soon.

 

[Davdhole]

Wild Planet Watch
This conservation-themed section of the park isn't based on any geographic regions or taxonomy. The trail focuses mainly on threatened to extinct in the wild species and even highlights seem extinct animals.

The first habitat is to the left and has a semi-arid look with sandy ground and sparse plants, similar to the Zoo Miami habitat for the same species featured here. In this habitat, a small herd of 1.4 Arabian oryx. Across the oryxes and a bit further down, a more foliated and grassy habitat houses 1.2 key deer and 1.1 whooping crane. Some ways away a large mesh enclosure with a forest look is next. Ropes are connected to perches and artificial trees, and there are some live trees. In this habitat, 0.4 ring-tailed lemurs, 1.1 blue-eyed black lemurs, and 1.1 red ruffed lemurs. Down the trail, a large building comes within view, inspired by the Conservation Station at DAK and Conservation Action Center at Zoo Miami. To the left of the building is a mesh enclosure with perches, live trees, logs, and a semi-arid look for 1.1 California condors. In the building, the first thing seen is a long vivarium with a sand-topsoil substrate, pine needles, dead leaves, log hides, and a burrow for an Eastern indigo snake and a gopher tortoise. Before entering the main section of the building, there is a dimly lit hall with murals of extinct species including-
Thylacine
Dodo
Golden toad
Western black rhinoceros
Javan tiger
Passenger pigeon
Steller's sea cow
Carolina parakeet
Baji dolphin
Dutch Alcon blue butterfly
Round Island burrowing boa

Out of the dimly lit hall, we enter the main section of the building that has much more light. A replica skeleton of a Western black rhinoceros stands behind a barrier. In here, there are live animal habitats, keeper talks with ambassador animals, and lots of signage educating guests on endangered species, reasons for habitat loss, invasive species, the importance of zoos and aquaria, and more. One of the exhibits allows guests to watch a tracking of the most recently tagged animal by the park such as a shark or sea turtle, on a large screen. In a display case next to it, a sea turtle tracking tag to show an example of what is used.
Nearby, we can view the animal hospital where guests can watch the vets work with the animals and see all the equipment used. Close to the animal hospital viewing, there are three major sections with several vivariums: invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles. Each habitat in each section varies in size and appearance to fit needs.

Invertebrates
In order-
Texas ironclad beetle
Japanese beetle
Egyptian olive tarantula
Giant desert centipede
Dune scorpion
Manabi giant birdeater
Horrid King assassin bug
Spiny flower mantis
Giant Australian walking stick

In the middle of the bugs, a large window displays an exhibit with an insect case with pinned wasps: Asian giant hornet, bald-faced hornet, tarantula hawk, and Eastern yellow jacket. A jar with a preserved specimen (well two but the main is the most noticeable). An intriguing species coming from a deceased insect, likely a cricket, features a few horsehair worms. The next insect case has pinned specimens of a bullet ant, leafcutter ant, Colobopsis explodens, and a queen Solenopsis daguerrei.
The next live invertebrates-
Green tiger beetle
Question mark roach
Armored bush cricket
Green lynx spider
Rusty millipede
American burying beetle
Black beauty stick insect
Dark fishing spider
Red-legged grasshopper
Grapevine beetle

The next section across the invertebrates, in order-
Amphibians

Mixed enclosure- Panamanian golden frog, Limosa harlequin frog, lemur leaf frog
Wyoming toad
Lake Zacapu salamander
Barking tree frog
Emperor newt
Malayan leaf frog
Borneo eared frog
The display window in the middle of the vivariums at this point shows images of a frog life cycle and salamander life cycle. A sign informs guests about chytrid fungus and its devastation on frogs.
Live animals continued-
Alpine newt
Mixed enclosure- Golden mantella, green mantella
Spotted-tailed salamander
Dusky gopher frog

Reptiles
The final major animal exhibit in the building. Varying in size and appearance, and in order-
Jamaican iguana
Aruba Island rattlesnake
Eastern foxsnake
Guatemalan beaded lizard
Smallwood's anole
Bog turtle
Ford's boa
Giant ameiva
The display window in the middle features the skull of an alligator snapping turtle, Burmese python skin, the carapace and plastron of a river cooter, a timber rattlesnake shed, and the skeleton of a Parson's chameleon.
Live animals continued-
Arakan forest turtle
Bismarck ringed python
Giant leaf-tailed gecko
Louisiana pine snake
Blanding's turtle
Cape file snake
Texas banded gecko
Tuatara

Before exiting, we can get a peak the nutrition center, and near it, a couple of large enclosures are viewed through a window. The first has some live plants, live trees, and perches for a rotating male and female Matschie's tree kangaroo. The habitat next to the kangaroos is a bit smaller and similar, but with more hiding areas such as logs, rock hides, and burrows, and in here, a rotating male and female short-beaked echidna. Outside is another glass viewing area on the side of the building. The habitat is foliated and has perches, fake trees, logs, and vines for 1.4 Geoffrey's marmosets. Across the monkeys behind another glass viewing window is a larger lush enclosure with vines, artificial trees, a rock cave, and a den in a mock rock wall, creating a jungle-like habitat for 0.1 clouded leopard.

Near the building is a large petting zoo with a large barn for the animals to go inside during off hours. In the main section of the petting zoo-
0.4 Nubian goat
0.3 Toggenburg goat
1.1 Nigerian dwarf goat
0.2 Black Welsh mountain sheep
0.3 Southdown sheep
0.2 Göttingen minipig
In a separate yard, 0.2 Holstein cows, and in another yard, 0.3 llamas. In the yard next to the llamas, 0.2 miniature donkeys. The birds have their own area and include 1.3 Plymouth rock chickens and 0.3 Cayuga ducks.

Now leaving the petting zoo, a large, lush mesh enclosure surrounding an artificial baobab tree houses 1.3 Coquerel's sifakas. Across the lemurs is a habitat separated by a log fence and a bush-covered chain fence for a small group of Galapagos giant tortoises during the warmer time of the year. We continue down the trail and bear paw prints appear on the ground. A cave-like viewing area with a glass viewing window is within sight. A large pool is in front of the habitat, and the rest is grassy, foliated, and has an abundance of coniferous trees. In this habitat, 0.2 grizzly bears. Down the trail, canid pawprints appear on the ground. A mesh area protected by a wooden fence allows a look into the grassy and forested enclosure. Large logs, live trees, and a pond with a small waterfall rushing into it create a home for a pack of 1.3 Mexican wolves. Attached to the wolf habitat is a log cabin where guests can go inside and view the wolves through glass. Signs about threats to wolves and their former range are about, and another sign informs about the domestication of the dog. From a TV screen above the wolf viewing window, a short video loops throughout the day that tells about the crisis in Yellowstone National Park after wolves were hunted into extinction.

These are all of the original lands that will be planned to open with the park, and later additions may be added. Not many, no more than two areas.

 

[Davdhole]

Dinosaur Domain
Hear me out, I know dinosaur sections are not popular or well-liked here, and I agree when it's done how most zoos do it, with dinosaur statues taking up valuable space and doing not much of anything, it's a waste. However, I wanted to dedicate an area that dives deeper into the prehistoric world. I mean dinosaurs are amazing animals and an awesome part of natural history, and although I know DAK also isn't too popular on here, I can say their dinosaur area (aside from that tacky carnival part) is done well. So here is Dinosaur Domain.

This foliated trail greets us with a replica argentinosaurus skeleton towering above the guests. Now here, we can go to the small building ahead, but before that, to the left, a fence made to resemble bones keeps guests from the other fence above the slightly lower habitat. A large pool sits closer to the front of the habitat, and the land area is large, grassy, and has moderate foliage. During the warm months, 1.0 saltwater crocodile lives here. On the other side near the small museum, we're preparing to enter, a big moderately foliated habitat keeps 1.0 double-wattled cassowary.
We enter the building where a mural depicting the Late Cretaceous greets us. A big display case is an exhibit with a few fossils such as dinosaur teeth and other bones. In the main section of the little museum, a replica skeleton of a tyrannosaurus-rex stands in the middle of the room. Facing the t-rex is a carnotaurus skeleton, and behind the rex, a baryonyx skeleton.
In a wall to the left of the carno and rex is a large vivarium with logs, climbing branches, vines, and a small pool for a white-throated monitor.

Other replica skeletons-
Scolosaurus
Torosaurus
Stegosaurus
Utahraptor
Iguanodon
Ceratosaurus
Troodon
Pachycephalosaurus
From the ceiling, pternadon, tapejara, ornithocheirus, and dimorphodon. Nearby is a life-sized model of quetzalcoatlus.

A nearby wall shows images of theories stated over the years about what caused the dinosaurs' extinction. Another nearby model depicts a maiasaura with her nest of eggs. Just before leaving the exhibit, a large aquarium with driftwood, logs, and aquatic plants makes a home for an alligator snapping turtle, Florida red-bellied cooters, striped mud turtles, and a few bowfins. A few large artificial logs extend out of the water to allow the cooters and mud turtles to bask under the heat and UVB lamps. A bit further down on the same side as the turtle aquarium is another large aquarium similar in appearance for a small school of American paddlefish. Across the paddlefish is the smallest aquarium, but the right size and setup for an Australian lungfish.

Outside of the museum is a huge saltwater habitat similar to SeaWorld's outdoor shark habitats at Shark Encounter. A fence around the habitat keeps viewers safe, and they can cross a short bridge over the animals. Sand and seashells coat the bottom and a small artificial reef and mock rock provide shelter for some of the animals. Swimming in here-
Blacktip reef shark
Bonnethead shark
Southern stingray
Cownose ray
Brownbanded bamboo shark
Horseshoe crab
Bonefish

Above the pool are signs teaching about how ancient sharks are, and another doing the same about horseshoe crabs. On a wall outside the museum near the sharks is a freshwater tank for some tadpole shrimp. Past these animals and the museum and near an exit for this trail is a foliated mesh habitat with a pond, live trees, and perches for 1.1 wood storks. Near the birds and along the way of the exit, there are multiple educational opportunities showing the connection between birds and modern dinosaurs. Just before leaving, there are two life-sized models of a gorgosaurus and styracosaurus cross each other.

 

[Davdhole]

These are animals featured in the bird show and ambassador animals. The don't have habitats on public grounds.

Bird Show- A free-flight show that takes place on a stage between African Journey and Asian Quest, teaching about different birds' adaptations and behaviors. On the way to the show on this trail is a big moderately foliated mesh enclosure with 1.1 black-backed jackals. The canids are closer to the African Journey section between Africa and Asia and come a bit before the bird show. While this isn't the only path to African Journey or Asian Quest, this is the only path to African Journey or Asian Quest where the jackals can be seen, and to get to the bird show. Anyways, species featured in the show-
Silvery-cheeked hornbill
Great horned owl
Red-legged seriema
Wattled crane
Aplomado falcon
Laughing kookaburra
Red-tailed hawk
North Island brown kiwi
African gray parrot
Muscovy duck
Bald eagle
Turkey vulture
Red-legged seriema
Pied crow

Ambassador Animals- These animals live in behind-the-scenes habitats and can be seen with keepers during talks somewhere in the park or are taken to educational events both on the grounds or elsewhere.
North American porcupine
Barn owl
Gray ratsnake
Fennec fox
Virginia opossum
Chinese cave gecko
Indian python
Pumpkin patch tarantula
Eastern spotted skunk
Skeleton tarantula
Prehensile-tailed porcupine
Gray fox
Arizona mountain kingsnake
Long-eared hedgehog
Gold tegu
Northern raccoon
White-nosed coatimundi

 

[Davdhole]

A couple things. One, I just noticed that I put red-legged seriema twice for the bird show. Don't ask how I messed that up, but a secretary bird is supposed to take the place of where the seriema is the second time.

Also, I forgot to add in Wild Planet Watch that somewhere after leaving the building and before the bears, there's a habitat with two large viewing windows into a sandy and rocky enclosure with a large, deep saltwater pool for a group of African penguins.