Barrier Designs for Zoos - ZooLex Zoo Design Organization

BARRIER DESIGNS FOR ZOOS
Barrier Suggestions
i) It can be housed in moated enclosures or partly moated enclosures both wet & dry of
3m width & 1.5m depth. The back side can have rubble walls of 2m height. When dry
moat is provided the water body should be away from the same.
ii) Other 2 species of Indian crocodilians i.e. mugger and estuarine crocodile can have similar
moats with 2m deep moates with rubble walls on the back side.
iii) Where under water viewing is arranged with toughened water proof glasses below water
level, the minimum moat size should be at least 5m wide 1.5m deep with raised wall
above the glass viewing window.
iv) The sand should be made available in appropriate amount inside the Gharial enclosure
for basking.
3.6.3 Otter
Nature of the animal
Otters live in groups but they usually search for food on their own, in water or in hand. They
feed on fish, frogs, land birds and small mammals. Most of them hunt during the day. Otters
come ashore to give birth to their young ones. The newborn are blind and are carefully guarded
by their mother. Sleek, streamlined and energetic, the otter rarely remains still. An Otter’s
flexible body and webbed feet makes it an underwater acrobat.
Analysis of Barrier Dimensions
COMMON OTTER Width (M) Depth(M)/ Height(H) Moat type
Indian Zoos:
Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad 4.0 2.5 Wet*
Assam State Zoo, Guwahati N. A. 1.4 Wet
National Zoological Park, Delhi 1.58 1.58 Wet
Kanpur Zoological Park, Kanpur 2.5 2.0 dry moat
with pond
Foreign Zoos:
London Zoo 1.7
* includes under water viewing
N. A. - not available
Note : Taronga Zoo, Australia, has 1.5m high inclind fence with fine mesh and smooth river bank 1m
above water level.
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