Bronx Zoo - Madagascar!

@Sun Wukong:

Why? Temperature, solar access and humidity in the exhibit are all much closer to Madagascar's than the outdoor environment of New York. Now a member of PETA might argue they are "pining for the freedom of being outdoors," but I would expect you--defender of old-school Eastern European zoo husbandry--to have a slightly more rational view of things.....

@reduakari: Indeed I have, Defender of the Bronx Zoo Madagascar House: from what I have observed so far in various species (and this has been often confirmed by professional articles, colleagues and experts, such as Professor Schumacher of Utrecht University), a regular (according to weather and species, more or less long) sojourn outdoors seems to be benefical for the general health of animals (and most humans alike). This might not mean that it is impossible and incorrect to keep and breed animals successfully indoors all the time (like the majority of fish, amphibians and reptiles in many zoos and households), but outdoor husbandry certainly improves the living quality of animals. And as you mentioned "old school": even good old Carl Hagenbeck observed in his animals that outdoor husbandry could be benefical for their health, prompting him to promote 'acclimatisation'. So far, no human technology can 100% recreate outdoor conditions, and thus lacks in one form or another.
In the case of apt UV(B) light for Vitamin D3 production, heating, behavioural "enrichment" etc., keeping animals outdoors can be more economical and environmentally friendly (being more 'energy-saving').

Most transparent roofing in zoos unfortunately relies on material such as various glasses that filter quite an amount of the light spectrum of the sun light. This might be invisible for humans, but apparent and important for animals such as birds.

Of course, there are also disadvantages: you don't have a "closed system" as indoors, which can be a problem in disease control. Weather and local fauna & flora might cause additional problems and thus more restrictions and more investment in expensive technology. And with insufficient control of the passage between out-and indoor exhibit, you might have a constant loss of heating energy, which is neither economical nor energy-friendly.
Yet I think that if properly managed, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by far.

Indeed, there seems to be a grain of truth imbedded in maternal advices not to be a constant "stay-at-home"... I'd recommend outdoor husbandry, if possible, for many if not most species commonly kept in zoos.

I've seen plenty of exhibits where animals had indoor and outdoor access where the animals were clearly miserable. In this case in particular, the animals could not care less. It also would have been short of impossible for Bronx to have done that since the Lion House is a landmark (meaning they can't so much as touch the exterior of the building).

Well, and I have seen plenty of exhibits where animals had indoor and outdoor access where the animals were clearly doing fine. So what does that prove?

And about the caring aspect: so, did you ask the animals personally?

If it's not possible to have outdoor exhibit in this case, so be it; yet I still re-confirm what I wrote above.

@Sun Wukong: Have YOU asked the animals personally?

@BlackRhino: I always try to-but so far, only parrots, hill mynas and pugs seem to be willing to talk...
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-fgO3SPaoA]YouTube - Speaking Dog[/ame]
How are your pygmy hippo interviews doing?


Edit: It seems these guys had more success:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3AAdkfiamU"]YouTube - Creature Comforts[/ame]

I could ask them but I am personally hoping I wouldn't hear a response.

I--personally--just don't value indoor/outdoor areas the same way that you (and probably other) do. There are plenty of exhibits I've seen with both that have been ghastly or just eeehh and plenty that have been good. I think that if you do a good job creating an exhibit that is only indoors....it shouldn't matter to visitors or animal alike.

Yeah, I would assume that also (and especially) the zoo animals in NYC have quite a tough attitude-even though those "Madagascar" movies want to convince us that the opposite is true...

Due to aspects mentioned above, I think planning apt indoor AND outdoor enclosures for (zoo) animals should be the general way to go (also think of "ghastly" indoor night enclosures). If only indoor husbandry is possible, striving for the optimum should be the appropriate approach. Or one should reconsider keeping that particular species at all...