Barrier Designs for Zoos - ZooLex Zoo Design Organization
Barrier Designs for Zoos - ZooLex Zoo Design Organization
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