E L E P HA NT H O U S E EGregory Chatfield ARCH401
CONTENTS
1 SITE ANALYSIS
2 PRECEDENTS
3 ELEPHANT RESEARCH
4 CONCEPTUAL STRATEGIES
5 SPATIAL DIAGRAMS
6 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
7 WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE
8 FINAL DESIGN
SITE ANALYSIS SITE CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES DIAGRAM
Existing External Area of Elephant Enclosure: 9120m2
Potential Access to trees at select times for the elephants
ra
Potential Area for Expansion: 6050m2
Minim
al Viewing Area re sult in
gi
n
t
Potential Existing Development Area: 40,000m2
ff c
Train Route
Existing Internal Area of Elephant Enclosure: 1080m2
Public Path
Possibility of combining elephant and giraffes’ external area
CONCEPTUAL STRATEGIES 1
4
Structural Strategy
Environmental Strategy
The trees in the Savanna landscape provides great inspiration for a structural strategy which flute up from the base. Edward Perry from Knowsley Estate, stated that the park was very seasonal and suggested for it to open all year around. Evelyn said that the elephants can get very cold due to the British weather. This suggests that a large internal space should be created where the temperature can be moderated to the elephants needs, which the fluted structural tree can provide.
2
5
Elephant,Visitor and Keeper Enrichment It is important that the elephants in the park are happy and content by having exciting feeding strategies and masterplanning the site to create a varied habitat. However as this is for humans to exhibit it is important that they too have a good experience and good interaction with the elephants. The plan has to be practicable for the keepers to do their job successfully.
3
Environmental strategies should be considered throughout the design process. Orientation, materiality and layout all contribute to how sustainable the design is.
Elephant and Giraffe Interaction Elephants and Giraffes coexist peacefully in the wild, therefore to mimic a similar environment it seems natural that they should have areas for this interaction. There are successful examples of elephant and giraffe common areas, e.g. Dallas Zoo.
Integration with the existing infrastructure Edward Perry stated that the safari park’s infrastructure is in need of rejuvenation being based on the1970’s model of visiting the park via car, and wished for greater pedestrian circulation. My proposal for the elephant house, continues to allow car circulation, however has a greater focus on the pedestrian, which will hopefully act as a catalyst for change in the rest of the park.
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS SPATIAL DIAGRAM FOR ELEPHANT ENCLOSURE
Separate External Bull Elephant Enclosure (Cold Zone)
Elephant House Pens Internal Hot Bull Elephant Enclosure Exhibition Area
Crush Cages
Internal Temperate Bull Elephant Enclosure
Research Facility
Feeding
Entrance Area
Train Station
Public Viewing Area
Cafe
Feeding Reception Area Plaza
Toilets and
Internal Temperate Cow Elephant Enclosure 6-9 Cows
External Cow and Bull Enclosure (Particularly for mating)
External Observation
Closely monitored gated system
Office for Park Rangers
Internal Hot Cow Elephant Enclosure
Pens Pens
Crush Cages
Separate External Cow Elephant Enclosure (Cold Zone)
Key Elephant Area Public Areas Husbandry Areas Internal Elephant Enclosure
Deliveries area
Giraffe House
Closely monitored gated system
Elephant and Giraffe Areas Giraffe Areas
External Giraffe Area
Closely monitored gated system
External Cow Elephant and Giraffe
Pedestrian Access Road Train Route Elephant Access Elephant Access to trees
No Scale
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS SPATIAL DIAGRAM APPLIED TO THE SITE
for ss to trees Limited acce tree e th ep s to ke the elephant sustainable n populatio
External Cow Elephant Enclosure External Bull and Cow Elephant Enclosure
Pens
d acce
ss to
Cafe
Limite
Toilets
External Bull Elephant Enclosure
Pens Crush Cage
Internal Temperate Bull Elephant Enclosure
Crush Cage
External Cow Elephant and Giraffe Research Facilities Office for Park Rangers
Internal Temperate Cow Elephant Enclosure
Deliveries area
g
din Fee
Public Viewing Area
Internal Hot Bull Elephant Enclosure
Key
Internal Hot Cow Elephant Enclosure
Reception
Public Areas
Internal Elephant Enclosure
Toilets
Exhibition Area Entrance
Elephant Area
Husbandry Areas
Bo fH
trees
(Access can be limited by
Giraffe House
Elephant and Giraffe Areas Giraffe Areas Pedestrian Access
Plaza
Road Train Route
Train Station
Elephant Access
Giraffe External Area
Elephant Access to trees
N
Scale: 1:1250
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT TREE CONCEPT - SKETCHING OF INTERNAL AREA
Using the Savanna tree as a structural concept
Conceptual sketches of human / elephant interaction and exciting feeding strategies
Materiality for the tree structure in consideration of environmental strategies, the visitors experience and elephants safety / enrichment.
Division of areas
Passive Strategies - ETFE diagram for grid tree
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT SKETCHING OF INTERNAL AREA AND STRUCTURE
Concept sketch of plan
Sketch of approaching the elephant house
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF MAIN INTERNAL AREA
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPED MAIN INTERNAL AREA
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPED MAIN INTERNAL AREA
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE OF MAIN INTERNAL AREA
ETFE Cushion in grid shell roof
INTERNAL TEMPERATE AREA 18-22oC
Bull Elephant Area
Observation deck
South facing wall for thermal mass Cafe
Raised observation platform
Cow Elephant Area Gated Exit to External Area
(Elephants can choose to leave at their own leisure with the use of automatic doors. These doors can be overiden by the keepers)
Viewing Area
Feeding Area
(Access by Keepers only)
EXTERNAL COLD AREA
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT SKETCH OF VIEWING FEEDING AREA
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT OF EXTERNAL AREA Restricted access to trees
Main Road Mixed Cow Elephant and Giraffe
Road
Internal Temperate Area Internal Hot Area
Giraffe Area
Giraffe House
Plaza External Cow Area
Raised walkway
External Bull Area Mixed Bull and Cow Area
Suspended food from walkway
Train Route
Train stop
FINAL DESIGN VIEW FROM INTERNAL AREA
FINAL DESIGN SIDE INTERNAL VIEW
FINAL DESIGN PERSPECTIVE SECTIONS
Section A-A
Section B-B
Section A-A
Section B-B
FINAL DESIGN PLAZA AREA AND ENTRANCE
FINAL DESIGN VIEW OF EXTERNAL AREA
FINAL DESIGN GROUND FLOOR Key:
External Cow Elephant Area Cow Elephant and Giraffe Area
15
15
External Bull Elephant Area
16
15 15
2 Temperate Cow Internal Area
15
14
16 1 15
17
6
Temperate Bull Internal Area
4 Hot Cow Internal Area
5
3
14
Temperate Bull Internal Area 640 m2 Temperate Cow Internal Area 1030 m2 Hot Bull Internal Area 395 m2 Hot Cow Internal Area 405 m2 Observation Area Main Internal Feeding Area Smaller Animals Plaza Train Station Giraffe House Deliveries Plant Room Bin Store Storage Pens 32m2 Crush Cages Digger Store
13 11 12
10
Hot Bull Internal Area
13
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
7
Giraffe House
14 7
12
8
9
Giraffe External Area
N
Scale: 1:500
FINAL DESIGN FIRST FLOOR Key:
10
7
1
3
6
4
11
9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Cafe Exhibition Office for Park Ranger Research Facilities Observation Deck Toilets Kitchen Storage Internal Raised Walkway External Raised Walkway Cores
250 m2 260 m2 180 m2 145 m2
6
5
2
11
8
N
Scale: 1:500
FINAL DESIGN ROOF PLAN
N
Scale: 1:500
FINAL DESIGN SITE PLAN - ANIMAL CIRCULATION
Cow External Area
Cow and Giraffe Area
Bull External Area
Key
Giraffe Area
Cow Elephant Bull Elephant
N Giraffe
Scale: 1:1250
FINAL DESIGN HUMAN CIRCULATION DIAGRAMS Exhibition Area
Train station
Giraffes Exhibition Area
Bull Hot Area Bull Temp Area
Feeding Area
Deliveries Research Laboratory
Cow Hot Area
Cafe
Exhibition Area
Cow Temp Area
Ground Floor
First Floor
Public Circulation
Public Circulation
The public approach the elephant house either by the path which has great views of the giraffe enclosure to the right and ties into the main safari infrastructure, or from the train stop. The plaza outside the building is stepped down with smaller enclosures for smaller animals in the terraces. Window blocks in the front facades make shapes of elephants which defines the cow and bull sides of the building. Upon entering the building your eyes are drawn to the main feeding area which is directly in front.
The public access the viewing deck by lift or staircases. Either side of the stair case are windows into the hot areas. The elephants are viewed from above through the structure, or can proceed out into the main temperate area along the ramp. Around the circumference of the ramp are the cafe, toilets and exhibition areas. The cafe and exhibition areas host great views of the elephants internally, externally and downwards using a glass floor. The public can then proceed through the cafe to the external raised walkway around the elephant site.
Staff Circulation The staff have two main routes, through the heart of the building through the main feeding area and around the circumference of the building where they can check on all the cages. Both routes provide easy access to the delivery area. In areas where the staff and elephants cross paths there are double gated systems for security.
Cow and Bull Circulation The cows can wander freely from the external to internal temperate areas then to the hot area through gated systems. They can also go into more private areas of pens and crush cages which are around the circumference of the main enclosure.
Staff Circulation Staff Circulation is mainly confined to eastern quarter of the building, which hosts the offices for keepers and research department, kitchen and staff toilet. The keepers and reseachers have direct access to elephants via a nearby core or externally along the outdoor walkway.
Key Public Circulation Staff Circulation Cow Elephant Bull Elephant
FINAL DESIGN SITE CIRCULATION OF THE ELEPHANT HOUSE IN KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK Circulation Edward Perry stated that the safari park’s infrastructure is in need of rejuvenation being too based on 1970’s model of visiting the park via car, and wished for greater pedestrian circulation. My proposal for the elephant house, continues to allow car circulation, (marked in red) however has greater focus on pedestrian circulation, (blue) which will hopefully act as a catalyst for change in the rest of the park. Pedestrians approach the elephant house through an avenue of trees which slopes up past the giraffe enclosure into a plaza area outside the elephant house. Proceeding through the building, the visitors are eventually drawn outside through the cafe, which will hopefully promote the business. A raised walkway leads you around the external enclosure and has stop off covered areas with a 360 degree of elephants.
0
50m
100m
N
FINAL DESIGN MATERIAL STRATEGY 250mm Ă˜ steels are used for the main structure of the tree. These can be thin due to the lightness of the ETFE.
Triple ETFE Pillows providing good U values
Textured aggregate blocks to retain thermal mass and for elephants to rub against and exfoliate their skin
Layered flat stone breaks up the facade providing a nice texture Glass blocks are positioned in the shape of a cow and calf and bull elephant to define how the areas of the building are divided.
Earth is banked up to the building, to seamlessly blend the building into the landscape
200-600 pa
15. Performance of an ETFE cushion.
FINAL DESIGN
SOURCES Self-cleaning
10% reflected
ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY
USES
ETFE Pillows
Light 80%
Bodelva Brook
Thermal Mass
The grid shell tree’s roof uses triple ETFE cushions. The south facing concrete block wall retains 2 They create a U Value of 1.4W/(m °K) which is heat during the day and releases at night to value engineering necessitated better than double glazing. The ETFE has Budget-impelled a light maintain aexercises comfortable environment combining the grey water and fire mains into a single transmission for a single sheet of around 95%. combined at the bottom the wall pit provide This reduces the heat loss at night and allows the system. Pumps The texture onofthe also allows the the grey water and normal fire supply, whilst emergency fire maximum amount of light during the day. pumps at the top supply elephants to rub against and exfoliate the requirements for a major fire. The 60m height difference between the top and bottom of Ventilation panels are distributed over the roof tomade pressure control of the ring main network an the pit prevent overheating through stack ventilation.important factor. A duplex design was adopted with one ring main serving the top areas and another the lower regions; Blankin Panels pressure-reducing valves maintain the design pressures The ETFE can span up to 11 metres so this reduces each of the main areas and the Humid Tropical andThese Warm are used to prevent Insulation air ‘pillows’ the structural load. Temperate Biomes. to much solar gain in the human areas The re-use of rainwater is of particular interest. Fire fighting Irrigation WC flushing Catering/ablutions
South West Water
200 microns
17. Water strategy.
DISCHARGES
Bodelva Brook base flow
Groundwater
Solar gain 90%
infiltration
large underground tank before being pumped into the water distribution system via a filtration and ultraviolet disinfection plant; water for toilet and urinal flushing is subjected to secondary disinfection by silver ionisation treatment. Excess groundwater overflows into the site surface water disposal system. The re-used water mains network also supplies fire hydrants throughout the site, though these can also be served from the local mains water supply via onsite fire pumps in the event of a groundwater shortage or a major fire.
continually. For example, when there is no sun in winter the temperature is allowed to drop to a daytime minimum before the heating jets are turned on. Conversely, when the sun comes out the temperature is allowed to rise, storing heat in the rockface until the maximum temperature for the season is reached, and then the ventilation openings are activated. Since the relative humidity depends on the temperature, the misters need to respond to changing conditions to keep the humidity within the right band. All this is to give the best conditions to the plants with minimum energy consumption.
Sewer
Lake
Biomes rainwater
Biome humidification
Insulation
Pillow opens for ventilation
17. Water strategy.
Heat from energy centre Pillow opens for ventilation Heat from energy centre
Insulation air ‘pillows’
Warm air supply
Warm air supply
Budget-impelled value engineering exercises necessitated combining the grey water and fire mains into a single combined system. Pumps at the bottom of the pit provide the grey water and normal fire supply, whilst emergency fire pumps at the top supply the requirements for a major fire. The 60m height difference between the top and bottom of the pit made pressure control of the ring main network an important factor. A duplex design was adopted with one ring main serving the top areas and another the lower regions; pressure-reducing valves maintain the design pressures in each of the main areas and the Humid Tropical and Warm Temperate Biomes. The re-use of rainwater is of particular interest.
Planting away from air jets
Waterfall supports air movement
Heat stored in thermal mass of rock
Waterfall supports air movement
Evaporation/ infiltration
Low level louvres for ventilation
The horticulturists wanted the purest possible water to be used for humidification in the Humid Tropical Biome, water purity being very important to prevent deposition of minerals on plant surfaces. The best source for this water was considered to be rain from the surface run-off of the Biomes. The rainwater is collected at the base of each Biome using a proprietary enclosed channel drainage system linked to hoppers at the base of each of the Biome main gutters. These, due to their impressive scale, contribute very effectively to the collection system.
Planting away from air jets
Warm air supply
Heat from energy centre
Low level louvres for ventilation
Water strategy text concludes at foot of page 11
16. Section through typical biome showing environmental strategy.
THE ARUP JOURNAL 1/2002
Heat stored in thermal mass of rock
9
Warm air supply
Heat from energy centre
The horticulturists wanted the purest possible water to be used for humidification in the Humid Tropical Biome, water purity being very important to prevent deposition of minerals on plant surfaces. The best source for this water was considered to be rain from the surface run-off of the Biomes. The rainwater is collected at the base of each Biome using a proprietary enclosed channel drainage system linked to hoppers at the base of each of the Biome main gutters. These, due to their impressive scale, contribute very effectively to the collection system. Water strategy text concludes at foot of page 11
▼
A circular roof monitor with venting panels allows for natural ventilation within the main public areas.
15. Performance of an ETFE cushion.
Landscape stormwater
▼
Roof Monitor
Air to maintain 1.4W/m2°C pressure 200-600 pa
16. Section through typical biome showing environmental strategy. THE ARUP JOURNAL 1/2002
Geothermal Piles
Deep piles are needed to secure the steel trees, so it is logical to use them for geothermal heating.
Single ETFE
To maintain good thermal properties and not to visually impair the viewing deck, a single ETFE is used in the viewing areas. Glass was avoided as there is a high probability that an elephant could knock into the structure and the vibrations travelling up the steels could shatter the glass.
Pool
Water has the highest thermal storage capacity and also increases the circulation of air.
9
FINAL DESIGN EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC Grass enveloping bank
Grid Shell and Roof Triple ETFE Panel
Blank Panel
Triple ETFE Panel
First Floor
Ground Floor
Single ETFE Panels
Empty grid for feeding strategy
Foundation
PROJECT
Elephant House SHEET
Unnamed Terrain
24/01/2015 00:52:40
25/01/2015 20:02:48
3D Section of Grid Shell
Two ring beams to sit on the outer and inner walls of the enclosure
FINAL DESIGN INTEGRATION OF THE TREE STRUCTURE INTO THE BUILDING
Tree structure meeting roof and floor Gutter for rainwater drainage
Tree structure meeting circumference walls Triple ETFE cushions
Ring Beam to sit on top of enclosure wall
Roof monitor
ETFE Single skin Glass partition between grid shell and roof and floor
Empty grid to allow feeding for elephants
Geothermal piles
Raised walkway supported by cable to the roof
Blank panel to prevent too much solar gain to the human areas and cover some service and toilet areas
External ring beam to keep the tree structure shape in tension
APPENDIX
SITE ANALYSIS ENGAGING WITH THE SITE 1
2
1
3
2
3
SITE ANALYSIS SOLAR AND WIND ANALYSIS OF SITE
Prevailing South-Westerly winds
SITE ANALYSIS ANALYSIS OF WEATHER IN LIVERPOOL Temperature Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 2°C to 21°C and is rarely below -3°C or above 25°C. The warm season lasts from June 14 to September 12 with an average daily high temperature above 18°C. The hottest day of the year is July 27, with an average high of 21°C and low of 14°C. The cold season lasts from November 21 to March 7 with an average daily high temperature below 9°C. The coldest day of the year is December 27, with an average low of 2°C and high of 6°C.
Sun The length of the day varies significantly over the course of the year. The shortest day is December 21 with 7:30 hours of daylight; the longest day is June 20 with 17:01 hours of daylight. The earliest sunrise is at 4:42am on June 13 and the latest sunset is at 9:44pm on June 28. The latest sunrise is at 8:27am on January 2 and the earliest sunset is at 3:52pm on December 10. Daylight savings time (DST) is observed in this location during 2012, starting in the spring on March 25 and ending in the fall on October 28.
Precipitation The probability that precipitation will be observed at this location varies throughout the year. Precipitation is most likely around October 26, occurring in 76% of days. Precipitation is least likely around April 13, occurring in 63% of days. Over the entire year, the most common forms of precipitation are moderate rain and light rain. Moderate rain is the most severe precipitation observed during 41% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around October 29, when it is observed during 38% of all days. Light rain is the most severe precipitation observed during 39% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around August 22, when it is observed during 30% of all days. Wind The North West England has some of the more exposed parts of the UK, being relatively close to the Atlantic and containing large upland areas. The strongest winds are associated with the passage of deep areas of low pressure close to or across the UK. The frequency and strength of these depressions is greatest in the winter half of the year, especially from December to February, and this is when mean speeds and gusts (short duration peak values) are strongest. There is a prevailing south-westerly wind direction through the year, but a high frequency of north to north-east winds in spring. Topography again plays a part in modifying the climate with channelling of winds between areas of high ground.
SITE ANALYSIS PRECIPITATION
PRECEDENT STUDIES ELEPHANT ENCLOSURE PRECEDENTS Cologne Elephant Park Key Facts: Total of Elephant Park: 20,000m2 Houses 14 Asian Elephants Total Internal: 5000m2 2250m2 for males and females - Females: 1500m2 - Males: 750m2 Nine Dens: 38-58m2 to enable separation of elephants, trained to go into pens once a day. These have automatic drink dispersers and UV lamps. Electronic doors with three cameras on each door An I Beam under the ceiling enables a crane to transport sick elephants - this can hold up to 6 tonnes. Between the enclosures there are walls of artificial rock 4 m high and up to 7m broad. Floor: Mixture of mud and sand and a mud wallow in each enclosure. Squeeze cages located at the exits External: Three outdoor enclosures: - Female enclosure: 3300m2 - Male Enclosure: 2900m2 - Mixed : 2370m2 Feeding Strategy: Holes in the wall, with various spots to expolore with trunks, food can be placed in these holes. Food in supplie at irregular times Structure: Columns are inspired by trees which branch up to create a canopy over the elephants
PRECEDENT STUDIES ELEPHANT ENCLOSURE PRECEDENTS Zurich Zoo - Kaeng Krachen Key Facts: Total of Elephant Park: 11,000m2 Houses 6 Elephants Skylights made from UV permeable ETFE Roof structure composed of three layers - 90cm thick and weighs 1000 tonnes with a span of 80 metres Underwater viewing area
PRECEDENT STUDIES ELEPHANT ENCLOSURE PRECEDENTS Copenhagen Zoo - Elephant Enclosure Key Facts: Six cows and calves: 45m x 23m Two bulls: 30m x 15m Separate pens to prevent fighting during mating season Adult male weighs about 5.5 tonnes and can exert 15 tonnes of horizontal load on the wall. This required the walls to be 300mm thick. An exposed aggregate was used for the cladding on the walls to create a textured surface for the elephants to exfoliate there skin. Structure: This consists of two glazed domes, smaller for male and larger for female. The glazed roof canopy has a fritted pattern of leaves to create natural dappled light.
PRECEDENT STUDIES ELEPHANT ENCLOSURE PRECEDENTS San Diego Zoo
PRECEDENT STUDIES ANALYSIS OF ACCESSIBILITY IN CURRENT ELEPHANT ENCLOSURES San Diego Elephant Odyssey To Skyfari, Polar Bear Plunge
Oregon Zoo Masterplan A TRIP THROUGH PREHISTORIC CALIFORNIA The exhibit depicts California as it was 15,000-20,000 years ago. In cases where animals are extinct, the zoo chose present-day relatives as substitutes.
African lion Jaguar
Baird’s tapir
Capybara
Guanaco
Living relative: Asian elephant
Living relative: Jaguar Extinct: Smilodon (Saber-toothed cat)
Mammoth statues
A simulated tar pit drains every 10 minutes to reveal replica fossils.
B
To Panda Canyon and Cat Canyon
U
Extinct: Columbian mammoth R Walk
ing
48m Elephant yard
O
A
Points to take from the enclosure: - Good pedestrian & vehicular circulation - Good private access to the husbandry quarter - Good viewing platforms - Nice integration of the train track
30m
Human for scale
S
47m Utilitree (see below)
Tree sloth
41m 59m
D
path
53m Living relative: California Condor
32m Secretary bird
31mElephant
STA F F N EWS A RT I ST
At the new elephant management facility, visitors can watch zookeepers care for the elephants.
yard
Turtles and non-venomous snakes
Elephant yard
S
ri Skyfa
Pedestrian Access Vehicular Access Ficus Train Route
Water hole
6m
CHILDREN’S AREA A series of oversized tracking collars beep when children walk through.
24m
At the base of the Utilitree, hay is placed behind iron bars as an additional mental challenge for the elephants.
SOURCE: San Diego Zoo PHOTOS: Getty Images; EDUARDO CONTRERAS and JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune
Dromedary camel
62m 40m
Red diamond rattlesnake
37m
A fossil dig substitutes small rubber chunks for dirt.
Elephant House
Przewalski’s horse
31m
Bone puzzles have different heads and tails for children to match.
Shade screen Heater
Walk in
ath gp
ay eW
An acacia shrub helps the Utilitree look more realistic and provides another source of food once it grows enough to hang down.
Winch
22 Good Observation feet Area
Animal interaction in (see above)
The Madagascar Gardens are the only remnant of the former Horn and Hoof Mesa. The plants were deemed too sensitive to move.
D
Glob
Entire Elephant Odyssey area (formerly Horn and Hoof Mesa)
A
n yo
Old
n
O
Ca
0.3 acres, 3 elephants Zoo Dr. Parking
Dimension
Pronghorn
R
Ca t
Old elephant yard: Entrance
All animal outlines are in scale to each other.
U
El Prado
42m
Food services San Diego Zoo
‘UTILITREES’ Six artificial “trees,” the first of their kind, lower food, such as ficus, at different times and places every day. The unpredictability is meant to keep the elephants moving and thinking.
Key
Dung beetles
B
BALBOA PARK Pandas
Monkey Trails
Tiger Enclosure
9m Utilitree
Dining area
163
500 feet
Extinct: Teratorn
Trunk reach
ng path Walki
Points to take from the enclosure: - San Good feeding strategy The Diego Zoo has completed Elephant Odyssey, a new home for its elephants. The new habitat is more of thanelephants seven times larger than the 46Good integration and year-old enclosure it replaced. other animals The $45 million exhibit has(Pronghorns) reshaped 10 percent of the zoo and was under construction since October 2007. It shows modern-day animals who had - Good infrastructure, the elephant forerunners in prehistoric California. enclosure ties with many other Polar Bear New elephant yards: Plunge animal exhibits 3 acres, 8 elephants By Shaffer Grubb,
Animal interaction Some animals can leave their exhibits and mingle with the elephants. Narrow passages allow access only to smaller animals.
California Condor
18m
To Meerkats, African Kopje and Cat Canyon
Average width of External Enclosure: 36m
Average width of External Enclosure: 30m
PRECEDENT STUDIES ANALYSIS OF ACCESSIBILITY IN CURRENT ELEPHANT ENCLOSURES Zurich Zoo Elephant Enclosure
Husbandry Vehicular Access
Husbandry Vehicular Access
76m
71m
30m 50m
86m
35m
Points to take from the enclosure: - Excellent amount of indoor space for the elephants - Good viewing platforms for the public indoor and externally - Good secluded husbandry access
Average width of External Enclosure: 50m
PRECEDENT STUDIES ANALYSIS OF ACCESSIBILITY IN CURRENT ELEPHANT ENCLOSURES Dallas Zoo - Mixture of Elephants and Giraffes
63m 74m
47m
53m 72m 107m
Key Pedestrian Access Vehicular Access Train Route Good Observation Area Dimension Elephant House
Average width of External Enclosure: 65m
Points to take from the enclosure: - Good integration of elephants and giraffes in one enclosure - Large amount of space for the animals - Good infrastructure, the elephant enclosure ties in with the lion and cheetah enclosures nicely
yard
Living relative: California Condor
PRECEDENT STUDIES
Secretary bird
ELEPHANT FEEDING IN CAPTIVITY
Utilitree
Dining area
New elephant yards:
Elephant yard
S
Food services
El Prado
An acacia shrub helps the Utilitree look more realistic and provides another source of food once it grows enough to hang down.
Winch
Shade screen
ri Skyfa
Water hole
At the base of the Utilitree, hay is placed behind iron bars as an additional mental challenge for the elephants.
CHILDREN’S AREA A series of oversized tracking collars beep when Possible idea to attach food to raised walkways children walk through.
Red diamond rattlesnake
A fossil dig substitutes small rubber chunks for dirt.
SOURCE: San Diego Zoo PHOTOS: Getty Images; EDUARDO CONTRERAS and JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune
San Diego Elephant Odyssey - Utilitrees
Przewalski’s horse
Dromedary camel
Bone puzzles have different heads and tails for children to match.
Ficus
Heater
Walk in
D
The Madagascar Gardens are the only remnant of the former Horn and Hoof Mesa. The plants were deemed too sensitive to move.
0.3 acres, 3 elephants Zoo Dr. Parking
22 feet
Animal interaction in (see above) ath gp
ay
eW
Glob
Entire Elephant Odyssey area (formerly Horn and Hoof Mesa)
A
n
O
Ca
n yo
Old
‘UTILITREES’ Six artificial “trees,” the first of their kind, lower food, such as ficus, at different times and places every day. The unpredictability is meant to keep the elephants moving and thinking.
Ca t
Old elephant yard: Entrance
Pronghorn
R
San Diego Zoo Monkey Trails
All animal outlines are in scale to each other.
U
3 acres, 8 elephants
BALBOA PARK Pandas
500 feet
Dung beetles
Turtles and non-venomous snakes
B
Polar Bear Plunge
Elephant yard
At the new elephant management facility, visitors can watch zookeepers care for the elephants.
The $45 million exhibit has reshaped 10 percent of the zoo and was under construction since October 2007. It shows modern-day animals who had forerunners in prehistoric California.
Dublin Zoo
Trunk reach
STA F F N EWS A RT I ST
The San Diego Zoo has completed Elephant Odyssey, a new home for its elephants. The new habitat is more than seven times larger than the 46year-old enclosure it replaced.
163
Extinct: Teratorn
ng path Walki
By Shaffer Grubb,
Animal interaction Some animals can leave their exhibits and mingle with the elephants. Narrow passages allow access only to smaller animals.
California Condor
To Meerkats, African Kopje and Cat Canyon
PRECEDENT STUDIES STRUCTURAL PRECEDENTS Conceptual Inspiration Looking at the surrounding landscape of a Savanna landscape I was inspired by the shape of the trees, that flutes up from the base.
King’s Cross Station
This structure could be used to create the main internal space for the elephants. Edward Perry from Knowsley Estate, stated that the park was very seasonal and suggested for the park to open all year around. Evelyn said that the elephants can get very cold due to the British weather. This suggests that a large internal space should be created where the temperature can be moderated to the elephants needs. Using the Savanna tree as inspiration, I began to research structures of a similar nature that could be used to hold up a roof structure. These are shown to the right.
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Sagrada Famalia - Gaudi’s tree structure
PRECEDENT STUDIES
Metropol Parasol, Seville
COBE - Tampere Travel and Service Centre
Mexico Airport - Norman Foster
Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi, Japan
ELEPHANT RESEARCH HOW DO HUMANS RECOGNISE AN ELEPHANT Scale 1:50
7m
6m
5m
4m
3m
2m
1m
Maximum reach of Male African Elephant: 7 metres
Male (Bull) African Elephant
Female (Cow) African Elephant
Calf African Elephant
Human
Height
3.2 - 4.0m (at shoulder)
2.2 - 2.6m (at shoulder)
1m (at birth)
1.65 - 1.75m
Weight
4,700 – 6,048 kg
2,160–3,232 kg
91 kg (at birth)
62-82 kg
Daily Food Intake
Up to 300 kg
75-150 kg
1.27 kg
Daily Water Intake
90 - 227 litres
90 - 227 litres
3.7 litres
Excretion per day
150 kg
150 kg
100 - 250g
50 - 70 years
50 - 70 years
84 years
Lifespan in wild
ELEPHANT RESEARCH HOW DO HUMANS RECOGNISE AN ELEPHANT
Skin
What is the most distinct feature of an elephant that humans recognise? Tail
Undoubtedly the elephant’s trunk is most commonly recognised and referred to when describing an elephant.
Trunk
Eyes
Ears
Legs
ELEPHANT RESEARCH DIFFERENT WAYS TO OBSERVE AN ELEPHANT
1
Traditional Approach - Viewing at the elephant on the same level
2
Slope down and viewing elephant from platform
3
Viewing elephant from above
4
Viewing elephant from below
ELEPHANT RESEARCH
5
Viewing the elephant from directly above
6
Viewing the elephant from directly below
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS
Watering Holes (Sufficient to sustain 10 elephants)
Exciting Feeding Strategy
Temperate Climate Zone for each sex (Around 18-25oC)
Hot Climate Zone for each sex (Around 25-30oC)
Different types of terrain
The structure is influenced by the Savanna tree
Overall large enough internal area to make the elephant house an all year round experience
Heating strategy using daylight and thermal mass, as well as heat generated from a ground source heat pump
Internal Cow Elephant Enclosure 6-9 Cows
Internal Bull Elephant Enclosure 1-2 Bulls
Automatic Doors between the two zones
Husbandry
Linking Pens to the main indoor enclosure approx. 50m2 per pen
Two Exits each in cow and bull temp zones to external areas (Automatic so elephants have choice but can be closed by keepers)
External Enclosures
Crush Cages next to each external/internal exit
Observation Area
THE ELEPHANT’S CRITERIA FOR THE INTERNAL ENCLOSURE
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS THE ELEPHANT’S CRITERIA FOR THE EXTERNAL ENCLOSURE
Internal Enclosures
Rocky Areas
Different types of terrain (mixture of sand, mud, shrub)
Watering Holes (Sufficient to sustain 10 elephants)
Separate External Bull Elephant Enclosure (Cold Zone)
Public Walkways
Separate External Cow Elephant Enclosure
Separate Enclosure within the External Cow Area for giraffes and cow elephants
Separate Area for Bulls and Cows - typically for mating
Mechanism / Procedure to prevent wrong animal / sex going into wrong internal & external enclosure
Exciting Feeding Strategy - possibility of allowing elephants into the forest on occasion
Mud Hole however this could freeze during winter
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS HUSBANDRY CRITERIA
Internal Temperate Climate Zone Crush Cages
Good observation over the elephants in the temperate climate zone and external enclosure
Research facilities Office and lab space for 4 people Approx 50m2
External Enclosure
Offices for 10 Park Rangers Approx 50m2
Storage for food, medical supplies and equipment
Private secluded access away from the public
Area for deliveries
Husbandry
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS PUBLIC ACCESS CRITERIA To remain separate from the Husbandry Exhibition Space showing the negative impact the ivory trade has on African Elephant population Approx 100m2
Possible road connection to Elephant House with car park
Cafe than can host between 60-100 people Approx 270m2
Pedestrian pathway through internal and external enclosures
Public Access
To be identifiable to the public that it is an elephant house
Main Entrance hosting a plaza area Good Observation area to view elephants internally and externally
Pedestrian Circulation to connect to the existing pathway Internal Enclosure
External Enclosure
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS SPATIAL DIAGRAMS CONNECTED UP
Exhibition Space showing the negative impact the ivory trade has on African Elephant population Approx 100m2
To provide toilets, gift shops and other accessories
Possible road connection to Elephant House with car park
To be identifiable to the public that it is an elephant house
Cafe than can host between 60-100 people Approx 270m2
Pedestrian pathway through internal and external enclosures
Public Access
Main Entrance hosting a plaza area Good Observation area to view elephants internally and externally
Pedestrian Circulation to connect to the existing pathway
Watering Holes (Sufficient to sustain 10 elephants)
Exciting Feeding Strategy
Different types of terrain
The structure is influenced by the Savanna tree
Internal Cow Elephant Enclosure 6-9 Cows Good observation over the elephants in the temperate climate zone and external enclosure
Internal Bull Elephant Enclosure 1-2 Bulls
Hot Climate Zone for each sex (Around 25-30oC)
Temperate Climate Zone for each sex (Around 18-25oC)
Overall large enough internal area to make the elephant house an all year round experience
Heating strategy using daylight and thermal mass, as well as heat generated from a ground source heat pump
Research facilities Office and lab space for 4 people Approx 50m2
Offices for 10 Park Rangers Approx 50m2
Automatic Doors between the two zones
Husbandry
Linking Pens to the main indoor enclosure approx. 50m2 per pen
Two Exits each in cow and bull temp zones to external areas (Automatic so elephants have choice but can be closed by keepers)
Private secluded access away from the public Crush Cages next to each external/internal exit
Rocky Areas
Different types of terrain (mixture of sand, mud, shrub)
Watering Holes (Sufficient to sustain 10 elephants)
Separate Area for Bulls and Cows - typically for mating
Exciting Feeding Strategy - possibility of allowing elephants into the forest on occasion
Mud Hole however this could freeze during winter
Area for deliveries
Separate External Bull Elephant Enclosure (Cold Zone)
Separate External Cow Elephant Enclosure
Separate Enclosure within the External Cow Area for giraffes and cow elephants
Mechanism / Procedure to prevent wrong animal / sex going into wrong internal & external enclosure
Public Pathway to view elephants
Storage for food, medical supplies and equipment
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS CONCEPTUAL MASTERPLANNING
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS APPLYING THE AREAS TO THE SITE
External Cow Elephant Enclosure
External Bull and Cow Elephant Enclosure
External Observation
Pens Cafe
Internal Temperate Cow Elephant Enclosure
Pens Crush Cage
External Bull Elephant Enclosure
Internal Temperate Bull Elephant Enclosure
Crush Cage
ing Public Viewing Area
Exhibition Area
Office for Park Rangers
Key
Internal Hot Cow Elephant Enclosure
d Fee
Internal Hot Bull Elephant Enclosure
External Cow Elephant and Giraffe
Research Facilities
Entrance
Elephant Area Public Areas Deliveries area
Toilets Reception
Giraffe House
Husbandry Areas Internal Elephant Enclosure Elephant and Giraffe Areas Giraffe Areas Pedestrian Access
Plaza
Road Train Route
Train Station
Elephant Access
Giraffe External Area
Elephant Access to trees
N
Scale: 1:1250
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASTERPLAN
External Cow Elephant Enclosure
Pens
Cafe
Pens Crush Cage
External Bull Elephant Enclosure
Internal Temperate Bull Elephant Enclosure
External Cow Elephant and Giraffe
Crush Cage
Research Facilities Office for Park Rangers
Internal Temperate Cow Elephant Enclosure ng edi
Fe
Public Viewing Area
Internal Hot Bull Elephant Enclosure
Key
Internal Hot Cow Elephant Enclosure
Deliveries area
Reception
Public Areas
Internal Elephant Enclosure Elephant and Giraffe Areas
Toilets
Exhibition Area Entrance
Elephant Area
Husbandry Areas
Bo fH
External Bull and Cow Elephant Enclosure
Giraffe House
Giraffe Areas Pedestrian Access Road
Plaza
Train Route Train Station
Elephant Access
Giraffe External Area
Elephant Access to trees
N
Scale: 1:1250
SPATIAL DIAGRAMS ELEPHANT HOUSE DIAGRAM IN SECTION
Internal Elephant Enclosure
Public Viewing Area
Entrance & Reception
Public Viewing Area and Exhibition
Feeding Area
Cafe
Office for Park Rangers and Research Facilities
Pens & Crush Cages
External Elephant Enclosure
No Scale
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTUAL PLANS
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT External Cow Elephant Area
GROUND FLOOR
ed Gat
Cow Elephant and Giraffe Area
Pen Pen
n Pe e rg
La
Pen
Temperate Cow Elephant Area
Pen
External Bull Elephant Area
Plant
1110m2 ing
Temperate Bull Elephant Area
d Fee
750m
2
Observation Area
Hot Cow Area 365m2 Recep
Gated
Storage
Deliveries
Access
tion
Large Pen
Exhibition Area 120m2
a 25 ull 0m A re 2
Ho
Plant
Giraffe House
tB
Storage
Plaza
Giraffe External Area Train Station
N
Scale: 1:500
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FIRST FLOOR
External Raised Walkway
Cafe 220m2
Toilets
Office for Park Rangers 190m2
Research Facilities
rm
120m2
dP
ise
Ra
fo lat
Observation Deck
N
Scale: 1:500
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTUAL TREE STRUCTURE
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTUAL TREE STRUCTURE
WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE DEVELOPED AERIAL VIEW OF PROPOSAL
WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE DEVELOPMENT OF MAIN INTERNAL AREA
WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE DEVELOPMENT OF MAIN INTERNAL AREA
WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE PERSPECTIVE SECTION
WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE GROUND FLOOR Key:
External Cow Elephant Area Cow Elephant and Giraffe Area
15
15
16
15 15
2 14
Temperate Cow Internal Area
15
External Bull Elephant Area
14
16 6
1 15
Temperate Bull Internal Area
4 Hot Cow Internal Area
5
Temperate Bull Internal Area 670 m2 Temperate Cow Internal Area 1065 m2 Hot Bull Internal Area 485 m2 Hot Cow Internal Area 545 m2 Observation Area Main Internal Feeding Area Smaller Animals Plaza Train Station Giraffe House Deliveries Plant Room Bin Store Storage Pens 32m2 Crush Cages
13 11 12
10
3
14
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
7
Hot Bull Internal Area
Giraffe House
13 7
14 12
8
9
Giraffe External Area
N
Scale: 1:500
WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE FIRST FLOOR Key:
10 3 7
1
4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Cafe Exhibition Office for Park Ranger Research Facilities Observation Deck Toilets Kitchen Storage Internal Raised Walkway External Raised Walkway
250 m2 260 m2 180 m2 145 m2
9
6
5
2
8
N
Scale: 1:500
WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE ROOF PLAN
N
Scale: 1:500
WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE SITE PLAN
Mixed Cow and Bull
Cow External Area Cow and Giraffe Area
Bull External Area
Giraffe Area N
Scale: 1:1250
WORK FOR FINAL CRITIQUE PLAZA AREA AND ENTRANCE
FINAL DESIGN ALIGNING OF WALLS AND THE ROOF GRID Outer and inner ring beam align with circumference walls
Mullions align with the wall underneath to create a neat junction
Elephant House SHEET
Unnamed
26/01/2015 12:00:04
PROJECT
FINAL DESIGN
26/01/2015 12:12:02
EXTERNAL TREES TO PROVIDE SHELTER OUTSIDE
External Trees
ELEPHANT RESEARCH VISIT TO KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK Transcript of Edward Perry When Knowsley Safari Park was opened it was a novelty bringing Africa to the North. The Safari Park has struggled in recent times especially during the recession. The safari park was created in 1970’s with the intention to bring Africa to Liverpool being an instant attraction. The 1970’s promoted the use of the car, and Knowsley infrastructure reflects this. Knowsley Safari Park wishes to now create a balance between driving through the park and walking. They want to make the park more accessible for pedestrians. The park wished to connect communities in mind of what we do today will reflect on the future of the park and the well being of the animals. Knowsley Safari Park needs a new elephant house that exceeds the animals welfare standards which adds value to the park with a return in investment. Mr Perry wants us to go beyond the typical zoological perceptions of an elephant and pursue something greater. There need to be different zones for the elephants, for the bull and cows. This elephant house needs to create a great experience for visitors of the park who will ultimately promote it through word of mouth and through social media. There needs to be good balance between creating an experience that is good for the animals, visitors and for the park staff. Need to think about the type of interaction with the elephants. Need to think about making something that is cost effective, such as the café/restaurant that will create a sustainable profit and not require extra funding. Currently Knowsley Safari Park is very seasonal, so a indoor facility would provide an all year round experience ultimately making the park more profitable. A good environment created for the elephants enhances breeding leading to small calves which draws in more people. Important thing to remember is that the elephant is the most important thing to consider.
Transcript of the Head of Animal Institution – Evelyn DeWolf Evelyn does not like the name of elephant enclosure Most zoos look at the building then put the animal in it, it should be the other way around, the building should be designed around the elephant. There is a zoo licensing requirement – DEVRA – requirements are on the website. This is corporation of zoos who work hard for the welfare of the animals and to conserve biodiversity. Zoos initially were used for the entertainment of the rich, however since the 1980s there has been a change. Now zoos want to connect the people to the problem of endangered species such as with elephants the problems that the ivory trade causes. How can we as a zoo community do this? The Guidelines for zoos – BIAZA – Staff have to be trained to care for elephants Depending on the type of elephant there is a big difference in the biology / habitat of African elephants compared to Asian elephants. The park wishes to establish a breeding group / herd, since the last calf born was in 2003. Minimum amount of elephants that the park wishes to keep is four adult females, of which two are breeding. The male died a couple of years ago and the park is looking to bring another in. Bull elephants are more solitary – used to keep separate.
The park wishes to provide as much choice for the elephant as possible, this choice leads to a better well being for the elephant. The Matriarch leads the decisions of these choices to the watering hole and food. Need to create a sustainable elephant population. The habitat needs to be able to take 10 elephants Elephants take long journeys creating a pathway/ journey that they continue to follow for many years. A pathway needs to be created into this habitat. The Matriarchs teach the younger generations their knowledge and how to survive. The long walks are good for the elephant’s feet. They are not hoof animals having nails very much like humans. They walk on the tip of their toes with a cushion underneath. If the fingernails get to long as they are not being worn down this can cut off the blood supply to the pressure exerted on the nail, leading to arthritis. This requires treatment of their feet for elephants in captivity. The elephants distribute their weight, 60% of the front feet and 40% on the back feet. For the elephants to wear down the nails of their feet and for their skin care, they require a mixture of sandy and mud substraights. The worst thing for an elephant is to stand on their two back feet as this damages their spine. Elephants do not sleep standing up lying down to sleep for roughly 3-5 hours every day. Both male and female have tusks, and therefore when lying down they need a soft cushion to lie down upon. Otherwise their weight, say 3 tonnes, is exerted through their tusk onto a hard surface. They will find ways to lie down such as the bull who rested his head on the wall not to put pressure on his tusks. However this created pressure sores for him. They are a very social animal, the oldest female is often the matriarch, and being leader is not about strength but more about knowledge. The matriarch teach the younger elephants respect and create a herd structure. Adult bulls can become aggressive especially during mating season and have been known to kill a small herd of females. Currently Knowsley struggles as the elephants are not related, there are two mothers and daughters. They do not have a strong family structure like in the wild however they have known each other for 20 years. The matriarch has no children. To allow a bull into the habitat it has to be bull proof – maximum weight of a bull is around 6-7 tonnes. There is a record of all elephants in European zoos and bulls and selected to breed with certain cows to keep the genetics healthy. In Europe to keep the population of elephants sustainable there needs to be around 12-15 births per year, currently there is only four. This needs to increase. The elephant welfare increases the chances of breeding. Evelyn wants the elephants to choose their own lifestyle. The food should not be just easily accessible on the ground but higher up in obscure places to keep the elephants interested and wanting to browse. Look for salts and minerals in the ground – something that the habitat needs to provide The space for the elephants has to be designed specifically with them in mind. The animals can’t be put out in winter as this is cruel because it is too cold for them. African elephants are designed to loose heat with large ears designed to cool them down and lots of folds and wrinkles. They cannot stand the cold and wet. They have to be encouraged (a bit like children) to go into the water. Needs to be a cold zone, temperate zone and warm zone. This is for the animals to acclimatise to each zone more successfully and to choose the temperature in which they want to be in.
ELEPHANT RESEARCH How to classify the elephant house in a masterplan of a zoo? In the past this has been through continents: Africa Zone / Asia Zone / Europe Zone Rainforest / Bush / Sea / Desert However to address the problems of today, Knowsley Safari Park wants to group animals by how endangered they are. Elephants, Tigers, Rhino all have similar threats through habitat destruction and poaching. Education is very important, however needs not to be purely negative but provide a positive note. Important is visitor safety always needs to be a barrier between us and the elephant. Free contact vs protected contact – in can be very dangerous darting an elephant as it could cause injury to itself falling and can suffocate if fallen incorrectly. Herpes is a problem for Asian elephants and can kill them in 2 hours. The elephant requires 150 tablets five times a day which has to be put into food, which they can smell and often reject or injected rectally. This requires a lot of trust from the elephant. They are trained on positive reinforcement and reward. A training wall with different walls to access. Need a crush cage to lock in the elephant for a 360° examination. The elephant will be trained in this however needs to be a positive experience. Access to baby in a similar way, training pen with a hole big enough for baby to access. Blood is taken from the ear. Precedents to look into: Zurich Zoo – Elephant habitat, provides demonstrative element for the public Copenhagen zoo – Elephant house is great in terms of architectural design however Evelyn says that it is not great for the elephants and zoo keepers. Roughly €40 million Amasfort / Holland – Has webcams, a communal sand area, separate bull house, training pens. Indoor area for elephants with a dry moat inside the house. The visitor can be in the same area as the elephant to interact with the smells and sounds of the elephant. They made a village inside the elephant enclosure to view the elephants. This addresses the problem of the tribes in Africa and the elephants. Roughly €2.8 million Not allowed a steep moat inside the elephant habitat as this can result in the elephant falling in and hurting itself and potentially not being able to get out. One elephant fell into the moat which dented its confidence. It would not lie down again and had to be persuaded to lie further and further down by leaning on banks of sand which were gradually lowered. No sharp corners as elephants can get crushed into the corner – Evelyn suggested a building which was more organic. The existing building;s roof is currently too low for the elephant and has manual gates which are difficult to move. The existing building has asbestos which is expensive to get rid of. There needs to be more than one gate, because if one gate breaks then this can be a problem as it becomes a puzzle of how to get the elephants in a out. Needs two access gates outside/inside Steel frames are usually required if there is an established family herd. Disabled member of the group – Chansee? – Bad disable back legs. They need a pool in the elephant habitat. Usually they don’t like swimming that much but if it is a bit rainy this
encourages them to use the pool. Elephants run inside when it is rainy – one zoo has a barrel and sprinkler system inside to still get the elephants wet, this encourages them to stay outside. Elephants need at least 30 different places to access food from. By making the choice for which place to get food this is more exciting for the elephant. The food can be displayed up high from hay nets. Internal area – Four elephants equates to 200m2 and is 80m2 for each additional elephant. In captivity elephants can live up to 70 years. When the whole paddock is sunny there needs to be shade for the elephant. Elephants are inherently lazy and need to be encouraged to go to different areas through different attractions such a food and water. Visitors have an affect on elephants, they come and interact with humans. They act very differently at night. Bulls can stereotype and repeat movements resulting in joints and feet been worn down on a certain side for example. Feeding strategy – Make in socially interactive (smells and sounds) A smaller area that is more interesting is better than a large boring area. Herds move in groups however in the evening they are more dispersed. It is good for some negative impulses, good to react to however should not be prolonged though. The elephants strip trees bare and kill them if kept there for a long period, however Evelyn stated that if would be good to allow access for the elephants to the neighbouring woodland. The States Woodland zoo rotates its paddocks of chimpanzees and small monkeys More intelligent animals such as elephants remember the day and the keepers who feed them on the day. It is difficult to make in random. Dublin zoo has a wall with lots of holes filled with food. Not all elephants react to mirrors. Tests have been conducted where they sedate the animal and paint forehead to see if animal reacts when it looks into the mirror. The landscape has to have different substrates, concrete can damage the animal. Clay can become rock hard and muddy. For the internal areas, in a free contact zone vertical bars are used as the elephants can’t get through but humans can. Diagonal bars are better as the elephant can now see the keeper more easily which is crucial so that the elephant gains trust with the keeper. It is also important as it prevents the elephants from swinging its trunk up or down hitting the keeper. There is a yellow line on the floor indicating the maximum reach of an elephants trunk. The training wall should be a minimum of 9 metres in height and to have a dog leg or curve making it more exciting. It should also have two door connections to the other paddocks. Calf access should have smaller barriers with adjustable posts to accommodate for the growth of the calf. Need to have access to the outside of the training pen – not on view from public but could have it as VIP tickets. Mechanical ventilation within the building Two elephant keepers per elephant, limit the number of cages Current existing elephant cage in Knowlsey 9x9m / 10x10m
ELEPHANT RESEARCH TRANSCRIPT OF ‘THE WONDER OF ELEPHANTS’ (BBC) Heat Loss In the desert temperatures exceed 45°C which is a challenge for elephants to avoid overheating. African elephant in the largest land mammal. They have the largest ears of any animal which make up 20% of the surface of their body area. These are the coolest parts of the animals’ body and blood is pumped to the ears to be cooled. The hot spots of an elephant are located where there is a high concentration of blood vessels. Elephants do not sweat to avoid loss of water, but their wrinkly skin traps mud and dust which acts as suncream. Wrinkly skin can hold 10 times more muddy water than smooth skin. They are covered in long wiry hairs which actually help the elephant cool down acting as conductors to draw out the heat from the elephant. This is the first time scientists have discovered hair being used for cooling. Water Need to drink every two days. They can locate rain even if it is a hundred miles away with their feet through picking up ultrasounds of a storm. Their feet can detect the seismic vibrations. They travel vast distances to get to supplies of water. Water is important for socialising and playing. The youngsters learn from the elders how to drink from their trunks and clean themselves. They can consume up to 220 litres in a single day. After three days without water elephants start to succumb to dehydration. However at the back of an elephant’s tongue they have a reservoir of water (5 litres) as a last resort. They access this by putting their trunk down their throat and either drinking it or spraying over their ears. – This is unique to elephants. Diet They live in an arid habitat with a lack of high quality food – tree bark, branches and grass which has little nutritional value and is hard to digest. An Elephant’s diet contains fewer calories and less protein of any other mammal so they have to consume vast amounts to survive by grazing up to 19 hours and eating up to 300kg every day. Vegetation can’t supply all of the elephants needs. They require salt in their diet. One herd of elephants in Kenya travels into an extinct volcano to access salt. There are scratches of up to 150 metres down into the darkness from the elephant’s tusks. The elephants families mine salt from the cave walls which is scratched off by the tusks which scour the walls. This family has been coming here for generations returning to the same location year after year. This is due to their long term memory. Brain Elephants have the biggest brain of any mammal. Two parts of their brain are enlarged the Cerebral Cortex and the Olfactory System which in fundamental to complex learning and memory. Studies have shown that in a bad drought the old females have led the herd to water hole hundreds of miles away from their home territory. They can recall the same watering hole that they visited up to 30 years ago. Predators and Elephant’s Brain Their memory also prevents them from avoiding predators. Elephants are hunted by lions who target younger elephants separated from the herd. When elephants share a watering hole with lions they must know how to protect their young. Studies have shown that older matriarchs make better decisions than younger females in defending a herd. The herd is less susceptible to attack by keeping the young in the centre. The biggest threat to elephants are humans. Humans have hunted elephants for thousands of years. The Massai tribe in Kenya breed cattle and often come into contact with elephants over precious resources – elephants being killed as a result.
Elephants can recognise the dialects of tribes that have threatened them in the past. A study played two recordings to elephants, one from the Camber people who have not threatened the herd and by the Massai people. The elephants did not react to the Camber people but dispersed upon hearing the Massai recording. The elephants can also distinguish between gender and age, reacting to recordings of older male Massai but not to the women. Trunk An African elephant’s trunk is a fusion of their nose and upper lip. It is very powerful being able to lift 350kg and is flexible reaching up to 7 metres into the trees. The tip of the trunk is highly sensitive and contains two finger like extensions that can be squeezed together. Their trunk contains more than 100,000 muscle units. The fluid in the muscle cells becomes firm when compressed offering superb flexibility and rigidity. Tusks Elephant’s tusks occur in both male and female. It is an extension of their teeth – the incisors of their upper jaw. They can grow 17cm a year and can reach 3 metres in length. Elephants favour one tusk over another so work down at different rates. Their tusks work in tandem with their trunks – very good for moving trees. Teeth Elephants have four huge molars – each one grows up to 30cm high and can weigh up to 5kg. This size and shape is necessary for their diet. The teeth are not permanent otherwise once worn down the elephant would starve to death. Their teeth grow in cycles. They grow from the back of their mouth and move forward pushing the older worn out teeth out. These can be replaced up to six times.
MIXING ELEPHANTS AND GIRAFFES Chicago Tribune - At Dallas Zoo: Will giraffes accept the elephants? February 07, 2012|By Terry Gardner, Special to Tribune Newspapers Last September when I visited the Dallas Zoo, I learned about its pioneering efforts to re-create an African savanna by mixing elephants and hoofed critters. Although other zoos have mixed giraffes, zebras, guinea fowl, etc., Dallas is the first zoo in North America to add elephants to the mix. The 11-acre Giants of the Savanna exhibit opened May 28, 2010, with six post-reproductive elephant cows. There are no males, because bull elephants often are more aggressive. Nicknamed the “Golden Girls,” Jenny, Gypsy, Kamba, Congo, Mama and Stumpy range in age from 30 to 47. They have mixed with all the hoof stock except the giraffes. But the giraffes and the Golden Girls have explored one another’s habitats and shared hay. Lynn Kramer, the Dallas Zoo’s deputy director of animal conservation and science, said the giraffes don’t seem to care when they see the elephants in their habitat. But the elephants watch what the giraffes do in the Golden Girls’ habitat. In October, Kramer visited the Boras Zoo in Sweden, which has been mingling elephants and hoofed mammals for more than 20 years. “They have four elephant cows and half a dozen giraffes,” he said. “They stay in the same barn at night across from each other, and they enter the exhibit the same way. I saw elephants 20 feet away from giraffes, but the staff says they get even closer.” Mingling the animals must be done gradually because of the size, strength and personality of the elephants, Kramer said. “We will handpick some individuals to start it with, then separate them out,” Kramer explained. He hopes that at least some of the giraffes and elephants will be mingling by summer.
ELEPHANT RESEARCH TRANSCRIPT OF ‘THE EYE FOR AN ELEPHANT’ (BBC) – NATURAL WORLD
POACHING AND IVORY
Documentary following Martin Colbeck’s journey across the Savanna, forest and desert following elephants – mainly concentrating on one herd led by a matriarch named Echo.
In one year 11,000 pieces of ivory were auctioned in China worth over $90 million. Poachers first shoot the matriarch as killing her first results in the rest of the family staying close by. Black market ivory sells for $1300 per pound National parks are guarded by a team of park rangers and poachers are very hard to find. 38,000 African elephants are killed annually due to soaring demand for ivory, which could result in extinction if this continues.
Amboselli- Kenya: Elephants can communicate long distances through grumbling noise Birth problems – Usually an baby elephant can stand up in the first ten minutes, however if the elephant is too big in the womb resulting in being cramped causes the legs to be weakened at the knees, can’t always stand up initially or permanently resulting in death Can see elephants being indecisive – pause with front foot raised swaying back and forth (have some very human traits) this was shown on a daughter elephant of the mother who had just given birth. She was deciding whether to go with rest of the herd or stay behind with mother and baby. Decided to stay with baby, though constantly communicating with the herd. Almost all elephant births are at night, very rare to give birth during the day. Elephant pregnancy typically 21 months. Elephants display emotions through glands on the side of their head, the glands can stream if an elephant is happy or sad (very similar to humans crying). Elephants can still breed even at 60 years old. The matriarch led by Echo, always was the last to lay down and sleep. Echo gave birth to Ebony. Ebony did encounter danger from a rival herd who tried to steal her. Echo organised the larger elephants in her herd to encircle Ebony to bring her back into the herd. Martin who had been following the herd for roughly 15 years, was accepted by the herd to be part of the family. Very social animals, provide huge greeting to one another if they have not seen each other for a long time. There is a very caring nature between females. Elephants can recognise the remains of their relatives, approaching them and touch and smell them. Their glands will also stream. Males (Bulls) Male named Dianisis, was a large male of 60 years towering at 11ft (3.4m) There are fights between males, who try and twist each other off there feet then stab the side of the elephant with their tusks. Males lead a lone existence. Around the age of 12 males are banished from the herd . It is a very steep learning curve for male adolescents. Desert Elephants: In North West Namibia, up the skeleton coast desert elephants can be found. Not as playful as the Savannan elephants due to a harsher climate. These elephants drink and feed around dry river beds that occasionally flood and will cross the sand dunes to get to other river systems. Elephants need 70-90 litres of water a day Forest Elephants: Found in the Congo, they congregate in hidden clearings in the forest created by the elephants known as Byes. Forest Elephants are roughly two thirds the size of their Savanna cousins. Their tusks point down to avoid catching vegetation. The families are a lot smaller containing only 2-3 elephants. The elephants created the clearing for salt, missing from their diets. Salt is found at the bottom of the mud hole. There are competitions for the best salt let, larger males often allow females to use good salt lets in exchange for sexual intercourse.
CNN Report 25,000 elephants were killed in 2011 In some areas murder rates exceed the population growth National Geographic reporter: Bryan Christy Asia’s booming ivory industry is promoting poaching in Africa 90% of dead African elephants found in the wild have been poached. 62% of forest elephants have been killed in the last 10 years In the 1980s there was a drop for 1.3 million African elephants to 600,000 in a decade. This resulted in the Americans banning the sale of ivory and would not buy ivory either. A global consensus was launched discouraging the buying and selling of ivory. The International convention SIDGS imposed a ban however this was eventually lifted. The Southern African countries have healthy elephant populations and a long history of ivory trade. They stated that they should not be penalised because Kenya cannot protect its own ivory. South Africa, Botswana and Namibia wished to sell ivory. In 1999, the ban was lifted as an experiment allowing a one time opportunity. These three counties sold 50 tonnes of ivory to Japan. In 2008 China expressed that it wished to buy, allowing a second sale. This created a wave of demand by the Chinese people. Large Chinese ports can receive up to 50,000 containers each day with custom agents inspecting fewer than 1%. Bryan Christy stated that law enforcement should be used for dealing with ivory smuggling classifying it under organised crime. There are relatively few registered ivory carving factories, 35 with only 135 registered retail shops and 300-400 registered carvers. Considering the huge supply of ivory being imported into China, this suggests a huge black market dealing with the carving and selling of ivory. Ivory is also damaging tourism in Kenya and resulting in rangers dying in the field trying to protect the elephants.