The first chapter of Imagine Asia, Asian Highlands, opened at the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo this summer, but the landscape guests see today is only the beginning. Plants will continue to grow, animals will settle into their surroundings and new residents will eventually join the experience.
A growing landscape
Some of the changes will happen slowly. The planting throughout Asian Highlands was designed to reflect the landscapes and vegetation found in the animals’ natural ranges of the eastern Himalayas, while also taking Calgary’s climate and the long-term growth of the plants into account.
That means the experience will look different as the landscape matures. Trees will grow taller, plants will fill in and areas that feel newly planted today will become more established over time.
Getting comfortable
Snow leopards, red pandas and Sichuan takin are settling into their new surroundings, while Animal Care, Health & Welfare teams continue to observe how they use the spaces available to them. Care teams can make adjustments as needed, such as adding new enrichment items and furniture designed around species-specific behaviour.
A well-designed habitat isn’t just about what guests can see. Animals have places where they can rest, explore and retreat from view, giving them choice in how they spend their time.
For guests, that can mean something different every time they visit. A snow leopard that was easy to spot on one visit might be tucked away the next, while a red panda could be exploring high in the trees or curled up in one of the wood shelters.
An evolving experience
Opening a new habitat also gives the teams who care for it a chance to learn from the space in a way that isn’t possible until animals and guests are actually using it.
The experience will also grow with the planned arrival of Asian wild horses later this year, adding another species to the journey through the diverse landscapes of Asia, and the public debut of three red panda cubs born earlier this year.
That means a visit in September won’t necessarily look the same as a visit next summer. These living landscapes will grow and develop in the months and years to come.
Asian Highlands, the first chapter of Imagine Asia, may have opened its doors this summer, but its story is still unfolding.
To learn more, visit calgaryzoo.com/imagine-asia/
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