zoo – Koda Creative – Artificial Rock

Kea habitat designs #1

I am working on the habitat design for a new kea Nestor notabilis exhibit. Here is the first draft model of one of the areas.

In the model, the zoo keeper is about to hide some food treats into that tree. The tree is a replica of a wind blown specimen which you might find high up in New Zealand’s South Island Alps. It will be made from steel and shotcrete and have epoxy lined holes into which the treats can be inserted. I have just realised the zoo keeper may have a few problems getting up there so we may have to add some steps into that fake rock or put a stainless steel ladder there.

Also in this habitat, there is a stream, waterfall and pool so the keas can bathe, cool off and wash their food in. The water will be on a closed system kept clean by mechanical, bio and U.V. filtration.

Find out more about keas here via the Kea Conservation Trust of New Zealand

Rock for gundi exhibit

Gundis, sometimes known as comb rats, are small rodents which are native to North Africa. They are unusual in the fact that they don’t drink water. They get all their moisture from their food. They also like to chew stones so we a had to make a very strong mix for the artificial rock here.

We made an EPS armature (shape) and coated it with a very hard fine concrete mix. On top of this there is a finer ‘carve’ render which is given the rock texture and coloured. We also built in recesses for heat lamps. Electric conduit tubes were built within the rock so the electrician could easily connect later.

Scroll to bottom of page to see Helsinki Zoo video of Gundis in action

Thanks to zoo keeper Alina Kallio for the animal photos. Check out Alina’s and Timo’s blog here Frog Trail.

Helsinki Zoo Mammoth Dig

Here a few pictures from a Mammoth Dig we made in Helsinki Zoo. Every evening, in summer, the bones get buried in the sand. In the morning the young archaeologists make the ‘new discovery’!

mammoth dig helsinki zoo — Young archaeologist, Emmi, with the discovery of the day.