Indoor and outdoor enclosures

• Most animals have a generously sized outdoor and indoor enclosure
• Outdoor exhibits use solar orientation to create micro exhibits
• Indoor enclosures provide ample viewing of the animal
• What is natural history?


  behaviours of the animal, the animals natural habitat and the adaptations they have
• In order to keep an animal physically and mentally healthy, we can look at their natural history : animals that burrow and dig should be able to do so. The correct temperature should be maintained, especially for reptiles and species that come from tropical regions
• How can we mimic an animals natural environment in an enclosure?

  artificial or live plants, natural substrate, rock features, waterfalls or water features, hollowed out logs
• what are the benefits to natural materials in enclosures?


  they are often cheap or free, readily available, have olfactory features and can easily blend into the environment
• Not all natural enclosures are good and not all unnatural enclosures are bad, it is largely dependent on what goes into the enclosure and whether it meets the specific animals needs
• Why do zoos have naturalistic environments?


  animal welfare and enrichment, it allows the public to image the animals natural environment, or just aesthetics for the public
• What are some different types of enclosures?

  open top exhibits, aviaries, walkthroughs, display areas
• Mixed species exhibits should be large enough to allow the species to move away from each other
• Mixed species exhibits must have multiple feeding and drinking areas
• Mixed species exhibits must have areas to introduce new arrivals safely to the other species
• In mixed species exhibits, the different species should have their own area or house within a larger house
• Predators and prey should not be mixed in mixed species exhibits