Masterplan of my "absolute" zoo

I have a soft spot for aquariums. This is going to be very interesting, methinks.

 

This is a very cool forum so far and has been a big inspiration for me. Keep up the good work!

 

Hello,

tonight we go forward in the description of the Aquarium of my Zoo, with a journey among tropical freshwater species.

After the comunity South American aquarium (13), there are 2 smaller aquaria for predator species :

• 14) Red Piranha Pygocentrus nattereri (0.0.15)
• 15) Two-spot Pike Cichlid Crenicichla lepidota (0.0.5)

Piranhas' Tank :

(Credits : TinoPup)

Red Piranhas :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The next aquarium (16) is larger and dark, it's the strange lair of an Electric Eel Electrophorus electricus (0.0.1). This fish is difficult to see at the beginning, but every visitor is impressed by the huge dimensions of this fish (2,5 m), along with its reputation.

Electric Eel exhibit (possible look, but with more murky water) :

(Credits : animalman0341)

Electric Eel :

(Credits : Breckenridge)

The next tank (17) is by far the largest of all the Tropical Freshwater sector, it's the home of a group of Arapaimas Arapaima gigas (0.0.9).
First they were 3 individuals imported from a farm in Peru (here there's also information about sustainable fish farming in the Tropics, especially for species that provide food and incomes to the local comunities, and for that highly prized) ; in 2020 they bred here and 6 young Arapaimas passed successfully the first stages of their life. After several months in the Nursery they were large enough to go back in their parents' tank. Their departure is planned in the last months of 2021.

Arapaimas' Tank :

(Credits : FunkyGibbon)

Arapaimas :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The last Neotropical aquaria show more common species, commonly kept as pets by aquariophilists :

• 18) Sail-fin Molly Poecilia velifera (0.0.74)
• 19) Empty exhibit
• 20) Guppy Poecilia reticulata (0.0.964)

We enter now in an African realm, beginning with 3 large tanks for some of the most impressive fish of this continent.

The first (21) presents West African Lungfish Protopterus annectens (0.0.3) in a large shallow, muddy aquarium that replicates their natural conditions of life in the African marshes under tropical climates, seasonnally marked by long droughts.

Possible look of the Lungfish tank :

(Credits : wstefan)

West African Lungfish :

(Credits : Arek)

In the second (22) there are ferocious Goliath African Tigerfish Hydrocynus goliath (0.0.4) of 1,3 m length each.

The third aquarium (23) hosts Bubu Auchenoglanis occidentalis (0.0.10).

The 2 next aquaria display medium-sized (but strange) African fish :

• 24) African Knifefish Xenomystus nigri (0.0.2)
• 25) Angolian Walking Catfish Clarias angolensis (0.0.4)

African fish aquaria :

(Credits : geomorph)

African Knifefish :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

That's all for today !

In the next days I'll describe the second part (and the end) of the African freshwater sector, then the Asian sector.

Now I would be pleased to read your comments.

Stay in touch !

 

Next stages of the Aquarium (African freshwater sector) :

There's now a row of small aquaria (26-31), used to house a large array of small and middle-sized fish species :

• 26) Redtail Nothobranch Nothobranchius guentheri (0.0.71)
• 27) Blue Mbuna Labeotropheus fuelleborni (0.0.8), Scrapemouth Mbuna Labeotropheus trewavasae (0.0.10), Burton's Mouthbrooder Haplochromis burtoni (0.0.11)
• 28) Mozambique Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (0.0.5)
• 29) Bichir Polypterus sp. (0.0.3), Mormyrid Petrocephalus sp. (0.0.2)
• 30) Red-tailed Silverside Bedotia geayi (0.0.34)
• 31) Congo Tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus (0.0.48), Reedfish Erpetoichthys calabaricus (0.0.1)

The Zoo has announced the successful breeding of Scrapemouth Mbunas in 2020, leading to 56 juveniles at the end of the year.

Small African Aquaria :

(Credits : Ituri)

Mozambique Tilapia :

(Credits : KevinB)

Bichirs :

(Credits : Chlidonias)

Congo Tetras :

(Credits : KevinB)

Reedfish :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

In this place there's information about the place of fishing in the African cultures, the issues linked to overfishing, droughts and water pollution but also the initiatives supported by the Zoo to protect the fishing resources (both freshwater and marine). For now the Zoo supports such programs in Malawi, Uganda and Senegal.

We leave now Africa to begin the Asian sector, with a very large comunity tank (32) that hosts a lot of fish, most of them are popular among the aquariophilists :

• Clown Loach Chromobotia macracantha (0.0.152)
• Melon Barb Haludaria fasciata (0.0.5)
• Redtail Sharkminnow Epalzeorhynchos bicolor (0.0.17)
• Three-spotted Gourami Trichopodus trichopterus (0.0.188)

Clown Loaches :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Melon Barb :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Redtail Sharkminnow :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Three-spotted Gourami :

(Credits : NRJMelvinT)

The 2 next aquaria are small display small fish species, equally popular for the aquariophilists, among a lush vegetation :

33) Siamese Fighting Fish Betta splendens (1.1)
34) Bumblebee Goby Brachygobius sp. (0.0.3)

In this place the tradition of fish fighting in Asia (that's a popular hobby there) is explained with its link to the territorial and aggressive behaviour of the species, as other strange traditions of animal fighting (crickets, roosters, etc...).
There's also explanation about the numerous ornamental varieties of these fish that have been selected along the years (and displayed here !).

Siamese Fighting Fish (white form) :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Bumblebee Goby :

(Credits : Kakapo)

In the coming days I'll present the last Asian tanks, before beginning the Sealife sectors.

You can comment now this post, the species, the exhibits and eventually give me some suggestions.

Stay in touch !

 

Hello,

now there are the last Asian tanks.

In the smallest (35) it's possible to see a large school of the strange Ghost Catfish Kryptopterus vitreolus (0.0.63) among a lush aquatic vegetation.

The 2 last tanks show other strange fishes :

• 36) Clown Knifefish Chitala chitala (0.0.8)
• 37) Asian Bonytongue Scleropages formosus (0.0.14)

The Clown Knifefish has bred successfully in 2020, leading to 73 juveniles by the end of this year ; they can be seen now in the Nursery (see North Asian Zone).

Ghost Catfish :

(Credits : TinoPup)

Asian Bonytongue :

(Credits : KevinB)

Before leaving the Freshwater section, few aquaria show some artificially selected breeds of fancy aquarium fish, an exposition about history of this hobby (and more largely about the fish husbandry across the ages and countries) is displayed here.

The first tank (38) shows ont of the oldest "domestic" breed of fish, the Goldfish Carassius auratus f. domestica and more precisely the Veiltail (0.0.34).
Of course there's information about its history in China, Japan and more recently in the West.

Finally there are three small tanks for other popular species :

• 39) Black Tetra, domestic form Gymnocorymbus ternetzi f. domestica (0.0.179)
• 40) Green Swordtail, domestic form Xiphophorus hellerii f. domestica (0.0.137)
• 41) Leopard Danio Danio rerio var. frankei (0.0.30)

Green Swordtail :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Leopard Danio :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

We discover now the 2d floor of the Aquarium, below the 1st one.
It's the first floor to be dedicated to marine life, and especially to the fish and invertebrates of the temperate seas.


Every colour is dedicated to a kind of habitat : greyish blue for the rocky shores, turquoise for the sandy shores, greenish blue for the seagrass beds and medium blue for the pelagic habitats (with 3 very large walk-through aquaria that can be crossed along a tunnel).

The journey begins with the rocky shores, with only 2 aquaria (42-43), and a lot of species (common although not spectacular in most cases) :

• 42) Rock Goby Gobius paganellus (0.0.7), Tompot Blenny Parablennius gattorugine (0.0.10), Swallowtail Seaperch Anthias anthias (0.0.6), Dahlia Anemone Urticina felina (0.0.115), Flat Top Shell Steromphala umbilicalis (0.0.171), Banded-dye Murex Hexaplex trunculus (0.0.32), Tunicate Pyura tessellata (0.0.21).
• 43) Bearded Fireworm Hermodice carunculata (0.0.13).

The story of coastal fishing (and other collect of animals : for example the collect of Murex for the purple, that was prized in the ancient Mediterranean cultures) is displayed here.

Possible look of the Rocky Shore tank :

(Credits : TinoPup)

Tompot Blenny :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Swallowtail Seaperch :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Dahlia Anemones :

(Credits : Eric)

Banded-dye Murex :

(Creits : Maguari)

Now you can give me your comments about this section, the displayed species, and especially the map of the marine section of this aquarium...

Sea you later !

 

*waves goodbye* Nice work

 

Hello,

now we continue our trip in the seas ; after the rocky shores, there are several tanks for the fauna of the sandy bays of European coasts.

As there were errors in the previously displayed map, I present you an amended version :


First there's the largest pool (44), where we can see different species, on the model of the aquarium n° 42 :

• European Seabass Dicentrarchus labrax (0.0.82)
• Golf ball Sponge Tethya aurantium (0.0.4)
• Peacock Worm Sabella pavonina (0.0.20)
• Netted Dog Whelk Tritia reticulata (0.0.39)
• European Bitterwsweet Glycymeris glycymeris (0.0.359)

European Seabass :

(Credits : Tomek)

Several smaller aquariums (45-46-47) display separately other species, that could be dangerous to the curators or that require special needs :

• 45) Ghost Shrimp Gilvossius tyrrhenus (0.0.5)
• 46) Lesser Weever Echiichthys vipera (0.0.9)
• 47) Greater Weever Trachinus draco (0.0.7)

Ghost Shrimp Tank (without the worms) :

(Credits : TheoV)

Lesser Weever Tank :

(Credits : MagpieGoose)

Lesser Weever :

(Credits : gentle lemur)

Greater Weever :

(Credits : Hanjo)

We discover now the seagrass beds, with their typical fauna.

It begins with a large tank with many Syngnathiformes (48). In this place the variety of shapes among these fish is described, as well as their biology and the conservation projects that the Zoo supports for the Seahorses (hatcheries and reintroduction in the Golfe du Morbihan and in the Etangs du Languedoc).

These different species are displayed here :

• Long-snouted Seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus (0.0.4)
• Worm Pipefish Nerophis lumbriciformis (0.0.27)
• Longspine Snipefish Macroramphosus scolopax (0.0.48)

The Seahorses have already bred successfully in the Aquarium, but the breeding has been paused, so there remains only few individuals for now.

Seahorse Aquarium (possible view) :

(Credits : TinoPup)

Long-snouted Seahorse :

(Credits : carlos55)

Worm Pipefish :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Longspine Snipefish :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

The second "seagrass bed" aquarium (49) is much smaller. It used to be a Seahorse hatchery but now it hosts Sea Slugs Chromodoris sp. (0.0.22) that belong probably to several species.

Sea Slug :

(Credits : devilfish)

 

Now we cross large tanks, designed for pelagic species, including several species of sharks and rays ; the bottom of the tanks is filled with sand, and some few rocky blocks.

In the first (50) it's possible to see :

• Whiting Merlangius merlangus (0.0.59)
• Rockfish Sebastes sp. (0.0.5)
• Longspine Snipefish Macroramphosus scolopax (0.0.26)
  
• Thornback Ray Raja clavata (4.2)
• Cylinder Anemone Cerianthus membranaceus (0.0.39)
• Sea Cucumber Cucumaria sp. (0.0.33)

In this place the commercial importance of several fish species and the need to preserve fish stock are explained. For now the Zoo doesn't support any conservation program focused on pelagic species of bony fish, but all the fish sold in the restaurants and even given to the animals is eco-certified.

First pelagic aquarium :

(Credits : Orycteropus)

Rockfish :

(Credits : Hanjo)

Thornback Ray :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Cylinder Anemones :

(Credits : Kakapo)

Nearby another aquarium (51) is dedicated to the display of Common Jellyfish Aurelia aurita (0.0.58). Although the aquarium is large, the Jellyfish can be seen only behind few round spots, that increases a sense of mystery in this exhibit.
Here there's information about the equilibrium prey/predators in the oceans (and disorders caused by the removal of main predators as sea turtles or tuna, generating proliferation of jellyfish or other species).

Common Jellyfish Tank :

(Credits : LegoOwl)

Common Jellyfish :

(Credits : Clem)

The middle aquarium (52) is dedicated to several shark and ray species :

• Pointed-nosed Guitarfish Rhinobatos productus (5.5)
• Sandbar Shark Carcharhinus plumbeus (2.3)
• Leopard Shark Triakis semifasciata (5.2)

This tank displays quite large numbers of sharks/rays but the Zoo hasn't managed the breeding of any of these species for now. It's hoped it will be realized in next years.

Shark Tunnel :

(Credits : pachyderm pro)

Sandbar Shark :

(Credits : RatioTile)

Leopard Shark :

(Credits : DelacoursLangur)

The last tank (53) is really the largest, it presents especially some very large species :

• Giant Sunfish Mola mola (2.2) ; strangely this fish is called in French "le poisson-lune" (the Moonfish!)
• Crevalle Jack Caranx hippos (0.0.7)
• Thornback Ray Raja clavata (4.4)
• Sea Cucumber Cucumaria sp. (0.0.95)

Sunfish Tunnel :

(Credits : Moebelle)

Crevalle Jack :

(Credits : RatioTile)

In next days I'll make you discover the last deck of the aquarium, with a lot of tropical sea fishes.

You can now comment this zone, the species or even the information and the projects supported by the Zoo in favour of marine life.

Stay in touch !

 

Hello,

let's discover now the 3d and last floor of the Aquarium.
Localized in the lowest part of the building, it's dedicated to the tropical sealife, with several sub-sections.



The colors are linked to these sub-sections :
Blue : pelagic life ; Light purple : rocky coasts ; Light pink : sandy coasts ; Pink : coral reefs ; Dark purple : Shark and Turtle tank ; Medium purple : Mangrove.

It starts with a huge, walk-through pelagic tank, on the model of 52-53 exhibits previously described (54). There's sandy soil with a wreck in the middle and rocks on the sides. We can see there a lot of fish species :

• Humpback Grouper Chromileptes altivelis (0.0.6)
• Bluecheek Butterflyfish Chaetodon semilarvatus (0.0.18)
• Clown Coris Coris aygula (0.0.4)
• Saw-jawed Monocle Bream Scolopsis ciliata (0.0.16), unique in Europe
  
• Silver Moony Monodactylus argenteus (0.0.79)

Humpback Grouper :

(Credits : KevinB)

Bluecheek Butterflyfish :

(Credits : Jena)

Clown Coris :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Silver Moony :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

The 2 following aquaria (55-56) are much smaller and host species with particular exigences or behaviour :

• 55) Japanese Pineapplefish Monocentris japonica (0.0.7)
• 56) Bluestriped Fangblenny Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos (0.0.10), unique in Europe

Japanese Pineapplefish Tank :

(Credits : KevinB)

Japanese Pineapplefish :

(Credits : JigerofLemuria)

Bluestriped Fangblenny :

(Credits : Hix)

The next aquarium (57) is very long and reproduces the rocky coastlines of the Red Sea.
We can see here the following species :

• Titan Triggerfish Balistoides viridescens (0.0.3)
• Long-spine Porcupinefish Diodon holocanthus (0.0.10)

Titan Triggerfish :

(Credits : Dormitator)

Long-spine Porcupinefish :

(Credits : BerdNerd)

The next aquarium (58) is small and dedicated to the shallow and sandy coasts, it hosts an unique species (and not displayed elsewhere in Europe for now !), the Filament Glassfish Gymnochanda filamentosa (0.0.9).

In the next days we'll discover the true corallian habitats.

For now I let you comment the first exhibits of this tropical marine zone.

Stay in touch !

 

Hello,

I let the description of my Aquarium just before the Corallian Reef Subzone (59-64).

In this section there are 6 aquaria with different themes, linked with different seas :

• 59 ) Caribbean Sea : Queen Angelfish Holacanthus ciliaris (0.0.3), Yellowtail Snapper Ocyurus chrysurus (0.0.7)
  
• 60 ) Red Sea : Arabian Angelfish Pomacanthus asfur (0.0.4), Forcepsfish Forcipiger flavissimus (0.0.4), Blackspotted Puffer Arothron nigropunctatus (0.0.2)
• 61 ) Indonesia : Comet Calloplesiops altivelis (0.0.4), Starry Toadfish Arothron stellatus (0.0.5), Horned Bannerfish Heniochus varius (0.0.2)
• 62 ) Melanesia : Valentin's Sharpnose Puffer Canthigaster valentini (0.0.2), Palette Surgeonfish Paracanthurus hepatus (0.0.6), Pennant Coralfish Heniochus acuminatus (0.0.8), Parrotfish Scarus sp. (0.0.4), Spotted Unicornfish Naso brevirostris (0.0.1)
• 63) Sea of Southern China : Spinecheek Anemonefish Premnas biaculeatus (0.0.5), Bluespine Unicornfish Naso unicornis (0.0.3), Emperor Angelfish Pomacanthus imperator (0.0.3), Japan Surgeonfish Acanthurus japonicus (0.0.1), Harlequin Filefish Oxymonacanthus longirostris (0.0.2), Moorish Idol Zanclus cornutus (0.0.8), Blue Koran Angelfish Pomacanthus semicirculatus (0.0.3), Banded Coral Shrimp Stenopus hispidus (0.0.10)
• 64) Cleaner Mimic Aspidontus taeniatus (0.0.1) : it's presented apart due to its aggressive behaviour.

All these aquaria, although variying in size and in species displayed, are realized on the same model, with decorations of rock and coral (not alive for the moment, but the introduction of living corals is planned), sandy bottoms and larges volumes of water.

There are information about conservation of coral reefs in the tropical seas, and about the projects specifically supported by the Zoo : research and restoration of corals in Israel, Bali and New Caledonia.

Queen Angelfish :

(Credits : gentle lemur)

Yellowtail Snapper :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Red Sea Aquarium :

(Credits : LegoOwl)

Arabian Angelfish :

(Credits : gentle lemur)

Forcepsfish :

(Credits : Hix)

Blackspotted Puffer :

(Credits : Hanjo)

Comet :

(Credits : Tomek)

Horned Bannerfish :

(Credits : devilfish)

Valentin's Sharpnose Puffer :

(Credits : ThylacineAlive)

Palette Surgeonfish :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Pennant Coralfish :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Spotted Unicornfish :

(Credits : Kakapo)

Bluespine Unicornfish :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Emperor Angelfish :

(Credits : Hanjo)

Harlequin Filefish :

(Credits : vogelcommando)

Moorish Idol :

(Credits : NRJMelvinT)

Blue Koran Angelfish :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Banded Coral Shrimp :

(Credits : Great Argus)

 

After this large tropical section, we enter a huge tank with a glass tunnel, designed for large species of Sharks and Sea Turtles (65). It was possible prior to see glimpses of this scenic aquarium by small windows from other points of the Tropical Marine Section (including at the beginning, near the tank 54).

The species displayed now are :

• Atlantic Nurse Shark Ginglymostoma cirratum (4.0)
• Tasselled Wobbegong Eucrossorhinus dasypogon (1.1)
• Sand Tiger Shark Carcharias taurus (1.0)
• Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata (4.3)

These animals share an enormous volume of water, and the Turtles can even go on a sandy beach (off-exhibit).

It's hoped to have breeding of some Sharks and Hawksbill turtles in the near future.

It's possible to see the feeding of the Sharks and Turtles, in these sessions there's information about two conservation programs of Sharks in French Polynesia and Palau, led by the Zoo.

Shark Tank (possible view) :

(Credits : pachyderm pro)

Atlantic Nurse Shark :

(Credits : KevinB)

Sand Tiger Shark :

(Credits : DaLilFishie)

Hawksbill Turtle :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

The description of the Aquarium is nearly finished, it remains only the last tank that I'll describe soon. Then we'll continue with the (very small) Children's Zoo and the Americas.

I wait now your comments about the Tropical Marine Section of my Aquarium.

Stay in touch !

 

Hello,

we have nearly quited the Aquarium.

But there's a last tank (66), with shallow water, dedicated to many fish of mangrove species.

The species displayed here are :

• Silver Moony Monodactylus argenteus (0.0.68)
• Spotted Scat Scatophagus argus (0.0.10)
• Sumatran Halfbeak Dermogenys sumatrana (0.0.56)
• Mudskipper Periophthalmus sp. (0.0.28)

There's information about the ecological role of the mangroves, including for the human beings (food resources, protection against the natural disasters...), and about the restoration project led by the Zoo in Mayotte Island (French Overseas Département, in Indian Ocean).

The final Mangrove Tank :

(Credits : lintworm)

Spotted Scat :

(Credits : gentle lemur)

That's all for the aquarium !

Now we'll discover the (very small) Children's Zoo before the (North & South) American Zones.

 

We discover now the Children's Zoo.



It's ridiculously tiny, but I needed to describe it to be comprehensive.

Labelled as G on the general map, it's localized near the Zoo entrance, and it displays only a few common domesticated species (as most of children's zoos in Europe).

The 2 enclosures are classical sandy paddocks, with wooden, farm-like stables at the centre.

The first enclosure (1) has a 1.885 m² surface, and hosts the following species :

• Domestic Goat Capra aegagrus f. hircus (2.3)
• Domestic Fowl Gallus gallus f. domestica (1.8)

The children are allowed to enter in this enclosure and to feed the animals (only enclosure where it's possible).

Domestic Goat exhibit :

(Credits : HOMIN96)

Domestic Goat :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

Domestic Fowl :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

The second enclosure (2) has an 1.170 m² surface, and displays Domestic Donkeys Equus africanus f. asinus (2.0), named CACHOU and CADICHON.

Donkey Paddock :

(Credits : KevinB)

Domestic Donkey :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

It may be projected to enrich this zone with the arrival of "exotic" domestic animals (Alpagas, Zebus, Ankole Cattle...) and/or a house to present pets (Ferrets, Rodents...) and to bring back some Aquarium Fishes (Goldfish, Carp...).
These animals will be used for public displays, and even handling workshops for children (in guided groups) and veterinary students.

We'll soon discover the North American Zone, with much more rare and interesting species.

 

Glad to see that you’re back to making this amazing zoo!

 

With the North American Zone (labelled H on the general map) we go back to rare and interesting species, some of them are seldom seen or even inexistent in European Zoos.

Map of the North American Zone :


This zone can be subdivided in several ecoregions : the Great North (with larger enclosures and animals), the Temperate and Boreal Forests (small subzone, only with birds), the West Coast, the Deserts of SW United States and Northern Mexico, and finally the tropical Florida.

We begin with the Cold Lands of the Great North.

It begins with a large, 2.320 m² plain with a pond in the middle (1), designed for Arctic Geese that nest in Northern Canada, Greenland but also Iceland (that could be more considered as "Nearctic" than "Palearctic").

The displayed species are the following :

• Snow Goose Anser caerulescens (4.2)
• Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus (0.4)

Snow Geese :

(Credits : Gavial)

Pink-footed Goose :

(Credits : Daniel Sörensen)

The second exhibit (2) is similar, but with a larger pond.
It's designed for Ducks and other smaller Anatidae.

We can see these following species :

• Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus (2.0)
• Bufflehead Bucephala albeola (0.1)
• Atlantic Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus (4.13).

The large number of Harlequin Ducks is explained by the birth of 9 Ducklings in 2020 (3.6).
It's interesting as this species is rare in European zoos.

Hooded Merganser :

(Credits : Elephantlover)

Bufflehead :

(Credits : Gavial)

Harlequin Duck :

(Credits : Daniel Sörensen)

We discover now on our right a large, 3.900 m² plain (3), where live a herd of Musk Oxen Ovibos moschatus (2.5), a rare species in the European Zoos. The Zoo has the pride to have successfully bred this species (hard to keep under temperate climates) in 2019.
They are accompanied with a small flock of Canada Geese Branta canadensis (0.5).

Musk Ox exhibit :

(Credits : KevinB)

Musk Ox :

(Credits : KevinB)

Canada Geese :

(credits : red river hog)

I'll continue soon the description of my North American Zone.

 

Really awesome!!

 

We go now in a now forested sector (but in the past it contained concrete pools where lived Polar Bears, Seals and other species that no longer live in the Zoo).

There are first two twin enclosures (4-5) for carnivores.
Like most of the carnivore enclosures of the Zoo, they are 2 split enclosures that allow ponctual encounters between the animals, but let them live alone during most of time.

Here live 2 Wolverines Gulo gulo (0.2).
Each enclosures host a female, KATJA and KATMAÏ. One of them could be changed for a male but it isn't the case yet.

The enclosures contain a lot of trees, bushes, stumps, caves, slopes and other hides for the welfare of the animals that are thus quite difficult to see, even behind the special observation places (that allow to see the animals behind windows).

There are panels that describe the myths (including the superhero who bears the name of this animal !) and the real life of these powerful secret inhabitants of boreal countries.

One of the 2 Wolverine exhibits :

(Credits : twilighter)

The Wolverine :

(Credits : catfan)

The last enclosure (6) is the largest of all the North American Zone (7.900 m²).
It looks like the 2 previous, but the woodland sectors are mixed with more open ones, and a large pool.
The animals can be seen behind a few glassy windows, but also from the top of an observation tower, with Canadian style decorations.

In this exhibit we can see Kodiak Bears Ursus arctos middendorffi (2.0), the largest brown bear subspecies, now very rare in European Zoos. The 2 animals, CHUKTCHI and YUKON, are 9 year old brothers, found orphan in the forest, and come from a Canadian refuge that have rehabilited them.

We find now on our left 2 twin enclosures for aquatic carnivores (7-8), the last exhibits of the Arctic subzone.

Bear exhibit :

(Credits : dhole dude)

They have respectively 645 m² and 860 m² surfaces.

They host the first Otter species of the Zoo (sorry, there aren't any Otters in the Asian Zone, for people that expected them) : the North American River Otter Lontra canadensis (1.1).
Each enclosure hosts an individual of the species.

It's possible to see the Otters in their pool from submarine vision panels, otherwise there are more classical rocks and glass panels to delimitate their enclosure.
They have also night quarters with several boxes, in the case of breeding.

We can see the daily feeding of both Otters, a moment that's appreciated by the public.

River Otter exhibit :

(Credit : geomorph)

River Otter :

(Credits : bgal72)

Then we go in a small bird sector, that hosts a few species of woodland birds, especially Owls, around a central building that contains their night quarters (9-12).

The first aviary (9) has a 280 m² surface. It is barren, with only rocky bars, perches and a few bushes.
Here live Snowy Owls Bubo scandiacus (1.2). The trio is composed of the male HAGRID, and the 2 females HEDWIGE and ELSA.

Snowy Owls' aviary :

(Credits : gulogulogulo)

Snowy Owl, female :

(Credits : robreintjes)

The next aviary (10) is much smaller (115 m²) but densely forested and allows its dwellers to hide easily, to they are difficult to see for the visitors (that prefer obviously charismatic species as the River Otters and Snowy Owls).

This aviary hosts Northern Saw-whet Owls Aegolius acadicus (2.1), an extremely rare species in European zoos.

The secretive Northern Saw-whet Owl :

(Credits : ThylacineAlive)

We end with a larger and forested aviary (355 m²), the largest of the three Owl aviaries of the complex (11).

In this aviary we can see Great Horned Owls Bubo virginianus (2.1).

Great Horned Owl aviary :

(Credits : KevinB)

Great Horned Owl :

(Credits : TheGerenuk)

The last aviary (12) is the only to house non-Owl birds.
It's small (85 m²) and moderately forested.

We can see there a few North American common songbirds :

• Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus (5.3)
• Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus (0.1)

While both species are common in their native range, they are extremely rare in European collections.

Eastern Towhee :

(Credits : ThylacineAlive)

Red-winged Blackbird :

(Credits : TheoV)

We come now in a "marine" zone, dedicated to the species of North-Western coasts, from Alaska to California (13-15).

There's first a complex of 2 twin enclosures (again !), with large pools and separated by a building with night quarters (13-14).
They have respectively 1.210 m² and 785 m² surfaces, but unlike other enclosures, they are usually connected each other.
The decoration is mainly rocky, the Otters can be seen behind glass panels with submarine vision.

They host Sea Otters Enhydra lutris (3.2), a very rare species in European Zoos.
The troop comes from a sanctuary in Alaska that have rehabilitated all of them, injured by oilspills or fishing nets. It's hoped that they will breed in next years, to start an European breeding population.
The Otters have pipes and stones to play with, as enrichments. They enjoy feeding sessions, that can be seen by the public.

Here there's information about the place of these Otters in the ecological balance of North Pacific coasts, the threats that they endured for the 3 last centuries (that led once to their near-extinction) and the recovery initiatives, mainly in America (but it could be noticed that a small Sea Otter population have come back in Northern Japan for a few years !).

One of the Sea Otters exhibits :

(Credits : hudson911)

Sea Otter :

(Credits : Binturong_Lover149)

There's immediately after a small aviary (15) of 170 m², on the model of the n°2 aviary of European Zone (see #5 post), for rocky shore birds.

Now there's only a small colony of Crested Auklets Aethia cristatella (3.0), a species that's unique in European collections.
All these birds come from the same centre than the Sea Otters previously described.

Here there's more general information about Seabird conservation in the North Pacific, including the issues linked with oilspills like the infamous Exxon Valdez sinking in the past.

The rare Crested Auklets :

(Credits : Ding Lingwei)

We have ceased the visit of the North Pacific section, to come in more arid lands, beginning with a scenic canyon exhibit with some Yucca, Cacti and other desert plants (16-17).

Its (one more time !) a complex of twin enclosures, that have respectively 3.050 m² and 1.300 m² surfaces. They can theoretically be linked together but it isn't the case for now for reasons that I'll explain.

They are dedicated to the Pumas Puma concolor (3.6).

The first enclosure, that's the larger, presents 5 Cats (2.3), and the second 4 Cats (1.3).
5 Pumas from 2 litters (1.2 and 0.2 cubs) are born in 2020, so in both enclosures the male and the female+the cubs can be seen in alternance, otherwise they remain in the night quarters.

All the cats can be seen from many observation points with glass panels.

A glimpse to the Puma enclosure :

(Credits : Arizona Docent)

Female Puma and its litter :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

We see now a small desert-type aviary of 130 m² (18).
This aviary is the home of Burrowing Owls Athene cunicularia (2.0).
Now only 2 males remain but I must add that for numerous years there was a family of these small owls, that produced many offspring.

Burrowing Owl :

(Credits : Ituri)

The description will continue...

 

We approach the end of this North American Zone, with first a large aviary (19) for representents of typical raptors from South-Western United States and Northern Mexico.

This aviary has a 900 m² surface, its scenery is quite desertical, with a few perches and a rocky cliff.

We can see here :

• Crested Caracara Caracara plancus (1.0)
• American Black Vulture Coragyps atratus (1.0)

Caracara and American Black Vulture exhibit :

(Credits : red river hog)

Crested Caracara :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

American Black Vulture :

(Credits : Haliaeetus)

For the final exhibit of the North American Zone (20), we have a glimpse of the tropical wetlands of Florida, with a large circular aviary of 1.135 m².
This aviary looks like, in a bit smaller version, than the n°1 exhibit of the European Zone (but also to the n°18 exhibit of the North Asian Zone, the n°12 exhibit of the South Asian Zone and the n°25 exhibit of the African Zone...).

There's a large pond in the middle, plus several trees around, where the birds can perch and nest, giving a spectacular display.

For now we can see the following species (most of them are very rare in European collections) :

• Anhinga Anhinga anhinga (2.1)
• Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor (0.3)
• Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea (2.5)
• Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja (3.4)
• Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis (0.2)
• Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus (0.2)

Anhinga :

(Credits : Andrew_NZP)

Tricolored Heron :

(Credits : TheoV)

Little Blue Heron :

(Credits : red river hog)

Roseate Spoonbill :

(Credits : evilmonkey239)

Snail Kite :

(Credits : savethelephant)

Purple Gallinule :

(Credits : Ituri)

That's all for the North American Zone.
I hope you have enjoyed it, I would be pleased to have some comments of this zone, the animal collection and the exhibits.

Now it's time to discover the Southern part of the Americas, with the fabulous wildlife of Amazonia, the Andes or the Argentinian Pampas.

See you soon !

 

Incredible!!

 

This great!!! Absolutely wonderful!!! A quick suggestion, I think it would be cool to have specific breeds of animals in the children’s zoo.