Gone Zooing

Ms. Bragg’s classes asked about how we come up with the design for the animal exhibits, so I thought I would let everyone in on this process while I answer their question. I’m using the snow leopards as an example since their exhibit has so many cool things that are there just because there are snow leopards that live there.

There is usually a group of people that get together and decide on an animal’s exhibit design before the animal arrives so the exhibit can be all finished and comfy when the animal gets out of quarantine. One of our curators, the lead keeper in the area, and the primary keeper for the animal are the main members of this group. Other members include someone from operations (the people who either build the exhibit or hire the people that build the exhibit), other keepers that may have worked with this animal at another zoo, and the interpretive manager (she’s from the education department). The first task of the group is to learn all they can about how the animal lives in the wild – what it’s wild habitat looks like, how the animal moves around in it’s natural habitat, what sort of food they eat, how do they find/catch/scavenge their food, what sort of sleeping space do they have in the wild, are they naturally secretive animals? These are all questions that must be answered. Once this knowledge is all gathered and discussed the design for the animal’s exhibit starts to form itself based on the answers to the questions.

From that point, everyone looks at other aspects of the design – like the behind the scenes areas. How will the keeper access the area? Does there need to be protective doors and caging between the keeper and the animal at all times? How will the animal shift from the inside holding area to the exhibit? How will veterinary procedures be performed on this animal and in this space? Again, all the answers to these questions determine how the behind the scenes areas will look. After that is determined, another critical eye at safety – for the animal, the keeper, and the public. And then the education representative helps determine what graphics and messaging will be on the outside graphics (those things that are up for you to read and learn about the animal and their natural habitat).

Let’s look at the snow leopard as an example. First of all, snow leopards are found in the Himalayan mountain range. There, they hunt wild mountain sheep and goats that live there as well. Both the predator and the prey are excellent at leaping and jumping around on the bare rocks that make up the mountainside. (that’s why the snow leopard has such a long tail – to help them balance while they make their spectacular leaps) The design of the fur of the snow leopard gives them perfect cover to sneak as close as possible to their prey before they pounce. So, when it came to designing the exhibit – it was only natural that it look like the rocky side of a high mountain range. Did we bring boulders from the Himalayas? Nope. We hired someone to create the look of rocks out of lots of chicken wire and a plaster/concrete mix. So, it looks and sort of feels like the rocky side of a high mountain range. The cats feel love all the natural nooks and ledges that can be found tucked into the fake rocks. This is where they can usually be found during the day. You have to look hard to find them there because they blend right in! And since they can jump around these ledges so well they may be at the tippy-top of the exhibit. Since snow leopards are such great jumpers – can actually jump a little over 32 feet with one pounce – and are such great climbers there is a net of chain link over the top of the exhibit. It is high enough that the cats can still jump and pounce and even climb part of the tree that is there but it keeps the cats from springing out over the side of the exhibit and wandering through the park.

As for the inside holding areas, since leopards are big, predatory cats the keepers do not go in with them. Therefore the area had to have two sets of doors. When the animals shift in for the night (the door is in the back of the exhibit and when they go in it looks like they are going into a cave!) they go through one door, through a small hallway, and into their holding spaces (which are also filled with ledges and cubbies for the cats to sleep). And this entire area has protective bars around it so the keepers are never in the same space as the cats.

Other animals wouldn’t find this exhibit very hospitable. Take the camels, for instance. They can’t climb so all those chicken-wire rocks would be lost on them. But the snow leopards also wouldn’t be able to live in the camel exhibit either. All that sand in their toes would probably make for a cranky cat.

So, this is what goes into creating a new exhibit. We happen to be in the middle of building one right now for our brandy-y new red panda. The grand opening for that exhibit is set (tentatively) for the end of May. I’ll keep you posted on how things are going down there so you may be able to see the process take place before your very eyes. And make sure to check back in next week to find out how we decide who gets what to eat, and how much.