Next big exhibit at Louisville Zoo... » Louisville Zoo

12-01-2008

The report I posted seemed to suggest the animals were more active and healthy due to their rotation...

There are other factors to which the question can be asked, "Why not..?", e.g. adding substrate after defication periodically, animals apparently love having proper leaf litter in their enclosure...

24-01-2008

I'm not so sure about these exhibits (this or the one at Louisville zoo). Watching the animals, they behave no differently than those in non-rotated exhibits. And the result of the rotation is a "cage" barren of plants...what the anoa don't destroy the gibbons do, etc. The concept is terrific, but I wonder if it has been worked out successfully anywhere?

The Bronx Zoo started placing predator and prey side by side in the 1940s at the African savanna area. The nyala don't seem much motivated by the lions, and the lions only occasionally watch the nyala. In JungleWorld, the leopard and the langurs have no interest in each other.

Still, mongoose in a tube sounds like fun

24-01-2008

Keep in mind that the research paper was presented by Jon Coe and (almost)all the exhibits discussed were designed by him and his associates.

24-01-2008

@Zooplantman: good point about the Jon Coe designing team. However, surely captive animals having 2, 3 or 4 different exhibits to spend time in over decades has to be much more beneficial for them than remaining in the one enclosure for the rest of their lives? The two Sumatran tigers at Point Defiance Zoo have 3 exhibits that they rotate through, sometimes all in a single day. They scent mark each time they encounter a new enclosure, and can obviously smell the anoa, malayan tapir or siamang gibbons that had previously been inside a particular exhibit. It seems to me, and the research group that presented the paper, that this method of showcasing animals creates a more stimulating environment than the majority of zoo enclosures. As an added benefit zoo visitors never can be guaranteed what species out of 5 will be in a specific enclosure, and so there is a palpable sense of excitement when approaching the next exhibit within the zoo.

24-01-2008

Hi snowleapoard,

I quite agree. I think it can be done well, I just don't think we've got it yet.
From my experience, I'll bet that to do it properly ended up costing more money, space and keeper time than the zoos have been willing to invest. It's quite possible that the oroginal plans were brilliant but not in the end adopted. So instead the animals are run through several enclosures, quietly trashing them.

25-01-2008

One of the characteristics that I don't like about rotational exhibits with multiple species is that they increase the difficulty of tailoring an exhibit to every individual species needs. An enclosure with climbing structures that are good for brachiation, tiger pinatas or manipulable rope animals, larger branches for tiger lounging, scratching posts, food dispensors in the branches and at ground level dispensing different types of food, mud wallows, swimming pools, digging areas, etc. would balloon construction costs. The animals would also be unable to utilize every part of their exhibit.

Ensuring that interpretation and educational displays about each animal meet or exceed high standards and are available in each individual enclosure without making the visitor feel overwhelmed would also be difficult.

What control do the animals have in these exhibits? What if an animal would prefer to be in the enclosure that maximizes its exposure to morning sunlight or protects it the most from the hot summer sunlight?

29-02-2008

Awe, but the beauty of rotation exhibits not only relieve pressure and trauma inflicted on the exhibits itself but provides stimulation to all the species involved. Popular beliefs holds that all enrichment should be positive. Enrichment is to illicit a response from an animal that is not part of an animal's routine, positive or negative. Even no response from an animal can still be considered an enrichment, only because the animal has been exposed to it. Of course its not a good idea to provide negative/or nonresponsive enrichment all the time. Its important to keep it random.

With rotation exhibits, an animal doesnt need to utilize every aspect of the exhibit. But its important that every aspect of the exhibit can be utilized by at least one of the species. From a keeper's standpoint, trust me its more important to keep an animal emotionally healthly - an animal's health is the last thing that should be skimmed from a budget. Zoos are doing so much wrong by making things so complex. Keeping it simple will keep costs down.

Rotation exhibits also add the feel of actually looking for an animal, just like you would in the wild. Rather than look at the map to know the animal will be there when you get there. Its just an additional aspect to immerson exhibits that need to be more than just plants between exhibits if you are to replicate the wild for the visitor.

29-02-2008

@okapikpr: you summed up many of my earlier observations on this thread. The benefits for both the animals and the zoo patrons far outweigh any slight side effects. I only wish more zoos would begin to design rotational exhibits. The Denver Zoo's Asian Tropics (2009) will rotate malayan tapirs, asian elephants and indian rhinos.

04-04-2008

Louisville Zoo will not receive a $6 million allocation from the state of Kentucky. This will result in a later (2011) opening or an opening in phases.

Louisville would be better off opening the exhibit in phases. This would allow extra time for fundraising and provide a better oppurtunity of return visits from guests - building attendance for a period of years due to frequent new exhibit openings.

04-04-2008

It might prove difficult to phase it.
They can delay the otters and the aviary, but that won't save alot of money.
If they build the rest but delay the Polar bears, they have little to show for their efforts (new exhibits are at least in part about marketing) and it will be that much harder and more expensive to build the bear exhibit with the others in place

15-11-2008

News on the fundraising campaign...

Happy News - Louisville Zoo Gains Capital Campaign Momentum

15-11-2008

Wow - I have to say this exhibit looks extremely ambitious and I hope it all works out! It definitely blows Columbus out of the water. It's so interesting how Brookfield, Columbus, and Louisville are building polar bear habitats at the same time - even though it's obviously due to raising awareness for global warming.

15-11-2008

Actually, this trend appears to be for all bears and has been growing steadily over the last 10 years. In that time, construction for new and renovated great ape and big cats exhibits have decreased as those for pachyderms and bears has increased.

23-04-2009

A recent article about the zoo's 40th birthday mentions some of its future plans in the next decade:

Louisville Zoo celebrates 40 years, and everyone is invited | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal