Rating: A
We've probably all been to the Denver Zoo and seen the lions, girraffes, zebras, tigers, monkeys, and birds they have there, but have you gone recently? Or more importantly, have you seen Predator Ridge? When you walk in the main entrance to the zoo, you'll see a massive exhibit spread before you containing wild dogs, hyenas, or lions. As of May 2007, Predator Ridge was the top exhibit in the country.
How does the Denver Zoo keep their animals active and happy and their visitors interested? The lions, hyenas, and wild dogs are rotated through the two main confinement units. Why? For example, when the hyenas are moved in to the exhibit where the lions had been previously, the hyenas smell the lion scent and are ecstatic. The hyenas know that a pack of lions has been there and will move about the exhibit sniffing out lion scent. Also, changing the animals surroundings keeps them more active and interested.
People love seeing the animals active and out and about. The Denver Zoo takes it a step further by building nooks in the Predator Ridge building that visitors can step in and look at the exhibit through. They also put three demiesional models of things to go along with the exhibit. An example of this is a model lions paw on one of the signs. By seeing it close up and being able to touch it, you get a greater sense of what a lions' paw looks like. Signs encourage you to look up at the trees where there are special nests made by birds in Africa. There's a lot of fun things nestled in to Predator Ridge that most visitors don't even notice. So, look up, down, and around (literally) Predator Ridge and you will find some interesting things that you never saw before in the African animals' Denver home.
Special thanks to Brittany, Marley, and the entire Denver Zoo education staff.
"I wander aimlessly with some sort of aim."