Here is the planned pathway between the two habitat sections. Its built up a bit to have a better angle for viewing. I will fill this ground in with terrain and rocks later.

So, I placed a few animals in the habitats to start to figure out the layouts and where they can move, etc....and just about every guest in the zoo came a running to see what was going on.

Ha! Are the guests that starved to see new animals arrive, that they all come running?

OT: Are you still in the Fort Myers area of Florida? How'd it go with the latest storm? (At least I think that's where you lived a couple of years ago?)

yeah, anytime new items of interest are added a swarm occurs. Not in Ft Myers anymore. Left right after that last storm (not because of the storm). I'm outside Charlotte now in a south sub, actually in South Carolina right over the state line. With a good throw I can launch a ball into NC.

 

Here is what this habitat area ended up looking like once it was nearly completed.

Anywhere there is a pick bracket is guest viewing from paths.

The yellow lines indicate the viewing area from the jeep ride.

The tan box is the animal crossover bridge (over the guest paths).

The green boxes are the backstage animal houses (one for each side of the habitat).

The red boxes are the keeper backstage areas (one for each side of the habitat).

The blue stripes is where the Gorilla Rescue will be located.

Didn't know you used to be in Ft. Myers area! You used to be pretty close to me (I'm in Miami!)

The plans for the new area are coming along nicely, love how much thought you put into all of your layouts - they're so organic yet realistic of actual park layouts.

This is looking at the habitat from near the Jeep boarding area (the lower right corner in the previous picture).

 

Here is the view from the jeep ride as you leave the station.

Here is the complete view from the jeep ride.

Looking down on the entire habitat from over the jeep ride.

Looking down on one of the animal backstage and keeper areas.

Here is the view from the guest path along the southern side of the habitat.

Is that an enrichment item floating in the water? If so, how is it used?

yes. the animals hit them around and that one found its way into the water. I would have to manually reset it to make it go back to the ground to be used.

Looking down on this side of the habitat.

Looking over the habitat.

Having fun on the rope bridge.

 

Climbing Mound

I like these close-ups of the habitat. The rope bridge image looks especially nice.

On 9/28/2024 at 3:34 PM, JB said:

The rope bridge image looks especially nice.

Agreed! Lots of attention to detail going on in this new area. (not saying you didn't have attention to detail in your other areas... I mean... I'll hush now!)

The entrance to one side of the walkways between the two habitat sections and looking over the main habitat.

 

 

 

Another overall shot looking back towards the start of the jeep ride.

Here are a few shots of the walkways between the sides of the habitat.

 

 

 

Oh wow, that rockwork is really great, love how natural the areas - especially the paths feel. Having those island rocks in the middle of the paths really adds so much, looks beautiful!

THX - Those island rocks are hiding gaps in the paths because of the issues being able to create full paths of odd shapes (not like what we will be able to do in PC2.) 

Here are a few shots of the other side of the habitat. Its much smaller, but animals are way closer and viewable. This also serves as a separator for the Gorilla habitat that will be built behind this. This side also has an underground viewing port.