FLY RIVER TURTLE HABITAT

a species of water monitor would be an interesting in the mix.

That is one of the ugliest zoo trees I have ever seen

I believe its supposed to be a strangler fig. Its a bit white for a strangler fig.

I don't doubt it... but the artist never saw a strangler fig or even a decent photo of one!

Agreed, but I believe you share some culpability for another serious contender for the title, the massive "strangler fig" in Dallas's Giants of the Savanna (guilt by association)

(The system wouldn't let me post just one)

I'm not going to defend a tree that you think is botched, but here is a reference photo of a real strangler fig that doesn't look all that different from the exhibit tree to me: File:Ficus watkinsiana on Syzygium hemilampra-Iluka.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you don't mind teaching a little zoo design 101, where do you think that the exhibit tree fails? The coloration seems off and maybe the strangler fig is more clunky than the real thing and that spoils the illusion?

I like how the exhibits in LAIR are "flexible" enough to rotate species in and out with a few minor changes. I am still pulling for varanus mertensi, to be added to this exhibit.

Short answer: to my eye this tree and your photo are as alike as an okapi and a bad carousel horse
Of course color
Also texture
Also the non-organic "growth pattern"

Beats fake metal "saucer" towers that seem to be showing up in elephant exhibits recently. And in person, a very nice looking exhibit overall.