Design a Zoo 2017

The next installment of the Inland California Zoo. Enjoy!

African Trek

The visitor is now entering the most extensive complex in the zoo. The African Trek. This exhibit is arranged both geographically and taxonomically. Like the California Countryside area, this exhibit has a large common area. In this case, it resembles a waterhole that might be found in southern and eastern Africa on the savannas. Helmeted and vulturine guineafowl roam this area and the wetland areas are inhabited by saddle billed storks, lesser flamingos, and black crowned cranes. As this area is a common exhibit, it is connected to five other exhibits on the left hand side. Animals pass through under the areas the visitors walk. This exhibit and the others contains rolling hills and features such as simulated termite mounds and simulated acacia and baobab trees.


The first exhibit to the left of the common waterhole area is dedicated to wildlife from southern Africa. This exhibit resembles two distinct areas; the drier areas of the Namib desert and the more lush areas of the Okavango delta. In the dry exhibit area, a waterhole separates two paddocks. One contains mountain zebras and the other contains gemsbok, springbok, and steenbok. Great white pelicans swim in the waterhole separating them. Two colonies of meerkats are also present in these paddocks. They are separated via unseen moats. The animals in these paddocks do not have access to the common waterhole. A transition between the dry and more lush areas is present and is inhabited by cheetahs. These cats do have access to the waterhole. The waterhole contains a series of ponds and for obvious reasons, the cheetahs have their own. The lush grassland exhibit houses sable antelope, greater kudu, impala, and white rhinoceros. These animals have access to the waterhole most of the time, although their night holding areas are here. This exhibit has a pond with Egyptian geese. A painted dog exhibit is present here as well and has the same design as the cheetahs. The Egyptian geese are not able to enter the dog area. The dogs have access to the waterhole. The visitor then sees a kiosk explaining a great deal of information on the next inhabitants; a herd of female African elephants. These ladies are a mix between older retired breeders (and maybe some rescues from circuses) and young breeding age females with their young. These elephants have access to the common waterhole. Their night holding areas are here but they normally have access to the waterhole. In their exhibit is a pond holding pink-backed pelicans.


The last exhibit in this complex connecting to the waterhole features animals native to East Africa. A mixed savanna exhibit house Maasai griaffes, Thompson’s gazelles, eland, waterbuck, and ostriches. Their exhibit is much the same as the southern Africa area, except fewer trees. A separate exhibit featuring lions is found here as well. All of these species have access to the waterhole. This waterhole exhibit is the only place in North America where elephants coexist with giraffes, rhinos, and antelope.


After viewing the hoofstock and carnivores in African Trek, the visitor is now headed toward the final two exhibits in this area. The first one is a very tall aviary. This is dedicated to vultures of Africa. This aviary is a walk-through exhibit. This has numerous trees and termite mounds, similar to the other African exhibits. The vultures contained in this aviary are white-backed, Ruppell’s griffons, hooded, Cape, and lappet-faced. As enrichment activities, zookeepers often place meat in containers resembling animals native to the plains. The importance of scavengers is highlighted in this exhibit as well as threats they face.


The final area of this exhibit is dedicated to primates of the equatorial regions of Africa. This exhibit is designed to surround the visitor along the path. On the left hand side of the path is a forested area with numerous clearing. This is a rotation exhibit housing western lowland gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees, and mandrills. The primates are rotated on a daily basis and not fence separates them from each other. They are separated by water features. On the right hand side of the exhibit are outdoor exhibits housing Wolf’s guenon, mantled guereza, DeBrazza’s monkeys, and Diana monkeys. These animals are also rotated. Overhead trails enable them to enter the ape exhibits. Although they are in the same enclosures with the apes and/or mandrills, they are safely separated by the water features. On rare cooler days, visitors can see these animals in their indoor quarters.


There are additional views of the waterhole as the visitor leaves to go into the Asian themed area which will be up next.

 

Red wolves range as far north as Pennsylvania, so they would probably not do well in a frigid climate.

 

Also, I love your idea of a large centerpiece exhibit and then other exhibits scattered around it.

 

They might do okay in that case. Pennsylvania can get cold. The centerpiece exhibit is inspired by the Giants of the Savanna exhibit in the Dallas Zoo.

 

Yes, the former range of Red Wolves did include cold areas.

 

The Greatest Of Plains
The Greatest Of Plains begins with a large, open, several acre paddock for American Bison (Bison bison), and Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). After this, there is another open exhibit for Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), and Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). The birds' wings would be clipped to prevent them from flying away. Next, there is a large grassy exhibit for Swift Fox (Vulpes velox). Next, is a very large (an acre!) exhibit for Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). A similar exhibit next to this one, has simulated prairie dog holes using pine pipes. This is for Black-Footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes).
Finally, there is an exhibit similar to the Swift Fox exhibit earlier. This exhibit, however, is larger, and a few scattered trees. This is for Coyote (Canis latrans).

Up next: The High Plain

 

Nice exhibit. Maybe you could add some waterfowl and badgers as well. Those would be interesting additions.

 

Here is the Asian themed area for the Inland California Zoo.


Asian Excursion

The Asian excursion exhibit contains species found in four regions; India, Indonesia, China, and Malaysia. This exhibit also contains a common waterhole area like the African Trek. This waterhole resembles an open woodland in India.

As mentioned previously, there is a common waterhole with other exhibits branching off. Greater flamingos, blue peafowl, and red junglefowl roam freely in this area. The first section is dedicated to wildlife of India. The first animal the visitor encounters is one that one does not expect to see here; lions. Although these are African lions, they are a stand in for the Asiatic lions that are found in the Gir Forest. The exhibit here resembles that habitat and a kiosk explains the life history and ecology of this subspecies. The lions have access to the waterhole. This and all the exhibits in this area have a hilly setup to allow the animals more exercise. The lions’ hills have a view into the next exhibit which is the main part of the India section. This is an open woodland area and houses blackbuck, axis deer, gaur, Eld’s deer, and barasingha. Gray junglefowl roam this area as well. These animals are able to cross into the waterhole in a similar manner as the African species. Two additional exhibits are in the India area. These house Indian rhinos and sloth bears. They also have access to the waterhole, but are separated from the other animals for safety reasons.

The second section is an open woodland. This contains a herd of female Asian elephants. These are a mix of elderly (and possible circus rescues) and younger females with their young. This is the only zoo in North America that mixes Asian elephants with other species. These elephants have access to the waterhole. Saurus cranes wade in the ponds in the elephant exhibit.

The third section showcases species from Malaysia. This one is set up as more of a dense jungle. The first animal encountered is the Malayan tiger. Although it is not the subspecies native to India, the tigers in this area have access to the waterhole. The Malaysia area does not contain a large mixed enclosure like the India one. In separate exhibits with dense jungle setups (that have the appearance of one exhibit), there are homes for Malaysian tapir, greater mouse deer, banteng, sun bears, and sambar. The sambar have access to the waterhole. The tiger exhibit contains numerous hills allowing the cats a view into these enclosures.

The fourth section houses the unique wildlife of Indonesia. A pond with two large islands is the first sight the visitors see. Ropes lead into a larger forested area. Sumatran orangutans live in this exhibit. Adjacent to the orangutan exhibit is a similar setup with taller structures and trees. Siamang are contained here and the visitor often hears them calling loudly. On colder days indoor exhibits allow the year round viewing. Four separate outdoor enclosures are next. They house babirusa, Asian-small clawed otters (with underwater viewing), anoa, and clouded leopards. The last structure here is a building containing an aviary. Green junglefowl, Bali mynas, beautiful fruit doves, pink-necked fruit doves, black-naped fruit doves, and Jambu fruit doves. These birds all are able to approach the visitor in this jungle themed area.

The final section of the Asian Excursion is dedicated to wildlife from China. The first exhibit contains dholes. These animals have access to the waterhole. They are in an area that resembles the Gobi Desert. Their exhibit in the China area overlooks another Gobi-themes exhibit housing Bactrian camels and Mongolian wild horses. Attached to the Gobi Desert area is a highland exhibit. One side is rocky with two netted enclosures. This contains Pallas’ cats and snow leopards. The other side is rocky and more forested. This houses Amur leopards and red pandas. A central building provides an air conditioned refuge in the event of extremely hot weather. The indoor enclosure has glassed in viewing. A forested area next to this houses Sichuan takin. The visitor then goes into a clearing with ponds. Pere David’s deer graze in this area and share it with white-naped cranes and demoiselle cranes. The ponds in this exhibit segue into primate exhibits. Francois, langurs and white-cheeked gibbons have ropes leading to different islands for enrichment. Finally, the visitor enters an aviary. This exhibits pheasants and waterfowl from China. Red breasted geese, swan geese, Mandarin ducks, golden pheasants, Reeve’s pheasants, ringneck pheasants, chukar, Japanese quail, Cabot’s tragapon, and white eared pheasants freely roam throughout the aviary and are able to approach the visitor. The aviary has a mixture of rocky barren areas, forest, and ponds.


Up next: Australia themed area









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