Living With Wildlife by shofhine

Living With Wildlife At the Sequoia Park Zoo by Steve Hofhine

Promoting coexistence with nature through interpretive experience A Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report submitted to the Faculty of the College of Art and Architecture in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Landscape Architecture in the Graduate College of the University of Idaho Copyright 2014

Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION

67 SITE INVENTORY

2 Abstract

Site Location

4 Question

Eureka

5 Problem

Sequoia Park Zoo

Background and Purpose

Circulation

Methods

Water

Conceptual Framework

Climate

Project Scope

Vegetation

Project Goals

78 Topography

19 LITERATURE

Opportunities and Constraints

Message

81 DESIGN

Visitor Engagement

Landscape Immersion Principles

Animal Welfare

Activity-Based Design

Staff Needs

Narrative Organization

31 CASE REVIEWS

WILDERNESS

Medtronic Minnesota Trail

Highway

Cascade Crest

Suburban Edge

Cat Country

Concept Development

Case Study Summary

Master Plan

105 CONCLUSION 108

Literature Cited

INTRODUCTION

Abstract The purpose of this research is to establish design methodologies to native species zoo exhibits that will result in increased understanding of local ecology and in zoo guests taking conservation action. These methodologies were then applied to the design of a native predator exhibit within existing redwood forest for the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California. Species to be exhibited include mountain lion, black bear, coyote, grey fox, black bear, porcupine, and fisher. Case reviews of exhibits with similar characteristics or objectives were conducted and included site visits and conversations with zoo staff and/ or exhibit designers. Three visits were made to the zoo to perform site inventory and analysis and to participate in design meetings with zoo staff for the purpose of establishing guiding principles and program. A thorough review of literature regarding the connection between zoo exhibits and conservation attitudes and actions was completed. Through the research four main components emerged as critical to the design: message, animal welfare, visitor engagement, and staff needs. Specific design principles include landscape immersion and activitybased design.

INTRODUCTION

The outcome of the research is a schematic design for an exhibit called “Living With Wildlife.” The narrative concept is to take guests on a journey from the wilderness to the highway and then to the suburban edge. One key aspect of the design is the use of flexible rotational exhibits to support animal welfare and to reinforce the message of animals’ need to move through their territory. The zoo was presented with all design documents, which include a schematic master plan and supporting sections and perspective drawings.

Although there is evidence that zoos can positively affect guests’ conservation attitudes and action, further research is needed. A postoccupancy longitudinal study evaluating guests’ initial perception of the exhibit and their later conservation attitudes and behaviors was recommended.

Question

INTRODUCTION

How can the design of an exhibit for predators native to the redwood forest at the Sequoia Park Zoo educate about habitat fragmentation and urban wildlife conflict, and as a result, motivate guests towards conservation action?

Problem

In the industrialized world we have become increasingly disconnected from nature. We have gone from an agrarian society where our connection with nature and the land was clear and easy to see, to a technological society which has rendered our dependence on nature invisible. We are seemingly unaware of the nature that surrounds us (Miller 430). As we continue to develop our world, blissfully unaware of our dependence on nature, we face a dire threat from the loss of biodiversity. Our actions are having drastic consequences on the function of ecosystems in our own communities and throughout the world. Such a seemingly innocent act as applying excess fertilizer to our lawns is contributing to dire consequences as extra nitrogen builds up in the ocean, causing algal blooms that are killing off coral reefs.

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) the current rate of extinction of species is up to 1000 times or more than the natural rate (“Why Is Biodiversity In Crisis?”). Community nature centers have answered the call to combat this disconnectedness and are focusing their facilities and programs towards getting children out into nature. For example, the Cincinnati Nature Center’s Marge & Charles Schott Nature Playscape is an environment tailored for nature discovery and play with plants, soil, rocks and water with which children are encouraged to interact with and touch. Similar nature play areas are being constructed in nature centers around the country. Likewise a multitude of conservation-focused non-profits exist to battle the extinction crisis. Organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund are working on a broad scale across the globe in efforts to conserve biodiversity (“Vision & Mission | The Nature Conservancy”) . More focused organizations like the Snow Leopard Trust focus on certain “flagship species,” the protection of which will safeguard other species sharing the same ecosystem.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this research is to study how the design of a native species exhibit at the Sequoia Park Zoo can encourage engagement with the local natural world, and educate about the ecology and conservation issues that exist in its own community, thus driving related guest conservation action. This will illustrate the value of native species exhibits by demonstrating their power to create nature experiences that can lead to increased ecological wellness through promoting understanding of local ecology and inspiring local conservation action.

Conservation kiosk at the Philadelphia Zoo

Zoo Boise Conservation Fund

INTRODUCTION

Zoos stand at the junction of these two related issues and can work towards solving them both. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) states that the annual combined attendance at accredited zoos and aquariums is higher than the combined annual attendance of all major North American professional sports (Bronislawski). With such a broad audience zoos have the potential to make a significant impact on these threats.

common thread is that they allow guests to take direct action towards the conservation of the planet’s biodiversity while they are still at the zoo (“Zoo Boise Conservation Fund”). Examples of this can be seen in accredited zoos all over the country. A very popular program, called Quarters for Conservation, allows guests to donate spare change to a conservation project of their choosing. The Snow Leopard Trust now sells wool items that are made from shepherds in Asia who work to help keep snow leopards safe. Some zoos offer notebooks and paper products made through an organization called Mr. Ellie Pooh, from the fibers found in the dung of elephants in Sri Lanka, and this industry exists to support healthy forests on the island. Of the conservation programs that zoos support or spearhead, approximately half of them are for local or regional species or habitats.

Until recently, the conservation work of zoos has taken place largely behind the scenes. Larger zoos like the Bronx Zoo in New York and the San Diego Zoo in California created their own conservation groups ((“Wildlife Conservation Society - About”; “San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy”). These groups carry out conservation-related research at their facilities as well as in-situ conservation work in the field. Smaller zoos, unable to create their own conservation groups, have Taking part in conservation programs in the wild is only part of the begun to raise money in conservation funds which are then granted to overall strategy zoos employ. Zoos have also shown to be successful at increasing public awareness of and influencing attitudes towards existing projects run by other zoos or conservation groups. conservation (Falk et al 3-4). However, in American zoos it seems that In more recent times, zoos have begun to create conservation action one is more likely to learn about the destruction of far off rainforests opportunities for their guests. These come in many forms, but the or the poaching of elephants and rhinos than the threats of invasive

Canadian Wilds at the Calgary Zoo

This research project can be used to improve the effectiveness of zoo native species exhibits in raising awareness of local ecological issues, positively influencing guest conservation attitudes and actions concerning those issues and simultaneously encouraging people to experience nature during their zoo visit and beyond. The application of strategies derived from this research can greatly improve the influence zoos have over local conservation issues and societal .

INTRODUCTION

species or watershed pollution in the region in which the zoo is located. If zoos were to increase their focus on the native ecology and highlight issues of local conservation importance, they could not only make a significant impact on the health of the local ecosystem through inspiring conservation action, but they could also promote human wellness through increased interest in and interaction with nature in the local community.

Hornaday (left) with bison crated for shipment from the Bronx Zoo to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, 1907.

Page from Wildlife Conservation Scrapbook of William T. Hornaday

Significance of Project Why is this important? The reality of limited resources necessitates innovative design solutions which will enhance both human and ecological wellness. Zoos are in a unique and powerful position to do this. There are a limited number of places, particularly in urban areas, that have the potential to simultaneously provide nature experiences and ecological learning. Zoos are one such place to which large portions of the population have access.

INTRODUCTION

What historical and contemporary conditions have contributed to this problem?

The purpose of zoos has continually evolved through time. The predecessor of the modern zoo is the royal menagerie, which existed as a demonstration of a ruler’s power and as a way to entertain guests of the court. The 19th century brought about a new form of animal collection. Due to a growing interest in science, the London Zoo was

founded in 1830 as the first zoo whose purpose was the advancement of the biological sciences (Lindholm). The first American zoos, in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, were modelled heavily on their European counterparts. However, through the efforts of taxidermist William T. Hornaday, zoos founded in New York and Washington DC occupied larger pieces of land and were intended to give animals the ability to live in herds in more natural conditions and with an eye towards, “the preservation of our native animals”(Hanson 27). In the early twentieth century, people were becoming aware of the disappearance of the American bison and other large game in the west. As director of the Bronx Zoo, Hornaday went on to play a key role in the saving of the American bison (Hanson 46); American bison that were bred at the Bronx Zoo became the nucleus of a herd sent to the Wichita Mountain Preserve in Oklahoma. These early ambitions of displaying and contributing to the preservation of native species soon diminished due to popular demand for more exotic and entertaining animals (Hyson 31).

Human strife in the form of two world wars and the Great Depression likely caused a decrease in concern for wildlife. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that a growing understanding of our impact on nature led to a renewed concern for wildlife and the ecosystems they inhabited. During this time zoos were involved in a massive organized breeding effort for the endangered Arabian oryx which began with just nine individuals (“Phoenix Zoo Conservation Newsletter” 1-3). Later, in the eighties and nineties a concept for zoos as a modern “Noah’s Ark” emerged. Zoos embarked on emergency breeding programs for golden lion-tamarins, California condors, red wolves, and black-footed ferrets among others. The “Noah’s Ark” approach only addresses part of the problem (Bowkett 774). Entire ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming and ever-increasing rate. Zoos started to realize that captive breeding efforts would be futile if there was no wild in which to return them. As previously stated, many of the larger zoos launched in-situ conservation programs all over the world. Zoos would also try to influence attitudes and behaviors of guests by striving to educate them on conservation

Arabian oryx at the Phoenix Zoo

issues and to positively influence their behaviors on behalf of nature and the environment. By fostering an emotional connection with an animal, zoos are capable of driving a change in attitudes and behavior about conservation issues (Skibins and Powell 528). The continued growth of technology in our society has a detrimental effect on our connectedness with nature. People are largely unaware of the natural world that exists around them, and have a far lesser understanding for natural processes than generations ago when most depended directly on the land for their own survival. This disconnection results in a decreased ability to notice environmental change. When compared to the plight of popular and charismatic large mammals such as elephants, rhinos and tigers, locally relevant issues, which have the greatest potential for positive influence, maintain a relatively low profile. The average zoo visitor can do a lot more good for the health of their local watershed than they can for the poaching crisis faced by African and Asian rhinos. A great untapped potential exists for zoos to

INTRODUCTION

California Condor at the San Diego Wild Animal Park

Trans-Canada Wildlife Overpass

development is carving up wildlife habitat rapidly, creating pockets of wildlife habitat surrounded by city. Without any connection to additional How is this positioned within landscape architecture and zoo habitat, animals are forced to travel through populated regions. This design? journey through urban areas leads to an increase in human/animal conflicts. Wildlife is often hit crossing major highways or raids backyard In 1976, zoo director and architect David Hancocks enlisted the service trash cans and dog food bowls. Almost universally, the animals lose of the landscape architecture firm Jones and Jones to draw up the these conflicts. Zoos can play a role in addressing these conflicts through long-range facilities plan for the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. This is good exhibit and interpretive design to increase public awareness of considered the birth of modern zoo design. He considered landscape these conservation challenges. architects preferable for zoo design due to an enhanced understanding of natural systems (Hancocks 137-138). Certainly landscape architects are versed in ecological, geological, and hydrological systems and are well suited to design and portray such systems in an interpretive setting. influence change in their own communities.

INTRODUCTION

What does it contribute in the way of new knowledge to the discipline?

This research proposes to establish that the design of native species exhibits can drive increased understanding of and conservation action in the immediately local ecosystem. One conservation issue facing many parts of the country, particularly the state of California, is habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. Human

The Sequoia Park Zoo, located in Eureka California, occupies approximately five acres within a dense redwood forest. Looking to the future, the zoo plans on addressing conservation issues both at home and abroad as they develop new exhibits. The collection plan for the zoo calls for the addition of mountain lions and black bears. The opportunity exists to use an exhibit of native predators to highlight the issues related to habitat fragmentation and human/wildlife conflicts in urban areas. Such a focus would positively influence attitudes and behaviors of zoo visitors.

INTRODUCTION

Black bear with trash can

Methods Site Analysis The site analysis includes multiple visits to the site. A thorough analysis of conditions is conducted which includes topography, hydrology, climate, vegetation, and the condition of existing facilities. Program Development Meetings and design charrettes are conducted with the zoo staff that result in establishing and refining of the program for the exhibit as well as development guidelines and goals that will direct the philosophical underpinnings of the design. The guiding narrative is established to provide direction to the design. Literature Review The research involves a review of pertinent literature to develop an understanding of the existing knowledge base. The development of a conceptual framework aids in focusing the research on key topics. The key topics to be researched are: delivering an effective message, engaging the visitor in the experience, animal welfare, and the needs of zoo staff. Case Reviews

INTRODUCTION

Detailed case reviews are carried out to explore the successes and challenges of similar undertakings. Each of the projects reviewed are visited in person and discussions are held with zoo staff or designers. The criteria for selection of projects for case reviews are based on the goals and objectives of the design project. Specifically, important traits include the effective interpretation of native species and local issues, sensitive construction within an existing, native landscape, and thoughtful design for the behavioral needs of animals.

Concept and Design Development Multiple concepts are explored and refined using the key learnings from the case reviews and literature study. Refined concepts are narrowed down to two to three site concepts. The final concepts are presented to zoo staff for discussion. The benefits and challenges of each concept are discussed. Concepts are reviewed by zoo staff and one is selected. This concept is further refined and a design is developed based on the constraints of the site, the guiding principles, the narrative concept, and feedback from the client.

INTRODUCTION

Conceptual Framework There are three main user-groups that need to be considered in the design of a zoo exhibit. First and most obviously there are the animals themselves. The physical, social, and psychological needs of animals need to be met for any exhibit to be successful. Second, there is the zoo visitor. Zoos task themselves with being drivers of conservation awareness and action. In order for that to be accomplished, a proper learning environment needs to be created. Last and certainly not least there are those who are tasked at meeting the needs of the animals and the visitors: the zoo staff. Both the health of the animals and the success of the conservation message are facilitated by the zoo staff.

INTRODUCTION

Conservation action is driven by a successful message and an emotional connection. An emotional connection occurs when a bond is formed through a memorable encounter between a zoo visitor and an animal or group of animals (Coe “Trends In Learning Environments”). Guest experience factors which contribute to a strong connection are: guest comfort and security, a natural setting, and visibility and activity of animals. Emotional engagement can be achieved a number of ways, but it alone is not enough to carry an effective conservation message. A strong message is a combination of the content and context of the animal display. Content refers to the information to be conveyed, and will be exhibit specific. For this project key content elements include the role of apex predators, habitat connectivity, and human-animal conflict within coastal redwood forest ecosystem. Context refers to how the guest perceives the environment. The factors relating to appropriate exhibit context will be universal. Presenting an animal in an appropriate context requires that an animal be put in a setting that is natural for that animal. Unnatural and homocentric settings help to reinforce negative stereotypes of animals and the concept of human superiority (Coe “What’s the Message?”).

This is the intersection of guest experience and animal welfare: natural setting and natural behavior are factors of both guest experience and animal welfare, and contribute to both connection and context. While a natural setting in both the animal enclosure and the visitor space is beneficial to guest experience and animal welfare, other connections are not necessarily as beneficial for both animals and guests. Creating an enclosure which encourages natural animal behavior can contribute to individual animal physical, intellectual and emotional welfare and can also contribute to more productive breeding behaviors. Yet

these behavioral effects are not always conducive to an engaging guest experience. While some natural behaviors, such as foraging, may be more interesting to guests than so called ‘stereotypic behaviors,’ such as pacing and swaying, other natural behaviors may be less exciting for guests.

How can the goals of both natural animal behavior and guest experience of visible, active animals be achieved? Although some zoo professionals advocate minimizing animal ‘hiding spaces,’ this is detrimental to the animals. All animals have privacy needs. The answer, then, is not to eliminate private animal spaces (i.e. those out of guest visibility), but to provide spaces in close proximity to guests which are attractive to the animals.

Animals also benefit from exhibits which address important staff needs such as easy staff accessibility and exhibit flexibility. When keepers can easily maintain an enclosure they can respond to animal needs promptly. When exhibits are flexible, allowing for changing group needs such as breeding, and the possibility of appropriate use by a different species of animal in the future, zoo staff can better manage their collection plan as a whole, allowing for the display of species of zoo conservation and breeding focus, and better manage the population and breeding of individual species. Yet another area in which good design benefits both animals and staff is animal transfer systems. Well-designed animal transfer systems reduce stress on and risk of injury to both animals and staff, which are both important management concerns.

INTRODUCTION

Project Scope The program for this project includes exhibits and holding for a number of predators native to the redwood forests of Northern California. The interpretive theme of the exhibit explores the role of apex predators, the need for habitat connectivity, and minimizing conflict with urban wildlife. The largest space is devoted to black bear and coyote mixed together. This exhibit is designed as two separate spaces that can be combined in order for the bear and coyote to be separated if the need arises. Another exhibit is for mountain lions on both sides of the visitor path with an overhead bridge for the cats to use to access move between them. Smaller exhibits for Bobcat, Gray Fox, Fisher, and Porcupine are included with the possibility for these exhibits to be used rotationally by different animals on different days.

Mountain lions at Sedgwick County Zoo

The purpose behind designing exhibits for different species to rotate through is twofold. First, it provides behavioral enrichment, as the animals are not restricted to the exact same space day in and day out and also get the fun of exploring the smells left behind by the other animals. Second, it helps to reinforce the concept of habitat fragmentation by producing the mental image of pockets of habitat that animals must move between.

INTRODUCTION

It is the responsibility of the zoo to ensure the regulatory compliance of the design. The finished products are a rendered schematic master plan for the exhibit complex, four section drawings, and two perspectives which communicate important details. Early in the design process, the zoo was delivered a conceptual plan for review before further design continued.

Black bear at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

Coyote at Pocatello Zoo

Project Goals Highest Quality Guest Experience - Provide a multi-sensory experience. - Create opportunities for guest/animal interaction. - Encourage learning through play. Gray Fox at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

- Immerse guests in the natural world. - Minimize distractions and incongruencies. - Feature multiple and varied viewing opportunities. Highest Standard of Animal Care - Animal spaces should exceed AZA minimum requirements. - Enrichment is considered integral to the overall design. -Exhibit design will allow for around the clock animal access. Safe and Functional Work Environment - Animal containment will exceed minimum standards - Accessibility and visibility of animal spaces for staff will be maintained - Service areas will be centralized to the extent possible.

Fisher at Northwest Trek

INTRODUCTION

Bobcat at Zoo Boise

INTRODUCTION

LITERATURE

Orangutan at the Phoenix Zoo

Message people from the animals are invisible and, no matter where the viewer turns the entire perceptual context appears consistently and specifically African; …abstractions are minimized, specifics emphasized. The entire setting looks, smells, and feels as if one left the zoo and entered the African savanna.” He describes some of the supporting concepts of landscape immersion design – animals are displayed in a manner which is respectful and dignified, and they dominate the scene. Regarding human behavior and exhibit design, he calls for a clear message and the creation of a specific experience. Hancocks, however, points out that it is not the purpose of landscape immersion for it only to feel natural to the visitors but to the animals as well. In his book “A Different Nature: The Landscape immersion exhibits debuted with the Woodland Park Zoo Paradoxical World of Zoos and Their Uncertain Future”, Hancocks states under director David Hancocks with the 1976 long-range plan (Coe, that, “Even if visual authenticity is to be obtained, it must not be gained “Landscape Immersion Origins and Concepts”). Since that time Jon at the expense of the animals’ needs. The original reasons for the concept C. Coe, a member of the design team, has written extensively on the required animal exhibit space to be as accurate a replication as possible intent and execution of this display style. In “Landscape Immersion of the natural habitat (120).” Origins and Concepts” he gives an excellent definition and example of true landscape immersion: “Landscape Immersion is a term coined to Other articles by Coe expound on this concept as it relates to the fourdescribe exhibits in which visitors share the same landscape (but not the fold mission of zoos, specifically conservation, education, science, same area) with the animals. In other words, instead of standing in a and recreation. “The distinction between what zoo visitors perceive familiar city park (known as a zoological garden) and viewing a zebra in unconsciously (message) and observe consciously (content) frequently an African setting, both zoo visitor and zebra are in a landscape carefully nullifies the efforts of zoo educators and interpretive planners” (“Bringing designed to “feel” like the African Savanna.” Coe goes on to describe It All Together”). This is unacceptable. In order to serve all four facets some specifics of creating a “feeling” of Africa. “Barriers separating the of the missions of zoos we must, “design the entire environmental fabric

LITERATURE

Conservation of wild species is the principle educational message zoos intend to deliver. It is important to remember that the message that a zoo visitor receives consists of more than just the information the zoo presents through signs and presentations. That information comprises the content. Message is also comprised of the context. The context is understood as all of the other sensory information a visitor absorbs (Coe, “Bringing It All Together”). This would imply that the setting created through the design of the zoo itself plays an important role in carrying the conservation message. One strategy often employed for creating an appropriate context is the use of landscape immersion exhibits.

Chimpanzee at Kansas City Zoo

This study was conducted at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, IL in 2012. It compared visitor behavior at the zoo’s old Great Ape House as well as its modern, naturalistic replacement, the Regenstein Center for African Lars Lunding Anderson, who has served as the curator of interpretation Apes. They found that visitors spent 59% more time within the more and design at the Copenhagen Zoo, agrees. In “Zoo Interpretation and naturalistic setting and moved more slowly through the space. They also Exhibit Design: Two Sides of the Same Coin” he states, “Interpretation found that negative behaviors such as yelling and glass-tapping were starts with an original object or authentic activity” (4). As visitors watch significantly reduced in the new exhibit. The study suggested that greater animals displaying natural behavior, it can raise questions to which naturalism increases the mean viewing time more than increased animal interpretation can provide the answers. Additionally he presents the point activity. The authors concluded that because “designed space supports that, “The enclosure must meet the visitor’s needs. Even when animals visitors in making links between sensory input and science content” the are displaying their natural behaviors, physical aspects of the enclosure engagement seen in visitors in the naturalistic setting may be indication may prevent visitors from directing their attention to the animals.” The of a successful reception of message (Ross 3). main point of his article is that zoos must present a clear, consistent and attractive message to the public with the hope that this message will entice their enthusiastic support in world wildlife conservation. He posits that zoos should integrate context and content, and that all design should serve ultimate goals.

How can a zoo ensure that its ultimate goals are being met? Coe advises beginning the design process by determining the intended message so that design decisions can all be focused on delivering that message (“An Integrative Process for Exhibit Design”). “The Impact of a Modern, Naturalistic Exhibit Design on Visitor Behavior” provides evidence of the positive effects of naturalistic exhibits.

LITERATURE

of our zoos in ways that support our principal educational message: conservation of wild species” (“Bringing It All Together”).

Walk-through squirrel monkey exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo

Bird Show at Utah’s Hogle Zoo

The author with deer at the San Diego Wild Animal Park

Visitor Engagement It is important to remember that visitors to a zoo are there primarily to have a nice time and enjoy the company of their social group. A study published in Zoo Biology in 2009 emphasized this. The authors state that, “Zoo exhibits provide a unique opportunity for people to feel a connection to many types of animals. If zoos can successfully increase these feelings and encourage discussion of such feelings, it may enhance visitors’ support for conservation initiatives (Clayton, Fraser, and Saunders 395).”

LITERATURE

Engaging the visitors’ emotions and senses aids them in receiving the intended message and will potentially lead to conservation action. Jeffrey Swanagan found moderate support for the notion that individuals who have an active experience with animals in a zoo will be more likely to support conservation than those who have a more passive experience in his study, “Factors Influencing Zoo Visitors’ Conservation Attitudes” (26). A study carried out at the Philadelphia Zoo found that a zoo visit can positively influence conservation-related motivation and readiness to take action (Wagner, Chessler, York, and Raynor 487). This study found keys to delivering change in conservation attitudes included strategies to ensure that the guest has fun, to provide high-quality exhibits that provide an opportunity for guests to get close to animals, to provide expert and enthusiastic staff to engage guests in dialogue, to connect conservation issues to the guests’ daily lives, and to give guests specific opportunities to act on behalf of conservation (485). They found human engagement with competent and enthusiastic staff and high quality exhibits to be the elements that have the greatest impact on conservation attitudes (487).

accepts a set of values…believes that the valued objects are threatened, and believes they have the ability to act to reduce the threat, then the individual will experience an obligation (i.e. norm) for action…Thus behaviors are at the end of a long causal chain and only weakly influenced by attitudes (Skibins & Powell 530).”Although this concern has been hypothesized to predict behavior, its application has been limited and the awareness portion limited to knowledge gain. Nevertheless, breaking down the conservation message into cognitive, affective, and behavioral portions can guide zoos in their content and messaging design. Rabb and Saunders have proposed a concept they call Conservation Caring. There are three sub-dimensions of this: care that, care about, and care for. “Care that” addresses the cognitive attitude, “Care about” speaks to the affective elements, and “Care for” is an expression of behavior (530). Skibins and Powell cite three different studies that indicate knowledge does not reliably predict conservation behavior. Alternately, in measuring conservation caring, Skibins and Powell found conservation caring to be a strong predictor of pro-conservation behavioral intent (539).

Despite the often repeated perception that guests only want to see the familiar and charismatic mega-vertebrates such as elephants, big cats, and bears, the measure used by Skibins and Powell of conservation caring found that people can become engaged with a wide variety of animals, even non-charismatic invertebrates such as jellyfish. Since guests have shown to be able to develop conservation caring for a diverse group of animals, this also provides zoos with opportunities to introduce people to lesser known species. It is generally recognized that conservation intentions developed on a zoo visit tend to not last over time. To address One of the challenges in quantifying the effect that a zoo visit can have this, Skibins and Powell suggest that providing opportunities to take on conservation has been in developing an adequate means to measure immediate conservation-oriented action while still on-site (539). As it, therefore, qualitative measures hold sway. Value Belief Norm (VBN) an example of this, many zoos have begun “Quarters for Conservation” theory addresses environmental concern, proposing that “if an individual programs – this is one way to provide guests with conservation

Visitor connecting with an orangutan at the San Diego Zoo

opportunities regardless of their level of conservation caring. However, engaging them in more specific conservation actions which tie into their conservation caring may have more lasting effects on pro-conservation behavior. An example of this is found at the New England Aquarium where guests are given the opportunity to join in beach restorations, planting dune grass plugs with zoo staff (“SeaGrassSoundings”). Falk et al. has suggested organizing guests into five separate categories based on their motivations for their zoo visit: explorers, facilitators, professional/hobbyists, experience seekers, and spiritual pilgrims (“Why Zoos and Aquariums Matter: Assessing the Impact of a Visit” 7). Explorers are visitors motivated by curiosity. Facilitators are visitors motivated by enabling the learning of others. Many parents who bring their children to the zoo would fall into this category. Professional/hobbyists are either working in or interested in the zoo industry itself. Experience seekers are motivated by the satisfaction of having visited an important site. Spiritual pilgrims are seeking a contemplative or restorative experience. Of the five, the group with the most potential for growth of conservation awareness is the experience seekers. These are people who are visiting the zoo because of its status as a social and cultural icon, something unique to the area which should be experienced. Experience seekers come in with a lower overall knowledge and awareness of conservation, and therefore have the most to gain. They suggest that currently zoos tend to design for explorers, who visit based on a desire to learn, because they are the group whose motivations are most similar to zoo professionals. Planning design and interpretation with experience seekers in mind may be a better way to improve the overall efficacy of zoos as educational tools (Falk et al. 12). Additional consideration should be given to having tranquil and reflective space in zoos. Luebke and Matiasek found that

Visitor connecting with a lion at Zoo Boise

guests’ cognitive and affective gains were most highly impacted by introspective and reflective experiences (414). These studies cumulatively show that many zoo visitors are generally well-versed in ecological and conservation principles. Their visit is unlikely to result in significant gain in knowledge or change in conservation behavior. However, these guests can have their knowledge reinforced through their zoo visit. Those who are visiting the zoo with motivations related to experience seeking, or simple social interaction can show a large gain in knowledge of ecological and conservation principles through engaging with people and animals at the zoo. From a guest experience standpoint, research shows that providing a variety of experiences that allow guests to interact with people and animals, while presenting an adventurous experience in a natural setting, is the best way to engage the diverse groups of people that visit zoos.

LITERATURE

Giraffe feeding at Zoo Boise

Animal Welfare Aside from fulfilling the obvious moral responsibility zoos have to provide excellent care to the animals in their charge, there is an additional reason for doing so. Guests who are engaged in a shared experience with an animal within an appropriate context are more likely to develop positive conservation attitudes. The context in this case includes not only the setting the animal is placed in but also the behavior the animals are exhibiting. In order for an animal to display natural behaviors, its welfare needs must be met.

LITERATURE

There is an extensive literature describing animal welfare in zoos. Further, it is a frequent topic of discussion in zoo circles. There were nine sessions regarding various aspects of animal management and welfare at the 2014 Annual Conference of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, out of a total of 83 sessions (“2014 Annual Conference Program Guide”, 33-63). The AZA also has an Animal Welfare Committee. While the majority of animal welfare issues concern the design field only slightly, design is a major component of several of them. Throughout zoo history, design and management focused primarily on the physical needs of an animal that were required to keep it alive (Coe, “Architects and Enrichment”). Animals frequently exhibited what are referred to as stereotypical behaviors, which are essentially neuroses; pacing, overgrooming, etc.

though pre-dating the term itself, of an exhibit that can “provide the animals with substitute occupational activities such as searching for or catching or earning food in ways which are highly visible to the viewing public” (2). Although the widespread acceptance of concern for animal psychology and the adoption of environmental enrichment are fairly recent, these concepts were first introduced to the zoo world long ago. Nearly forty years prior to Coe and Lee’s activity-based design, Swiss zoo director Heini Hediger, while studying with an animal psychologist, wrote what should have become the basic textbook for all aspects of captive husbandry of wild animals. In Wild Animals in Captivity, Hediger describes how to develop space as a territory for the animal. An understanding of why and how animals develop and use their territory is critical in designing spaces that are “biologically correct (72).”

Relatively recently the psychological needs of animals have been considered of utmost importance. The first formal environmental enrichment programs for zoo animals were developed in the early 1990’s (Mellen & MacPhee 213). These programs focused on providing mental stimulation to zoo animals, largely through introducing novel items or spreading feedings out throughout space and time. Prior to this, animal care managers did what they could to enrich animals’ lives mentally, but there was little organization and sharing of information involved.

Hediger explained territory as “an area which is first rendered distinctive by its owner in a particular way and, secondly, is defended by it (9).” An animal does not roam its territory at random, but has differentiated locations for various activities as well as well-worn tracks to which it keeps (12). These separate locations include an animal’s home, which is its place of greatest shelter, as well as secondary places of refuge, feeding places, bathing places, defecation areas, and demarcation points (14). These various spaces within a territory are visited at prescribed times, and as such an animal’s use of its territory can be defined in terms of space-time patterns. In creating a naturalistic environment for a captive animal, one cannot simply recreate a homogenous piece of the appropriate habitat. Instead it is necessary to create a differentiated space in which the animal can establish its space-time pattern as naturally as possible (72).

Jon Coe, along with colleague Gary Lee, coined the term “Activitybased Design” in the early 90’s. “… activity-based design begins with the premise that the animals’ long-term well-being is paramount and that environments, programs and procedures which advance this goal are frequently of great interest to the visiting public (“Entertaining Zoo Visitors”).” Under this premise, exhibits are designed for the flexibility often needed to provide environmental enrichment. Animal husbandry, particularly enrichment and training, goes on in view of the visiting public. He cites Woodland Park Zoo’s Northern Trail as an example,

Despite its worth, Hediger’s insight into exhibit design has remained largely unknown and un-regarded. Jon Coe has described most modern efforts at providing environmental enrichment as being “remedial” in that they are to compensate for inadequate housing and husbandry (“Architects and Enrichment”). This is opposed to supplementary enrichment which adds to the benefits of a well-designed animal facility. Coe goes on to explain what he calls the “Three C’s” of enrichment: competence, choice, and collaboration. Competence refers to an animals learned ability to carry out its innate behaviors. Animals should be

Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Behavioral training using the positive-reinforcement method is able to improve animal care and husbandry. With training techniques keepers are able to visually inspect animals close up as well as collect blood and urine samples all without the stress and risk involved with anesthesia and capture. Also, training techniques allow for greater ease in shifting animals from space to space which not only improves flexibility, but it allows keepers access to exhibit space for adding enrichment items throughout the day (Laule).

LITERATURE

allowed, as far as it is possible, to â&#x20AC;&#x153;find and process their own food, satisfy microclimate and social needs and appropriate stimulation without apparent (to the animal) association with caregivers.â&#x20AC;? Animals should also be provided with the opportunity to make choices. Opportunities for choice could relate to ambient temperature and microclimates, diet, physical location, and social arrangement. Collaboration refers to opportunities in which an animal can work together with a human, most often their caregiver, to accomplish a task. This often takes the form of behavioral training.

Design implications of animal welfare Coe makes several recommendations which designers can follow to improve the quality of an animal’s environment. Permanent and lasting enrichment features should be built in. This would include basking and overlook positions, pools, shelters, and food delivery systems (“Architects and Enrichment”). Animals should have choice of access of different areas such as high vantage points, or secluded areas to avoid negative social interaction with other inhabitants of its space. Facilities that encourage physical fitness and behavioral competence, such as walking or climbing trails to which animals can travel from one position to another, should be included as well. One particularly striking example of this is at the Philadelphia Zoo where they have opened a 200 meter long arboreal raceway that can be used by up to ten different primate species that had previously been exclusively confined to small indoor enclosures. Feeding devices that create challenge and surprise for animals should also be incorporated. Examples of these include both fixed and moveable types. Generally food is placed inside and animals have to work to get it out in some way. Lastly, animals can eventually become habituated to even

Philadelphia Zoo trail system

the most enriching spaces, so it is important to plan for the flexibility to allow the change-out of exhibit features on a regular basis. Despite improvements in designing for biologically correct enclosures, modern designs often focus primarily on animal exhibit spaces. Yet animals often spend the majority of their time, up to two-thirds of their day, in off-exhibit holding areas. Regarding this, Laule states that holding areas “should be designed to serve as the primary housing areas that in reality they are. That means making them pleasant and interesting areas with soft substrates and other diverse environmental features. That requires greater resources in behind-the-scenes facilities, but if animal welfare is a serious goal, this must be addressed.” Specific elements which encourage natural behavior such as feeding chutes should also be designed into the holding areas and can be situated to adjoin with onexhibit systems.

Elephant using puzzle feeder

Tiger enrichment

LITERATURE

Staff Needs

When designing to facilitate species typical behavior, fulfilling staff needs is crucial. Important considerations include allowing for keepers to have good visual access to animals in all areas. Additionally having multiple access points through which keepers can interact with animals is valuable. Having multiple exhibit spaces for animals to be moved into gives animals an additional area to explore. Another helpful design strategy is to build holding areas with multiple spaces and no dead ends that can allow for ease of introducing new animals to each other by initially allowing visual access. Husbandry apparatuses such as blood

collection sleeves, blood pressure cuffs, or urine collection plans can be built in to allow easier veterinary care. This increase in husbandry efficiency can offset some of the time required to keep a truly natural and naturally functioning exhibit well maintained. Even though a naturalistic enclosure may very well take more maintenance time than the old, sterile concrete cages of old, they can still be designed with efficiency in mind. A paper by Kelling, Gaalema and Kelling in 2014 presents one possible way to approach the issue. They recommend

The vision of animals, staff, and visitors as interdependent coworkers also has benefits for zoo visitors. It’s not uncommon to hear comments from keeper staff to the effect that “this zoo would be great if it wasn’t for all the people.“ A shift in paradigm can help ALL zoo staff become active in helping engage visitors as a means to encourage pro-conservation actions. Staff are both knowledgeable and passionate about the animals for which they care and the conservation challenges those animals face. Providing for deliberate, designed experience where guests become engaged not only with the animals but also with the staff can lead to measurable conservation learning and guest enjoyment, as previously cited. Indeed, it is worth reiterating that staff does have a measureable effect “staff qualities such as accessibility, expertise, and clarity and relevance of information provided to visitors, showed far-reaching impacts across conservation outcomes, including visitors’…readiness to take action on behalf of conservation (Wagner, Chessler, York, and Raynor 485).” One specific example of designing with the staff-visitor-coworker dynamic in mind involves helping staff motivate specific natural animal behaviors. Designing for staff control of subtle environmental cues such

as an odor, sound, or visual item, can help staff encourage behaviors at designated times. The animal’s behavior can then be interpreted to the zoo visitors. This provides an opportunity for staff to become liaisons between the animals and the guests. This can be done either subtly (a keeper with exhibit access but out of sight of guests cues a behavior which another staff member then interprets) or more obviously, as in conducting a training session with an animal at a training wall, in full sight of guests (Laule). In this and many other ways, the staff acts as the liaison who allows zoo visitors to engage with animals. Having volunteers or paid interpretive staff can be an effective tool in increasing learning and engagement of guests in zoos. However, many guests value hearing from the people who are actually with the animals on a day-to-day basis. If exhibit spaces are designed so that keeper efficiency is maximized, that gives staff more time for not only training and enrichment, but for interacting with zoo visitors in person as well, ultimately aiding in reinforcing the zoo’s conservation messaging and goals.

LITERATURE

conceptualizing animals, staff, and visitors as interdependent coworkers. Viewing the tasks an animal are expected to accomplish as well as the learning objectives the institution sets out for the visitors as work, allows for the creation of an operational sequence diagram. Operational sequence diagrams (OSD) are, “a graphical depiction of not only the tasks and steps involved in work, but also highlight the interactions between workers and equipment (338). Information is organized into multiple columns, which illustrates whether the staff, the animals, or the visitor or a combination of these are expected to carry out the task. From the OSD it is then possible to create a needs assessment. The tasks are then categorized into groups such as storage, inspection/decision, or operations. The storage needs assessment includes every task that requires storage or represents a limited use. This way storage space needs can be evaluated. The inspection and decision assessment combines tasks that require making a decision based on the inspection of something. This list allows evaluation of critical lines of site and viewpoints. The operations needs assessment includes tasks which the keeper must perform. The location which this action takes place and whether a particular line of site is needed can be assessed (341). These assessments are then used to double check all considerations in the design, with the ultimate goal of creating a highly efficient space.

LITERATURE SUMMARY

Nature learning

Free-flight demonstration at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Message

Visitor Experience

• Engaging a visitor’s emotions is the most effective way to support the intended message.

• Content is the information put forth by the institution. “What we want you to learn.”

• Guests can feel emotionally connected to any species regardless of its popularity or charisma.

• Context is all the surrounding information perceived by the guest. • The message is the combination of the content and the context.

LITERATURE

• If the context contradicts the content, the message can be ineffective.

Gorilla at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Holding building at Point Defiance Zoo

Animal Welfare

Staff Needs

• Animals exhibiting natural behaviors help reinforce the message.

• Zoo staff act to facilitate the connection between guests and animals.

• Animal environments should be enriching and focused on allowing for natural behaviors.

• When exhibits are designed efficiently for staff it frees time for environmental enrichment and guest interaction.

LITERATURE

• Animals that are both physically and emotionally healthy will exhibit natural behaviors.

LITERATURE

CASE REVIEWS

Medtronic Minnesota Trail

Project name: Medtronic Minnesota Trail Location: Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, MN Date designed/planned: The Medtronic Minnesota Trail was an original part of the zoo when it opened in 1978. In 2005, the complex had become dated and worn, and a new concept was developed for the exhibit. Construction completed: July 7, 2007 (11 months of construction) Cost: $2,509,000 ($109,000 for design, $200,000 for interpretives, $220,000 for construction) Size: 29,333 sf Landscape architects: Damon Farber Associates Consultants: Architect: RSP Architect

Entrance to the Medtronic Minnesota Trail

CASE REVIEWS

Project Summary

The Medtronic Minnesota Trail showcases species native to the state of Minnesota. Originally opened with the zoo in 1978, it received a massive overhaul in 2007. The renovation created a livelier, more immersive environment and added several new species to the exhibit including gray wolves, coyotes, and black bears.

Structural Engineers: Mattson Macdonald Young Exhibit Fabrication: Minnesota Zoo Interpretive Graphics: Split Rock Studios

Site Context

MEDTRONIC MINNESOTA TRAIL

Located fifteen miles north of the Minnesota Zoo in urban St. Paul, the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory opened in 1897. A shift in public sentiment and new advances in zoo design in the 1970’s led to the desire to modernize the zoo. Due to the aging infrastructure and limited opportunity for expanding the zoo boundaries, the decision was made to create a new zoo on the outskirts of the city. The Minnesota Zoo is unique, having opened in the late 1970’s as a fully modern zoological park. The entire facility was designed “to present life in nature-imitating settings, in a year-round experience (Henderson, Spickelmier & Ness)”. One of the exhibits present at the zoo’s opening was the Minnesota Trail. This exhibit featured over 100 species of animals native to the state of Minnesota. An unusual aspect to this exhibit is that although many of the exhibits are located outdoors, visitors are semi-enclosed for most of the trail.

Location of the Medtronic Minnesota Trail

Site Analysis the globe; and the entrance to the Minnesota Trail. The zoo is located on 485 acres of forested parkland in suburban Apple Valley, Minnesota, on the southern side of the metropolitan area. Several lakes are nestled within the rolling hills and hardwood forests. The zoo is physically connected to an extensive network of parkland. This corridor of open space provides habitat for native wildlife such as white-tailed deer and wild turkey. The Minnesota Trail is on the northern edge of the zoo, adjacent to the central lake.

CASE REVIEWS

The Twin Cities area of Minnesota has hot, humid summers and long, cold winters with heavy snowfall. Due to the extreme climatic conditions of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Zoo has an uncommon layout. A large outdoor trail leads past exhibits of animals that are native to northern temperate climates. While much of the zoo is seen along this traditional, outdoor trail, a significant portion of the zoo is located inside a large building complex located at the entrance of the zoo. Along with four exhibit areas, this building also includes retail, food service, admissions, and administrative offices. The four exhibits accessed from this building are Discovery Bay, a display of aquatic marine animals; Penguins of the African Coast, featuring black-footed penguins; the Tropics Trail, an indoor rainforest exhibit featuring animals from tropical areas across

Orientation lodge

Raccoon exhibit

Reptile & amphibian exhibits

CASE REVIEWS

Project Background

The Minnesota Trail debuted with the opening of the zoo in 1978. The initial design featured two sections. The indoor section featured animals that were either migratory or hibernated through the winter. Part of this section was devoted to nocturnal animals such as flying-squirrels and skunks and featured reverse day-light to encourage animals to be active during zoo hours. The outdoor section featured larger and hardier species in a central exhibit area surrounded by an enclosed trail. As was fashionable at the time, the exhibit featured a lot of unadorned concrete and stark visitor viewing galleries.

When current zoo director, Lee Ehmke, came to the zoo in the early 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, the trail was showing its age; it looked old and tired, and many zoo guests were unaware of its existence due to its unremarkable entrance. Shortly after becoming director he developed a concept to renovate and update the trail, which was implemented by a combination of in-house talent and outside professionals.

Beaver exhibit

Beaver lodge webcam

Wetland pond

Design Development but the new design called for areas to break out beyond the existing visitor path to provide more intimate viewing opportunities for the outer exhibits. The design was carried out by the in-house design department. For issues related to code compliance and engineering the necessary professionals were brought in to create construction documents.

CASE REVIEWS

The goal of the project was, “to invite Zoo guests into the lives of Minnesota wildlife in a ‘North Woods’ setting, to excite them about Minnesota’s animals and their environments, to celebrate the tradition of wildlife stewardship in Minnesota, and to encourage positive action on behalf of Minnesota wildlife and wild places (Henderson, Spickelmier & Ness)”. The original experience consisted of a looping exhibit path surrounding a central core of wildlife exhibits. The walls surrounding the visitor space consisted of unadorned concrete. The design of the renovated trail added new exhibit spaces around the outside of the visitor path loop. Additionally, the visitor’s space was softened with natural materials and interpretive elements that helped visually connect those spaces with the animal exhibits. These two changes created a more immersive and enriching guest experience. Previously the visitor path was very linear,

Program Elements:

Site Plan sota Trail

CASE REVIEWS

ota Trail (includes lodge, all exhibits and viewing area and service areas. (29,333 SF) 2,630 SF) Raccoon exhibit (600 SF) Program exhibitProject (1,845 SF) MN Fish (265 SF) 315 SF) Porcupine/Owl (520 SF) The exhibit begins in an orientation space that is designed to evoke a north 500 SF) Coyote exhibit (4,025 SF) woods lodge. One corner of thieWolf space houses small terrariums for native ecker (540 SF) exhibit (12,985 SF) amphibians and turtles. From the trail-head visitors first come to an indoor abin (540 SF) Wolverine (1300 SF) exhibit designed to look like a back porch that is home to raccoons. The trail 960 SF) Bird deck (670 SF) then heads outside and progressively slopes downward as it passes beavers, first xhibit (738) Lynx (900 SF)

above water and then below the water. As the trail goes past the underwater viewing, it passes beneath the bottom of a boat, water lilies, and a zebra-musselencrusted dock, all of which interpret the issues of invasive species in aquatic ecosystems. An aquarium of native fish and a river otter exhibit are next along the path. At the river otter exhibit, the path ascends and provides above water viewing for the otters. A wooded coyote exhibit on the outside of the path loop features a “crawl-into” den for up-close encounters with the animals. Along the inside of the loop a glass-fronted exhibit for fishers includes deadfall and artificial rock “cliffs” for climbing, as well as a mixed exhibit of great horned owl and porcupine. A second outer exhibit housing gray wolves includes a viewing “cabin” where the natural history and conservation of wolves is

Orientation Lodge – 2,630 SF

Raccoon exhibit – 600 SF

Beaver exhibit – 1,845 SF

Aquarium – 265 SF

Otter exhibit – 315 SF

Porcupine & owl exhibit – 520 SF

Fisher exhibit – 500 SF

Coyote exhibit – 4,025 SF

Native bird exhibit – 540 SF

Wolf exhibit – 12,985 SF

Wolf cabin – 540 SF

Wolverine exhibit – 1300 SF

Mountain lion exhibit – 960 SF

Bird deck – 670 SF

Eagle exhibit – 738 SF

Lynx exhibit – 900 SF

Bear exhibit - 7500 SF

Bear cabin - 500 SF

Invasive species display

Visitor path

interpreted. A small, mesh-fronted enclosure houses a small variety of native birds, both resident and migratory. An artificial hollow tree on the visitor side allows for up-close viewing of the impressive pileated woodpecker when it ventures inside the tree to feed. A pair of rocky, glass-fronted enclosures house wolverines.

The path then leads to an outdoor viewing deck designed to view native, wild birds that are attracted into numerous feeders placed about. The final exhibits on the inner loop are glass-fronted enclosures for mountain lion and lynx. Opposite the mountain lion exhibit, a mesh enclosure for a bald eagle features a nice borrowed view into the landscape beyond. The final exhibit features black bears and was . Another viewing â&#x20AC;&#x153;cabinâ&#x20AC;? offers excellent viewing of the wooded bear enclosure and includes numerous interpretive displays on the natural history of bears as well as tips for coexisting with them. At this point the trail returns to its origin in the orientation space.

CASE REVIEWS

Artificial rocks along visitor path

Wolf vocalization display

CASE REVIEWS

Fisher exhibit

Exhibit furniture for fisher

Maintenance and Management

Use Analysis

Several changes made to the exhibits are focused on improving animal management. Several exhibits and holding areas have been outfitted with web cams that allow staff to record behavior inside dens or from another area without disturbance to the animal, and afford guests the opportunity to view animals in otherwise unseen areas. . Additionally, the facilities are designed so that individual animals or pairs of animals can rotate on and off exhibit throughout the day which allows them to spend shorter periods of time on exhibit, thus decreasing overall stress (Henderson, Spickelmier & Ness).

Prior to the renovation, the Minnesota Trail had a fairly low-profile entrance and many zoo visitors left the site completely unaware of its existence. The renovation not only created a significantly enhanced experience inside the trail, but the entrance was made more inviting and prominent. In the season following its opening the zoo exceeded its attendance goals by 12% and users surveyed rated the renovated exhibit above other popular favorite attractions such as the Bird Show and Dolphin Show. A comprehensive survey which measured the effectiveness of the interpretive message concluded that guests left the trail feeling proud of their stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural heritage and more informed of challenges faced by their wildlife (Henderson, Spickelmier & Ness).

Design Implications • Native species exhibits can rank in popularity as high as or higher than exhibits featuring exotic species. The attendance boost seen by the zoo with the renovation of this exhibit is similar to the boost seen after the opening of their Russia’s Grizzly Coast complex. • The inclusion of three-dimensional interpretive elements (such as the boat and the dock) strengthens the message and is more effective than signage alone. Multiple viewpoints including opportunities to climb or crawl enhance the feeling of exploration and discovery. • An effective exhibit will engage all the senses. The Minnesota Trail includes elements such as interactive displays that play the calls of native frogs or owls for guests to learn and identify. The sense of touch is engaged through interpretive elements that allow guests to compare the feel of the fur of a coyote to that of a wolf.

Project Significance

Limitations

The Medtronic Minnesota Trail exhibit is an excellent example of the potential that exists in displaying native species in zoos. The community has embraced this exhibit as a showcase of their own natural heritage. The inclusion of relatively unknown species such as fishers and ruffed grouse amongst such popular species as black bears, cougars, and wolves increase their exposure to zoo guests. The renovation of the Minnesota Trail has been well-received by the zoological community and received the 2008 Exhibit Design Award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The Medtronic Minnesota Trail is a good example of taking a rather sterile viewing gallery and bringing immersive qualities into it. However, it is not an example of real landscape immersion. Elements of the animal’s habitat are brought into the visitor area where possible, but there is not as strong of a sense of sharing the habitat with the animals as a true immersion exhibit would create.

CASE REVIEWS

Wild bird observation deck

Cascade Crest

Project name: Cascade Crest Location: Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR Exhibit Opened: 1998 Cost: $2.3 million Size: 2,100 SF Exhibit and Interpretive Design: Portico Group Consultants: Structural Engineers: KCM, Portland, OR Geology Consultant: Andrew Fountain, Portland State University, Portland, OR

Cascade Crest mountain goat

CASE REVIEWS

Project Summary

Cascade Crest is the first exhibit in Oregon Zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Great Northwest exhibit complex. It features a realistic alpine tundra environment for mountain goats and serves as the focal point of the zoo entrance.

Site Context The Oregon Zoo is located within64 acres of the 165 acre Washington Park. Washington Park is heavily forested with drastic changes in elevation. The entrance to the zoo is located at the highest point in the zoo and is adjacent to the light rail station. A winding boardwalk takes guests from the upper area near the entrance down to the lower exhibits in the zoo. An alternate route down travels through the Great Northwest exhibit complex. A large portion of the lower zoo is devoted to a brand new Asian elephant facility. Other exhibit areas in the zoo include an African exhibit with sections devoted to savannas, rainforests, and predators of the Serengeti. A central primate exhibit building is slowly being converted to a zone called Fragile Forests and is now home to a wide diversity of species beyond just primates. An indoor penguin exhibit, a pair of older bear grottos, a couple of older big cat grottos, and a naturalistic seashore exhibit featuring sea lions and sea otters are also present.

Location of Cascade Crest

Cascade Crest is the first exhibit that visitors see. Half of the exhibit can be seen even before passing through the gateway to the zoo. The site itself is located at the highest point in the zoo with dramatic views across the zoo and to Mount Hood beyond. It is located on a steep hillside covered with mature second-growth forest.

The exhibit forms the first portion of the Great Northwest exhibit which transects a series of Oregon ecosystems from the peaks of the Cascade Mountains to the coast. The exhibit transitions into the forests via a high suspension bridge that travels over the black bear exhibit.

CASE REVIEWS

Site Analysis

Artificial lichen

Viewing area from inside the zoo

Climbing hardware rail

CASE REVIEWS

Project Background

Cascade Crest was the first exhibit in an ambitious revitalization program. The existing zoo entrance was too far away from the light rail station and was not meeting the zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs, so the decision was made to build a new entrance complex nearer the station. The zoo also desired to highlight native ecosystems with which visitors may not be familiar. The concept to create a transect that ran through a number of Oregon habitats resulted in the Great Northwest exhibit. Cascade Crest was the first experience of this larger exhibit complex. Later additional exhibits showcased the coniferous forests, the streams and wetlands, the agricultural areas, and the seashore. Exhibit moat

Pika sculpture

Backpack sculpture

Ice cave

Design Development throughout the winter and creates a store pile of food to make it through the winter months. A recreation of a pika den is found in Cascade Crest, complete with carefully painted orange lichen. Additionally, the decision was made to make the hand of man evident in the design. Railings in front of the exhibit resemble climbing hardware as “a reminder that humans rely on equipment to travel safely into ‘natural area’”(Sorvig 71).

CASE REVIEWS

The design team wished to accurately portray natural processes. The carefully sculpted landscape of hills, rocky outcrops and lakes is not a recreation of a specific place. Instead the designers focused on replicating the processes by which these features are formed. Lead designer Keith McClintock has said that the goal was to make experience accessible to everyone, from the kindergartener to the geology professor (personal communication, July 15, 2014). As part of this strategy, the designers also included evidence of a functioning ecosystem beyond simply the mountain goats on display. Evidence of the handiwork of pocket gophers, marmots, pikas, and other animals is found throughout the exhibit. In the mountains of North America a particular species of lichen, which is bright orange in color, grows profusely in the presence of pika urine. The pika, a small relative of the rabbit which resembles a rodent, is active

CASE REVIEWS

PROJECT PROGRAM

The exhibit consists of a mountain goat enclosure set against a small alpine lake, with artificial cliffs, outcrops, and snow drifts. Guests can travel around three quarters of the exhibit with a number of designated viewing areas. The front of the exhibit faces west and is cool and shady in the mornings, a condition favored by the mountain goats. In the afternoon when people are leaving, the opposite side is shaded so the goats are more likely to be visible to visitors leaving the park. A shallow moat around the perimeter of the exhibit keeps the goats contained and allows for a feeling of close proximity between visitors and animals.

An artificial snow drift cave on the back side of the exhibit interprets life under the snow. Visitors are able to enter the cave, which is air conditioned, to take a magnified look at the tiny organisms that survive in snow caves. Within the cave, climbing gear and a bronze statue of a hoary marmot add life and realism to the scene.

Thematic railing

Overview of mountain goat exhibit

CASE REVIEWS

Exhibit plantings

Interpretive graphics

CASE REVIEWS

North viewing area looking south

Mountain goat

Maintenance and Management

Use Analysis

The long-term maintenance for Cascade Crest has not been the best. Many of the interpretive elements are missing or broken, signs are faded, and the paint on the rockwork has faded. Sadly, the zoo has expressed plans to completely overhaul this area, losing its interpretive theme of the alpine region of the Cascade Mountains.

The year following the opening of this exhibit saw a 17% increase in attendance for the zoo. The zoo attributes this increase to the exhibit (Sorvig). As the focal point for the entrance, this exhibit is seen by every single zoo visitor.

Design Implications • In recreating an ecosystem, it’s critical to be familiar with the natural processes at work. Simply copying landscape elements without this understanding will result in an unsatisfactory product. • Designers should create multiple layers of detail in order for the design to be accessible to a wide array of learning styles and experience levels. • Ecosystems are not static. Change is occurring and should be designed into the project. The activities of unseen animals that drive ecosystem processes (such as gophers, beavers, etc.) should be included. • Design for long-term durability as the client may not always be willing or able to provide a high level of upkeep.

Project Significance

Limitations

Cascade Crest is an excellent example of an exhibit with multiple layers of details. These layers of detail speak to multiple learning styles and experience levels.

Exhibits of this nature require a long-term financial commitment to maintenance. Though nearly two decades old, this exhibit should still be relevant and educational. Since the commitment to upkeep hasn’t been there, the exhibit sits as something of an eyesore in the most prominent place in the zoo.

Cascade Crest won a Washington Chapter ASLA Honor Award.

The current zoo master plan features long-term plans to place a mesh tent over this exhibit and adapt it for predators such as cougars, bears, or wolves instead of the mountain goats (SRG, CLR, & Atelier Dreiseitl). As previously stated, this will undoubtedly result in a departure from the original exhibit intent.

CASE REVIEWS

Stunted alpine trees in artificial rock planter

Cat Country

Lynx exhibit

CASE REVIEWS

Project Summary

Cat Country is an exhibit for native cat species at Northwest Trek in Eatonville, Washington. Built into a dense, second-growth forest, these exhibits maximize the potential of their site and use the existing landscape as an asset.

Project name: Cat Country Location: Northwest Trek, Eatonville, WA Construction completed: 1987 Designers: Designed and constructed in-house.

Site Context Northwest Trek sits on 725 acres of mature second-growth forest, meadows, and wetlands in rural Pierce County near Eatonville, Washington. Northwest Trek focuses entirely on animals native to northwestern North America. A large portion of the park is devoted to an enormous enclosure for hoofed animals such as bison, elk, and bighorn sheep. This area of the park is visible from a tram-ride that traverses the forests and meadows and forms the central core of the Northwest Trek visitor experience. In addition to the hoofstock area, there are other exhibits for birds of prey, small mammals of wetlands and forests, bears, canids, and wild cats. A recently opened zipline attraction and an under-construction childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nature play area are an effort to diversify the visitor experience at the park and to appeal more to young families.

Site Analysis Cat Country Location

CASE REVIEWS

Northwest Trek is located in a mature secondgrowth forest that is dominated by Douglas fir. A mid-canopy of bigleaf maple and red alder shelters an understory of ferns and sorrel. The climate in this area is mild and wet. Because Northwest Trek displays native animals and is in a relatively mild climate, animal holding facilities are relatively minimal and amount to basic shelter.

Viewing shelter

Viewing shelter detail

CASE REVIEWS

Project Background

The land on which Northwest Trek is located was a gift to the City of Tacoma by private landowners with the request that it be converted into and maintained as a wildlife preserve. The park opened in 1975 and consisted of the tram tour and the forest and wetlands exhibit. Several improvements were made in the following decade and a half. Cat

Country, which opened in 1987, was the first exhibit of large carnivores along the walking trails of the park. Additional exhibits featuring brown and black bears, wolves, coyotes, and foxes were added in subsequent years.

Mountain lion exhibit

The exhibit was conceived, designed, and constructed in house. The lush vegetation with no visible fences. To meet this end fences were desire was to add larger carnivore species to the collection. The exhibits painted black and hidden behind dense vegetation. were designed with the idea of creating framed vignettes. These vignettes would be visible from covered viewing areas, which provide the frame. The picture seen from the viewing area would be one of animals amongst

CASE REVIEWS

Design Development

Fox exhibit

Visitor path

CASE REVIEWS

Project Program

Cat Country consists of three exhibits, one each for mountain lion, to the enclosed dens. Enclosed dens also have a swing gate for keeper bobcat, and Canada lynx. Each exhibit has a covered viewing shelter access. The fences are 9â&#x20AC;&#x2122; high with a 2â&#x20AC;&#x2122; overhang. Larger trees in the looking out over a water moat in front. There is a small holding area exhibit have metal cuffs to inhibit climbing, preventing escape. behind each exhibit. The holding areas consist of an enclosed den with two raised shelves inside. A vertical slide gate connects the entry tunnels

Lynx exhibit

Tree cuff

CASE REVIEWS

Viewing area

Second growth forest

Exhibit moat Maintenance and Management

CASE REVIEWS

The holding areas consist of an enclosed den with two raised shelves inside. A vertical slide gate connects the entry tunnels to the enclosed dens. Enclosed dens also have a swing gate for keeper access. Each holding area also contains an exercise yard with concrete floors and a swing gate for keeper access. The exercise yards are fully enclosed in chain link and are 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122; tall. A keeper aisle travels alongside the entry tunnel to the holding area and allows access to the exhibit yard for service.

Viewing area

Design Implications • Uses vegetation and dark painted fencing to hide barriers to excellent effect. • Care was taken to retain as much native vegetation as possible during construction. The fence-lines were bulldozed, but most vegetation was maintained. • Several of the large carnivore exhibits at Northwest Trek have lengths of hotwire that can be moved around the enclosure to surround pockets of vegetation in order to allow it to grow back after heavy use by the animals.

Project Significance

Limitations

Cat Country is a good example of a relatively simple setup for large carnivores that was built into an existing forest with low impact.

A few modifications have taken place over the years to prevent escape. On the occasional chance that the park receives a freeze in the winter, the water moats in front have been outfitted with agitators that help prevent the moat from freezing over and allowing the cats to walk out.

CASE REVIEWS

Douglas fir canopy

Asian Forest Sanctuary

Project name: Asian Forest Sanctuary Location: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Date designed/planned: Construction began in June 2003 Construction completed: July 2004 Cost: $10 million Size: 5.5 acres Architects and Exhibit Design: CLR Design Consultants: Civil Engineer: SvR Design Co. Structural Engineer: AHBL Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineer: Coffman Engineers

Asian Forest Sanctuary entrance

CASE REVIEWS

Project Summary

The Asian Forest Sanctuary is a mixed-species, rotational exhibit complex at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. It features tigers, gibbons (small, arboreal apes), otters, tapir, and anoa (dwarf water buffalo). Animals are allowed access to different enclosures in different combinations from day to day and throughout the day.

Water Systems Engineer: T.A. Maranda Consultants Construction: Jody Miller Construction

Site Context The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is located in Tacoma, Washington in Point Defiance Park. Point Defiance Park is 725 acres and overlooks Puget Sound. The park includes large areas of natural forest as well as numerous saltwater beaches. The zoo itself is located on a hill and has one of the most spectacular settings of any zoo. A dramatic, scenic view of Puget Sound provides a stunning backdrop seen immediately upon entering the zoo. Tacoma experiences a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers, and mild winters. Over the course of the year, on average the temperature varies between 38o F and 76o F.

Location of Asian Forest Sanctuary

Waterfall panorama

Waterfall panorama viewing

Asia Forest Sanctuary occupies approximately five acres at the exhibit. southern end of the zoo. The area is heavily sloped from north to south dropping sixty feet across the site. Due to the steepness of the site many erosion control measures had to be used. The exhibit takes advantage of this slope, however, by placing the animal holding facility at the lowest point and building the exhibits at essentially the second level. Using a series of transfer tunnels animals are able to enter their exhibits from below, making doorways and passageways invisible to visitors. The life support systems for the two exhibit pools are also located below grade with the animal holding. The exhibit is physically adjacent to the Asian elephant exhibit, joining that existing exhibit to the narrative of this

CASE REVIEWS

Site Analysis

Waterfall panorama exhibit

Interpretive graphics

CASE REVIEWS

Project Background

The Point Defiance Zoo began informally in 1891 with two deer and an first zoo project built with the bond. opossum. From there the zoo grew through purchases of animals, and through donations of animals brought back by local sailors. The Point Defiance Park Aquarium opened in 1936 as a facility independent from the zoo. In 1963, the aquarium was relocated to the zoo in what is now the North Pacific Aquarium. The zoo received several improvements in the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with the opening of the Rocky Shores and Arctic Tundra exhibits. In 1999, a $35 million bond was passed by Tacoma that included funding for improvements to the zoo. Asian Forest Sanctuary was the

Lowland anoa

Mineral lick exhibit

Anoa in mineral lick exhibit

In 1996 the firm CLR Design opened an exhibit at the Louisville Zoo called “The Islands” (“Asian Animals Get Home Away From Home”). This exhibit was unique in allowing different species of animals to use the same exhibits at different times. This rotational arrangement, termed by its creators as “Activity-Based Design” was the conceptual driver behind the Asia Forest Sanctuary. This new exhibit, only the second of its kind, aimed to push the rotational concept further by planning for mixed species groups to be rotated through exhibits. For example, the gibbons could be mixed with the anoa at one time, and then later

share the exhibit with small-clawed otters. The entire purpose of the activity-based design concept is to address the psychological needs of the animals. Allowing an animal to have access to a multitude of spaces at different times essentially expands that animal’s territory. When they move into a new exhibit space they have the opportunity to explore and process the smells left behind by the previous occupant.

CASE REVIEWS

Design Development

Program Elements: Holding building:

9000 SF

Exhibit #1 Waterfall Panorama:

4950 SF (3600 sf of land area) 90,000 gallon pool 500 gallon heated pool 10 foot waterfall

Exhibit #2 Bamboo Forest:

2800 SF 2500 gallon pool 24’ height enclosed mesh

Exhibit #3 Broadleaf Forest: Site Plan

CASE REVIEWS

Project Program

The exhibit consists of five different exhibit spaces. Three of them, known as the Bamboo Forest, Broadleaf Forest, and Temperate Forest, are enclosed in mesh. There are three exhibits positioned on the outside of the visitor path loop, and two on the inside. Exhibit 1, the Waterfall Panorama, is the largest exhibit and is open topped with a large pool that serves as a moat at the front. Visitors view the exhibit across the water moat, or from a glass window built into ruins at the north end of the exhibit. Exhibits 2 and 3 are both adjacent the indoor dayroom, whichis used for animals during inclement weather, medical observation, or for animals with young. Exhibits 4 and 5 are on the inside of the path. Exhibit 4 is the third mesh topped enclosure. Exhibit 5 is the smallest exhibit and it is open topped. The animal collection for the exhibit consists of Sumatran tigers, Malayan tapir,

1850 SF 2500 gallon pool 28’ stream 24’ height enclosed mesh

Exhibit #4 Temperate Forest:

2530 SF 2500 gallon pool 24’ stream 28’ height enclosed mesh

Exhibit #5 Mineral Lick :

600 SF 300 gallon pool 5’ waterfall

Dayroom – 496 SF

Transfer chute

Animal holding building

Transfer chute

CASE REVIEWS

anoa, gibbons, siamang, small-clawed otters, and Indian porcupines. Exhibits 1-4 can be used by tigers, while the gibbons and siamangs can only be in exhibits 2-4. The rest of the animal species could be moved into any of the exhibit spaces.

Tiger in bamboo forest exhibit

CASE REVIEWS

Tiger in temperate forest exhibit

Dayroom

Maintenance and Management

Use Analysis

The 9000 square foot holding facility includes a keeper office and both indoor and outdoor holding for all the animals in this exhibit complex. A trench drain runs the length of the building for ease of cleaning. The transfer chutes leading to the exhibits all have keeper aisles alongside them. The rotational management strategy requires more man-hours to achieve than traditional single species exhibits. Zoo staff and management feel that this additional investment is well worth the benefits seen in the animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; behavior. The animal care staff reports a drastic reduction in stereotypic behaviors from the animals (personal communication, July 14, 2014).

The Point Defiance Zoo saw a 20% increase in attendance in the year following the opening of Asia Forest Sanctuary (Gateway Ticketing Systems Inc.). The zoo has continued to have growth in attendance and the Asia Forest Sanctuary sparked additional improvements which have continued to improve the zooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visibility in the community.

Design Implications • Rotational exhibit setup is more work for the animal care staff, but it is worth it because of the benefit seen in the animals’ mental health. • One large holding building is shared between all species. Tigers are kept visually separate from other species. • Since the exhibits need to work for a wide variety of species, they lack specialization and don’t work as well for some species as others.

Project Significance

Limitations

The Asia Forest Sanctuary at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is one of only a few rotational exhibits in the country. This exhibit was the first to expand the concept to include the rotation of mixed species groups.

One challenge presented in this sort of animal management system is that the species featured are all extremely different and fit into different niches in their ecosystems. Due to this, the exhibits themselves need to be rather generalized. The space and containment needs for gibbons, which are arboreal primates, are significantly different from those of a tiger or an anoa. Another challenge found in this exhibit was the inability to allow the landscape time to establish before animals were introduced to the enclosures. Even though the exhibits are called Broadleaf Forest, Temperate Forest, and Bamboo Forest, they all lack any vegetation but turf-grass. Zoo management is currently discussing the possibility of re-vegetating the exhibit spaces (personal communication, July 14, 2014).

CASE REVIEWS

Broadleaf forest exhibit

Case Study Summary MINNESOTA TRAIL Minnesota Zoo

CASCADE CREST Oregon Zoo

Opened in 1978, renovated in 2007 Features species native to Minnesota including cougar, black bear, coyote, and fisher.

Opened in 1998 Features mountain goats in a faithfully recreated Cascadian mountain-top.

• Immersive with a strong narrative. Highlights the issues faced by Minnesota’s wildlife.

• Highly detailed and immersive. Artificial rockwork was created to be convincing to everyone, “from the kindergartner to the geology professor”(McClintock).

CASE REVIEWS

• Builds a sense of discovery by offering multiple viewpoints including opportunities for crawling and climbing.

• Multi-sensory with interpretive elements that engage touch, smell, and hearing. • Brings wild animals into the exhibit with a wild bird viewing deck.

• Highlights entire ecosystem including evidence of key species which would be difficult or impossible to display live. • Explores the relationship between man and the environment. Evidence of climbing gear are reminders of the difficulty man faces in visiting that environment.

CAT COUNTRY Northwest Trek

ASIA FOREST SANCTUARY Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Opened in 1987 Features mountain lions, bobcats, wolves, bears, and more in a dense second-growth coniferous forest.

Opened in 2005 Features tigers, gibbons, tapirs, otters and other Asian animals in different combinations rotating through shared exhibits

• Uses vegetation and dark painted fencing to hide barriers to excellent effect.

• Rotational exhibit setup is more work for the keepers, but they feel it is worth it because of the benefit they see in the animals’ mental health.

• Bear exhibits have two or three loops of hotwire that keepers can move throughout the exhibit to give areas of vegetation a chance to recover from the wear and tear of bears.

• One large holding building is shared between all species. Tigers are kept visually separate from other species. • Since the exhibits need to work for a wide variety of species, they lack specialization and don’t work as well for some species as others.

CASE REVIEWS

• When built care was taken to retain as much native vegetation as possible.

CASE REVIEWS

SITE INVENTORY

Site Location

Global Scale

SITE INVENTORY

Regional Scale

SITE INVENTORY

Local Scale

Eureka

SITE INVENTORY

The Sequoia Park Zoo is located in the city of Eureka, California. Eureka is westernmost city in the continental United States and the largest coastal city in California north of San Francisco. The incorporated city limits encompass 16.4 square miles. The city itself has a population of roughly 27,000 people while the metropolitan statistical area population is 134,000. Eureka is located on the shore of Humboldt Bay, the largest harbor between San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound. The hills surrounding Humboldt Bay are part of the temperate rainforest biome and are dominated with ancient coast redwood trees. Redwood National and State Park is located 40 miles north of Eureka. Eureka and surrounding communities grew up as logging towns which relied heavily on the extraction of coast redwoods. Another major industry was fishing, which harvested from the rich waters of Humboldt Bay and the Pacific Ocean beyond (City of Eureka). Both of these industries have slowed considerably since World War II and the economy of the area has stagnated. As the area looks to transition into new economic activities, tourism is one potential area for economic growth. The redwood coast has long been a destination for tourists. The Sequoia Park Zoo is in a position to potentially attract tourists and enhance their redwood experience through connecting with wildlife native to the redwood forests.

Redwood National Park

Old Town Eureka

Watershed Heroes

Master Plan - Jones & Jones

The Sequoia Park Zoo is located within the 67-acre Sequoia Park, In 1995, the zoo received accreditation by the Association of Zoos and in Eureka, California. The zoo itself currently occupies 5 acres on the Aquariums (AZA). In 2006, the zoo hired the design firm of Jones and northeast corner of the park. Jones from Seattle, Washington to draft a master plan for the zoo. The master plan calls for the arrangement of the zoo around a number of The Sequoia Park Zoo is the oldest zoo in the state of California, “biodiversity hotspots” including the tropical Andes, Asian forests, having opened in 1907. The zoo likely started with a few paddocks of and the temperate rainforests of Northern California in which the zoo tame deer or elk but grew to eventually include an ever-changing array resides. Rapid redevelopment included the construction of a new entry of animals that included polar bears, lions, camels, and chimpanzees. facility, gift shop, and cafe as well as the Barnyard display where guests can interact with domestic animals. The most recent development is an In the 1970’s the zoo stopped public feeding of the animals exhibit called “Watershed Heroes” which features river otters, salmon, and installed a perimeter fence. However, the zoo still struggled with and bald eagles. This exhibit forms the first phase of the native redwood few resources and it was suggested by some that it should be closed. forest zone in the master plan. The native predators exhibit will be The community rallied around the zoo in the late 70’s and new, larger immediately adjacent and will complete that portion of the master plan. enclosures were built for bears, chimpanzees, and other primates. However, controversy stirred when the city opted to euthanize the current bears rather than move them to the new enclosure. The public outcry led to the hiring of the first professional zoo superintendent.

SITE INVENTORY

Sequoia Park Zoo

YAK

 



SITE INVENTORY

BARNYARD

PECCARY & RHEA





AVIARY

SEQUOIA PARK

  



 



    

   



SECRETS OF THE FOREST

OTTER

BUSH DOG

SITE INVENTORY



  

       



  





 



    

 





  

  



SITE INVENTORY

Circulation

A primary asphalt path runs the length of the zoo from north to south. Most of the zoos exhibits can be viewed from this path. A secondary paved loop travels around the barnyard area. Another secondary path travels to and through the walk-in aviary. A new secondary path takes guests through Watershed Heroes on a concrete path stamped with imprints of leaves and footprints to simulate a forest floor. An unpaved temporary path returns guests to the main path from the west side of Watershed Heroes.

Sequoia Park has a number of paths through it, some which directly

effect this development. Running directly west of the zoo is an asphalt service road which doubles as a pedestrian/bicycle path. Additionally, a number of unpaved hiking paths run through the forested area of the park and down into the ravine.

The majority of the site drains into a ravine behind the zoo and feeds into a creek. This creek feeds into the duck pond lower in the park. Water from the duck pond joins a second creek coming from the north in a natural wetland area at the lowest point of Sequoia Park. This wetland then feeds into nearby Martin Slough. Martin Slough joins with Elk River before dumping out into the southern end of Humboldt Bay south of Eureka.



SEQUOIA PARK

SITE INVENTORY

Water



Average Monthly Precipitation 9 8 7 6 5 4



3 

Average Precipitation (Inches)

2 1 0

Average Monthly Temperature 70 60 50 40 30 20 10



Climate

SITE INVENTORY

Eureka and the surrounding Humboldt Bay region has a very mild climate. The summer highs are in the low 60’s and winters are generally above 40o F. These low summer highs are the result of the coastal fog that the region recieves during the summer. This coastal fog keeps this area well below the summer highs seen further inland. The coastal redwood forests are considered to be a temperate rainforest ecosystem. Accordingly the region receives nearly 40 inches of rainfall annually, mostly occurring in the winter. The prevailing winds come from the north in summer and from the southeast in the winter.

Average High (F) Average Low (F)

Vegetation The majority of Sequoia Park and the zoo as well is covered in old-growth and second-growth redwood forest. These ancient forest giants provide a spectacular setting and a dramatic backdrop for the zoo. The canopy soars hundreds of feet into the air and consists primarily of coast redwood interspersed with large Douglas fir trees. The Douglas firs are shorter lived than the redwoods and have a relatively rapid growth rate. The midstory is made up of broadleaved trees. The bigleaf maple and red alder are deciduous, losing their leaves in the winter. The Pacific madrone is an evergreen tree with peeling, reddish-colored bark. The Pacific madrone is endemic to coastal areas in northwestern North America. The Pacific rhododendron is a small evergreen tree with a showy pink blossom.

CANOPY Coast Redwood Douglas Fir

MIDSTORY Bigleaf Maple Red Alder Pacific Madrone Pacific Rhododedron

UNDERSTORY Redwood Sorrel Red Hucklebeerry Western Sword Fern  

SITE INVENTORY

The forest has a very dense understory made up of a wide variety of plant species. Some of the more notable examples are western sword fern, redwood sorrel and red huckleberry.

SITE INVENTORY

Topography

Sequoia Park consists of varied topography. The highest point in the park, which is located within Sequoia Park Zoo is at approximately 163â&#x20AC;&#x2122; above sea level, while its lowest point which is in the wetland that drains into Martin Slough is approximately 52â&#x20AC;&#x2122; above sea level. A steep ravine slices through the park, beginning just behind the zoo. This ravine has a drastic elevation drop with slope over 30%.

INE

DEEP, FORESTED RAVINE

L GE

RID

FORESTED AREA

E ROAD

SERVIC

FLAT, DISTURBED LAND

The site carries with it the opportunity for the zoo to expound its borders and provide visitors with an enhanced experience. The expansion site has both the advantage and the constraint of being located in old-growth redwood forest. While this setting is breathtaking and can be leveraged in the zoo experience, it also presents challenges related to sensitive construction around these ancient giants. The steep ravine beyond the expansion site will be outside zoo boundaries initally, but the potential exists for the zoo to create a canopy level boardwalk out over the ravine. Because the giant trees down in the ravine have their base

many feet below the expansion site, it would not require much elevation from ground level to get visitors up into the canopy. The current yak paddock presents the opportunity of relatively easy construction on its flat and already disturbed ground.

SITE INVENTORY

Opportunities and Constraints

Focus Area

A A 



C

SITE INVENTORY







D F

  



 



    



  

  



SITE INVENTORY



SITE INVENTORY

DESIGN

Landscape Immersion Principles

SCREENING

The primary goal of landscape immersion is to immerse visitors within the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural habitat. In order to do this, the design needs to focus on the animal and how they naturally live. Exhibit barriers are to be rendered invisible or made less prominent. Cross views to other visitors viewing the exhibit should be avoided. An exhibit should be arranged so that the entire space cannot be viewed from any one single location. Multiple viewpoints enhance the sense of discovery and also allow animals the ability to avoid the constant gaze of people. An animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sense of security is also enhanced by at the same level or higher than the visitor. Viewing down on an animal should be avoided. Placing the animal in a superior position in the landscape also reinforces the perception of the visitor being an intruder in the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world.

Landscaped berm

In any exhibit design there are necessary human elements such as guest facilities, animal holding and support facilities, and maintenance facilities. These should be subordinate to the landscape. Buildings should be hidden or screened, or if necessary be contextual in terms of their place in the landscape and cultural environment.

DESIGN

Heavy vegetation

Elevation change

VIEWING TYPES

Viewing across a moat

Viewing through mesh

DESIGN

Viewing through glass

Activity-Based Design Activity-based design is a name for zoo design which seeks to combine the design with behavioral enrichment, behavioral management and animal husbandry. One concept employed in this design method is that of rotational exhibits. Rotational exhibits allow animals or groups of animals to be moved throughout a number of exhibit or holding spaces throughout the day. In this way, they can be thought of as what designer Jon Coe calls, “consecutive mixed-species exhibits” (“Mixed Species Rotation Exhibits”). Different species occupy the same space, just not necessarily at the same time. The advantages of this design and husbandry method is that the total space occupied by each animal increases, which helps with the perception of territory thereby increasing their chances for engaging in natural behavior. Since an animal never has an opportunity to learn a routine for going on and off exhibit, the stereotypic pacing by the night-house door is nearly eliminated. In site planning these types of exhibits there are a number of considerations.

DESIGN

Ultimately, the arrangements that allow for the greatest flexibility are to be preferred. Flexibility increases the animal husbandry teams ability to change an animal’s routine and environment. Exhibits can either be laid out in a radial arrangement, where a central holding area is used to transfer between exhibits, or in a circuit, where animals can be shifted from one space to the next without having to shift through the holding area. A combination of these two arrangements, which enhances the exhibit’s flexibility, is also possible though not always feasible.

Step-By-Step Rotation - Circuit

DESIGN

Step-By-Step Rotation - Radial

Narrative Organization The theme of the exhibit can be summarized as “the conflict between human development and wildlife habitat.” The specific issues to be interpreted are the impact of roads in dissecting wildlife habitat and the need for widlife crossings at highways as well as the conflict that exists when wildlife, particularly large predators, have to travel through suburban and urban areas to reach additional habitat. In order to fully present these complicated issues, three separate zones were envisioned.

DESIGN

The first zone, the wilderness, serves as the introduction to the redwood forest ecosystem and the wildlife, especially the large predators, that call it home. The second zone, the highway, is intended to be a stark constrast that will provide a little bit of a shock to the senses. This zone introduces the conflict with wildlife in the form of highway collisions. A physical representation of a wildlife overpass that can be used by the animals provides a concrete vision of what can be done to help solve the problem. In order to demonstrate that the highway fragments wildlife habitat, the visitor will then need to see another patch of valuable wildlife habitat

on the other side of the highway. This second wilderness area brings us out to the furthest point on the trail, where the big stars, the black bears are found. Having this popular species exhibited towards the back of the experience will help pull visitors through the exhibit and incentivize exploring the entire trail. The final zone, the suburban edge, is the interpretive heart of the exhibit. Designed to resemble the edge between wildlife habitat and suburban development, this area highlights solutions. Interpretive programming will teach how to safely coexist with urban wildlife and present ways to promote the creation of wildlife corridors. This final “call to action” completes the experience and delivers concrete solutions to the problems presented.

WILDERNESS

DESIGN

The introduction to the exhibit presents the viewer with a vision of unspoiled wilderness. The initial impression is one of animals living natural lives, unimpeded by human intervention.

Highway

DESIGN

Guests soon learn that this is not the case as they witness the effect that roads have as they dissect viable habitat into ever smaller chunks. At this point the message of wildlife corridors and highway crossings is explored.

Suburban Edge

DESIGN

Our return to the wilderness is eventually interrupted once more by the presence of humans. Visitors learn that through urban sprawl wildlife is brought into conflict with humans. At this juncture visitors are encouraged to discover ways in which they can minimize the conflict with and help promote greater habitat connectivity for wildlife.

Concept Development In developing the site concept, the narrative concept and the inventory and analysis were used as guides. After overlaying the narrative concept on the site several advantages became apparent. The existing perimeter road was ideally placed to serve double duty both as a functional service road and an interpretive “highway”. The wilderness zone should be the introductory experience, and as such is placed next to the existing Watershed Heroes exhibit, continuing the narrative already found there. The second “wilderness zone”, which is even more remote and wild, is located out in the forested area of the park. With a light touch and careful planning, the existing, natural character of this

area can be maintained. Finally, the “suburban zone” is well suited to be built on the existing hoofstock paddock, and is positioned well to be the concluding experience of the trail. Another important consideration is the placement of animal holding facilities. These can be easily disguised in the suburban zone, and the existing flat, disturbed land is ideal for the heavier construction involved in those facilities.

WILDERNESS

OVER P S AS

HWAY G I H

WILDERNESS

DESIGN

SUBURBAN EDGE



 

       

 



 

 

 

  

   

  

DESIGN

This concept places the small animal exhibits as the first encountered by guests. The small mammals share holding with the mountain lions, which come second along the trail. The bear and coyote exhibit spans the highway as the final encounter. The bear and coyote holding is physically separated from the other holding facility.



 

       

 

  

 



  

    

DESIGN

 

This concept places all of the holding into a single, centralized location for ease of keeper maintenance. This creates some problems in the placement of transfer areas to the exhibits, particularly for bear and coyote. One advantage to this plan is that spacing out the small animal exhibits provides for a better paced visitor trail experience. It also enhances the perception that the animals travel across a larger habitat, highlighting the need for wildlife corridors.

 



 

   

 

 

     

  

 

  

  

This final concept, which ultimately was chosen to go forward into design, blends the best of the two previous plans. The holding is split into two facilities which makes placement of transfer chutes easier. The small animal exhibits are paced out through the exhibit rather than all clumped at the beginning. Unlike the other two concepts, this plan features only two mountain lion exhibits. It also features an enlarged small mammal exhibit which better suits the highly active fishers.

DESIGN

 

Site Plan The site plan is a refinement of the third concept plan. The experience begins with a mountain lion exhibit viewed through broad, glass panels. The trail then travels between the mountain lion exhibit and two separate small mammal exhibits that could at any time hold fishers, a bobcat, or gray foxes. A nearby porcupine exhibit allows for the interpretation of the predator-prey relationship of porcupines and fishers. The forest trail gives way to the highway. Construction barricades keep visitors from traveling too far down the highway in either direction. After passing under the wildlife crossing they rejoin the forest trail. At the furthest point in the trail an elevated boardwalk allows for views down to the bottom of the bear exhibit. Nearby, glass viewing frames the second mountain lion and bear exhibit. The visitor path then travels beneath the road, allowing visitors to experience of an animal using a highway crossing. Visitors will be able to follow alongside the bears as they travel under the highway from one exhibit space to the next. Fine steel mesh will separate people from animals.

DESIGN

The final small animal exhibit is located in the suburban zone, showing that many smaller mammals are capable of exploiting suburban ecosystems to their own benefit. The experience ends inside the “Living With Wildlife” interpretive gallery. Visitors can learn about how to coexist with wildlife as they peer out a picture window, over a small, fenced “backyard” out into the second bear habitat. This relationship highlights that in many cases, the animals homes are literally just outside our back fence.

Fern Canyon • Visitors are introduced to the wilderness and the redwood forest ecosystem. • Log viewing into mountain lion exhibit provides unique, up close viewing.

DESIGN

• Artificial earth bank covered in live ferns evokes a scenic area of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and obscures view of holding facility.

DESIGN

 





 

 

Highway Crossings • The service road doubles as interpetive “highway”. • The wildlife overpass used by the mountain lions to transfer between exhibits is experienced by visitors who travel along the road beneath it.

DESIGN

• The wildlife underpass is experienced by visitors traveling alongside the animals.

100

101

DESIGN

Bear Valley • Glass viewing at mountain lion and black bear exhibits allows for close encounters. • Elevated viewing deck takes visitors higher into the trees allowing a view down the slope to the far corners of the bear exhibit. • Viewing deck could potentially extend over the bear exhibit and out over the ravine providing a canopy encounter.

DESIGN

• Elevated viewing deck could provide opportunities to interpret the ecosystems that occur within the redwood canopy.

102

103

DESIGN

    

 

   

  

Living With Wildlife   

• Suburban aesthetic illustrates techniques for promoting habitat connectivity and coexistence with nature. • Bear holding and interpretive gallery combined into one building. • Picture window into coyote & bear habitat. • “Back porch” serves as a training wall for public viewing of animal husbandry training.

DESIGN

• Interpretive elements focus on promoting ways to coexist with urban wildlife.

104

105

DESIGN

106

DESIGN

CONCLUSION

Efforts to learn the theory and principles behind zoo-based landscape immersion design were the primary focus of the background research. Given more time, it would have been helpful to delve deeper into the research of the redwood forest ecosystem, it’s geologic history, and biodiversity. Additionally, further research into the natural history of the species presented would have been a welcome addition to this study. This design presents an example of the potential for storytelling in zoos, through the use of realistic, three dimensional settings. There is much promise in the methods employed here to further enhance the educational experience of visiting a zoo with a hope that zoos can further live up to their lofty educational goals. Whether zoos are truly obtaining their goals of visitor education is a hotly debated topic. Conflicting studies exist that present the strengths and short-comings in zoo education. Longitudinal studies that track visitors’ reactions to the exhibits through exit interviews and then measure mid- and long term conservation attitudes and actions would be useful in evaluating exhibit success.

CONCLUSION

Ultimately further research needs to be carried out as zoos will have to further demonstrate their value in the court of public opinion. Though research doesn’t conclusively show that zoos succeed in the area of affecting visitor actions, I fully believe they have the potential to generate positive conservation behavior.

108

Works Cited “2014 Annnual Conference Program Guide.” N.p.: Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2014. N. pag. Print. Andersen, Lars Lunding. “Zoo Interpretation and Exhibit Design: Two Sides of the Same Coin.” 16.2 (1991): 4-6. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Asian Animals Get Home Away from Home - Federal Way Mirror.” Federal Way Mirror. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “AZA - About.” N.p., 2014. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Bowkett, Andrew E. “Recent Captive‐Breeding Proposals and the Return of the Ark Concept to Global Species Conservation.” 23.3 (2009): 773-76. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Bronislawski, Kate. “Visitor Demographics.” N.p., 2009. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Chosy, Julia, Megan Wilson, and Rachel Santymire. “Behavioral and Physiological Responses in Felids to Exhibit Construction: Felid Response to Exhibit Construction.” 33.4 (2014): 267-74. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Cincinnati Nature Center - Plan Your Visit.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. City of Eureka. City of Eureka General Plan. Policy Document. N.p.: n.p., 1997. Print. Clayton, Susan, John Fraser, and Carol D. Saunders. “Zoo Experiences: Conversations, Connections, and Concern for Animals.” 28.5 (2009): 377-97. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Climate Eureka - California and Weather Averages Eureka.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Coe, Jon Charles. “. An Integrative Process for Exhibit Design.” Journal of Museum Education (1991): n. pag. Jon Coe Design. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Coe, Jon Charles. “Architects and Enrichment.” N.p., n.d. Web. Coe, Jon Charles. “Bringing It All Together: Integration of Context, Content and Message In Zoo Exhibit Design.” American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, 1982. 268-74. Web. Coe, Jon Charles. “Entertaining Zoo Visitors and Zoo Animals: An Integrated Approach.” 1997. Web. Coe, Jon Charles. “Landscape Immersion - Origins and Concepts.” Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 1994. Web. Coe, Jon Charles. “Mixed Species Rotation Exhibits.” 2004. Web.

CONCLUSION

Coe, Jon Charles. “Trends in Learning Environments.” Jon Coe Design Pty Ltd. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014. Coe, Jon Charles. “What’s the Message? Exhibit Design for Education.” American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, 1987. 19-23. Web. Falk, John H., Eric M. Reinhard, Cynthia L. Vernon, Kerry Bronnenkant, Joe E. Heimlich, and Nora L. Deans. Why Zoos & Aquariums Matter: Assessing the Impact of a Visit. Rep. Silver Springs, MD: Association of Zoos & Aquariums, 2007. Web. Gateway Ticketing Systems Inc. “Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Significantly Increases Revenue and Security with Galaxy’s Admission Control and Self-serve Ticketing Solutions.” (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.

110

Hancocks, David. A Different Nature: The Paradoxical World of Zoos and Their Uncertain Future. N.p.: U of California, 2001. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Hanson, Elizabeth. Animal Attractions: Nature on Display in American Zoos. N.p.: Princeton UP, 2002. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Hediger, Heini. Wild Animals in Captivity. N.p.: Dover Publications, 1964. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Henderson, Kevin, Grant Spickelmier, and Tom Ness, comps. Minnesota Trail - AZA 2008 Award Application. N.p., n.d. Web. Hyson, Jeffrey, and Michel Conan. “Jungles of Eden: The Design of American Zoos.” Washington, D.C: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2001. 23-44. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Johnston, Robert J. “Exogenous Factors and Visitor Behavior A Regression Analysis of Exhibit Viewing Time.” 30.3 (1998): 322-47. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Kelling, Nicholas J., Diann E. Gaalema, and Angela S. Kelling. “A Modified Operational Sequence Methodology for Zoo Exhibit Design and Renovation: Conceptualizing Animals, Staff, and Visitors as Interdependent Coworkers.” 33.4 (2014): 336-48. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Laule, Gail. “The Role of Behavioral Management in Enhancing Exhibit Design and Use.” N.p.: Active Environments, 2006. N. pag. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Lindholm, Josef, Mark D. Irwin, John B. Stoner, and Aaron M. Cobaugh. “Zoo History.” Chicago ; London: U of Chicago, 2013. 37-42. Microsoft Word file. Luebke, Jerry F., and Jennifer Matiasek. “An Exploratory Study of Zoo Visitors’ Exhibit Experiences and Reactions.” 32.4 (2013): 407-16. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Mellen, Jill, and Marty Sevenich MacPhee. “Philosophy of Environmental Enrichment: Past, Present, and Future.” 20.3 (2001): 211-26. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Miller, James R. “Biodiversity Conservation and the Extinction of Experience.” 20.8 (2005): 430-34. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Mr. Ellie Pooh - Recycled Elephant Pooh Paper Products - Why Sri Lanka?” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “The Nature Conservancy | Vision & Mission.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Northwest Trek - About Us.” Northwest Trek. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Dec. 2014. “Oregon Zoo Cascade Crest Exhibit.” N.p., 2011. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Phoenix Zoo Conservation & Science Newsletter.” N.p.: Phoenix Zoo, 2009. N. pag. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.

“Quarters for Conservation - Woodland Park Zoo Seattle WA.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Ross, Stephen R., Leah M. Melber, Katie L. Gillespie, and Kristen E. Lukas. “The Impact of a Modern, Naturalistic Exhibit Design on Visitor Behavior: A Cross-Facility Comparison.” 15.1 (2012): 3-15. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. doi: 10.1080/10645578.2012.660838 “San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.

CONCLUSION

Polakowski, Kenneth J., and University Of Michigan School of Natural Resources. Zoo Design: The Reality of Wild Illusions. N.p.: U of Michigan, School of Natural Resources, 1987. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.

111

“SeagrassSoundings.” : Restoration in Boston Harbor: Volunteer Event at New England Aquarium. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Skibins, Jeffrey C., and Robert B. Powell. “Conservation Caring: Measuring the Influence of Zoo Visitors’ Connection to Wildlife on Pro‐conservation Behaviors.” 32.5 (2013): 528-40. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Snow Leopard Trust - About.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Sorvig, Kim. “Cultured Nature.” Landscape Architecture July 2000: 69+. Print. SRG, CLR, and Atelier Dreiseitl. “Oregon Zoo Comprehensive Capital Master Plan.” (2011): n. pag. Web. Swanagan, Jeffery S. “Factors Influencing Zoo Visitors’ Conservation Attitudes and Behavior.” 31.4 (2000): n. pag. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. Wagner, Kathleen, Melissa Chessler, Peter York, and Jared Raynor. “Development and Implementation of an Evaluation Strategy for Measuring Conservation Outcomes.” 28.5 (2009): 473-87. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Why Is Biodiversity in Crisis?” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Wildlife Conservation Society - About.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “World Wildlife Fund - Our Work.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. “Zoo Boise Conservation Fund.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.

Image Sources. Image citations are listed by page number. All images not cited here are by the author. Page 6 The Philadelphia Zoo Elephant Kiosk. http://www.buildwithusa.com/projects/philazoo_elephant.html

CONCLUSION

Page 8 Hornaday (left) with bison crated for shipment from the Bronx Zoo to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, 1907. Wildlife Conservation Society. http://hornadayscrapbooks.com/about_hornaday Page from Wildlife Conservation Scrapbook of William T. Hornaday. Wildlife Conservation Society.

112

Page 10 Trans-Canada Highway in Alberta, Canada, in the Banff National Park, between Banff and Lake Louise. Qyd. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Trans-Canada-wildlife_overpass.JPG. Page 11 Black Bear With Trash Can. AP Photo/file. http://mynorthwest.com/75/1993641/WDFW-says-garbage-not-bear-is-the-problem Page 16 Black Bear At Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. Ben Gilbert. http://www.zoochat.com/580/florida-black-bear-lowry-park-13-a-355100/ Page 22 Walk-through Squirrel Monkey Exhibit At the Phoenix Zoo. Scott Richardson. http://www.zoochat.com/596/phoenix-zoo-walk-through-squirrelmonkey-45719/ Page 26 Philadelphia Zoo Trail System. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/big-cat-crossing-at-philadelphia-zoo-lets-tigersstray-outside-exhibit/ Elephant Using a Puzzle Feeder. http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/2014/01/13/welcome-elephant-mila/ Tiger Enrichment. Angela W. http://thewellsspring.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html Page 33 Minnesota Zoo Map from http://www.minnesotazoo.org Page 36 Site Plan from 2008 AZA Exhibit Award Application – Minnesota Trail Page 37 Artificial Rocks Along Visitor Path. Scott Richardson. http://www.zoochat.com/584/minnesota-trail-pathway-immersive-wall-378798/ Fisher Exhibit. Scott Richardson. http://www.zoochat.com/584/minnesota-trail-fisher-exhibit-378804/

Oregon Zoo map from http://www.oregonzoo.org Page 44 All diagrams from The Portico Group via Landscape Architecture magazine.

CONCLUSION

Page 41

113

Page 45 Cascade Crest logo from http://www.oregonzoo.org Page 49 Northwest Trek map from http:// www.nwtrek.org Page 57 Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium map from http://www.pdza.org Page 60 Site Plan from http://aazk.org/wp-content/uploads/asian_forest.pdf Page 70 Storefronts near Second and F streets, Eureka, California have shops across from Old Town Square. Pamla J. Eisenberg. http://commons.wikimedia. org/wiki/Category:Buildings_in_Eureka,_California#mediaviewer/File:Old_Town_Eureka,_California.jpg Page 71 Sequoia Park Zoo Master Plan from Jones and Jones Architecture and Landscape Architecture Page 77 Dmcdevit. Bigleaf Maple. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Acer_macrophyllum Dwyer, Jami. Western Sword Fern. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Polystichum_munitum KENPEI. Coast Redwood. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Sequoia_sempervirens Powell, David. Douglas Fir. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Pseudotsuga_menziesii Siegmund, Walter. Pacific Madrone. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Arbutus_menziesii Siegmund, Walter. Pacific Rhododendron. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron_macrophyllum

CONCLUSION

Siegmund, Walter. Red Alder. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Alnus_rubra

114

Siegmund, Walter. parvifolium_14911.JPG

Red

Huckleberry.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Vaccinium_parvifolium#mediaviewer/File:Vaccinium_

Siegmund, Walter. Redwood Sorrel. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Oxalis_oregana

Acknowledgements This project would not have been possible without the kind support and help of many individuals and organizations. I extend my sincere thanks to all of them. I am highly indebted to my Graduate Committee; Beth Scott, Dean Mark Hoversten, and Lee Ehmke for their guidance and constant supervision as well as their support in completing the project. I would like to express my special gratitude and thanks to Gretchen Ziegler and the entire Sequoia Park Zoo organization for giving me the opportunity to work with them on this project. I would like to express my gratitude towards my wife, Sarah, whose support has lifted me through all of life’s challenges as well as my darling children, Rachel, Katherine, Emma, James, and William for their love and support. I am also deeply grateful to my father, Paul Hofhine and my sister, Teresa Eardley for their support and for facilitating the travel required for this project. Thanks to my wife’s parents who helped take care of my family while I focused my efforts on this project. My thanks and appreciations also go to Karen Goodrowe and the staff of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Chip Heinz at Northwest Trek, and Doug Lund and the staff at Utah’s Hogle Zoo as well as to Keith McClintock at the Portico Group in assisting me in my research and case reviews. I would also like to express my gratitude to the numerous industry professionals who have offered advice, encouragment, and guidance. I am especially grateful to Steve Burns for helping to arrange the project and getting me in touch with the Sequoia Park Zoo. Special thanks to Drew Jordan for his guidance and mentorship thoughout my schooling. I am also grateful for the help and encouragement from my friends who put up with my neuroses and offered feedback and support.

Dedication

CONCLUSION

To the memory of my mother, Irene Hofhine, who imparted her love of nature and always believed in me.

115

116

CONCLUSION