We’ve traveled to 47 different zoos, and we’ve seen some really cool ones. The animals, of course, are the stars of the show but often times a person’s zoo experience can be drastically altered by the layout of the zoo. Having to walk uphill or long distances, for example, for most of the day can take away from the large space and amazing views of the animals. At other zoos you may feel like the animals aren’t organized well or you don’t have a good view of them, and that can also be distracting. So I took some time this week to think about how I would design “The Perfect Zoo.”
When I walk into a zoo, I want to be Wow’d immediately. After I pay my admission price and shuffle my three kids through the opening gates, I want them to see animals up close even before they rush off to the bathroom. I might be alone in this belief, and surely there are other ways for a zoo to strike a visitor with awe, but to me nothing replaces an immediate exhibit. The Knoxville Zoo’s Black Bear Falls exhibit, Gladys Porter (Brownsville, Tx) Zoo’s gorilla exhibit, and Blank Park (Des Moines, IA) Zoo’s camel exhibit greet you immediately, giving you a great first impression of their zoo – in fact the Blank Park Zoo gets an extra early jump as their camel exhibit is alongside the parking lot as you drive into the zoo in order to give them the space they deserve. While most zoos strategically have a splash pad or fountain in the entrance, if I was designing my zoo I’d put something right in the middle of the visitor’s view when they walk through the gate.
My childhood memories are of the Detroit Zoo, where one of the first things you saw was a large sea lion exhibit. I remember racing to the ledge so I could watch the large California sea lions flopping across the pavement to either beg for fish snack, or slide into the pool – and to me that’s what should happen when you enter a zoo: immediately give the visitor something they’ll remember.
Outside of an amazing first attraction, I’ve become a big believer in the concept of an open savanna. I really like the way the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo executes their Africa exhibit. The zoo is basically spilt into three sections: Australia, Asia, and Africa. When you walk toward the Africa exhibit’s wing of the zoo, you’re on a walking path that winds around in a circle. On the outside of the path are several exhibits – lions, hyenas, big cats, giraffes, and even a honey badger. On the inside – visible from the entire loop – is a savanna with zebras, wildebeests, and ostriches. In my design, I’d go with something similar to this, only I’d want the giraffes (along with an elevated giraffe feeding deck) to be included in the middle circle. The savanna concept is carried out at many zoos, such as the Columbus Zoo which does combine the animals in a very large space.
I also think a specific children’s area is important. I would model this off of the Saint Louis Zoo. Their children’s area has an indoor exhibit with smaller animals that are typically available for the kids to pet, but also a few exhibits including a sloth and a tree kangaroo. The children’s wing has a play area, and their slides go through the river otter tank so that you can potentially see them on your way down. The area also contains a small splash pad.
Interactivity is very important to me, so I’d also put an Australia exhibit in my perfect zoo. I’d like a kangaroo walkabout area where visitors can walk amongst the kangaroos. I’d also like emus to be present, as well as an aviary filled with lorikeets. These colorful birds are just as active (typically) as parakeets, and can be more fun to look at/feed. Having a koala would really round out this exhibit, as koalas are pretty rare in American zoos.
Outside of flocking to the sea lion exhibit, I’m a big fan of lemurs, so in my perfect zoo I’d want some type of monkey exhibit. Ideally this would be an indoor/outdoor exhibit so that the animals have access to both. I’d want monkeys and apes included. From our experiences, even on days when most animals are quiet and inactive, monkeys are the life of the party so having a large monkey exhibit can keep the visitors entertained.
Lastly, a zoo to me is near complete once it has pachyderms. I’ll admit that in contrast to having a monkey house, you’re risking having a large version of a paper weight to look at when you bring in pachyderms, and they can be quite costly on the budget. But awe factor in staring down an elephant is way worth the risk or the cost. The pachyderm exhibit should also be indoor/outdoor, and give the animals plenty of space.
I’d tie all of this together with a train ride around the zoo.
So there you have it – my perfect design for a zoo. Have any ideas of your own? I’d love to hear them and write about some of the design or exhibit ideas that you have, so send them my way at zoowithus@yahoo.com. Need some more inspiration? Head on out for more animal experiences and Zoo With Us!
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