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| LOCATION:
5500 Phinney Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103-5897
KEY WORDS: Alaska, Taiga, Immersion exhibit
ANIMALS:
AWARD: 1995 AZA (American Zoo Association) Exhibit Award DESCRIPTION:
Woodland Park Zoo has exhibited bears for over 50 years. The new grizzly exhibit is part of the Northern Trail featuring animals and plants adaptable to the cold, rugged regions of the far north including Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and Russia. It is part of Woodland Park Zoo's Master Plan for the complete redevelopment into naturalistic habitats. Much of the the Northern Trail's aesthetic impact is an outgrowth of the zoo's commitment to realism and landscape immersion as described in its Long Range Plan. Animal care and horticulture staff participated fully in all aspects of the design process. The three active elements shaping the northern landscape - fire, flood and permafrost - are boldly conveyed through landscape features. Upright snags and deadfall are used. Visitors see a braided river bordered by fallen trees deposited at the upper reaches of a flood plain. Evidence of flooding is indicated by floating or submerged trees found in riverine pools. The multi-disciplinary implementation team included concrete artists who worked directly with a professional geologist and naturalists to produce compelling and authentic details such as quartzite intrusions, veins of iron pyrite, overlapping basalt flows and hand-painted crustose lichens. However, these details are never sensationalized to the point of overpowering or competing with the appreciation of animals and their habitats. Equal attention was given to the aesthetics of the unseen - ensuring that no discordant elements, such as views of holding structures and barriers, would detract from the natural appearance of habitats. SIZE: The Northern Trail occupies 2.4 hectares. 43 % of the site is dedicated to exhibition habitats, 31 % to landscape outside of animal areas, 14 % to service areas, 6 % to off-view animal holding and 6 % to visitor use and circulation. The bears' exhibit covers about 15 % of the Northern Trail. The on-view enclosure for the bears occupies 1,120 m2,
the off-view exercise yard 410 m2.
COSTS: USD 7.7 million for construction + 15 % for planning of the whole Northern
Trail.
OPENING DATE: October 6, 1994
DESIGN: Begin in September 1992
Begin in September 1992
LOCAL CONDITIONS:
PLANTS: Several team members participated in field research to replicate plant communities found in Southcentral Alaska. The selection of native or near-native plant species helps to ensure high survival rates. More than 80 % of the plants used are native to Alaska. Horticultural maintenance is greatly enhanced by site-specific, automated irrigation systems. A few particularly sensitive plantings are protected with hotwire held by snags. The following plants where used in and around the Northern Trail bears' exhibit, representing plant community zones of black spruce forest, shrub tundra and dwarf willow shrub tundra: Trees (11 species, 10 native to Alaska):
Shrubs (40 species, 29 native to Alaska):
Wildflowers, grasses, ferns (27 species, 25 native to Alaska):
FEATURES DEDICATED TO ANIMALS: Abundant deadfall is positioned at the upper reaches of the flood plain and the river enters a pool in the foreground. The complex landscape provides inquisitive brown bears with opportunities for exploration and play. The pool incorporates ledges and slopes which provide opportunities for wading, resting while partially submerged, and swimming. An off-view exercise area includes a sand box and an elevated platform.
The platform provides a 360-degree vista from which a bear can scan the
environment with all its senses.
FEATURES DEDICATED TO KEEPERS: A bridge can be extended over the rear moat in the exhibit to deliver
large deadfalls, plants, sand and other materials. Duplicate holding areas
allow for the easy, daily rotation of two sibling cubs and an unrelated
female adult who occupy the exhibit during different times. Service areas
have abundant electrical outlets, offer hot and cold water, include stainless
steel sinks and incorporate provisions for food preparation and storage.
A central keeper facility includes an office, restrooms, locker room, shower
and storage areas. Staff is never required to travel through busy visitor
areas to service exhibits of care for animals. However, several convenient
and secure points of access to public areas have been provided. All animal
holding areas incorporate a hierarchical system of specially cored locks,
multiple doors and safety vestibules for optimal security. Door operations
are remote and from locations which provide excellent visibility of animal
areas. Bear doors incorporate positive locking mechanisms which employ
a three-pin system to prevent inadvertent lock release.
FEATURES DEDICATED TO VISITORS: Elements of animal habitat were consciously extended into visitor areas in order to create a sense of habitat complexity and multi-sensory adventure. Visitors have three viewpoints to observe the bears. Past the outdoor viewpoint are the cave and the Taiga Viewing Shelter. The Taiga Viewing Shelter is hidden behind a simulated avalanche. Visitors watch through a window that gives views above and below the water. A walk-in cave with veins of "fool's gold" offers keyhole views through glass. The pulse of visual compression and release is accompanied by alternating close-up and distant views, often of the same animals seen from different viewpoints. The bears can be seen as far away as 90 m or as close as 10 cm. INTERPRETATION: The accurate representation of geology and plant communities of Southcentral Alaska has an intrinsic educational value in conveying this habitat. The Tundra Center adjacent to the bears' exhibit tells the story of the tundra's changing landscape in murals and a video. It also introduces the human relationship with this land through the depiction of a scientific research camp. The building also provides space for temporary exhibits and a small theatre/classroom. Close to the entrance is a simulated fish-drying rack like the ones that Athabaskans - the native people of Central Alaska and Canada - would use. Graphics around the bears' enclosure tell about bears' ethology
and endangerment. Bear
tracks are shown as carved in wood.
MANAGEMENT: Twin males and an unrelated female are rotated between the on-view and
the off-view enclosure.
RESEARCH: A summative evaluation was done by Kathryn Nelson, Department of Museology
at the University of Washington, in 1995 to evaluate visitors' opinions
and perceptions of the Northern Trail.
CONSERVATION: Water is conserved through animal-activated drinkers, automated irrigation systems and re-circulating stream and pool systems which are filtered and ozonated. Skylights in several holding areas allow light switches to remain off most of the time and little heating is required during most times of the year. The building is bermed into the hillside to minimize heating and cooling needs. A wetland was created for storm water detention. Reforestation of the exhibit site has added to the habitat quality. Native raptors perch on snags in the bear exhibit, and spruce forests have attracted numerous native passerinces. DISCUSSION: You are invited to share your opinion on this exhibit at the ZooLex Forum. |
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Last modification: 2000/2/27 |
Copyright © 2000 Monika Ebenhöh |
