'Mixed feelings' is a frequent phrase when talking about this exhibit.
This is a nice exhibit, with carefully done theming. However, the area previously contained black rhinos, pygmy hippos, shoebills and unique bird-rhino mix, so it is like two levels down. Educational topic seems rather stretched. Australasian dangerous exotic species are benign natives used to draw interest in nature in Europe (rabbits, mallards, mute swans) or even somewhat in need of protection (chamois).
I found myself thinking how this area can be further improved without putting big costs on only just finished exhibit. Maybe I am old-fashioned, but I believe people visit the zoo and are interested in conservation projects primarily because of live animals, not theming or education displays. Lorikeet aviary could hold some additional bird species, e.g. crested pigeons, blue-eared honeyeaters to talk about European zoo staples. It might be even already planned by the zoo, once the first group of animals settles? Echidnas could live as a ground-cohabitants with koalas, lorikeets, kookaburras or even in the walkthrough savanna. They sometimes can be seen in city parks in Australia. One can easily, as Anton already suggested, add free-flying birds to the main building. Covering the perentie exhibit with a bird mesh should cost no money at all. Also, there could be more imaginative kangaroo species instead of/together with Tasmanian red-necked wallabies. Yellow-footed rock wallabies thrive in a very similar exhibit in Berlin Tierpark. And their danger from introduced foxes makes an interesting conservation topic. Swamp wallabies are at home in Australian dry areas (not just in swamps), were long time kept in Zurich and live in areas with snowfall in the wild. Or the zoo might even import a completely new kangaroo species to Europe? But that may be too much to ask.
I found myself thinking how this area can be further improved without putting big costs on only just finished exhibit. Maybe I am old-fashioned, but I believe people visit the zoo and are interested in conservation projects primarily because of live animals, not theming or education displays. Lorikeet aviary could hold some additional bird species, e.g. crested pigeons, blue-eared honeyeaters to talk about European zoo staples. It might be even already planned by the zoo, once the first group of animals settles? Echidnas could live as a ground-cohabitants with koalas, lorikeets, kookaburras or even in the walkthrough savanna. They sometimes can be seen in city parks in Australia. One can easily, as Anton already suggested, add free-flying birds to the main building. Covering the perentie exhibit with a bird mesh should cost no money at all. Also, there could be more imaginative kangaroo species instead of/together with Tasmanian red-necked wallabies. Yellow-footed rock wallabies thrive in a very similar exhibit in Berlin Tierpark. And their danger from introduced foxes makes an interesting conservation topic. Swamp wallabies are at home in Australian dry areas (not just in swamps), were long time kept in Zurich and live in areas with snowfall in the wild. Or the zoo might even import a completely new kangaroo species to Europe? But that may be too much to ask.
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