Most beautiful sculptures at zoos ?

Sculpture is an art form that when done well can really enhance the aesthetics of a zoo by showcasing the grandeur of nature and often are enjoyed by visitors too.

What are some examples of sculptures (either historic or contemporary) at zoos that you think are particularly beautiful or interesting ?

Why do you personally like these ? Do they have any symbolic value or fond memories for you ?


Look forward to reading your replies !

 

There are some that I saw in the gallery that struck me as being beautiful or at the very least interesting / quirky:

Shoebill sculptures at Berlin zoo, Germany:

Marsupial sculptures at San Diego zoo, USA, of Tasmanian devil, numbat, kowari and quoll:

Red panda sculpture at the Bronx zoo, USA:

White rhino sculpture at Zoo Krefeld, Germany:

Peccary statues at Arizona Sonora desert museum, USA:

Indian rhinoceros calf at Oklahoma city zoo, USA:

Sumatran rhino statue at Howletts zoo, UK:

Indian rhinoceros statue at the Bronx zoo, USA:

Gorilla statue at Point Defiance zoo, USA:

Gorilla statue at Howletts zoo, UK:

Orangutang sculpture at Edinburgh zoo, Scotland:

Wolf sculptures at Minnesota zoo, USA:

Baboon sculptures at Woodland park zoo, USA:


Francois langur at Taronga zoo, Australia:

Tiger sculpture at Charles Paddock zoo, USA:

Lion sculptures at Sedgwick county zoo, USA:

Lion sculpture at Topeka zoo, USA:

Lion sculptures at Philadelphia zoo, USA:

Snow leopard sculpture at Woodland park zoo, USA:


Photo credits to @kiang, @geomorph , @WhistlingKite24 , @tigris115 , @MeiLover , @MagpieGoose , @TeaLovingDave , @Ituri , @Baldur , @mhale , @snowleopard ,

 

Paired white concrete sculptures of the silhouettes of lions, rhinos, elephants, hippos, gorillas, and crocodiles line the path to the Memphis Zoo’s ancient Egypt-themed entrance gate.

 

Thanks for sharing @The Cassowary !

What do you find beautiful about these sculptures ?

 

They may not be the most beautiful sculptures ever, but their large size and the way they line the entrance makes them feel very impressive in person. I also have a nostalgic fondness for them since I’ve been visiting the Memphis Zoo since I was a little kid.

 

Pelican sculptures at Prague zoo, Czech Republic:

Bear sculpture at Bramble park zoo, USA:

Seal lion sculpture at Vasco de Gama aquarium, Portugal:

Water buffalo sculpture at Artis Royal zoo, the Netherlands:

Red Panda sculpture at Rotterdam zoo, the Netherlands:

Fighting wild boar sculptures at zoo d'Amiens , France:

Komodo dragon sculpture at Ueno zoo, Japan:

Komodo dragon sculpture at Chester zoo, UK:

Rattlesnake sculpture at LA zoo , USA:

Cape buffalo sculpture at Saint Louis zoo, USA:

Giraffe sculpture at Buffalo zoo, USA:

Giant anteater sculpture at Gaia zoo Kerkade, the Netherlands:

Elephant sculpture / fountain at the National zoo, USA:


Photo credits to @snowleopard , @CZJimmy ,@FunkyGibbon , @Blackduiker, @dcpandafan , @Maguari , @vogelcommando , @Goura

 

Its alright @The Cassowary beauty is a subjective thing anyway and as you have said these are emblematic of your childhood and so it is understandable why they have a meaning for you.

 

Prairie dog statues in Taipei Zoo
Represent the role of supporting the ecosystem of this species.

Ťhere are also exquisite life-sized penguin species statues stand on a mosaic Southern Hemisphere map outside of the penguin house.

 

Thanks for sharing @itsallfaction !

That is a really interesting one indeed, I really like the detail of the three little prarie dogs as supports to the structure.

 

Deer sculpture at Antwerp zoo, Belgium:

Giraffe sculpture at Gaia zoo Kerkade, the Netherlands:

Wolf sculptures at Lincoln Park zoo, USA:

Jaguar sculpture at Antwerp zoo, Belgium:

Ocelot sculptures at North Carolina zoo, USA:

Bonobo sculpture at Antwerp zoo, Belgium:

Hamydryas baboon sculpture at Antwerp zoo, Belgium :

Orangutang sculpture at Berlin zoo, Germany:

Mountain goat sculpture at Prague zoo, Czech Republic:

Bobcats and hare sculpture at V & A Living museum, USA:

Elephant sculptures at Philadelphia zoo, USA:

Red deer sculpture at Berlin Tierpark zoo, Germany:

Eagle owl sculpture at Antwerp zoo, Belgium:

Whooping crane sculpture at Audubon zoo, USA:

Emperor penguin sculptures at Pairi Daiza, Belgium:

Macaw sculptures at Dierenpark zie zoo, the Netherlands:

Crocodile sculpture at Gladys Porter zoo, USA:

Alligator sculpture at Cincinnati zoo, USA:

Alligator sculpture at Audubon zoo, USA:

Alligator sculpture at Beardsley zoo, USA:




@snowleopard , @Moebelle , @MagpieGoose , @BeardsleyZooFan , @vogelcommando, @KevinB , @Milwaukee Man , @Elephantlover , @Yi Qi , @TinoPup, @Shirokuma and @FunkyGibbon

 

Galapagos giant tortoise sculpture at Staten Island zoo, USA:

Giant tortoise sculpture at Minnesota zoo, USA:

Giant tortoise sculpture at the Bronx zoo, USA:

Giant tortoise sculpture at ZSL London zoo, UK:

Giant tortoise sculpture at San Diego zoo, USA:

Bison sculpture at North Carolina zoo, USA:

Lappet faced vulture sculpture at North Carolina zoo, USA:

Hare sculpture at Antwerp zoo, Belgium:

Aardvark sculpture at North Carolina zoo, USA:

Giraffe sculpture at North Carolina zoo, USA:

White rhino sculpture at North Carolina zoo, USA:

Lion sculptures at North Carolina zoo, USA:

Bison sculpture at North Carolina zoo, USA:

Puma sculpture at North Carolina zoo, USA:

Snake sculpture at North Carolina zoo, USA:


Photo credits to @Milwaukee Man , @KevinB , @mhale, @zoo_enthusiast , @snowleopard , @BeardsleyZooFan , @djaeon, @cuckooduck and @kpd_86.

 

This musk-ox statue in Berlin Tierpark has long been a favourite of mine.

Musk-ox statue; Berlin Tierpark; 9th June 2014 - ZooChat

 

Tiger Trail statue by Julio C Castro posted 20 Jan 2021 at 2:59 PM

I’d say this is one of my favorites, a tiger statue directly after entering Tiger Trail at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Although the tiger itself isn’t a direct replica of other well known tiger sculptures, it does have the stylings of a Chinese sculptures design similar to the tigers or guardian dogs. It certainly has the color palate of Southeast Asian design with a rustic approach as if it had been exposed to the elements for hundreds of years, therefore dulling out the red and yellow pigments. As to why I personally like it, it immerses you into the design of the entire exhibit. It’s surrounded by large shoots of bamboo, illuminated by sunlight. It is definitely one of the more immersive exhibits I’ve visited so far and amongst my top 3.

 

I'm quite a fan on the megafauna statues in Elephant Odyssey at the San Diego Zoo. They're certainly not the greatest statues but I like when zoos educate guests on prehistoric fauna, provided they give accurate information.


@geomorph - Columbian mammoth

@geomorph - Jefferson's ground sloth

@gemorph - Daggett's eagle

@geomorph - Saber-toothed cat

@geomorph - Short-faced bear

Me - Merriam's teratorn

 

NEW Zoo has a particularly cool one of an American Badger, I'll see if I can get a photo next time I'm there.

Here's a sculpture of a Major Mitchell's Cockatoo from the Brookfield Zoo:

 

San Diego's statues have been mentioned a few times now but how could we forget the biggest statue at the entire zoo.

I mean the statue is absolutely massive

And the fact that it is only supported by one leg is atonishing

 

Artis Amsterdam

 

I like the color realism of the two statues in Desert Lives at Phoenix Zoo:





Desert Lives - Desert Bighorn Sheep Statue - ZooChat



Desert Lives - Arabian Oryx Statue - ZooChat

 

These are great, they look about life size too, have to admit I much prefer the bronze statue / sculpture look rather than with colour realism but these look awesome and particularly the oryx.