Biodiversity Hotspot

Sacramento Zoo

Mesoamerica

Samantha Schneider and Megan Schroder

Contents Summary 1Moodboard 2Sketches 3Zoo Photos 4

Main Entrance Sign Perspective 5Main Biodiversity Hotspot Sign Perspective 6Explorer Map for Kids 7Zoo Map (Biodiversity Hotspot Signs 8Mesoamerica Hotspot Sign Perspective 9Jaguar Sign 10Animal Signs 11Jaguar Hotspot Sign Perspective 12Interactive Jaguar Hotspot Sign 13Flamingo Pond Perspective 14

Open since 1927, the Sacramento Zoo is home to over 140 native, rare and endangered species. Having been open so long, the exhibits need to be updated so we have come up with a proposal to redesign the animal exhibits to tell the story of biodiversity hotspots.

The main focus of our redesign is on the biodiversity hotspots. In order to tell the story of biodiversity hotspots and the a�ected animals, we have focused on a few important elements. To introduce the idea, we have created a statue to be placed in front of the zoo. This statue will contain one animal from each of the 9 biodiversity hotspots the zoo focuses on. Once inside the park, the statue image is recreated on an introductory sign informing visitors what biodiversity hotspots are and more about the animals representing them. Each animal is corre-lated to a color, which we will then repeat throughout all the signs in eachhotspot, informing visitors which hotspot they are in. We would also like to include a special sign system for children introducing the idea to them as well. The story of biodiversity hotspots is continued with a sign at each hotspot area that goes into detail the major issues at each hotspot, where the hotspot is located, what animals are impacted and

Project Summary

Mesoamerica is the biodiversity hotspot we focused on. This hotspot is the third largest among the world’s hotspots, and includes all subtropical and tropical ecosystems from central Mexico to the Panama Canal. This hotspot is important because it represents the con�uence of �ora and fauna from both the Nearctic of North America and the Neotropical of South and Central America. Mesoamerica has seen some of the highest deforestation rates in the world, and it’s estimated that 80% of the area’s original habitat has been cleared or severely modifed. Other devastating factors include industrial developments, mineral and timber extraction, logging, poaching, and agricultural developments.

important/unique aspects of the culture. The cultural aspects, such as art and statues will then be used as decorations around each hotspot and in the animal exhibits to give the sense that visitors are in the region. Within each hotspot region, we have also redesigned the animal signs. They are color coordinated and tell the unique stories of the threat to each animal in an interactive way.

Mesoamerica Biodiversity Hotspot

Facts:Endemic Plant Species: 2,941Endemic Birds: 31Endemic Mammals: 29Endemic Amphibians: 232Currently only 13% is protected

Summary

1

Moodboard

2

Sketches

3

Zoo Photos

4

We were inspired by the “Help WildLife. Recycle!” sign to add more interaction to the signs in the zoo. Children and adults alike, enjoyed flipping the panels to learn more about recycling. The Tiger exhibition is very open and clear, you can easily see the tigers run and play, The Jaguar exhibition on the other hand is very blocked and there is limited visability of the animals. We suggest making the Jaguar exhibit more open like the Tiger exhibit. Our main entrance sign design was inspired by the stone jaguar sign. We really like the use of animal footprints to guide the visitors along. The footprints can be color coded according to their biodiversity hotspot color

Sacramento Zoo

5

Sacramento Zoo

Main Entrance Sign Perspective

Inspired by the Jaguar stone sculpture sign that already exists in the Sacramento Zoo. The main entance sign will be a stone sculpture with 9 animals, 1 from each biodiversity hotspot.

Main Biodiversity Hotspot Sign Perspective

6Visitors are instantly greeted with two signs that explain what a Biodiversity hotspot isand how the zoo is divided into these hotspots. The sign on the right explains that children can go on an adventure to help save the animals by collecting stamps at each hotspot location. The map books for stamp collecting are available at the main entrance for $1.00, the money is then donated to help conserve the hotspots.

Explorer Map for Kids

7

Children can pick up their handy explorer map that will help guide them through the various hotspots at the zoo and at each hotspot location they get a unique stampto add to their map booklet. The booklet will provide them with more information about each hotspot’s culture and conservation.

Zoo Map (Biodiversity Hotspot Signs)

8Mesoamerica

Horn of Africa

West African Guinean Forest

Islands

Sundaland

Himalayas

Southwest Australia

California Floristic Province

Madrean Pine Forest

Mesoamerica Hotspot Sign Perspective

9

Each Biodiversity Hotspot sign includes information about the location, culture and general information about the hotspot and includes touch screens with video clips about each animal.

Located to the right of each hotspot sign is the stamp station. At this stationchildren can receive an olmec head stamp for their map book. They can read more information about mesoamerica in their book. Each tabletop at the stamp stations will be the color of their respected region.

Jaguar Sign

10HabitatDense rain forests, swamps and forested regions along waterways.

DietDeer, Tapirs, Wild Pig, Rodents, Birds, Fish, Turtles, Alligators. In zoo: Prepared feline diet, fish and bones.

JaguarPanthera Onca

Did you know...?The Jaguar is the largest cat in the western hemisphere and the third largest cat in the world. The Male African Lion is 2nd largest in the world and Siberian Tigers are the largest weighing up to 660lbs!

DescriptionLarge, stocky cat with rounded head and short, sturdy limbs. The coat is yellowish to golden with rosette spots that enclose one or more smaller spots. Black, or melanistic, cats are common. Females are smaller than males.

HabitatDense rain forests, swamps and forested regions along waterways.

DietDeer, Tapirs, Wild Pig, Rodents, Birds, Fish, Turtles, Alligators. In zoo: Prepared feline diet, fish and bones.

JaguarPanthera Onca

Did you know...?The Jaguar is the largest cat in the western hemisphere and the third largest cat in the world. The Male African Lion is 2nd largest in the world and Siberian Tigers are the largest weighing up to 660lbs!

DescriptionLarge, stocky cat with rounded head and short, sturdy limbs. The coat is yellowish to golden with rosette spots that enclose one or more smaller spots. Black, or melanistic, cats are common. Females are smaller than males.

HabitatDense rain forests, swamps and forested regions along waterways.

DietDeer, Tapirs, Wild Pig, Rodents, Birds, Fish, Turtles, Alligators. In zoo: Prepared feline diet, fish and bones.

American FlamingoPhoenicopterus Ruber

Did you know...?The Jaguar is the largest cat in the western hemisphere and the third largest cat in the world. The Male African Lion is 2nd largest in the world and Siberian Tigers are the largest weighing up to 660lbs!

DescriptionLarge, stocky cat with rounded head and short, sturdy limbs. The coat is yellowish to golden with rosette spots that enclose one or more smaller spots. Black, or melanistic, cats are common. Females are smaller than males.

HabitatDense rain forests, swamps and forested regions along waterways.

DietDeer, Tapirs, Wild Pig, Rodents, Birds, Fish, Turtles, Alligators. In zoo: Prepared feline diet, fish and bones.

TamanduaTamandua Tetradactyla

Did you know...?The Jaguar is the largest cat in the western hemisphere and the third largest cat in the world. The Male African Lion is 2nd largest in the world and Siberian Tigers are the largest weighing up to 660lbs!

DescriptionLarge, stocky cat with rounded head and short, sturdy limbs. The coat is yellowish to golden with rosette spots that enclose one or more smaller spots. Black, or melanistic, cats are common. Females are smaller than males.

Animal Signs

111.5 ft

2.5 ft

Each animal sign will include the color of it’s biodiversity hotspot. Mesoamerica’s color is brown.

Jaguar Hotspot Sign Perspective

12

JaguarPanthera Onca ?Did you know ? ?Why How to help

At the Jaguar exhibition there will be an interactive Jaguar “hotspot” sign where visitors can lift circular panels to learn more about Jaguar conservation.

JaguarPanthera Onca ?Did you know

??

Why

How to help

Jaguars were once plentiful throughout the Americas. The current numbers are low and decreasing due to...

-the demand for their pelts by the Illegal fur trade.-Poaching-loss of habitat

This is what their fur feels like...

Interactive Jaguar Hotspot Sign

13

Under each panel is more information about Jaguar conservation and some panels have textures for visitors to touch, such as fake jaguar fur.

Flamingo Pond Perspective

14To add more of the Mesoamerican cultural references we have placed 2 sculptural elements from the Olmec people. One Olmec head in the flamingo pond area can be seen here. There will also be Jaguar head sculptures added to the Jaguar section of the zoo.