Charlotte Zoo Since there have been some rumors about a zoo going into Charlotte, NC, I have decided to create one for that area. Every effort has been made to include species which are included in AZA Taxon Advisory Groups or could reasonably be obtained for a zoo due to being common in zoos or in the pet trade. Remember that this is a fantasy zoo but feel free to add suggestions. NORTH CAROLINA WILDS This exhibit is built into the main entrance to the zoo. After the visitor pays their fee, they walk along a path in a garden displaying native plants. As they make their way to the main North Carolina Wilds building, they take time to look for native butterfly species attracted to the flowers. If they are lucky they may spot a hummingbird flitting about one of the flowers or one of the many hummingbird feeders. Along with the hummingbird feeders are other bird feeders designed to attract native birds. Squirrel feeders are also present. Interpretive signs identify bird and butterfly species the visitor may spot. As the visitor enters the building, a lush paddock with shade trees is home to a small herd of white-tailed deer. These deer have been orphaned and are not able to be released into the wild. They and many of the animals here are orphaned, injured, or nuisance animals here by permission from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Interpetive signs describe the role of the white-tailed deer in North Carolina as well as the problem with overpopulation. The visitor then enters the North Carolina Wilds exhibit building. Looking out of a big picture window, the visitor might see more native birds and squirrels as there are feeders and birdhouses places here. The visitor also sees the inside of a beehive and ant colony. A planter in the center of the room contains the unique Venus Flytrap, a curiosity to many of the visitors. Leading down a short corridor is an area that gradually darkens. This is the North Carolina at Night exhibit, which includes night sounds such as frogs, crickets, and owls to create an ambience. One the left hand side of the exhibit is a large pond containing a beaver family. Signs describe the benefit and harm these animals can cause for people. Sharing the beaver pond is a small group of swamp and marsh rabbits that have been orphaned. Guests enjoy watching these animals swim, as most are likely unaware of their swimming abilities. Next to the beaver pond in two habitats that seem contiguous with it, are separate ponds for bullfrogs and American toads. As the visitor loops around this pond, they notice three glassed in enclosures. One resembles a swamp, one resembles a forest, and the third resembles a farm on the edge of town. These three exhibits house striped skunks, raccoons, and Virginia opossums. They are rotated into different exhibits at different times for enrichment. The raccoons and skunks are confiscated pets there with permission from the North Carolina Fish and Wildlife and their stories are explained. The next section of this corridor contains terrariums for other frog, toad and salamander species. The last section of North Carolina at Night is a series of netted enclosure filled with branches. This houses great horned, barn, screech, and barred owls. These owls have all been injured and are non-releasable. Throughout the day a zoo employee has demonstrations in a separate seating area describing how owls live in the wild. As the visitor leaves the owl area, it becomes lighter and they are then walking down a corridor containing various turtle, lizard and snake species including box turtles, copperheads, water moccasins, eastern diamondbacks, timber rattlesnakes, and coral snakes. This next section is an immersive exhibit built in the same manner as the popular tunnels in aquariums. The first tunnel contains turtle species such as painted turtles, map turtles, and other aquatic species along with species of fish such as bass. The second tunnel contains larger, predatory species of turtle such as softshells, snapping turtles, and alligator snapping turtles. Throughout the exhibit are interpretive signs describing the importance of swamps and wetlands. The final tunnel is huge and contains American alligators. In this and all of the tunnels visitors can sit and watch the animals swim near them. The visitor walks a short flight of stairs (or takes an elevator) and is then able to see the alligators from above (on warm days). After leaving the building, the visitor then enters the section called Predators of North Carolina. On the right hand side are two glassed in enclosures resembling riverbanks. In one is a mink and in the other a family of river otters. Each of these has underwater viewing as well as above ground viewing. After viewing the antics of these two animals, the visitor then encounters a series of large, netted enclosures. Two are built to resemble forests and two resemble swamps. This is an exhibit where red wolves, black bears, mountain lions, and bobcats are rotated. The bears and bobcats are orphaned wildlife, whereas the red wolves are part of the Species Survival Plan and the mountain lions are stand ins for the Florida panthers that used to inhabit the area. The visitor then follows the path to the next section of the zoo. LATIN AMERICA PATH South of the Border The Latin America Path section of the zoo exhibits animals found from Mexico through Tierra del Fuego. The first section is called South of the Border. This is dedicated to wildlife of Mexico. The first exhibit resembles a large desert landscape. The first enclosure contains a herd of peninsular pronghorns. Although appearing to be in the same enclosure, a large rocky structure sits in the middle and seperates the pronghorn from a herd of desert bighorn sheep. The sheep exhibit overlooks a smaller paddock containing a herd of collared peccaries. As mentioned before, this exhibit appears for be contiguous. The next section of South of the Border contains an area resembling open woodland, plains, and forest. This is a rotation exhibit containing Mexican wolves, coyotes, and grizzly bears. Interprative signs highlight the near extinction of the Mexican wolf and the extinction of the Mexican grizzly. The visitor then enters a building resembling a Mayan pyramid. The first section of this building contains a simulated desert and mountainous forest. This is a free-flight aviary housing red crowned parrots, thick billed parrots, white-winged doves, and band-tailed pigeons that can approach the visitor. In areas separated from the visitor are enclosures for desert tortoise, Gambel’s quail, scaled quail, and roadrunners. Terrariums on the wall contain Gila monsters, Mexican beaded lizards, Mexican Lance-Headed Rattlesnakes, eastern massauga rattlesnakes, and Mexican red-kneed tarantulas. Leading down a corridor from the desert area are a series of aquariums containing platies, mollies, Mexican tetras, Mexican blind cave fish, Mexican and Coahuilan box turtles, and axolotls. The visitor then enters a tropical exhibit. This is an aviary similar to the first one. In one area separate from the aviary in a netted enclosure with access to the outside is a noisy flock of scarlet macaws. This aviary has another separated, netted exhibit with keel-billed toucans. Roaming along the walkway are oscillated turkeys, horned guan, and roseate spoonbill. On the left hand side of the aviary is a netted exhibit containing numerous climbing structures, foliage, and ropes. This houses the critically endangered Mexican spider monkey. The Charlotte Zoo has had great success breeding this endangered primate. The spider monkeys have access to the outside and the visitor sees that the monkeys have a great deal of climbing opportunities. A rope leading from the building allows the monkeys to traverse over a pond onto an island with foliage. From there, the monkeys can traverse over the visitors’ heads to another natural-looking jungle exhibit surrounded by water. The ropes are taken down on rainy, windy or cold days. On those days the monkeys stay in their main, spacious indoor exhibit. Land Between the Continents After leaving the South of the Border exhibit, the visitor then finds themselves in a jungle exhibit featuring wildlife of Central America. The first exhibit contains a troop of white-faced Capuchin monkeys. These have a similar habitat to the Mexican spider monkeys seen previously. There is an island exhibit at the beginning of the path. This one also has a rope spanning into the next exhibit which contains Central American tapir. The Capuchin monkeys have access to the tapir exhibit and the rope from there spans into the exhibit’s main building where the monkeys are housed indoors in cold, rainy, or windy weather. On the right hand side as the visitor enters the exhibit building is a netted enclosure housing ocelots. The ocelots have access to an indoor glassed exhibit complete with foliage. Different ocelots are rotated into the exhibit at various times of the day. Next to this exhibit is a glassed in area containing white-nosed coati. On the left hand side of this exhibit is a planted area where the Capuchins enter. The visitor then goes into a separate, open room. In this tropical area, green iguanas, basilisk lizards, Hoffman’s Two-Toed sloths, and blue-crowned motmots. In a separate, netted enclosure chestnut-mandibled toucans are present. After exiting the tropical exhibit, the visitor finds a row of terrariums containing, boa constrictors, eyelash vipers, Panamanian golden frogs, and golden harlequin frogs. Also along this wall are graphics explaining the benefits and risks of ecotourism and threats the wildlife face such as loss of habitat and the pet trade. As the visitor exits the building, they see a planted area for Central American spider monkeys. These monkeys have access to the outdoor area. Their outdoor moated enclosure has a rope connecting to another moated enclosure across the path the visitors walk on. The visitors can watch the monkeys cross over their heads. This concludes Land Between the Continents. Orinoco Basin The Orinoco Basin exhibit contains animals that are found in that area of South America. As the visitor enters this exhibit, they find an exhibit for the critically endangered brown spider monkey. This exhibit has two moated enclosures with a rope going over the visitors’ heads. These monkeys have indoor access. The Charlotte Zoo has had success breeding this species just like it has with the Mexican spider monkey. After viewing the antics of the brown spider monkey, the visitor enters the Orinoco Basin building. Along with the monkeys’ indoor enclosure, the entryway contains a large aquarium with the lesser-known altum angelfish. The visitor then enters a split level exhibit. In the lower level is a massive viewing window provided a glimpse into the breeding colony of Orinoco crocodiles. The upper level is a bridge allowing the visitors an above water view of the animals. This is another breeding success story of the Charlotte Zoo. The visitor enters a second room that contains an aviary resembling a tropical wetland. This exhibit houses Orinoco geese, helmeted currasows, and blue-billed currasows which can all approach the visitor. As the visitor leaves the Orinoco Basin exhibit, they pass by a second netted aviary containing green aracari. Like the Land Between the Continents exhibit, there are graphics explaining threats to this area. These birds have access to the outside of the exhibit and their enclosure is adjacent to a spacious outdoor enclosure for red brocket deer. This concludes the Orinoco Basin exhibit. Brazilian Journey After leaving the Orinoco Basin, the visitor reaches the most extensive exhibit along the Latin America Path. This exhibit displays animals in Brazil native to the Amazon Basin and the Pantanal. The entry to Brazilian Journey contains numerous interpretive signs and other graphics discussing the biodiversity of Brazil and the problems the wildlife of Brazil faces. This building contains aquariums containing freshwater fish of the Amazon. In various aquariums in the hallway the visitor sees South American cichlids, discus fish, various tetras. Angelfish, and corydoras catfish. The visitor continues down this corridor until they reach a section with an immersive tunnel exhibit. In this tunnel exhibit is a huge school of red-bellied piranhas surrounding the visitor. In the next tunnel the visitor is surrounded by large freshwater fish such as electric eels, arrowanas, and pacus. The last tunnel features arapaimas. At this point the visitor goes up a short flight of stairs and enters the Amazon Basin rainforest aviary. On the left hand side is a large netted enclosure for a flock of blue and gold and green-winged macaws. In this planted area, there is a curious feature. A simulated clay riverbank contains hiding spaces for food. The parrots congregate on the clay bank when they are fed. These parrots are able to fly. No parrots on a stick here! The arapaimas are also visible in this exhibit. In the space where the visitors walk, hawk headed parrots, golden conures, and yellow-headed Amazon parrots fly freely. On the right hand side of this exhibit is a separate enclosure containing Brazilian agoutis and common squirrel monkeys. The squirrel monkeys have a rope going through a small opening in the ceiling that leads them into another enclosure in a separate room. On the left hand side of the monkey exhibit is a simulated riverbank that is home to giant otters. The visitor then exits the building for another complex of monkey exhibits. These monkeys have indoor and outdoor access to well-planted exhibits. The monkeys in this area include golden lion tamerins, Geoffrey’s marmoset, white-faced saki, and pied tamarin. These monkeys are rotated between habitats. The visitor then finds a complex dedicated to predators of Brazil. Three spacious enclosures for bush dog, maned wolf, and jaguar detail the importance of predators in this ecosystem. The predators rotate between the exhibits. This predator complex also contains a large aviary with harpy eagles and king vultures. These birds may be out of the exhibit if a keeper is demonstrating their flying ability. The last section of Brazilian Journey is walk through aviary with capybara (not able to approach the visitor), crested screamers, sunbitterns, burrowing owls, and red-legged seriema. As the visitor leaves the walk-through aviary they are immersed in either side by netted enclosures with hyacinth macaws and toco toucans. The last exhibit in this area is a planted exhibit for southern tamandua with simulated termite mounds. Gran Chaco The second to the last exhibit showcases the more arid region of the Gran Chaco. This area contains a large, open enclosure for giant anteater (with simulated termite mounds), Chacoan peccary, and greater rhea. A netted aviary is adjacent to this open exhibit and contains red-fronted and blue-throated macaws. These birds have access to a building which is the next stop for the visitor. The building also has a planted enclosure separated from the visitor by water. This exhibit contains black howler monkeys that have access to the outside and the monkeys can be seen from the area across from the previously described outdoor exhibits. This indoor exhibit has a separate area with a darkened room. This is to highlight the diversity of armadillos in the Gran Chaco. The armadillos included in this exhibit are nine-banded, screaming hairy armadillos, and southern three banded armadillos. These armadillos are in individual enclosures behind glass. Andean Foothills This is the last exhibit on the Latin America Path. I am taking a few liberties with this one as these animals are from Patagonia as well as native to the higher range of the Andes. The visitor enters a building that illustrates the difficulty of life in the Andes as well as information on the Inca culture and modern cultures. This area also contains a small petting zoo for children featuring guinea pigs, with information on their role in South America. The visitor then may enter a dark exhibit with a petting zoo containing chinchillas. This is optional and those not wishing to enter this area instead go straight into an aviary containing Andean cock-of-the-rock, a unique bird not exhibited in many zoos. The visitor leaves this area and sees a massive netted enclosure. This contains Andean condor. These birds may be out of the exhibit if a keeper is demonstrating their flying ability. Leading down the path the visitor encounters a rocky, spacious enclosure for guanaco. These animals have multiple climbing structures and are kept cool with shade as well as cleverly hidden misting fans. Descending stairs (or an elevator) the visitor sees an exhibit containing many trees and pools. This one contains spectacled bears. The exhibit next to this one, which appears attached to the bears’ exhibit due to cleverly designed moats, is a paddock for the world’s smallest deer, the Chilean pudu. The visitor is now on an area resembling Patagonia. The first section in this is a walk-through exhibit with Patagonian mara. The animals can be approached but not touched. The last section of this zoo is a netted aviary containing Chilean flamingo, Coscoroba swan, black-necked swan, Patagonian conure, austral conure, and a rocky area with Inca tern and Magellenic penguin. This concludes the Latin America Path. In all of these Latin America exhibits the visitor finds graphics detailing the threat of loss of habitat and especially the pet trade. Some photos are a bit graphic in order to get the point across. Part two will hopefully be posted in the next few days. It's the Africa section.
Wow this is fantastic! I love the exhibits you have detailed so far and what i find most impressive is how you paint a picture of the information/experience we will be getting as guests. I would love to see a species list (just a little easier to keep track of the animals you have). This is a huge zoo! I guess it is fitting as Charlotte is a big city and fast growing region as well. I would love to see an exhibition on the Carolina Parakeet in your North Carolina Wilds building!!! Talking about the plight of an extinct bird right in our own backyard is powerful! Part II!!!!!!
Maybe when I finish I'll make a final species list. I have a different plan for the Carolina parakeet, but I like how you think.
Good job! I love the thought put into this one. One of the rarer recent Fantasy Zoo exhibits where I actually feel like I know what the exhibits would look like
I may put this (and the other) on the Design a Zoo thread as there doesn't seem to be as much feedback on the thread I created without considering the thread already designed. Anyway, here is part two of the Charlotte Zoo. While this zoo does contain a large number of species, I have designed to be more immersive in order to maximize space and am not imagining something the size of the North Carolina Zoo. Enjoy and keep the feedback coming! AFRICA PATH Atlas Mountains Trek Shortly after leaving the Latin America Path, the visitor then comes to the second themed area of the zoo, the Africa Path. The beginning of this area is the area named Atlas Mountains Trek. This area exhibits animals not often thought of as African animals. The visitor sees a series of well-planted enclosures containing ravens, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and red foxes. The visitor learns through the signs that these animals have a very wide distribution around the world, and this includes North Africa. After walking along the row of enclosures of seemingly non-African species, the visitor sees a large forested enclosure. This one contains a Barbary stag with a harem of cows. The visitor learns that these are the only deer found in Africa, although their native status has been disputed. The last enclosure in the Atlas Mountains Trek exhibit is a herd of Cuvier’s gazelle, an antelope species that looks more “African” to the average zoogoer. Sahara Expedition The Atlas Mountain Trek leads directly into the next exhibit containing animals native to the harsh environment of the Sahara. This exhibit is immersive. On the left hand side, the visitor sees a herd of addax in a simulated desert environment. On the right hand side is a herd of Addra gazelles in a similar desert environment. Above the visitor is a rock bridge. If the visitor is patient, they might see Barbary sheep cross over their heads as they go between their habitats. The Barbary sheep habitat separates addax from scimitar oryx and Addra gazelle from slender-horned gazelle. The visitor enters a corridor with Egyptian hieroglyphics that feature animals currently living in the Sahara as well as extinct animals. The visitor is surprised to learn that hippos once lived in the Nile. The corridor then opens into a reptile exhibit. There is a slightly elevated path for the visitor and the building is filled with sand. Sulcata tortoises freely roam through this area. Rocks are present along the path and the visitor sees that these rocks contain terrariums with Egyptian uromastyx, Mali uromastyx, Niger uromastyx, and Egyptian tortoises, which the zoo has had good luck breeding. At the end of this exhibit is a bank of terrariums containing snakes native to the region; asp, red spitting cobra, and Egyptian cobra. In this section of the zoo visitors can also opt to get on the chair lifts that will take them around these exhibits. Horn of Africa In keeping with the desert theme of Africa, the next section contains wildlife native to the Horn of Africa. This exhibit begins with a rocky arch. The visitor notices that the arch has netting around it. The arch is actually a walkway for the zoo’s cheetahs. The first exhibit is a spacious cheetah enclosure that spans on the visitors’ walkway. The cheetahs have ample space on either side of the path and the visitor may also spot them in the yard on their left containing reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, and Speke’s gazelle. The cheetahs have an elevated area above their prey and so are able to see into this exhibit. As this exhibit is designed to be immersive, the right hand side contains two separate enclosures for Grevy’s zebra and the critically endangered African ass. These two equines are separated by two rocky habitats (with natural substrate) for Hamadryas baboons. The baboon troops rotate on different habitats. Graphics throughout the exhibit describe the many tribes living in this part of Africa and also highlight the political instability of the region and its effects on the animal populations. African Tropics The visitor finds an area with dense foliage in contrast to the desert theme of the previous exhibits. This area is the African Tropics and features animals from a wide range of places in equatorial Africa. The first exhibit in African Tropics is a spacious enclosure for red river hog. Adjacent to this exhibit is a paddock for pygmy hippo. The species appear to share an enclosure but are separated via a system of moats. The hippo exhibit is adjacent to a large paddock containing okapi, black duiker, yellow-backed duiker, and eastern bongo. All of these exhibits are surrounded by lush, simulated jungle. The hoofstock enclosure is separated by a waterway from one of the three lowland gorilla enclosures. The antelope can swim over to the gorillas but should the gorillas become aggressive, they are able to swim away. The visitor enters a building resembling a hut a researcher might use. In this building the visitor can see another troop of gorillas behind glass. The same troop of gorillas is not in the indoor exhibit at all times as the troops rotate into different enclosures. Graphics throughout the building describe threats gorillas face in the wild. Some pictures may be a bit graphic. This building also houses chimpanzees and bonobos, which are rotated like the gorillas. The outdoor chimp enclosure is on the opposite side of the gorillas, however, for the safety of hoofstock, none are near the chimps. As the visitor leaves this great ape building, they see another troop of gorillas and chimps on either side of the path. The last exhibit in the African Tropics exhibit is dedicated to monkeys. The monkeys here are rotated into four different exhibits. They have indoor and outdoor access and are behind glass inside. The monkeys displayed here are mandrills, Wolf’s guenon, mantled guereza, and DeBrazza’s monkey. The rest of this exhibit is an aviary. The aviary contains African gray parrots, Congo peafowl, bearded barbet, blue-bellied roller, and great blue turaco. In the center of this aviary is a high-walled glass enclosure for slender-snouted crocodile. A split level area enables the visitor to see the crocodile underwater. Expedition Serengeti! Expedition Serengeti! is an immersive exhibit dedicated to the Serengeti, as its name implies. A massive simulated kopje begins with a hall displaying graphics of the Maasai and other tribes from the area. The hallway then leads into a reptile exhibit displaying terrariums with leopard tortoise, hingeback tortoise, black mamba, giant spitting cobra, African rock python, black necked spitting cobra, and a huge tank full of African cichlids. The exit to this building contains images of problems wildlife in Africa face, such as elephant poaching and rhino poaching. The first exhibit the visitor encounters in this immersive exhibit is dedicated to predators of the Serengeti. Lions and hyenas surround the visitors. On one side of the visitors is a male lion with a harem. His pride is close to a bachelor pride of males. The prides rotate between the two spacious exhibits with kopjes that allow them to take in the sites and scents of their surroundings. On the other side are two packs of spotted hyenas that are in a similar setup as the lions. The habitats for the lions and hyenas have a seamless transition, thanks to moats and rockwork into huge paddocks. The lions on the left hand side overlook a simulated savanna paddock with Maasai giraffes, ostriches, blue wildebeest, eland, and Thompson’s gazelles. The hyenas’ overlooks a paddock that is the largest African elephant enclosure in the country. A herd of cow elephants roams a wide area that extends into the next themed exhibit. The last exhibit in the Expedition Serengeti! complex contains a herd of plains zebras. A flock of vulturine guinea fowls roams throughout the Expedition Serengeti! exhibit. Okavango Delta The transition between the Expedition Serengeti! and Okavango Delta is marked by two aviaries. The first one, the visitors are allowed to enter, contains bald ibises, sacred ibises, African pygmy geese, Egyptian geese, white-breasted cormorants and hamerkops. The next aviary that is not able to be entered contains lesser flamingos, pink-backed pelicans, saddle-billed storks, and gray crowned cranes. A kiosk explains the importance of the Okavango Delta to wildlife as well as its seasonal nature. Next to the aviary are two paddocks for warthogs and black rhinos. These animals are separated by moats. Extending from the rhinos and warthogs is a paddock containing red lechwe, impala, greater kudu, and common waterbuck. At the end of this enclosure are three paddocks with African hunting dogs. These dogs are rotated between exhibits. The cow elephant exhibit extends half the length of this one across the path. In the front of the cow elephant exhibit is a paddock containing Cape buffalo that seem to share the enclosure with the elephants. A separate exhibit houses a bachelor herd of bull elephants across from the cows. The elephant herds are separated by a herd of hippos with underwater viewing. All of this has the appearance of one continuous exhibit. South Africa! This is the last section of the Africa Path. The transition into this exhibit is a bridge spanning the bull elephants’ enclosure. This leads the visitors to a kiosk describing the wildlife of South Africa and its challenges. The visitor notices a rocky outcrop. A colony of meerkats lives in this outcrop and peer down at the curious visitors who then enter the outcrop and can see more meerkats through the many windows. After leaving this meerkat exhibit, the visitor sees a simulated desert landscape resembling the Kalahari. This contains gemsbok, springbok, and steenbok. The path then begins to resemble a more wooded savanna and contains another paddock with bontebok and white rhino. A rocky outcrop attached to this exhibit contains klipspringers. These animals have a bridge allowing them to cross above the visitors into an exhibit on the other side of the path. The last exhibit in South Africa! has a colony of black-footed penguin, with above and underwater viewing. A flock of helmeted guineafowl roams throughout this exhibit.
^^ I love it! Can we build it now please?? I particularly love the Atlas, Sahara and Horn of Africa portions and the gazelle collection. Also the uromastyx are fantastic! Please can we move the Eland to South Africa! and add Mountain Zebra and Vaal Rhebok? Haha I shouldn't be making requests. Really love your explanations it's fantastic!
Those could be interesting changes. I tried to keep my zoo as realistic as possible and used the AZA TAGs as a guide for which species to keep as well as including other species that seem common in zoos that are not mentioned on the TAGs. That was why I didn't put white-tailed gnus in the South Africa section. I debated on mountain zebras, however it seems that only the Hartman's mountain zebra is in captivity and not the Cape mountain zebra. I liked the idea of rheboks but did not see them on the AZAs site. Are chacma baboons from South Africa? I've never heard of those.
As a former part-time resident of South Africa, I can tell you that Hartman's Zebra although native to Namibia, are widespread as introduced animals in South Africa to fill niche and I feel like would be accurate to be on display in a South Africa exhibit. But I have a special attachment to Equids so I think I am just hoping haha!! Chacma Baboons are also known as Cape Baboons, they are the pesky ones that break into peoples houses in Cape Town. They would be perfect to put adjacent to African penguins as they are even known to be threatening to the penguin colonies as they steal eggs. Would be interesting to teach people of this!
I could consider the mountain zebras. I'm not sure how much I want to put introduced species in, although Hartman mountain zebras and Cape mountain zebras are technically the same species. I'm with you and I also like equids. Are cape baboons in captivity? I know this is the fantasy zoo forum but I think an interesting aspect of this is to put a realistic zoo in a city rumored to get one.
Chacmas are very common. They are throughout sanctuaries and rescue centers in South Africa, although I don't know about their active status here in the states.
I did a little research and chacmas are not kept in the USA from what I've found. Too bad as that exhibit you mentioned would be a neat one. I will work on the Asia section next and hopefully get that one posted before too long.
This is the third and final section of the Charlotte Zoo. Enjoy! ASIA PATH Cradle of Civilization The visitor’s time at the zoo is nearly at its end. The Asia Path is up next and the first exhibit is called Cradle of Civilization. This features animals from the Middle East. The first exhibit is Cradle of Civilization. There is an aviary featuring birds of the Mesopotamian Marshes. This area is likely unfamiliar to many people so plenty of graphics explain the ecology as well as their draining. The exhibit contains birds that are resident breeders as well as birds that are winter residents. This exhibit contains mute swans, marbled teals, red-breasted geese, greater flamingos, Dalmatian pelicans, and European white storks. After leaving the aviary, the visitor approaches a paddock with two large rocky outcrops and a simulated desert environment. This enclosure contains Arabian oryx, Persian onager, Nubian ibex, and mouflon. The last exhibit adjacent to the hoofstock is a cave with a netted enclosure next to it. The cave contains a large enclosure for sand cat behind glass. The cats are kept here due to their sensitivity to humidity but are rotated throughout the day. In the netted enclosure is a caracal exhibit where the cats are rotated. Graphics throughout the complex illustrate ancient Middle Eastern civilizations’ depictions of wildlife and the problems they face today, especially in regards to the instability of the region. Indian Subcontinent The Indian Subcontinent is the next area of the Asia Path. The visit begins with a large rocky area reminiscent of the mountains that are found in the northern areas of the Indian Subcontinent. The visitor enters an area resembling a canyon. Numerous fans blow cold air onto the visitor to give them the impression of being high in the mountains. This exhibit is an immersive exhibit. On the right hand side is a large, rocky exhibit with numerous climbing structures for markhor. On the left hand side is a netted enclosure for snow leopard. Each of these contain numerous shaded areas and hidden fans to keep these cold weather animals cool. However, in the event of extremely hot weather (as one would expect in the summer in North Carolina) the animals have access to a cooler indoor enclosure with climbing structures. The markhors’ view is unobscured and they are only separated from the visitors by a moat. The snow leopards’ exhibit is behind glass. The snow leopards are rotated throughout the day. The visitor moves down the corridor of this building and sees another glassed in exhibit with Pallas’ cat. They also have access to an outdoor enclosure and are rotated during the day. On the other side is an exhibit for red pandas with access to the outdoors. Walking down the path from the mountain exhibit, the visitor comes across an open woodland area designed to look like a forest in India. This exhibit is also immersive. On the left hand side is a large paddock containing gaur, axis deer, blackbuck, and barasingha. Peafowl and red junglefowl freely roam this area. In a separate area of this enclosure is a paddock for Indian rhinoceros. On the left hand side of the path is the country’s largest enclosure for Asian elephants. A herd of Asian elephant cows roams a wide area. Between the hoofstock and the rhino paddocks is an enclosure for dholes. The dholes are able to cross a ridge above the visitors’ heads and into a paddock that is enclosed within the elephant enclosure. The dholes are cleverly separated from the elephants by a moat. At the end of the hoofstock area is an aviary the visitor cannot enter containing sarus cranes, eastern white pelicans, demoiselle cranes, and Indian pygmy geese. The last spot in the Indian Subcontinent is a building. The hallway at the beginning of this exhibit contains graphics showing problems animals in this area face, especially in regard to the massive human population. After leaving this area, the visitor crosses a bridge. Below this bridge is a breeding colony of gharials. At the end of this exhibit is a viewing window into the gharial habitat. This room also contains terrariums for Indian cobras, monocle cobras, Indian pythons, common kraits, saw-scaled vipers, Russell’s vipers, Indian uromastyx, star tortoises and Asian forest tortoises. In this room there is also an aviary containing white-crested laughing thrushes, golden crested mynas, hooded pittas, and common emerald doves. Southeast Asian Journey The cow elephant enclosure extends into the Southeast Asian Journey exhibit. On the left hand side of this exhibit are two separate enclosures. One contains Malayan tapirs and the other contains greater mouse deer. On the left of the tapir exhibit is a moated enclosure for northern white-cheeked gibbon. The gibbons have access to the tapir exhibit and can also cross over the visitors’ heads into a moated area that is within the elephant enclosure but the elephants do not have access. On the right hand side of the mouse deer enclosure is a moated exhibit for lar gibbons. These gibbons have access to the mouse deer exhibit, and like the white cheeked gibbons they have access to the elephant enclosure and can go over the visitors’ heads to get there. As the visitor goes a little further, they notice a kiosk that explains in detail the role of the Asian elephant in the culture of the region as well as problems they face. This is also the boundary between the cow elephants and bull elephant bachelor herd. On the left hand side is an exhibit spanning over the visitors’ heads containing Francois’ langurs. The monkeys can move freely between their exhibits. Next to the monkey exhibit is a complex of cat exhibits containing fishing cats, clouded leopards, and Malayan tigers. The cats rotate into different exhibits at different days. Adjacent to this exhibit is a planted enclosure for Malayan sun bears. The bears have a bridge they can cross over into a separate exhibit within the elephant enclosure. The last exhibit in the Southeast Asian Journey is an aviary/reptile house. Before entering the building, the visitor enters a netted, outdoor aviary. This aviary contains white winged wood ducks, great argus pheasants, Edwards’ pheasants, and crested wood partridges. On the inside of the building is a reptile house. In the hallway are graphics explaining issues the wildlife in the area face and several banks of aquariums containing various species of gouramis and barbs native to Southeast Asia. The hall leading to the main part of the exhibit is a massive glassed-enclosure including above and below ground viewing for Siamese crocodiles. The main section of this exhibit contains mostly turtles native to Southeast Asia along with birds and snakes. In the planted room are several different ponds for temple turtles, painted terrapins, four-eyed turtles, Malaysian giant turtles, and Vietnamese pond turtles. Along the walls and cleverly enclosed in trees and rocks are terrariums for king cobras, Burmese pythons, southern Vietnamese box turtles, and Indochinese box turtles. Indonesia! The last section of the Asia Path is Indonesia! The visitor walks along a path leading to the Indonesia! complex that goes along the left hand side of the bull elephant bachelor herd which loops around the aviary and reptile house. Indonesia! has similar tropical foliage to Southeast Asian Journey. The first section of this is a building. This building has a bridge spanning a Komodo dragon habitat. Signs throughout explain the uniqueness of the species and threats this lizard faces. After leaving the Komodo dragon exhibit, the visitor sees a large series of paddocks with simulated tropical plants. On the left hand side is a paddock with lowland anoa and on the right is a paddock for babirusa. In the center of the exhibit is a space for Sumatran tigers. The tigers can pass over a bridge that goes over the visitor’s heads and lead into another enclosure on the right hand side. The last set of outdoor enclosures are dedicated to primates from Indonesia. On the right hand side are three separate, moated exhibits for Sumatran orangutans that the apes can move to via ropes. On the right hand side is a similar setup for siamang. A building is in the center that allows indoor viewing on cold or rainy days. Finally. The visitor finds one that contains silvery langurs. One of the ropes leads into a building. This building has the same theme as many others, in that it shows challenges wildlife in Indonesia face, in particular large human population and the palm oil crisis. Information is also provided about the Javan rhino. The last section of Indonesia! is a reptile house/aviary. In the planted aviary are terrariums for reticulated pythons, Sulawesi forest turtles, and Roti island snake-necked turtles. Flying freely through the exhibit are green jungle fowl, Bali mynas, beautiful fruit doves, pink-necked fruit doves, black-naped fruit doves, and Jambu fruit doves. This planted exhibit also contains rafflesia, the largest flower species in the world. The last section of this building is a darkened room with large and small flying fox bats kept behind glass. The last two exhibits in this area are enclosures for binturongs and Asian small-clawed otters. The chair lift ends here as well. Children’s Zoo The children’s zoo is arranged in a loop. The two exhibits on either side of the loop are paddocks. On the right hand side is a mixed paddock of dromedaries, llamas, and fallow deer. On the left hand side of the path is a mixed paddock containing Watusi, Brahman, and Texas longhorn cattle. These two exhibits are on either side of the path leading to the loop as these are species visitors may be interested in seeing without going into the children’s zoo. The children’s zoo loop contains a central barn with free-roaming pygmy goats, potbellied pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, nun pigeons, domestic varieties of peafowl, and domestic varieties of guinea fowl. Four paddocks are on either side of the loop. The animals in these paddocks can be petted but visitors are not allowed to enter the exhibits. One paddock contains Boer and Angora goats and Cameroon and Navajo sheep. Another paddock contains horses, donkeys, and ponies. A third paddock contains the rare mulefoot and Hereford pigs. A fourth paddock contains Angus, Holestein, Jersey, and Hereford cattle. Two sections remain in the zoo. One is close to the entrance and does not contain animals. This is the Faces of Extinction exhibit. This exhibit is a museum containing paintings and photos (where available) of animals that have become extinct by human causes since 1500. The end of the exhibit shows pictures of animals that are nearing extinction and what the visitor can do to help prevent that. The last section is called Crossroads Lake. This is a lake located in the center of the zoo with boardwalks going in different directions. The path closest to the children's zoo has an exhibit for non-releasable bald eagles. At various times of the day zoo employees provide talks about the eagles. Throughout the lake are nest boxes for wood ducks. Other waterfowl such as mallards and Canada geese, as well as turtles and muskrats may be visible in this exhibit. At Crossroads Lake, the visitor can then decide if they want to revisit their favorite area of the zoo. Crossroads Lake provides additional views into the elephant enclosures. Walking paths surround the elephant enclosures and allow the visitors to easily enter the Africa and Asia Paths. The lake provides easy access to the South America Path as well as North Carolina Wilds.
I have those programs! I should try to do it with Las vegas zoo but I feel unmotivated lol. Anyway, I really appreciate the last part of the Charlotte zoo. Also, the Navajo-Churro sheep are such an awesome surprise!
