 LOCATION:
Ringdijk 20
, 3053 KS Rotterdam
, The Netherlands
Phone: 0031-(0)10-4181836
Fax: 010-4614769
URL: http://www.plaswijckpark.nl
 KEY WORDS:
budget, felids, interpretation, master plan, naturalistic habitat
 ANIMALS:
| Family: | Species: | Common Name: | Capacity: |
| Felidae | Felis silvestris | European wild cat | 1.1.4 |
| Felidae | Lynx lynx | European lynx | 1.1.3 |
| Mustelidae | Amblonyx cinerea | Asian small-clawed otter | 1.1.8 |
 DESCRIPTION:
With this exhibit for European lynx, European wildcat and Asian small-clawed otter, Plaswijckpark realized another part of its master plan, which also includes future projects such as the internal recycling of all water used in the park and new exhibits with working titles like ‘Monkey Islands’ and ‘Owl Castle’.
Plaswijckpark has a small animal park, so restricted by a small budget and available area, that the exhibit was designed primarily to optimize the use of space and materials while still putting the welfare of the animals first. The outdoor exhibit of the Asian small-clawed otters already existed and was incorporated in the design. A building was placed in the middle of the exhibit area, containing all indoor enclosures, the maintenance facilities as well as the public viewing and interpretation area. The building is surrounded by three outdoor exhibits.
The outdoor exhibits were designed to display naturalistic habitats for the three species, with mountain streams, pools, slopes, trees, shrubs and grasses. Animals can be viewed by the public in their outdoor exhibit all year round since the Netherlands have a temperate climate. Both European lynx and wildcat can easily withstand even the harshest conditions and want to stay outside at all times. The Asian small-clawed otters can also cope with almost all weather conditions in the Netherlands. Therefore, the otters too have unrestricted access to their outdoor exhibit.
 SIZE:
The Felids and Otter exhibit of Plaswijckpark was designed to meet all recommended standards, using available present and future governmental guidelines developed by the European Union and (to be) implemented by the national government of The Netherlands. Furthermore, a big effort was made to include knowledge from as many publications on zoo design, animal husbandry and environmental enrichment as possible.
The building measures approximately 50 square meters with a height of 3 meters. For other measurements, please see the table below. Space allocation in square meters:
| use | indoors | outdoors | total exhibit |
| accessible | total | accessible | total |
| animals | 19 | 19 | 430 | 430 | 449 |
| visitors | 32 | 32 | 75 | 75 | 107 |
| others | 2.5 | 2.5 | | | 2.5 |
| total | 43.5 | 43.5 | 505 | 505 | 558.5 |
 COSTS:
Euro 128,000 including 10 % for design.
 OPENING DATE:
3 July 2003
 DESIGN:
Beginning: 1 January 2002
- Architecture: Ellerman, Lucas, Van Vugt Architects, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
 CONSTRUCTION:
Beginning: 1 November 2002
- Overall construction: Construction Firm H. van der Sluis & Zonen bv, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Fencing: Alura Hekwerk B.V., Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands
- Netting: Huck Torimex BV, Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands
 LOCAL CONDITIONS:
 PLANTS:
The outdoor exhibits were landscaped with plants that are native to Europe. Most species are evergreen to maintain an interesting sight for the visitors and plenty of shade and cover for the animals throughout the year.
Several trees and plants were removed from the building site to prevent damage. They were preserved and reused in the outdoor exhibits. All plants and trees on the site have been grown on the grounds of Plaswijckpark. The plant list specifies the Latin names of the plants used for this exhibit.
 FEATURES DEDICATED TO ANIMALS:
The outdoor exhibits were designed with all elements necessary to keep the animals in optimum condition, both physically and behaviourally. Visual barriers, weather protection, shade and resting places are incorporated in the exhibits, giving the impression of a natural habitat. Environmental and behavioural enrichment, such as olfactory stimulation, access to natural, running water and creative feeding, are provided to increase the activity of the animals, to encourage natural behaviour, and to enhance the experience for visitors. Mesh fencing provides natural enrichment by allowing contact with wild birds and insects living in the park.
 FEATURES DEDICATED TO KEEPERS:
The building was designed to allow easy maintenance. All indoor enclosures are conveniently provided with running water, passive ventilation, electricity and heated sleeping areas. Heating is only used during medical treatment of ill animals. The storage room for cleaning equipment also houses all electricity and water utilities, as well as water pump controls.
For keeper and animal safety, both felid indoor enclosures are fitted with safety gates. These prevent animals from escaping and provide safe entrance for keepers. Gatedoors are fitted with several locks to prevent unconscious opening. All outdoor exhibits are accessible through wide doors, making cleaning and exhibit maintenance easy.
 FEATURES DEDICATED TO VISITORS:
Visitors can view the animals through many small windows, combined to form a picturesque view of the outdoor exhibits. The small size of the windows keeps optical distortion to a minimum and cuts down costs at the same time. The window size was chosen to draw visitors entering the building closer to the windows, thereby adding to the overall attraction of the exhibit. All visitor areas meet guidelines for disabled accessibility set by the Dutch Bureau of Accessibility.
The exhibits show visitors naturalistic habitats and behaviour of the species on display, giving them a better understanding of the animals.
 INTERPRETATION:
Interpretation in the visitor area of the building teaches visitors about the natural distribution, feeding habits and behaviour of the exhibited species, providing a basic understanding of the animals and their environment.
 MANAGEMENT:
The design of the exhibit makes sure that daily maintenance can be done easily and efficiently, that safety of the animals, public, and personnel is guaranteed, and that escape of animals is highly unlikely. Because of a careful selection of building materials, periodic maintenance can be done at low cost. Materials that quickly detoriate, like painted wood, are avoided. Some of the materials used are:
- Corten steel (outside walls)
- Stainless steel (ring over building, safety locks)
- Wood treated with clear varnish (indoor walls, window frames, ceiling)
- Natural concrete (floors)
- "Trespa" (walls and sleeping areas indoor enclosures, access hatches). Trespa is a brand for high density panels which are very resistant to sun, rain, moisture and UV-radiation. They are available in different shapes and sizes and therefore ideal to use in exhibits.
The safety gates of the felid indoor enclosures are designed as a control unit for all necessary actions inside the enclosures, including water taps, light switches, controls of outdoor exhibit access hatches and feeding system.
Both European lynx and wildcat indoor enclosures can be divided into two parts by sliding doors, allowing separation and treatment of ill animals or introduction of new animals to the existing groups.
 RESEARCH:
Evaluation of the exhibit will be done in the near future, with respect to animals, visitors, and personnel. The outcomes will be used in future projects.
 CONSERVATION:
Plaswijckpark participates in the European wildcat breeding and reintroduction programme of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Bavaria (Bund Naturschutz in Bayern e.V.), which aims to create the conditions that enable the European wildcat and the European lynx to live and survive in this region of Germany.
 LOCAL RESOURCES:
|
 |
| 65K | 69K |
| Outdoor exhibit European wildcat (1) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2003 |
 |
| 75K | 81K |
| Exhibit entrance (2) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2003 |
 |
| 85K | 92K |
| Outdoor exhibit Asian small-clawed otter (3) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2003 |
 |
| 77K | 82K |
| Easy viewing points for all ages (4) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2003 |
 |
| 82K | 89K |
| Who is watching who? (5) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2003 |
 |
| 80K | 87K |
| Outdoor exhibit European lynx (6) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 77K | 82K |
| Outdoor exhibit European lynx 2 (7) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 43K | 45K |
| Asian small-clawed otter guarding his family (8) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2003 |
 |
| 61K | 64K |
| European wildcat (9) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2003 |
 |
| 49K | 74K |
| Entrance of cat building (10) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 70K | 104K |
| Public view from cat building (11) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 66K | 107K |
| Indoor enclosures European lynx (12) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 69K | 111K |
| Safety gate (13) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 42K | 62K |
| Access hatch controls (14) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 68K | 114K |
| Access hatch (15) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 89K | 146K |
| Design of exhibit barrier (16) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 21K | 46K |
| Plan building (17) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
 |
| 25K | 154K |
| 3D plan front view (18) |
| ©J.P. Verbruggen, 2004 |
|
