Giant Panda Exhibit Design

Giant Panda Exhibit Design

A Multi-discipline Approach

IDS 300W

Professor Kline

Giant pandas are nature’s ultimate teddy bears. Unfortunately, they are nowhere near as plentiful as teddy bears. Only about 1000 giant pandas remain in the wild today (Franzen, 2003). Conservation efforts to prevent their extinction are being made worldwide, and zoos play a major part in gaining public interest in the cause.

This study addresses the task of designing a giant panda enclosure for a theoretical zoo. Building an exhibit that is mentally and physically pleasing to the pandas as well as accommodating to the public takes much time and consideration. View points from the disciplines of ecology, psychology, and environmental architecture and marketing are essential in designing an ideal exhibit. Before the disciplines can be explored, however, the panda, its behavior, and its habitat must be better understood.

Pandas: A brief overview

Giant pandas are unlike any other animal in the world. Although they are related to bears in the family of Ursidae, they have their own separate subfamily called Ailuropodinae (Lumpkin et al, 2002). Giant pandas differ greatly from other bears because of their diet. Most bears are omnivorous, eating meat and vegetation; pandas’ diets are 99 percent bamboo (Lumpkin et al, 2002). Another unique characteristic in pandas is their sixth digit, often referred to as a thumb. This digit is actually an enlarged wrist bone that developed to enable the panda to maneuver bamboo (Lumpkin et al, 2002).

Perhaps the most recognizable feature of giant pandas is their distinct black and white coloration. Giant pandas have white heads, stomachs, and backs. They have black legs, shoulders, ears, and black patches around their eyes. The black patches on their eyes give the effect of big eyes, which emphasizes the “staring threat display” used in nature for self-defense (Lumpkin et al, 2002). Black ears also substitute for staring eyes when they bow their heads.

Giant pandas are about the same size as humans. They can grow to be between 5 feet and 6 feet long, weighing anywhere from 165-300 pounds. Males are normally larger than females (Franzen, 2003). They are solitary animals that only come together during mating season and when a mother has a cub. They communicate primarily through scent markings left on trees with a scent gland located beneath their tail. Giant pandas can also vocalize through chirps, growls and barks. However, they normally only use these as warnings or as communication during mating (Lumpkin et al, 2002).

Giant pandas reach sexual maturity between five-and-a-half and six-and-a-half years of age. Cubs stay with their mother for around 18 months before going out on their own (Lumpkin et al, 2002). A female panda may have a baby every two to three years.

Giant pandas live in the mountains of the Gansu, Shaanxi, and Sichuan Provinces of China at elevations of between 8,500 and 11,500 feet above sea level. Pandas, therefore, have thick coats that insulate against the damp cold of their environment (Lumpkin et al, 2002). Instead of hibernating like most bears, pandas simply move to lower elevations in winter (Lumpkin et al, 2002).

Giant pandas once roamed Eastern China, and even ranged into Tibet and western Burma (Franzen, 2003). Logging and farming took away much of the panda’s habitat. Today pandas are confined to only 6 mountain ranges. About 700 square miles of panda habitat exists today (Lumpkin et al, 2002).

Fortunately, China has put forth considerable effort in the conservation of giant pandas. With bans on poaching and commercial logging, the pandas and their habitats are better protected. China has also established 33 nature reserves to ensure future safety for the pandas (Franzen, 2003). These reserves currently make up 45 percent of panda habitat (Lumpkin et al, 2002).

Several zoos have adopted giant pandas and have successfully bred them. All captive pandas are considered to be a part of the conservation effort. Zoos that have the privilege of acquiring a giant panda are expected to contribute to research and conservation.

With such emphasis on conservation, any plan should accommodate at least two pandas. Although a breeding program is not included in present plans, one may be established in the future.

Ecology

“Veils of fog swirl, separate, lift, giving brief glimpses of the steep V-sides of the valley cloaked in a thick, dark-green forest.” (Lumpkin et al, 2002, p. 57).

The giant panda’s natural habitat is mountainous thick forest. The forest consists of coniferous and deciduous trees, bamboo, and other foliage (Lumpkin et al, 2002). The mountains in the higher altitudes are covered mainly with conifers. Clumps of short bamboo are scattered among the conifers. In the lower altitudes, conifers are mixed with deciduous trees and clumps of taller bamboo (Franzen, 2003). It rains and snows often and when there is no precipitation, there is thick fog. Temperatures rarely rise above 68°F and can be as low as 19°F (Franzen, 2003). Because of this cool, damp habitat, pandas have thick fur that holds in heat and keeps out moisture. Pandas do not have a high tolerance for heat (Lumpkin et al, 2002).

The outdoor giant panda habitat should have a lot of vegetation. The ground should have grass and various ferns or shrubs. There should be large and small trees as well, particularly pines. Either a sturdy enough tree or another form of climbing structure should be available. Rocks and a water feature will also help to make the enclosure as close as possible to a panda’s natural habitat. Creating a slant in the exhibit will mimic the uneven terrain of mountains as well as adding visibility for the public.

Since the giant panda’s natural environment is so cool, plenty of shade should be provided outdoors. The water feature should be large enough to accommodate the pandas, should one decide to get in the water, but also shallow enough to ensure the panda’s safety. A mist machine will also be helpful to both cool down the panda and simulate the foggy atmosphere of the mountains.

Regardless of the shade and water provided, local July and August temperatures will be much too hot for giant pandas. They will require an indoor, air conditioned enclosure as well during hot and inclement weather. This enclosure should also feel as natural as possible. Wood chips should cover the floor and indoor plants can be added. Rocks, a small pond, and a climbing structure will also assist in a more natural environment. A skylight will help provide natural light in addition to the artificial lighting.

Psychology

People cannot read animals’ minds. The only way to determine animals’ moods is through their behavior. Animals in captivity can develop unnatural behaviors called stereotypical behaviors that are indicative of stress. In pandas, these behaviors include pacing, head bobbing (standing in one place while moving the head up and down continuously), self-mutilation (inflicting pain by biting or chewing the tail or leg; hitting the head against walls), and standing by the door in expectation of food (Liu, 2003).

A study at the Wolong Nature Reserve in China showed that giant pandas in larger, semi-natural enclosures (50m x 120m) engaged in less stereotypical behavior than pandas in traditional enclosures (5.8m x 13m). They also observed that the pandas in semi-natural enclosures spent more time playing. Enrichment such as trees, shrubs, herbs, and bamboo reduced stereotypical behavior even more (Liu, 2003).

This study suggests that a large, natural environment is ideal for giant pandas. Two outdoor enclosures will be provided, one for each panda, plus two additional enclosures that are secluded from the public as required by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Wilson, 2003). These enclosures will be equipped with pine trees, shrubs, rocks, logs, a pond, and wooden logs propped up to provide a climbing structure.

In addition to outdoor enclosures, two indoor exhibits must be designed in case of inclement weather. These enclosures will be smaller, but should still contain rocks, plants, a pond, and a climbing structure. The minimum standards for indoor enclosures is 7m x 8 m, however larger enclosures should probably be built (Kleinman, 2004).

Once the pandas have these large, natural enclosures, additional enrichment can be provided to ensure the absence of stereotypical behaviors. Added enrichment can increase physical exercise, enhance physical health, provide mental challenges, improve psychological well-being, and reduce or even prevent the development of stereotypical and undesirable behaviors (Hare, 2003).

422910032829543434002157095A giant panda plays with a burlap sack.

A giant panda plays with a burlap sack.

The San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda Enrichment Plan developed and tested several kinds of enrichment with their three pandas (Hare, 2003). They tried many non-food enrichment items such as large and small substrate piles, burlap sacks filled with hay, cardboard boxes, and ice blocks. The most successful non-food enrichment items are loamex piles, pine shavings piles, burlap sacks, and cardboard boxes (Hare, 2003).

They also use food related enrichment in the form of puzzles that the pandas must figure out to get their food (Hare, 2003). The four puzzles they created are a ball, a cardboard box, a large culm or stalk of bamboo, and PVC pipe with food inside. The ball, PVC pipe, and bamboo culm have holes drilled in the sides. The cardboard box has a hole with a flap covering it. The pandas must manipulate these items to obtain their food (Hare, 2003).

These ideas for enrichment can be added to the enclosures on a schedule to ensure that the pandas do not grow bored of a certain enrichment item. New ideas for enrichment can also be considered as time goes on. No matter how it is implemented, however, enrichment is essential to increasing the mental and physical health of the pandas.

Environmental Architecture and Marketing

The giant panda exhibit must be pleasing to the public as well as the panda in order to educate people about pandas and invoke awareness for their conservation. The most important factor in pleasing the public is the ability to actually see the pandas. Additionally, the length of time visitors spend at a particular exhibit depends on the size and naturalism of the exhibit, and the activity of the animal (Wilson, 2003). Visitors also show interest in educational opportunities.

The exhibit for the public is more than just the animal’s enclosure, it is the entire display. In order to get a more naturalistic feel, visitors should feel that they themselves are in the panda’s environment. The entrance to the panda’s exhibit could look like an entrance into the Chinese mountains, for instance. There could be a Chinese-style doorway that is surrounded by bamboo. The walkway to the exhibit will be a pathway that is also surrounded by bamboo. To add to the feel, speakers would be playing nature sounds to make the visitor feel that they are in the forest. Zoo visitors who were surveyed reported that ecologically relevant sounds make the experience better (Wilson, 2003).

Creating a natural environment will not only be good for the public, but also good for the panda. A large exhibit with trees, plants, rocks, and a water feature will look more natural. The outdoor enclosure can have grass and a climbing structure that looks like trees. Indoor enclosures can have indoor plants, rocks and a water feature as well.

As was shown in the behavior studies, a more natural environment encourages pandas to be more active. Visitors want to see pandas active. They believe that seeing free ranging animals creates more educational opportunities (Wilson, 2003). Enrichment will encourage the pandas to be more active and give the visitor an opportunity to see pandas engaged in natural behavior.

To ensure that the panda is visible to the people, all larger enrichment and features in the enclosure should be toward the back of the exhibit so that the public can see the panda in front of them. The outdoor enclosure could be slanted downward toward the public to allow them to see the whole enclosure better. Viewing areas could be positioned to the front and side of the exhibit in case the panda is behind something.

Lastly, at the end of the exhibit there should be an education center. Televisions can be set up where guests can watch a video on conservation efforts for pandas. Computers with touch screens could also be available for education on panda’s behaviors, natural habitat and more on conservation efforts. Zoo staff and volunteers can be positioned around the viewing areas to give information and answer questions. The more people know, the more they are willing to help a cause such as saving giant pandas.

The Design

Many of the disciplines are in agreement on several aspects of the enclosure design. All disciplines perceive a need for the use of natural features such as trees, rocks, plants, and water. Ecologists and environmental engineers found it beneficial to slant the enclosure. Psychologists and envirosmental engineers see a need for additional enrichment. None of the disciplines, however, had opposing arguments.

In addition to ecological, psychological, and environmental science and marketing approaches, there are certain standards that should be met in building a panda habitat. The National Zoo wrote a manual in 2004 that describes minimum sizes for outdoor and indoor enclosures, as well as enrichment, and security measures (Kleinman, 2004).

The minimum size for an outdoor enclosure is 20m x 30m. Indoor enclosures should be a minimum of 7 m x 8 m. Each panda also needs a den for night time that should be at least 3m x 3m. The manual stresses the importance of climbing structures, grass and trees. Logs are suggested for the panda to scratch, chew, and leave scent marks.

Security measures must be implemented to be sure the pandas do not escape. Giant pandas are excellent climbers, so high, smooth walls or a dry moat should be placed around the enclosure to ensure that the panda does not climb out. Pandas are also able to manipulate objects with their sixth digit. Any objects the panda has the ability to lift should be safe and incapable of hurting the panda or assisting in escape. The initial design for the panda exhibit will incorporate ideas from all of the disciplines as well as follow the National Zoo’s guidelines (See Figure 1).

03200400Figure 1: Initial Enclosure Design

Figure 1: Initial Enclosure Design

As visitors approach the exhibit, they will hear nature noises from speakers. A wall with Chinese decorations will be the entrance to the exhibit. Past the wall, visitors will walk through a bamboo forest in which speakers will be playing nature sounds. At the end of the bamboo forest, the path will open and two outdoor panda exhibits will be in front of the visitors. Visitors can go to the left or right to look at the front of the outdoor enclosures or continue straight on a bridge going over the exhibits.

Past the outdoor exhibits, the path will lead visitors indoors to the education room. In the education room, visitors will be able to view the pandas in their indoor enclosures, or sunrooms. There will also be televisions set up around the room playing a video on panda conservation efforts. In the center of the room there will be several touch-screen computers where guests can learn more about pandas.

The outdoor panda exhibits will each be approximately 30m x 40m in size. They will be separated in the middle only by a mesh fence to encourage socialization. The ground will be slanted downward toward the front and center of each enclosure. The back of the exhibit will have a high, smooth wall. The front and sides will have a dry moat separating the exhibit from the public. Railing and a meter high glass wall with also separate the visitors from the moat. Both enclosures will be covered with grass as well as large and small rocks. Small ferns and bushes will be planted throughout the enclosure. Each enclosure will have a pond with a small waterfall in one corner against a wall. There will be a willow tree next to each pond to provide shade as well as food (Kleinman, 2004). A mist machine will spray mist underneath the willow tree on -8001002857500An example of a giant panda exhibit

An example of a giant panda exhibit

hot days. In the center of each enclosure will be three or more logs propped against each other to serve as a -800100685800climbing structure. There will also be one or two logs and tree branches on the ground.

The indoor exhibits, or sunrooms, will each be approximately 8m x 10m. Wood chips will cover the floor for a more natural feel. There will be indoor plants and another climbing structure for each panda. Each room will have a skylight to allow natural sunlight in the room. The two sunrooms on each side will be connected by a door. The pandas will be free to roam between the two sunrooms on days that they are confined indoors. In the event that the zoo has more than two pandas, the rooms can be separated so each panda has an individual room.

Each panda has a den for nights that will be a cement room about 8m x 6m in size. The female panda also has a cubbing den in case the pandas mate. Two additional outdoor enclosures will be provided secluded from the public. These will be designed in the same manner as the public outdoor exhibits.

The pandas will be provided with additional enrichment such as burlap sacks and substrate piles on a planned schedule. Feeding routines will be varied as well with food-related enrichments. In addition, on hot days, the door between the indoor and outdoor enclosures will be left open to allow the pandas a choice of environment.

Summary and Conclusion

In summary, this paper has taken an interdisciplinary approach to designing a giant panda exhibit that is ideal for the pandas as well as the public. Visitor reactions will soon reveal their opinions, but the pandas’ opinions will have to be interpreted through their actions. Perhaps the only problem that still remains is knowing what the pandas think.

Every effort will be made to keep the giant pandas happy and healthy. With so few left the world, each panda is extremely important. Though they may never be as plentiful as teddy bears, or even as numerous as they once were, with so many people working together to preserve them, they will always be as loved.

References

Franzen, L. (2003). Giant pandas. Mankato, MN: Creative Education.

Hare, V., Ripsky D., Battershill R., Bacon, K., Hawk, K., and Swaisgood, R. (2003). Giant panda enrichment: meeting everyone’s needs. Zoo Biology, 22, 401-416.

Kleinman, D. (2004). Guidelines for the housing and maintenance of the giant pandas (ailuropoda melanoleuca) for non-breeding and breeding purposes. Retrieved Aug. 06, 2005, from Giant Panda Online – Species Survival Plan Web site: HYPERLINK “http://www.giantpandaonline.org/captivemanagement/husbandry_articles/natzoomanual” http://www.giantpandaonline.org/captivemanagement/husbandry_articles/natzoomanual.htm.

Liu, D., Wang Z., Tian H., Yu, C., Zhang, G., Wei, R., and Zhang, H. (2003). Behavior of giant pandas (ailuropoda melanoleuca) in captive conditions: gender differences and enclosure effects. Zoo Biology, 22, 77-82.

Lumpkin, S., & Seidensticker, J. (2002). Smithsonian book of giant pandas. Washington, DC: The Smithsonian Institution.

Wilson, M., Kelling A., Poline L., Bloomsmith, M., and Maple, T. (2003). Post-occupancy evaluation of zoo atlanta’s giant panda conservation center: staff and visitor reactions. Zoo Biology, 22, 365-382.