ZPLC (Zoological Park of Lorain County)

[CleZooMan]

Zoological Park of Lorain County
North Ridgeville, Ohio 44039

Where else can you see hundreds of animals- including many endangered species- from around the world without leaving Lorain County? The Zoological Park of Lorain County is divided into six main areas: A Continent in Danger, La Isla Encanta, The Land Down Under, Way Up North (Where the Air is Cold), World of the Bhalu and Wild Lorain County.


Entrance-

After getting your tickets in the ticket plaza and passing the zoo’s gift shop and main café area, the first exhibit you come to is a large pond for Chilean, Andean and James’ flamingos (with indoor viewing next to it). Interpretive signage describes the habitats in which these flamingos live and the differences between the species. Down the path from the flamingo pond, you come across a wooden signpost pointing toward A CONTINENT IN DANGER. But what continent and why is it in danger?!?!

A Continent in Danger-

A Continent in Danger, the first major “zone” of the Zoological Park of Lorain County (ZPLC), focuses on endangered and threatened animals of the East African plains. It begins with a sunny dirt road winding through a Masai village, where a circular arrangement of Masai-style huts contain information about the Masai, where they live, the importance of agriculture in their lives and about the endangered species of the East African savannas that you will soon see. The main focus is species considered “vulnerable” or below on the IUCN, but this does not apply to every single species in this exhibit!


However, the first exhibit- a large paddock built around a Masai-style livestock boma (enclosure keeping livestock in and lions out)- displays a decidedly non-endangered animal- a herd of African pygmy goats that you can pet and, for a small fee, feed! The dirt road winds away from the Masai village and becomes a boardwalk with a wide savanna on either side. The centerpiece of the savanna is a large waterhole with acacia trees bending down toward it, with a large group of African hoofstock- Zanzibar suni, giant sable antelope, topi, Rothschild’s giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, western giant eland and Coke’s hartebeest- calling it home.


Acacias and other trees, tall savanna grass, rocks and termite mounds mark both sides of the dirt road, which has turned wilder as the Masai village is now behind us. The savanna continues past the waterhole past more bushes, mounds of rock, an abandoned safari jeep and another wide boardwalk, where you can buy lettuce to feed giraffes. The boardwalk arcs through the part of the savanna where the giraffes spend most of their time, complete with a smaller waterhole. Tall rocks begin to appear along the dirt road, which gives topnotch views for a small herd of Eastern black rhinos, complete with trees and mud wallows! Interpretive signage about rhinos- their range, gestation and endangered status- abound alongside the rocky fence. The expansive rhino paddock provides several more views of the rhinos before you see a large wooden sign up ahead- DANGER- WILD ANIMALS! WANYAMA WA PORI HATARI! (in Swahili).


The rocks along the dirt road continue past another habitat- this time an abandoned Masai village- with tumbledown huts, abandoned cars and other junk and livestock skeletons- that has been taken over by a pack of African wild dogs! African wild dog tracks, interpretive signage about African wild dogs and more signs of an abandoned village cover this section of the dirt road, which turns past the abandoned village into a small grove of trees. Another small boardwalk winds through this small grove of trees, which is actually a netted aviary for endangered or threatened East African birds- the East African crowned crane, Waldrapp ibis, Abbott’s starling, banded green sunbird and the Malindi pipit. While the Malindi pipit is still considered “least concern” by the IUCN, its population is declining due to habitat loss. Signage in this section focuses on why these birds are endangered, as well as the East African crowned crane being on the flag of Uganda.


The boardwalk turns back into the dirt road, winding past large, rocky habitats for two endangered reptile species- the geometric tortoise of South Africa and the West African slender-snouted crocodile (complete with underwater viewing). The dirt road makes one more turn, back into the Masai village and onto the next area of the ZPLC… La Isla Encanta!

 

[Great Argus]

Interesting, although what's the premise for all these species not present in North American zoos? Or not found in captivity at all as the case if for some of them? Realism is typically a significant part of the speculative subforum now and so I'm curious about some of the unusual species choices versus species that are already here in the states.

 

[Aardwolf]

Just a recommendation, zebra + small antelope is a combination that often ends very poorly for the later.

 

[CleZooMan]

Interesting, although what's the premise for all these species not present in North American zoos? Or not found in captivity at all as the case if for some of them? Realism is typically a significant part of the speculative subforum now and so I'm curious about some of the unusual species choices versus species that are already here in the states.

Hello Great Argus,

Thank you for your reply. I did not realize that realism is a significant part of the speculative subforum now- I have not been very active on this site since 2015, when it was a lot different. But, besides that misunderstanding of how this site has changed since I was last active, I tend to be drawn to animals that are not found in any or many zoos, which is the main reason I made those decisions when designing this exhibit.

Thank you,
Loricua22

 

[CleZooMan]

Just a recommendation, zebra + small antelope is a combination that often ends very poorly for the later.

Hello Aardwolf,

Thank you for your reply. I sent you a PM re: these antelope.

Best,

Loricua22

 

[CleZooMan]

La Isla Del Encanto-

La Isla Del Encanto (“The Island of Enchantment”) refers to the island of Puerto Rico- the focus of this unique area of the ZPLC! The area begins in a dense jungle clearing with the sounds of coquí frogs and parrots piped in. Walking a bit down the path, you start to notice small, colorful cinderblock houses, a small waterfall and a rocky stream, a row of small Puerto Rican flags and a sign peeking out from the dense vegetation around it- BIENVENIDOS A PUERTO RICO! (Welcome to Puerto Rico). You can go in the largest cinderblock house- decorated like a typical small house in rural Puerto Rico. It is painted bright pink and is full of interpretive displays about Puerto Rico, its location and its endemic wildlife, especially birds, reptiles and amphibians. A sizable yard to the side of the cinderblock houses is home to the first animal of La Isla de Encanto and a most unusual one to find in a zoo- mixed-breed dogs! Complete with doghouses, the dog yard also has signage about why they are there- Puerto Rico is home to a large population of satos (stray dogs, mostly mixed-breed dogs)- and a machine dispensing dog biscuits that you can feed them with!


The jungle gets thicker and denser as the rocky stream continues, twisting and turning above the path, which leads into a walk-through aviary! Among the greens and browns of the jungle, you can find Puerto Rican parrots (iguacas), black swifts and Caribbean martins catching insects among the streamside, large patches of flowers home to Antillean mangos, green-throated caribs and Antillean crested hummingbirds flitting through the air, a reed-filled pond home to cattle egrets, black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets and clapper rails and quite a few other bird species flying through the humid air of this large aviary, including several endemics- Puerto Rican tody, Puerto Rican woodpecker, Caribbean elaenia, Puerto Rican flycatcher, gray kingbird, loggerhead kingbird, Puerto Rican vireo, red-legged thrush, Antillean euphonia, Puerto Rican tanager, Puerto Rican spindalis, Puerto Rican oriole, yellow-shouldered blackbird, elfin-woods warbler, bananaquit, Puerto Rican bullfinch and Adelaide’s warbler. Signage focuses on the Spanish names for these birds and how important it is that habitat for all birds- but especially endemics- is preserved.

Exiting the aviary, you see two large, netted aviaries, one for red-tailed hawks (a common species in Puerto Rico, where they are known as the guaraguao) and the other for Puerto Rican owls, another endemic species. The path continues into a building nestled among the trees- The Puerto Rican Reptile and Amphibian Center (PRRAC). Built in the rockwork walls of the PRRAC are several lush terraria- reptiles on one side, amphibians on the other. The “reptile side” of the building is home to terraria for Puerto Rican slider, house gecko, several geckos endemic to Puerto Rico- Nichols’ dwarf gecko (a.k.a. Puerto Rican sphaero), Puerto Rico upland gecko, Mona dwarf gecko, Desecheo, Townsend’s and Roosevelt’s dwarf geckos- followed by Greater Puerto Rican ameiva, Puerto Rican skink, Puerto Rican giant alone, Puerto Rican crested anole, Puerto Rican iguana, Puerto Rican worm lizard, Puerto Rican boa AND Puerto Rican racer. The signage is focused on endemic reptiles to Puerto Rico.


The amphibian side is a bit smaller, but no less exciting! There is a large, mostly aquatic exhibit for Puerto Rican crested toads, followed by terraria for several tree frog species- red-snouted tree frog, American green tree frog and several coquís- common, whistling, Antillean, mottled, tree-hole, golden, web-footed, burrowing and Mona- along with the Caribbean white-lipped frog. Interpretive signage focuses on the coquí as an important symbol of Puerto Rico and the species from smaller islands near Puerto Rico (i.e. Culebra, Vieques and Mona). The last exhibit is a large mixed-species “swamp” terrarium for American bullfrogs and pig frogs, with the latter being an invasive species in Puerto Rico.


Immediately opposite the exit of this building is the entrance to another building- Cala del Manatí/ Manatee Cove. The star attraction of Manatee Cove- which consists of a very large, mixed-species tank with a land area on top for birds and water elsewhere- is a pair of West Indian manatees! Based on the Columbus Zoo’s Manatee Coast, the Manatee Cove tank also contains leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles, brown pelicans and several fish species- i.e. Southern stingray, white grunt, queen parrotfish, blue-striped grunt, yellowfin mojarra, sea bream and cocoa damselfish. The fish congregate around a section of the tank resembling a coral reef, while the rest of the tank- where the manatees spend most of their time- is more open. Also in Manatee Cove is a café- The Coquí Café- serving Puerto Rican food and a large gift shop, selling merchandise not only focused on manatees, but also on all the wildlife that call Puerto Rico home. Right after exiting Manatee Cove, you cross into the next area of ZPLC… The Land Down Under!


The Land Down Under-

You enter the third area of ZPLC- The Land Down Under- via a red-dirt road and a replica of Uluru (Ayers Rock). Long poles decorated with Aboriginal paintings tell you you’re in Australia, followed by a set of doors leading through a grassy “walkabout!” The red-dirt continues past red kangaroos, gray kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies, Parma wallabies and wallaroos. Interpretive signage located next to a KANGAROO CROSSING sign explains the differences between kangaroos and wallabies, the etymology of the word kangaroo and how wallaroo is from an Aboriginal word, not from “wallaby” and “kangaroo!” A separate fenced exhibit at the end of the “walkabout” is for a small group of emus.



Across from the set of doors leading out of the walkabout, the dirt road continues into a large building with vintage Australian signs and advertisements on the wall. This is where the bulk of the species in The Land Down Under live, with many being free-ranging! The building is divided into several habitat “zones” separated by double doors, with the first being a replica of a eucalyptus forest- Koala Kingdom.


Both sides of the visitor path in Koala Kingdom are home to eucalyptus trees and perhaps their best known dwellers- koalas! A small group of koalas- complete with more signage about how they are marsupials, not bears, and need eucalyptus trees to live- calls both sides of this lush habitat- complete with a waterfall, a small pool and lush forest undergrowth- home. Another set of double doors leads out of Koala Kingdom to the next zone- Wonga Woodland!



Wonga Woodland is a light-filled room with more eucalyptus trees, another small waterfowl, lush undergrowth and interesting animals everywhere! On the right side of the path is a netted exhibit for varied lorikeets, crimson rosellas, superb fairywrens, blue-faced honeyeaters, grey-crowned babblers and jackywinters, complete with plenty of perching opportunities in the eucalyptus trees and on the ground. On the left side is a small “tree trunk” glass-fronted exhibit for squirrel gliders and a nocturnal exhibit, complete with fallen logs, small rock caves and other hiding opportunities, for northern hairy-nosed wombats! A small glass viewing area off to the side provides a close look at a wombat burrow. Finally, wonga pigeons- a common eucalypt woodland species giving this zone its name- are free ranging around the zone!


Once you pass through the double doors, you see another sign, this time welcoming you to Kookaburra River! You are still surrounded by eucalyptus trees, but in more of a “forest clearing” area near a flowing stream. On the right side, a muddy riverbank is home to broad-shelled and eastern snake-necked turtles, eastern water dragons, Mary River turtles and a small group of buff-banded rails skulking in the vegetation on the far side of the bank. On the left side, there is a netted aviary for kookaburras, a small creek-side exhibit for rakali (a ratlike Australian rodent) and a row of terraria for White’s tree frogs, prehensile-tailed and blue-tongued skinks, spotted pythons, cane toads, frilled lizards and sugar gliders!


You notice that the next zone- Survival Scrubland- is notably hotter and drier. On the right side is a large exhibit with reddish sand, low trees and bushes, interpretive signage about this habitat (the Australian scrubland), rock outcroppings and wildlife everywhere- tammar wallabies, long-nosed bandicoots, short-beaked echidnas, crimson chats, yellow-throated miners, Bourke’s parrots, crested pigeons, zebra and Gouldian finches and a large amount of bearded dragons! On the left side, you see red rocks and termite mounds with exhibits built into them for shingle-backed, shrubland morethia skinks, fat-tailed and sandhill dunnarts, giant scrub prowling spiders, yellow sand scorpions, bush rats and Woma pythons! Other red rocks and mounds have interpretive signage on them about “survival in the scrublands” and how these animals have adapted to this dry habitat.


Another set of double doors- with signs warning you to not let the birds out- takes you into an aviary full of colorful budgerigars! This walk-through aviary- “Budgie Crossing”- allows you to get close up to this familiar, but exotic, parakeet species, with the budgerigars (budgies) able to land on you, especially if you buy seed sticks from the small stand inside the aviary to feed them. Budgie Crossing continues the hot, dry Australian scrubland theme, but that suddenly changes once you’ve entered the second-to-last zone!


The next zone, complete with mist and simulated “rainstorms” and lush trees is Rainforest Realm, with the main exhibit- a mixed-species exhibit complete with a muddy rainforest stream and lots of vegetation- from the treetops to down below- being on the right-hand side- home to metallic starlings, wompoo and rose-crowned fruit and green-winged doves, green and spotted catbirds, paradise riflebirds and rainbow lorikeets. A smaller area on the end of this exhibit- with even more trees and branches for climbing- is home to Bennett’s and Lumholtz’s tree kangaroos. Like the previous zones, most of the interpretive signage is on the left side of the Rainforest Realm, along with another “tree trunk” exhibit- this time for green tree pythons and three lush exhibits for red-legged pademelons, tiger quolls and lemuroid ringtail possums.


You hear more rushing water as you enter the last zone- Crocodile Cave! On the right side, once again, is the main attraction- a glass-fronted rock cave complete with a large pool, rushing waterfowl and a muddy land area complete with Australian signage, making it look like a crocodile has invaded a small roadside cavern in the Northern Territory. The star of the show, however, is a large saltwater crocodile, the king of his cave. The left wall, once again, has interpretive signage about saltwater crocodiles and how they are the largest species of crocodile, eating anything from sharks to humans!!!


After exiting Crocodile Cave, you come to a gift shop, the exit to the Land Down Under and a sign telling you that you are now Way Up North (Where the Air is Cold)- the next region of the ZPLC!

 

[TinoPup]

You've clearly put a lot of thought into this, which is good, but you need to catch up on all of the new rules and guidelines for speculative. Your species lists are a bit better this time but they're still really pushing it when it comes to what is realistic. Your descriptions need some depth, as well. Don't just list species! Describe the habitats, what is being done to make things work for each species. Expand on what you have. As an example, take a look at IndianRhino's thread: AnimalsRAmazing's Speculative Zoo (Discovery Hills Zoo)

 

[CleZooMan]

You've clearly put a lot of thought into this, which is good, but you need to catch up on all of the new rules and guidelines for speculative. Your species lists are a bit better this time but they're still really pushing it when it comes to what is realistic. Your descriptions need some depth, as well. Don't just list species! Describe the habitats, what is being done to make things work for each species. Expand on what you have. As an example, take a look at IndianRhino's thread: AnimalsRAmazing's Speculative Zoo (Discovery Hills Zoo)

Thank you so much!!! I will look at this.

 

[FBBird]

Zoological Park of Lorain County
North Ridgeville, Ohio 44039

Where else can you see hundreds of animals- including many endangered species- from around the world without leaving Lorain County? The Zoological Park of Lorain County is divided into six main areas: A Continent in Danger, La Isla Encanta, The Land Down Under, Way Up North (Where the Air is Cold), World of the Bhalu and Wild Lorain County.


Entrance-

After getting your tickets in the ticket plaza and passing the zoo’s gift shop and main café area, the first exhibit you come to is a large pond for Chilean, Andean and James’ flamingos (with indoor viewing next to it). Interpretive signage describes the habitats in which these flamingos live and the differences between the species. Down the path from the flamingo pond, you come across a wooden signpost pointing toward A CONTINENT IN DANGER. But what continent and why is it in danger?!?!

A Continent in Danger-

A Continent in Danger, the first major “zone” of the Zoological Park of Lorain County (ZPLC), focuses on endangered and threatened animals of the East African plains. It begins with a sunny dirt road winding through a Masai village, where a circular arrangement of Masai-style huts contain information about the Masai, where they live, the importance of agriculture in their lives and about the endangered species of the East African savannas that you will soon see. The main focus is species considered “vulnerable” or below on the IUCN, but this does not apply to every single species in this exhibit!


However, the first exhibit- a large paddock built around a Masai-style livestock boma (enclosure keeping livestock in and lions out)- displays a decidedly non-endangered animal- a herd of African pygmy goats that you can pet and, for a small fee, feed! The dirt road winds away from the Masai village and becomes a boardwalk with a wide savanna on either side. The centerpiece of the savanna is a large waterhole with acacia trees bending down toward it, with a large group of African hoofstock- Zanzibar suni, giant sable antelope, topi, Rothschild’s giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, western giant eland and Coke’s hartebeest- calling it home.


Acacias and other trees, tall savanna grass, rocks and termite mounds mark both sides of the dirt road, which has turned wilder as the Masai village is now behind us. The savanna continues past the waterhole past more bushes, mounds of rock, an abandoned safari jeep and another wide boardwalk, where you can buy lettuce to feed giraffes. The boardwalk arcs through the part of the savanna where the giraffes spend most of their time, complete with a smaller waterhole. Tall rocks begin to appear along the dirt road, which gives topnotch views for a small herd of Eastern black rhinos, complete with trees and mud wallows! Interpretive signage about rhinos- their range, gestation and endangered status- abound alongside the rocky fence. The expansive rhino paddock provides several more views of the rhinos before you see a large wooden sign up ahead- DANGER- WILD ANIMALS! WANYAMA WA PORI HATARI! (in Swahili).


The rocks along the dirt road continue past another habitat- this time an abandoned Masai village- with tumbledown huts, abandoned cars and other junk and livestock skeletons- that has been taken over by a pack of African wild dogs! African wild dog tracks, interpretive signage about African wild dogs and more signs of an abandoned village cover this section of the dirt road, which turns past the abandoned village into a small grove of trees. Another small boardwalk winds through this small grove of trees, which is actually a netted aviary for endangered or threatened East African birds- the East African crowned crane, Waldrapp ibis, Abbott’s starling, banded green sunbird and the Malindi pipit. While the Malindi pipit is still considered “least concern” by the IUCN, its population is declining due to habitat loss. Signage in this section focuses on why these birds are endangered, as well as the East African crowned crane being on the flag of Uganda.


The boardwalk turns back into the dirt road, winding past large, rocky habitats for two endangered reptile species- the geometric tortoise of South Africa and the West African slender-snouted crocodile (complete with underwater viewing). The dirt road makes one more turn, back into the Masai village and onto the next area of the ZPLC… La Isla Encanta!

You realise the cranes and ibis will eat the pipits and sunbirds? There’s a similar issue with the various heron species in your Puerto Rican aviary

 

[Great Argus]

A sizable yard to the side of the cinderblock houses is home to the first animal of La Isla de Encanto and a most unusual one to find in a zoo- mixed-breed dogs! Complete with doghouses, the dog yard also has signage about why they are there- Puerto Rico is home to a large population of satos (stray dogs, mostly mixed-breed dogs)- and a machine dispensing dog biscuits that you can feed them with!

Why exactly? I'm a little confused at this one. Also I feel the dogs are going to end up quite over fed on dog biscuits...

black swifts and Caribbean martins catching insects among the streamside,

No logic here at all... swallows and especially swifts don't fare well in captivity, they're not suited to aviary life.

a reed-filled pond home to cattle egrets, black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets and clapper rails and quite a few other bird species flying through the humid air of this large aviary, including several endemics- Puerto Rican tody, Puerto Rican woodpecker, Caribbean elaenia, Puerto Rican flycatcher, gray kingbird, loggerhead kingbird, Puerto Rican vireo, red-legged thrush, Antillean euphonia, Puerto Rican tanager, Puerto Rican spindalis, Puerto Rican oriole, yellow-shouldered blackbird, elfin-woods warbler, bananaquit, Puerto Rican bullfinch and Adelaide’s warbler. Signage focuses on the Spanish names for these birds and how important it is that habitat for all birds- but especially endemics- is preserved.

Well besides the problems importing and maintaining most of these, the mixed species lineup here is poor...

The path continues into a building nestled among the trees- The Puerto Rican Reptile and Amphibian Center (PRRAC). Built in the rockwork walls of the PRRAC are several lush terraria- reptiles on one side, amphibians on the other. The “reptile side” of the building is home to terraria for Puerto Rican slider, house gecko, several geckos endemic to Puerto Rico- Nichols’ dwarf gecko (a.k.a. Puerto Rican sphaero), Puerto Rico upland gecko, Mona dwarf gecko, Desecheo, Townsend’s and Roosevelt’s dwarf geckos- followed by Greater Puerto Rican ameiva, Puerto Rican skink, Puerto Rican giant alone, Puerto Rican crested anole, Puerto Rican iguana, Puerto Rican worm lizard, Puerto Rican boa AND Puerto Rican racer. The signage is focused on endemic reptiles to Puerto Rico.


The amphibian side is a bit smaller, but no less exciting! There is a large, mostly aquatic exhibit for Puerto Rican crested toads, followed by terraria for several tree frog species- red-snouted tree frog, American green tree frog and several coquís- common, whistling, Antillean, mottled, tree-hole, golden, web-footed, burrowing and Mona- along with the Caribbean white-lipped frog. Interpretive signage focuses on the coquí as an important symbol of Puerto Rico and the species from smaller islands near Puerto Rico (i.e. Culebra, Vieques and Mona). The last exhibit is a large mixed-species “swamp” terrarium for American bullfrogs and pig frogs, with the latter being an invasive species in Puerto Rico

I think a lot of these aren't easy to export...

Manatee Cove tank also contains leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles,

Uh... leatherbacks? Besides the species not thriving in captivity, a shallow reef-style tank is about the worst exhibit one could put them in...

brown pelicans and several fish species- i.e. Southern stingray, white grunt, queen parrotfish, blue-striped grunt, yellowfin mojarra, sea bream and cocoa damselfish.

The pelicans are going to eat most of these fish...

Wonga Woodland is a light-filled room with more eucalyptus trees, another small waterfowl, lush undergrowth and interesting animals everywhere! On the right side of the path is a netted exhibit for varied lorikeets, crimson rosellas, superb fairywrens, blue-faced honeyeaters, grey-crowned babblers and jackywinters, complete with plenty of perching opportunities in the eucalyptus trees and on the ground. On the left side is a small “tree trunk” glass-fronted exhibit for squirrel gliders and a nocturnal exhibit, complete with fallen logs, small rock caves and other hiding opportunities, for northern hairy-nosed wombats! A small glass viewing area off to the side provides a close look at a wombat burrow. Finally, wonga pigeons- a common eucalypt woodland species giving this zone its name- are free ranging around the zone!


Once you pass through the double doors, you see another sign, this time welcoming you to Kookaburra River! You are still surrounded by eucalyptus trees, but in more of a “forest clearing” area near a flowing stream. On the right side, a muddy riverbank is home to broad-shelled and eastern snake-necked turtles, eastern water dragons, Mary River turtles and a small group of buff-banded rails skulking in the vegetation on the far side of the bank. On the left side, there is a netted aviary for kookaburras, a small creek-side exhibit for rakali (a ratlike Australian rodent) and a row of terraria for White’s tree frogs, prehensile-tailed and blue-tongued skinks, spotted pythons, cane toads, frilled lizards and sugar gliders!


You notice that the next zone- Survival Scrubland- is notably hotter and drier. On the right side is a large exhibit with reddish sand, low trees and bushes, interpretive signage about this habitat (the Australian scrubland), rock outcroppings and wildlife everywhere- tammar wallabies, long-nosed bandicoots, short-beaked echidnas, crimson chats, yellow-throated miners, Bourke’s parrots, crested pigeons, zebra and Gouldian finches and a large amount of bearded dragons! On the left side, you see red rocks and termite mounds with exhibits built into them for shingle-backed, shrubland morethia skinks, fat-tailed and sandhill dunnarts, giant scrub prowling spiders, yellow sand scorpions, bush rats and Woma pythons! Other red rocks and mounds have interpretive signage on them about “survival in the scrublands” and how these animals have adapted to this dry habitat.


Another set of double doors- with signs warning you to not let the birds out- takes you into an aviary full of colorful budgerigars! This walk-through aviary- “Budgie Crossing”- allows you to get close up to this familiar, but exotic, parakeet species, with the budgerigars (budgies) able to land on you, especially if you buy seed sticks from the small stand inside the aviary to feed them. Budgie Crossing continues the hot, dry Australian scrubland theme, but that suddenly changes once you’ve entered the second-to-last zone!


The next zone, complete with mist and simulated “rainstorms” and lush trees is Rainforest Realm, with the main exhibit- a mixed-species exhibit complete with a muddy rainforest stream and lots of vegetation- from the treetops to down below- being on the right-hand side- home to metallic starlings, wompoo and rose-crowned fruit and green-winged doves, green and spotted catbirds, paradise riflebirds and rainbow lorikeets. A smaller area on the end of this exhibit- with even more trees and branches for climbing- is home to Bennett’s and Lumholtz’s tree kangaroos. Like the previous zones, most of the interpretive signage is on the left side of the Rainforest Realm, along with another “tree trunk” exhibit- this time for green tree pythons and three lush exhibits for red-legged pademelons, tiger quolls and lemuroid ringtail possums.

Yeah most of these are illegal to export from Australia... Are you going for full fantasy with no feedback on the project or?...

 

[CleZooMan]

You realise the cranes and ibis will eat the pipits and sunbirds? There’s a similar issue with the various heron species in your Puerto Rican aviary

Hello FBBird,

I was unaware of this... I will definitely separate the cranes and ibis for the African aviary and the herons as well. I do not have much experience with designing aviaries, even in this speculative forum, so I appreciate you letting me know.

Thank you,
Loricua22

 

[CleZooMan]

Why exactly? I'm a little confused at this one. Also I feel the dogs are going to end up quite over fed on dog biscuits...



No logic here at all... swallows and especially swifts don't fare well in captivity, they're not suited to aviary life.



Well besides the problems importing and maintaining most of these, the mixed species lineup here is poor...



I think a lot of these aren't easy to export...



Uh... leatherbacks? Besides the species not thriving in captivity, a shallow reef-style tank is about the worst exhibit one could put them in...



The pelicans are going to eat most of these fish...



Yeah most of these are illegal to export from Australia... Are you going for full fantasy with no feedback on the project or?...

I PM'd you about these comments. Thank you so much.
Best,
Loricua22

 

[CleZooMan]

Thanks, y'all, for your insightful comments about exhibit design flaws and realistic species! Here is my revised plan for the first three areas- A Continent in Danger, La Isla Del Encanto and The Land Down Under.

Where else can you see hundreds of animals- including many endangered species- from around the world without leaving Lorain County? The Zoological Park of Lorain County is divided into six main areas: A Continent in Danger, La Isla Del Encanto, The Land Down Under, Way Up North (Where the Air is Cold), World of the Bhalu and Wild Lorain County.



Entrance-

After getting your tickets in the ticket plaza and passing the zoo’s gift shop and main café area, the first exhibit you come to is a large pond for Chilean, Andean and James’ flamingos (with indoor viewing next to it). Interpretive signage describes the habitats in which these flamingos live and the differences between the species. Down the path from the flamingo pond, you come across a wooden signpost pointing toward A CONTINENT IN DANGER. But what continent and why is it in danger?!?!



A Continent in Danger-

A Continent in Danger, the first major “zone” of the Zoological Park of Lorain County (ZPLC), focuses on endangered and threatened animals of the East African plains. It begins with a sunny dirt road winding through a Masai village, where a circular arrangement of Masai-style huts contain information about the Masai, where they live, the importance of agriculture in their lives and about the endangered species of the East African savannas that you will soon see. The main focus is species considered “vulnerable” or below on the IUCN, but this does not apply to every single species in this exhibit!


However, the first exhibit- a large paddock built around a Masai-style livestock boma (enclosure keeping livestock in and lions out)- displays a decidedly non-endangered animal- a herd of African pygmy goats that you can pet and, for a small fee, feed! The dirt road winds away from the Masai village and becomes a boardwalk with a wide savanna on either side. The centerpiece of the savanna is a large waterhole with acacia trees bending down toward it, with a large group of African hoofstock- topi, Rothschild’s giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and western giant eland- calling it home. On the other side, you see a large paddock for sable antelope and a smaller paddock for Zanzibar suni.


Acacias and other trees, tall savanna grass, rocks and termite mounds mark both sides of the dirt road, which has turned wilder as the Masai village is now behind us. The savanna continues past the waterhole past more bushes, mounds of rock, an abandoned safari jeep and another wide boardwalk, where you can buy lettuce to feed giraffes. The boardwalk arcs through the part of the savanna where the giraffes spend most of their time, complete with a smaller waterhole. Tall rocks begin to appear along the dirt road, which gives topnotch views for a small herd of Eastern black rhinos, complete with trees and mud wallows! Interpretive signage about rhinos- their range, gestation and endangered status- abound alongside the rocky fence. The expansive rhino paddock provides several more views of the rhinos before you see a large wooden sign up ahead- DANGER- WILD ANIMALS! WANYAMA WA PORI HATARI! (in Swahili).


The rocks along the dirt road continue past another habitat- this time an abandoned Masai village- with tumbledown huts, abandoned cars and other junk and livestock skeletons- that has been taken over by a pack of African wild dogs! African wild dog tracks, interpretive signage about African wild dogs and more signs of an abandoned village cover this section of the dirt road, which turns past the abandoned village into a small grove of trees. Another small boardwalk winds through this small grove of trees, which is actually two netted aviaries for endangered or threatened East African birds- the East African crowned crane and Waldrapp ibis in one and, in the other, Abbott’s starling, banded green sunbird and the Malindi pipit. While the Malindi pipit is still considered “least concern” by the IUCN, its population is declining due to habitat loss. Signage in this section focuses on why these birds are endangered, as well as the East African crowned crane being on the flag of Uganda.


The boardwalk turns back into the dirt road, winding past large, rocky habitats for two endangered reptile species- the geometric tortoise of South Africa and the West African slender-snouted crocodile (complete with underwater viewing). The dirt road makes one more turn, back into the Masai village and onto the next area of the ZPLC… La Isla Del Encanto!!



La Isla Del Encanto-

La Isla Del Encanto (“The Island of Enchantment”) refers to the island of Puerto Rico- the focus of this unique area of the ZPLC! The area begins in a dense jungle clearing with the sounds of coquí frogs and parrots piped in. Walking a bit down the path, you start to notice small, colorful cinderblock houses, a small waterfall and a rocky stream, a row of small Puerto Rican flags and a sign peeking out from the dense vegetation around it- BIENVENIDOS A PUERTO RICO! (Welcome to Puerto Rico). You can go in the largest cinderblock house- decorated like a typical small house in rural Puerto Rico. It is painted bright pink and is full of interpretive displays about Puerto Rico, its location and its endemic wildlife, especially birds, reptiles and amphibians. There is also a display about stray dogs and cats- both quite numerous in Puerto Rico- and how they have affected the environment there.


The jungle gets thicker and denser as the rocky stream continues, twisting and turning above the path, which leads past a netted aviary for Puerto Rican parrots (iguacas), another netted aviary for red-tailed hawks (guaraguao in Puerto Rican Spanish), a reed-filled pond for cattle egrets, snowy egrets, black-crowned night herons and clapper rails and up a suspension bridge into a lush walkthrough aviary home to bananaquit, red-legged thrush and yellow-faced grassquit. Signage focuses on the Spanish names for these birds, the endemic species of Puerto Rico (many of which are difficult to keep in captivity) and how important it is that habitat for all birds- but especially endemics- is preserved.


The path continues into a building nestled among the tall trees- the Jewels of the Island building. The first room- The Puerto Rican Reptile and Amphibian Center (PRRAC)- has rockwork walls with terraria for common coqui, American green tree frog, a mixed-species swamp exhibit for two invasive species (bullfrog and pig frog), house gecko, green iguana, barred anole and Virgin Islands tree boa. The signage is focused on endemic reptiles and amphibians (herpetofauna) to Puerto Rico and what makes them rare.


The next room is much larger- Cala del Manatí/ Manatee Cove. The star attraction of Manatee Cove- which consists of a very large, mixed-species tank with a land area on top for birds and water elsewhere- is a pair of West Indian manatees! Based on the Columbus Zoo’s Manatee Coast, the Manatee Cove tank also contains green and loggerhead sea turtles, brown pelicans (in a separate netted part of the tank with land and water access) and several fish species- i.e. Southern stingray, white grunt, queen parrotfish, blue-striped grunt, yellowfin mojarra, sea bream and cocoa damselfish. The fish congregate around a section of the tank resembling a coral reef, while the rest of the tank- where the manatees spend most of their time- is more open. Also in Manatee Cove is a café- The Coquí Café- serving Puerto Rican food and a large gift shop, selling merchandise not only focused on manatees, but also on all the wildlife that call Puerto Rico home. Right after exiting Manatee Cove, you cross into the next area of ZPLC… The Land Down Under!


The Land Down Under-

You enter the third area of ZPLC- The Land Down Under- via a red-dirt road and a replica of Uluru (Ayers Rock). Long poles decorated with Aboriginal paintings tell you you’re in Australia, followed by a set of doors leading through a grassy “walkabout!” The red-dirt continues past red kangaroos, gray kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies, Parma wallabies and wallaroos. Interpretive signage located next to a KANGAROO CROSSING sign explains the differences between kangaroos and wallabies, the etymology of the word kangaroo and how wallaroo is from an Aboriginal word, not from “wallaby” and “kangaroo!” A separate fenced exhibit at the end of the “walkabout” is for a small group of emus.



Across from the set of doors leading out of the walkabout, the dirt road continues into a large building with vintage Australian signs and advertisements on the wall. This is where the bulk of the species in The Land Down Under live. The building is divided into several habitat “zones” separated by double doors, starting with The Continent Before Time!


Decorated with Aboriginal paintings depicting the “Dreamtime”- especially ancient Australian rock art- The Continent Before Time focuses on prehistoric wildlife of Australia! Interpretive signage on the walls discusses extinct marsupials (and other prehistoric wildlife of Australia) and Aboriginal depictions of wildlife from thousands of years ago! There are also models of several prehistoric Australian marsupials- i.e. Diprotodon, Palorchestes, Thylacoleo, Sthenurinae, Procoptodon and even the thylacine (“Tasmanian tiger”), which has not been confirmed extinct, but was last definitely seen in the wild in the 1930s.


The next area- The Rainforest- is a lush room with a large, roaring waterfall, tall trees and a rocky stream leading out from the waterfall. Hidden in the trees, you can peek to see Goodfellow’s tree kangaroos while rainbow lorikeets, Victoria riflebirds and wompoo fruit doves add splashes of bright color to the mostly green treetops. The next room- Crocodile Coast- is much larger, with exhibits (and interpretive signage about saltwater crocodiles and the fish and turtles also exhibited in this room) on both sides. A large glass-fronted rock cave on the right-hand side is complete with a large pool, tall waterfall and a muddy land area full of Australian signs and artifacts, making it look like a crocodile has invaded a small roadside cavern in the Northern Territory. The star of the show, however, is a large saltwater crocodile, the king of this cave! On the left side is a mixed-species pool for Fly River turtles, Australian rainbowfish, exquisite rainbowfish and eel-tailed catfish.


The next set of doors leads to Koala Kingdom- home to eucalyptus trees and perhaps their best known dwellers- koalas! A small group of koalas- complete with more signage about how they are marsupials, not bears, and need eucalyptus trees to live- calls both sides of this lush habitat- complete with drier areas on the wide ground area for two other species- Bennett’s wallabies on the right and short-beaked echidnas on the left.


From Koala Kingdom you enter a hotter, lighter, drier room- Redrock Row! Scrubby plants are alight with free-flying birds- galah, crimson rosella, Bourke’s parrot and Gouldian finch- on the left side of Redrock Row. The right side is full of interpretive signage about Australian animals adapting to drier regions as well as two large rocks- smaller replicas of Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Northern Territory, Australia. Built into these rocks are terraria for blue-tongued skinks, bearded dragons, taipans, shingle-backed skinks and frilled lizards.


The Australian scrubland theme continues into a walk-through aviary with colorful budgerigars everywhere- Budgie Crossing! A small stand in the corner of Budgie Crossing allows you to purchase seed sticks to feed the budgerigars, which will land right on you! Interpretive signage in Budgie Crossing is focused on the etymology of the name budgerigar (from an Australian Aboriginal word or phrase), budgerigars’ behavior in the wild and how the budgerigar is the only species widely known as the parakeet in American English (known as the budgie in the UK and Australia, for example).

The last area- Penguin Passage- is a large coastline exhibit with rocky areas, a flat “beach” and a large pool (with underwater viewing) for fairy penguins (little blue penguins) and Australian oystercatchers, both species found off the coast of southern Australia.

After exiting Penguin Passage, you come to a gift shop, the exit to the Land Down Under and a sign telling you that you are now Way Up North (Where the Air is Cold)- the next region of the ZPLC!

 

[TeaLovingDave]

the budgerigar is the only species widely known as the parakeet in American English

Apart from all the others, including the one native to the USA until it was extirpated

 

[Chlidonias]

Apart from all the others, including the one native to the USA until it was extirpated

In America budgies are typically just known as "parakeets" (i.e. without any qualifier as there is in, e.g., the Carolina Parakeet), which is what he would have been meaning. It originated as a shortened form of the old name Shell Parakeet.

 

[CleZooMan]

Alright, I finally got area #4 done!

As the name suggests, Way Up North (Where the Air is Cold) focuses primarily on the northern regions of North America, as you might expect, features polar bears. However, it features so much more!!! After passing a rustic wooden sign reading WELCOME TO THE NORTH, you find yourself in a coniferous forest! The first exhibit, complete with a glass window looking into its burrow, has more coniferous trees and a grassy ground with hollow logs, bushes and pine needles- an exhibit for a pair of Snowshoe Hares. Interpretive signage discusses the snowshoe hare’s adaptations for its Arctic home and how they change from brown to white in the winter months for camouflage!



The next exhibit is larger, but has more trees, rocks, logs and other climbing structures (as well as a small stream)- this time for Canada lynx, complete with more interpretive signage about their habitat and adaptations. It is clear that adaptations are an important part of the interpretive signage in this section of the ZPLC- after all, they are very important to animals being able to thrive in a climate like way up north! The stream in the lynx exhibit continues into a large swamp, where the conifer-lined path turns into a large boardwalk! The first exhibit along this swamp boardwalk- for Alaskan moose- is the largest. The boardwalk provides land and water views for the moose, as well as views into two equally swampy, but smaller exhibits- netted exhibits for whooping cranes and sandhill cranes. Interpretive signage focuses on whooping cranes’ near extinction and captive breeding programs’ success, as well as their main breeding and wintering grounds (Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada and Port Aransas, Texas, respectively).


The pine-filled path continues past two more netted aviaries- with tall coniferous trees and branches for perching- for northern goshawks and great gray owls. A large, untidy woodpile gives way to a densely forested enclosure complete with fallen logs and a rock pool for wolverines. The path winds around three sides of the wolverine exhibit, but, soon, after, the conifers give way to low, scrubby plants! We are still Way Up North (Where The Air Is Cold), but we are now in the next section- the tundra. Interpretive signage before the first exhibit- a naturalistic replica of the Arctic tundra complete with large ponds- focuses on the animals in this section and how they adapt to living even further north, in the treeless Arctic tundra.


This first exhibit is home to a mixed-species flock of geese- snow and Canada- with interpretive signage about them, as well as Ross's, greater white-fronted and cackling geese. This signage focuses on their migration and where each species breeds and winters (from across North America for Canada geese to a small part of northern Canada for the Ross’s). Walking down the flat path- complete with Inuit artifacts on each side- you can see two more exhibits. On the left is a netted exhibit for snowy owls, complete with a rock “igloo” for them to perch on and several low branches, and on the right is a smallish glass-fronted exhibit complete with rock ledges dusted with fake snow and several burrows for a colony of Arctic and Canadian lemmings. A pop-up “bubble” for kids to crawl into and see the lemmings’ habitat from below is also a feature of this habitat! Taller grass and rocks are popping up on either side of the tundra trail now, giving way to more interpretive signage about the next tundra residents we see- Arctic foxes (which also change color seasonally from white to brown and vice versa), Arctic hares and tundra stoats in rocky, air-conditioned habitats.


After the tundra stoat exhibit, the tundra path becomes more circular, going past two large, grassy paddocks for caribou (reindeer) and muskoxen. Signage focuses on these animals’ importance to the Inuit and other indigenous peoples of the Arctic (even the Sámi in Europe, even though this exhibit focuses on North America). A large igloolike structure provides superb views into a large, naturalistic tundra habitat with a flatter, grassier side and a side with more rocks and the occasional fallen trees- a habitat for a pack of Arctic wolves (the predators) in view of their prey (the caribou and muskoxen). Walking out of the wolf igloo, you hear the distant calls of birds and flowing waterfall, taking you to the last section of Way Up North (Where The Air Is Cold).


The first exhibit you get to- a large, icy exhibit for several bird species- has rocky, frosted cliffs for tufted puffins and horned puffins (which have free access to the water as well) while king eiders, long-tailed ducks and harlequin ducks split their time between the large, deep, chilly pool and a rockier beach area off to the side. Past this bird exhibit, you see a larger exhibit with a smooth, rocky beach area, more icebergs and a large pool complete with underwater viewing- interpretive signage tells you that this exhibit is home to harp seals. An important animal to the Inuit, more interpretive signage tells you about the Inuit’s traditional relationship, so to speak, with seals, how polar bears hunt harp seals and other prey and the high fat content of seal milk! The next exhibit is larger with underwater and above-the-water viewing, but is completely water. You soon see what calls this large exhibit home- beluga whales! An “ice cave” allows you to see the belugas dive deep, as well as learn more about beluga whales, their family structures, where they are found and their importance to the Inuit. The “ice cave” continues through a small passageway to another underwater viewing area, this time for walruses! There is similar signage to what is in the beluga cave, but all about walruses- their range, diet, tusks, interactions with the Inuit, etc.!

After you climb out of the “ice cave” through a set of stairs carved into it, you see a large, sunny land area- and aboveground water viewing- for the walruses, complete with an off-show “den” and a mix of rocky and grassy areas .The next exhibit- home to polar bears!- is similar, with a large land area and an even larger pool (complete with different fish species swimming in the water) but the underwater viewing is different. Instead of an ice cave, visitors climb stairs into a tunnel where they can be surrounded on all sides by swimming polar bears. The tunnel ends in The Northern Interpretive Center, a large building full of interactive displays and other information about global warming, Arctic sea ice melting and the plight of polar bears. There is also another viewing window looking into the polar bear habitat, a gift shop and an Arctic-themed indoor play area for ZPLC’s youngest visitors! The exit to The Northern Interpretive Center takes you back onto the main path. From here, you can see the distant façade of an Indian market and the start of the ZPLC’s next area- World of the Bhalu.

 

[Aardwolf]

Just a tip - for a waterfowl exhibit, I'd recommend doing a pair of white geese (Ross or snow) and a pair of black geese (Canada or cackling) - you'll probably have better luck than having two white species and two black species together. First of all, there's increased likelihood of hybridizing if you do. Most waterfowl need little incentive to hybridize, and if you have sister-species together, they're more likely to crossbreed. On the flipside, very similar species are also more likely to show aggression towards one another, while being more tolerant of different-looking species.

 

[CleZooMan]

Just a tip - for a waterfowl exhibit, I'd recommend doing a pair of white geese (Ross or snow) and a pair of black geese (Canada or cackling) - you'll probably have better luck than having two white species and two black species together. First of all, there's increased likelihood of hybridizing if you do. Most waterfowl need little incentive to hybridize, and if you have sister-species together, they're more likely to crossbreed. On the flipside, very similar species are also more likely to show aggression towards one another, while being more tolerant of different-looking species.

Hi Aardwolf,

Thank you so much! I changed this to Snow Geese and Canada Geese. I am a birder, too, and know about goose hybridization, but, for some reason, did not think of it for this exhibit. Thank you, once again, for this insight.

Best,
CleZooMan (formerly Loricua22)

 

[Aardwolf]

You're welcome. Given the option of a suitable mate, most waterfowl will typically mate true to their species, but there are always exceptions, and it becomes especially problematic when one member of a pair dies and the surviving mate decides to match up with someone else. It's a problem I've encountered in one of those old-school "let's do a pair of fifteen different duck species" waterfowl displays

 

[CleZooMan]

You're welcome. Given the option of a suitable mate, most waterfowl will typically mate true to their species, but there are always exceptions, and it becomes especially problematic when one member of a pair dies and the surviving mate decides to match up with someone else. It's a problem I've encountered in one of those old-school "let's do a pair of fifteen different duck species" waterfowl displays

Hi Aardwolf,

Thank you again Have you had a chance to read the rest of it? I have 2 more sections of the ZPLC- World of the Bhalu (India) and Wild Lorain County (local Ohio species + a children's farm area) and will upload them in the next couple days.

Cheers,
CleZooMan