Barrier Designs for Zoos - ZooLex Zoo Design Organization

BARRIER DESIGNS FOR ZOOS
The Hyderabad Zoo has successfully used creepers (climbers) planted to hang over the
moat wall to cover and camouflage it. Slender species of creepers can also be planted on
mesh fence
The Vandalur Zoo is of the opinion that the plant hedges in front of the moat do not
always work as a people barrier especially in high visitation (popular animal) areas as
the hedges are broken through easily by visitors.
Planted vegetation buffers are highly recommended for such exhibits as a way of keeping
visitors from looking over the moat wall but these buffers must be protected themselves
from visitors by continuous guard rails or fencing hidden in vegetation.
Specially constructed viewing shelters with laminated tempered glass have been used in
conjunction with fence/wall barriers successfully for lion and tiger exhibits in zoos
around the world. These viewing areas are extremely popular with visitors as they allow
an uninterrupted close up view of the animals.
The Lucknow Zoo is of the opinion that too muck rock work used as a rear barrier or
inside the exhibit creates difficulties for weak/ill animals in climbing and returning to
feeding and retiring cubicles.
Due to its expense, rockwork is only recommended for creating rock perches which
allow visitors to see lions more clearly as they rest in the sun. Rear walls covered with
rockwork are expensive and difficult to construct in a realistic manner and so should
only be used if moats and fences are unavailable as options.
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