The ZooLex Zoo Design Organization $($ www$.$ZooLex.org Links to an external site. $)$ was established to help improve holding conditions for wild animals in captivity by:

$1)$ publishing and disseminating information related to zoo design,

$2)$ promoting appropriate holding conditions for wild animals in captivity,

$3)$ providing balanced technical information and advice about zoo design, and

$4)$ supporting research and vocational training related to zoo design.

Many exhibit design staff refer to the ZooLex website and resources as they begin to design their own exhibit spaces, as represented institutions have generally included a variety of helpful and insightful information for others. As we will discover and discuss throughout this course, it truly $$takes a village$$ to design world$-$class exhibits; as you$$ll see here, this collaboration can $($and often does$)$ extend even beyond the individual institution to include outside sources of help.

Each week, you will be assigned a specific exhibit from the ZooLex website. Each week, you will be expected to critique some specific aspect of the exhibit, which will directly reflect course materials from that week.

Instructions:

Identify and discuss the following elements:

Begin with a brief overview of the exhibit. Be sure to include exhibit type $($natural$,$ immersive, functional, some hybrid of these?$),$ and exhibit location $($taxonomic$,$ geographic, bioclimatic$).$

What do you think the goal of this exhibit is$?$

What do you believe the criteria for success was for this exhibit?

Do you feel that the exhibit has met those criteria? Discuss from an animal and visitor perspective.

How might you have improved on the design?