ZooChat Cup finals: Bronx vs Zurich

[CGSwans]

It’s snow leopards at twenty paces: Temperates.

 

[Ursus]

What exactly counts all within temperates?

 

[ThylacineAlive]

I mean
Bronx Zoo- Indian Rhino Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Gaur/ Brow Antlered Deer Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Himalayan Tahr Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Tiger Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Nilgai/ Indian Muntjac/ Formosa Sika Deer - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Mongolian Wild Horse Exhibit - ZooChat
World of Birds- Woodland Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Bison Range- Bison Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Pere David's Deer Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Northern Ponds- Part 1 of Black-necked Crane Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Big Bears- Grizzly Bear Exhibit (in Spring) - ZooChat

The zoo also protects 15 acres of natural forest along the Bronx River that runs through the zoo, which they use as a nature trail so visitors can observe the natural wildlife of the area. This is on top of the extensive conservation programs they run across North America, Central/Northern Asia, and Southern South America.

~Thylo

 

[Rayane]

Temperates really needs to be narrowed done I believe.

 

[antonmuster]

Do subtropical lowland species and temperate plains species count for the 'temperates' category?

 

[ThylacineAlive]

For the record, I'm mainly attempting to demonstrate how the zoo uses their natural ecosystem in their exhibitry to create natural environments for their species. I'm not entirely sure which species specifically count for the category, though I tried using ones that are found within the temperate zones.

~Thylo

 

[Brum]

Bronx Zoo- Indian Rhino Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Gaur/ Brow Antlered Deer Exhibit - ZooChat

I'd agree with all the other exhibits being for temperate species, but come on, really stretching for those two mate...

I do see your point about using the natural conditions, even for non-temperate species, but in the (practice match) Burgers V Singapore round it was decided (I think?) that a zoos natural setting shouldn't be used as a basis for voting. I'm sure @CGSwans will correct me if I'm wrong though.

 

[snowleopard]

An interesting match-up, with the Bronx Zoo holding an edge. Zurich has to lose at some point, right?

 

[birdsandbats]

I don't understand the category at all.

 

[Rayane]

Neither do I. Is it temperate forest ? Because I think we're really stretching the limits if it is.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

I'd agree with all the other exhibits being for temperate species, but come on, really stretching for those two mate...

I do see your point about using the natural conditions, even for non-temperate species, but in the (practice match) Burgers V Singapore round it was decided (I think?) that a zoos natural setting shouldn't be used as a basis for voting. I'm sure @CGSwans will correct me if I'm wrong though.

I was viewing the foothills of Nepal as being more of a temperate ecosystem, although having just doublechecked I see that that is incorrect!

In that match I argued that a zoo coincidentally being set in a particular ecosystem should not automatically give it the win (ie Singapore shouldn't just win tropics because they're set in a tropic ecosystem), however the zoo's utilization of their surrounding environment should be taken into consideration. I mentioned Bronx's riverwalk because this is a section of the ecosystem at hand which the zoo has actively worked to clean up and preserve as opposed to it just being there regardless of the zoo's actions as with Singapore's forest.

~Thylo

 

[Ursus]

i think we should wait for CGSwans to come help us clarify what does and what does not count for this challenge

 

[TeaLovingDave]

In that match I argued that a zoo coincidentally being set in a particular ecosystem should not automatically give it the win (ie Singapore shouldn't just win tropics because they're set in a tropic ecosystem), however the zoo's utilization of their surrounding environment should be taken into consideration.

Worth noting that both Zurich and Bronx are located in temperate climes too, so the question of undue advantage doesn't arise.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I don't understand the category at all.

Neither do I. Is it temperate forest ? Because I think we're really stretching the limits if it is.

The following gives some explanation:

‘Temperate Forests’ gains the ‘mountains’ component of the ‘mountains and poles’ category. I am open for suggestions for a pithy name for this one. This new category will inherit the draw that previously applied to ‘temperate forests’.

 

[Coelacanth18]

I don't understand the category at all.

Neither do I. Is it temperate forest ? Because I think we're really stretching the limits if it is.

i think we should wait for CGSwans to come help us clarify what does and what does not count for this challenge

Almost crossposted with TLD. I think Temperate grasslands are counted within the "Grasslands and Deserts" biome and we are dealing with a simple amalgamation of two former categories (Temperate Forests + Mountains and Poles).

I don't think this definition rules out anything @ThylacineAlive posted (besides Indian rhino, gaur, and Eld's deer, all of which I agree shouldn't count). An additional comparison I'd like to see are the two zoos' gelada habitats, as geladas are a montane species and both zoos have fantastic enclosures for them.

 

[lintworm]

Wouldn't this also exclude grassland species like Bison and Wild horse?

 

[ThylacineAlive]

Wouldn't this also exclude grassland species like Bison and Wild horse?

Probably yes.

But if mountains count now:
Bronx Zoo- Himalayan Highlands- Snow Leopard Exhibit 1 - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Himalayan Highlands- Part 1 of Second Snow Leopard Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx zoo- Baboon Reserve - ZooChat

~Thylo

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Wouldn't this also exclude grassland species like Bison and Wild horse?

As regards wisent I personally think they would still count anyhow.

 

[antonmuster]

‘Temperate Forests’ gains the ‘mountains’ component of the ‘mountains and poles’ category. I am open for suggestions for a pithy name for this one. This new category will inherit the draw that previously applied to ‘temperate forests’.

My interpretation is that this excludes temperate plains, temperate 'aquatics', as well as subtropic lowlands.

Zurich have...
Clearly applicable to this category (imo): Semien (gelada); snow leopard; tiger; red panda; the delightful former Manul enclosure with Swinhoe's striped squirrels, chukar partridge, and Lord Derby's parakeet, the row of forest aviaries at the top of the zoo; hands on goat enclosure in petting zoo; bat rescue station and bat museum.

Possibly applicable (depending on where one individually draws category borders, an alternative category might instead apply) - those that I personally feel/suspect apply to the 'temperates' category in bold: spectacled bears & coati (alternatively: tropical forests); the full set of South American camelids plus Darwin's rhea at top of zoo (alternatively: grasslands & deserts); yak & Cashmere goats (alternatively: grasslands & deserts); wild storks throughout the zoo (alternatively: grasslands); mongolian wolf (alternatively: grasslands).

Zurich has some gems, but not too much breadth for this category. Expecially the temperate forests part is really underdeveloped - one major reason being this nice institution.

 

[antonmuster]

I'm mainly attempting to demonstrate how the zoo uses their natural ecosystem in their exhibitry to create natural environments for their species.

But if mountains count now:
Bronx Zoo- Himalayan Highlands- Snow Leopard Exhibit 1 - ZooChat
Bronx Zoo- Himalayan Highlands- Part 1 of Second Snow Leopard Exhibit - ZooChat
Bronx zoo- Baboon Reserve - ZooChat

While I suspect Bronx is stronger than Zurich in this category, I contend that the above are loosing arguments for Bronx in this match-up.