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Barrier Designs for Zoos - ZooLex Zoo Design Organization

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BARRIER DESIGNS FOR ZOOS<br />

Illustration showing breakup viewers into<br />

the smaller groups<br />

in many older zoos is that animal is placed as if in<br />

a circus surrounded by people. This lets the visitors<br />

concentrate on each other rather than spend time<br />

viewing the animal. This implicitly encourages a<br />

greater disrespect <strong>for</strong> the animal.<br />

Viewing locations and barriers should also ensure that<br />

visitors cannot see entire exhibit areas from any one<br />

point or from all points (360 degree viewing) as has<br />

been done at many of the Indian zoos. Such viewing<br />

makes the visitor lose interest very quickly in the exhibit. In such scenario the animal<br />

becomes a part of a park background rather than attracting focused attention.<br />

Wherever possible, a greater number of viewing points or viewing windows should<br />

be planned to give the visitors special views of the animals. In the case of certain<br />

animals e.g. lions and tigers, where visitors are bound to congregate, the length of<br />

viewing area can be divided in a way to increase the viewing opportunities <strong>for</strong> visitors.<br />

2.1.7 Viewing “Hides” or “Blinds”<br />

It is also important that zoos should<br />

provide viewing <strong>for</strong> certain special<br />

exhibits through suitably designed<br />

“hides” or “blinds”. These are<br />

covered shelters which penetrate<br />

perimeter barriers and allow<br />

viewing through glasss windows.<br />

Viewing “hides” which will provide<br />

more intimate viewing as has been<br />

done with the underwater otter<br />

viewing at Hyderabad, Himalayan<br />

newt exhibit at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan <strong>Zoo</strong>logical Park at Darjeeling, turtle<br />

enclosures at Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Mammalapuram and Gharial exhibit at<br />

Nadankanan <strong>Zoo</strong>, Bhubaneshwar. They also provide shelter <strong>for</strong> visitors and contain<br />

interpretive material about the animals and their habitat.<br />

8<br />

Viewing hide structure at Giraffe enclosure<br />

at Melbourne <strong>Zoo</strong>, Australia

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