MODERN ZOO DESIGN

Animal enclosure designing

Evolution of Zoos
Menageries
Assyrian transport cage for lions, !"" #$
$arl %agen &ec'(s mooted enclosure
)arts of animal enclosure
An animal exhibit has a foreground middle ground and a rear ground.
The barriers in the foreground and rear ground should be invisible. The barriers
on the sides of the middle ground should also be invisible.
*oreground
The foreground is where the viewer stands on a path and where the front barrier is
located.
Vegetation and natural features like rocks and fallen trees should be the same as
the viewers side and in the animal exhibit to create landscape immersion, or
visual integration.
The front barrier should be invisible, preferably a moat or sheet of glass. n a
moat, careful attention should be given to the sight lines.
Middle Ground
The middle ground is where the animal will be displayed to the viewer. This is
where necessary features of its ecological niche both functional and aesthetic are
located. There should be pools, rock features, trees, vegetation, grass areas, sand
patches, mud wallows, salt licks etc.
Although the animals should be offered security and comfort away from the
viewer, the ultimate challenge for the designer is to ensure that animals are on
display anytime a viewer wishes to see them.
!referably the side barriers should be invisible. "oats can be used or else heavy
planting be considered behind and through fences.
Rear Ground
The rear ground addresses the rear barrier and the feeling of depth of the exhibit.
An ideal exhibit should have on invisible moat as a rear barrier and planting
beyond the moat to give the feeling of depth and space to the scene. f a fence is
used, it should be heavily planted in front and behind to conceal it. #emember it
is an illusion that we are creating.
+ualities of good &arriers
$afety and security of animal in display, that of visitors, and that of keepers and
other management staff.
!reventing escape of animals
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.nsuring proper visibility of animals
/acilities for day0to0day working
"erging enclosure design with surroundings
#educing stress to animals
,ypes of #arriers
"oats0dry and wet 12ne0sided 3et "oat, 2ne0sided 4ry "oat etc5
$teel vertical bars%6attle 7rid 8arrier
9ori:ontal pipes
7lass
9ot wires
$tone walls
!lano wires
$tandoff barrier
9a0ha 8arrier
6hainlink barrier etc
Moats
4ry moats are preferred over wet moats as it reduces water re;uirements and
stagnation of water
3ater acts as a psychological barrier in some animals for them wet moats are
preferred.
Dry moat-one sided dry moat
$uitable for more flighty animals or where visibility of the moat is unavoidable.
Alternatively, the slope can be left as earth 1with suitable planting5. .rosion is then a risk
Dry moat-t.o sided dry moat
The inner vertical well acts to deter animals from getting into the moat.
The depth and width has to be proportioned to suit each species and its abilities.
/et moats-s0allo. .et moat
$uitable for animals with a positive fear of water 1that may even deter :umping over the
water5. and%or strongly territorial animals.
3ater depth should be shallow to reduce the risk of occidental drowning.
/et moats-one sided .et moat
As a rule, wet moats should not be two sided, unless very shallow.
The initial slope is necessary to forewarn the animal of the increasing depth when visual
clues are not available. 7radient and texture of the slope need to be considered for each
species.
*ence #arriers
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The fence is primarily used as a side%near barrier.
t is an efficient method of 6ontainment but can damaged by animals, storms, falling
trees.
The footing depth should be one third the fence height. A good anti0corrosion system is
essential.
1ertical *ence #arrier .it0 return
The top return permits use with some climbing animals and animals able to scramble up
vertical surfaces
Depressed 1ertical *ence #arrier
A variation that allows the use of fences where there is little is little other 6oncealment
1e.g. vegetation5 available or the scenery beyond is port of the display .nclosures.
%a-0a #arrier
Achieves a similar visual effect 1i.e. concealment5 as the depressed vertical fence. The
correct choice between these two barriers depends on the :umping or climbing abilities of
the animal. This sunken wall is more restricted in use and will be <owe than most fences.
The wall however, takes up less area.
$attle Grid #arrier
$pacing of the bars, the initial depth and overall width need to take into account the
temperament and physical abilities of the animals. 3orks best if it psychologically deters
the animals.
Reinforced )ipe #arrier
$uitable for rhinoceros or large ungulates such as 3ater buffalo height may very
depending on shoulder height of animal. #einforcing consists of support strut and dead
man at each vertical post, or alternating post to prevent animal from pushing barrier out
of plumb.
%ot /ire
This should only be used as a secondary barrier, i.e. in case it falls, there will be a
primary containment envelope beyond 1and before animals can contact visitors5. 9ot wire
can reinforce the primary barrier, especially during ntroductions and initial conditioning
of animals. t is used to protect vegetation and trees and to separate incompatible groups
within the same exhibit. The conse;uences of power failure must always be considered.
Mes0 Enclosure
=sed for extremely dangerous and able animals, such as leopards, or small animals and
birds that would not display well in open enclosures.
/all #arrier
"ainly a rear barrier
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)iano #arrier
Tensioned vertical wires are used for holding flying birds, butterflies etc,. This type of
fencing doesnt 2bstruct the virewing of viewers.
1isual #arriers
3aoos
8amboo%cane fences
9edges
7reen walls
Artificial rockwork
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