Wild Asia

 
Officially opened in May of 1998, the Wild Asia exhibit is the most extensive undertaking to date by the Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo.

Located in the northwest quadrant of the zoo, this beautifully detailed exhibit features a main trail that meanders through a variety of naturally landscaped exhibits displaying animals from across the vast reaches of the Asian continent.

In the entry plaza, engraved stones and bricks recognize donors who helped make Wild Asia a reality, while a display of brightly colored pheasants hints at the beauty you can expect to find within the exhibit.

Start your Wild Asia adventure at the "Moon Gate". In China, the circle is a symbol of both heaven and perfection. The circular entrance into a garden was thought to provide the best possible setting for a view, focusing the eye on the intended landscape. In addition, with the smaller moon gates found in real Chinese gardens, the circular shape forces a person entering the garden to step single file over the rounded threshold of the gate, further emphasizing the experience of entering.

Walking through the moon gate, one approaches the Red panda exhibit. These adorable animals seem to be a cross between a raccoon (which they are distantly related to) and a Teddy bear. A thick reddish coat of hair insulates the panda against the frigid temperatures of their Himalayan mountain home, and helps to camouflage them in their roost trees.

Maybe you will be lucky enough to hear the booming chorus of the siamangs, a tropical primate that advertises its claim to territory by hooting duets between pairs. Their long, narrow exhibit gives them plenty of room to get up speed while brachiating from one end of the yard to the other.

As you stroll around Wild Asia, you can be sure that your every move is observed by the silent but powerful Snow leopard. Perched on top of the huge rocks of their exhibit, they have a "leopards eye view" of all that goes on around them. The low profile of their forehead allows them to peer over rocks without giving away their position. The smoky gray color of their spotted fur blends in perfectly with the rocky Himalayan mountainsides of their native home, whether bare or blanketed with snow and ice. Learn more about this gorgeous, but endangered cat when you visit the zoo.

Many other animals inhabit the Wild Asia exhibit, representing species from tropical rain forests to inhospitable mountain habitats. From the nocturnal tokay gecko to the gigantic gaur and the Asiatic Black Bears, Wild Asia illustrates the great diversity of the Asian continent. Malayan sun bears, Pere David’s deer, Bactrian camels, several reptiles, and Goral antelope round out the animal collection.

Special touches like the Asian architectural flair and a garden that provides traditional Asian produce to enhance our animals’ diets adds a dimension to the exhibit that can only be experienced first hand. Be sure to allow enough time for your zoo visit to include a trip through this unique exhibit.