Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium Wildlife World Zoo's African Walk-thru Avairy

T

The KCZooman

Well-Known Member
Has anyone here been through the African walk-thru avairy at the Wildlife World Zoo. I'm interested in knowing more the avairy's layout, which species displayed, how they are managed, positive visitor experiences and whether or not there has been any negative incidents between visitors and aviary inhabitants.
 
It's small, for a walk-through, I would guess 50'x50'. Inhabitants were (at the time of my last visit) Abdim's stork, grey hornbill, red-crested turaco, purple swamphen, white-faced and fulvous whistling-ducks, hottentot teals and possibly a few more similar species. There are three attached aviaries that are not part of the walk-through which had silvery-cheeked hornbills, pied crows, and West African crowned-cranes. My sister had a turaco land on the stroller once. No harm no foul, was the most forward I'd ever seen a bird in a walk-through aviary though.
 
Ituri said:
It's small, for a walk-through, I would guess 50'x50'. Inhabitants were (at the time of my last visit) Abdim's stork, grey hornbill, red-crested turaco, purple swamphen, white-faced and fulvous whistling-ducks, hottentot teals and possibly a few more similar species. There are three attached aviaries that are not part of the walk-through which had silvery-cheeked hornbills, pied crows, and West African crowned-cranes. My sister had a turaco land on the stroller once. No harm no foul, was the most forward I'd ever seen a bird in a walk-through aviary though.
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Thanks Ituri. I've seen a few pictures of this avairy, but I didn't know what birds or animals were displayed until now. Did it seem like the birds got along with each other? Was there anything you felt needed to be changed with this exhibit (other than size)?
 
From the perspective of the visitor it seemed nice enough. My overall impressions of Wildlife World are not all that great, but this certainly wasn't one of the things I had much of a problem with.
 
Layout is a circular boardwalk (go in one door, do a small circle, walk out another door next to the first door). As stated above, not bad but not very big for a walk-through. Pretty good photo opportunities though. Sign also said there was one type of small antelope, I think maybe black duiker (not positive), but I did not see it anywhere.
 
Here is a picture of a hadada ibis I took in the aviary last summer:
 

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hadada ibis, how could I have forgotten those. Last time I was there (several years ago) there definitely weren't any antelope in there, that's pretty interesting.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Layout is a circular boardwalk (go in one door, do a small circle, walk out another door next to the first door). As stated above, not bad but not very big for a walk-through. Pretty good photo opportunities though. Sign also said there was one type of small antelope, I think maybe black duiker (not positive), but I did not see it anywhere.
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Thanks Arizona Docent. From your description you could definately take many pictures of birds at different angles. Did it seem like the birds were too crowded or were you and Ituri applying that the avairy was smaller than what I might find at San Diego for example?
 
It is MUCH smaller than the Owens or Scripps Aviaries at San Diego. Probably even smaller than the Parker Aviary. And it is not lushly planted either.
 
Birds were not too crowded, I just meant smaller than you might find elsewhere. And although it is not lush (as Ituri says), it is not barren either. There are some trees - overall it's not bad - especially considering some of their other birds are displayed in small cages like you would buy at a pet shop and left in the simmering sun.

This zoo has some good exhibits, overall it's not bad, but there are a few really bad ones - especially the aformentioned bird cages.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Birds were not too crowded, I just meant smaller than you might find elsewhere. And although it is not lush (as Ituri says), it is not barren either. There are some trees - overall it's not bad - especially considering some of their other birds are displayed in small cages like you would buy at a pet shop and left in the simmering sun.

This zoo has some good exhibits, overall it's not bad, but there are a few really bad ones - especially the aformentioned bird cages.
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Here is in my opinion the absolute WORST!

macaw-exhibit-wildlife-world-zoo-27874-m.jpg
 
I agree they could really do a better job. I can't believe USDA or the AZA even allows this is their any access to food or water? I know PETA has tried getting them shut down. I don't think they should be since they have a variety of hoofstock and some that are being phased out. But I wish they upped the enclosures of other animals before spending big money on new animals. Don't they also have similar enclosure to the one above for a hawk? At least that's what I've heard.
 
The hawk exhibit is indoors, and I don't recall the exact construction of it. When I was there the aquarium was brand-new and the hawk was off-exhibit.
 
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