Making Habitats

One of the most interesting things to learn during this internship is how Zoo Negara builds exhibits and enclosures to replicate natural habitats of the different animals.

When building the exhibits and enclosures, or during renovations, the intent is to try to make designs, that utilize the landscaping and hard-scaping, as similar to the wild as possible. This not only means making the living area for the animals fitted for them but also using plants to hide different infrastructure. When applicable the exhibits will have water sources, more open areas for sun, denser plant areas to get out of the heat or hide, structures that replicate overhangs or caves, boulders, and enrichment structures for activities like climbing, swinging and generally playing.

Most of the plants chosen to be used in the landscaping are determined by the type of ecosystem the animal comes from. For the savanna area, different grass species have been used throughout the large area that houses the zebras, giraffes, emus, and antelope. Additionally, the landscape is done so the plant species get taller towards the back wall, so trees and higher grass are dense at the back and provide shade for the animals.

In the bird enclosures, the environment replicate being high in the trees. So shorter tree species are used in the back and sides to create a more dense environment and tree branches and logs have been bound together to go across the enclosure area. Climbers are used across the logs and walls to hide infrastructure and building materials. For the storks and pelicans, which are free roaming and live on the lake in the middle of the zoo, P&G has built some full size concrete trees to add sitting space near the water and planted many native species of aquatic plants along the edges of the water.

The primate exhibits have many built in enrichment structures. There are ledges, ropes, tethered leather balls, hanging empty barrels, rope/straps suspended between trees or structures and hammocks; all placed for swinging, climbing, and jumping. Moreover, in exhibits with trees there are platforms built up high for them to climb to and electrical wire to prevent them from going to high.

Much thought goes into these planning, and it is done as collaboration between P&G and the zoological/veterinary departments.