Zoos/aquariums exhibiting animals in non-traditional settings

Zoos/aquariums exhibiting animals in non-traditional settings
14-06-2012

This may be a thread that goes nowhere or dies quickly, but I wanted to throw the question out there to see what comes back.

As zoos and aquariums try to transform themselves into conservation organizations, it seems like one thing that some of them could do is expand their presence in their communities and exhibit animals in non-traditional settings. Two examples of this that have recently been discussed here are the presence of animal exhibits (usually aquariums) in airports, some of which are maintained by aquariums like Vancouver Aquarium and California Academy of Sciences, and the meerkat exhibit at the new children's hospital in Melbourne.

Does anybody know of other examples of zoos/aquariums exhibiting animals in non-traditional settings? Is there any potential future development on this front? Given the economic problems that most zoos and aquarius are having probably they need to focus on sustaining and improving their own facilities.

Animal exhibits in airports

Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital welcomes meerkats!!!

14-06-2012

The Bern Bear Park in Switzerland
BärenPark Bern

16-06-2012

San Francisco Zoo manages the American Bison at Golden Gate Park.

18-06-2012

The classic example is animal displays at Las Vegas casinos. But overall I do not feel off-site displays are an idea that will go very far (too difficult to maintain) nor do I feel they have much merit. People may look at the animals out of curiosity but I do not think they will really be in a mindset to learn. Plus, in most instances, the gawking an unruly public would probably cause too much stress on the animals. Airports may be an exception, where people exhibit subdued behavior because they are generally comprised of business people and well to do families and also because people do not want to draw attention due to the extra security.

18-06-2012

In the UK, the National Marine Aquarium (in Plymouth) supplies and maintains Europe's largest private aquarium - a massive tank in the foyer of London's Heron Tower, which is one of the UK's tallest buildings.
Although members of the public aren't allowed into the foyer, you can get reasonable (but distant) views from the bar - which is open to the public.

Heron Tower Aquarium now fully stocked

18-06-2012

I am guessing that you had a drink or three at the bar recently? And I thought uni students were poor! Maybe it was just me that was poor.

18-06-2012

Haha; a few months ago I decided to walk past the building and see what was in the tank. Unfortunately I didn't have time to stop for a drink. I now tutor, so I'm not as poor as I used to be, but I think I'd still struggle to pay for a few rounds there.

18-06-2012

They paid me ten quid an hour to tutor undergrads. What are they paying now?

19-06-2012

I only tutor for pre-university exams (A-level and below) and my rates vary quite a bit.

Sorry everyone for going so far off-topic.

19-06-2012

I doubt they mind. At least the thread is kept alive.

PS* It was more lucrative to tutor A-level kids one-on-one than a group of 30 undergrads. I think the rate was about 30 pounds an hour 10 years ago. I am pretty sure that you can afford a round of drinks at the swanky bar.