From: "ExoticRainforest" <Steve at ExoticRainforest.com> on 2007.04.15 at 23:31:43(15572)
Got a request for you all!
I just spent several days with the management of the Little
Rock Zoo. They are beginning the planning process to build a very nice
rain forest under glass including endangered animals. Lots of planning to
be done so not much I can tell you about that one just yet other than I will be
involved in the planning and implementation, or at least I've been led to
believe I will. I made a pretty "crazy" thirty page proposal which was
very well received by a good contingent of the staff and management. A
professional zoo design group will be involved.
In the meantime, I've been asked to offer help and advice on
the improvement of the current rain forest exhibit. This one is not large
and my guess is it is approximately 1500 square feet with a 25 foot
ceiling. This exhibit has a constant high humidity and a stable
temperature year round. It houses a few species of birds in free flight,
but nothing that will destroy the plants. The only birds that might damage
anything are not allowed to fly free but are in a separate very large
cage. They have lots of space for both climbing and running plants due to
a large number of large pieces of timber and some living trees in the
exhibit. We have already begun attaching bromeliads to a lot of these logs
and trees. I am going back in two weeks to take as many plants as possible
for them to plant. The exhibit also has running water and pools throughout
the exhibit.
If you would be willing to help out with any extra specimens
you have available to donate, I'd sure appreciate the help. I would not
recommend anything truly rare, just species that will climb quickly or grow
large fairly quick such as good size alocasia species. I'm donating a bunch of
species including Philodendron gloriosum, Philodendron mamei, Philodendron
smithii, Philodendron hederaceum, Colocasia esculente, and a bunch of
other vining plants. But since they have so much space and so few plants
so far, anything would be very helpful. Unpotted cuttings would be most
appreciated since they have a staff horticulturist and I'm certain he can get
them potted and growing good before planting.
If you want to put a value on it send that to me along
with the box and I'll do my best to get you a receipt for tax
purposes.
If the project I'm proposing gets off and running we'll be
looking for a lot of plants to purchase!! And I mean a lot! I've
proposed building 6 very large domed buildings to simulate the Guiana Shield,
Brazil, Western South America including Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, then Central
America topped off with Polynesia and SE Asia and finally Africa. If this
gets done it will be one of the largest rain forest exhibits in North
America! The city has built a brand new baseball field downtown and the
current Arkansas Traveler's stadium is right next to the zoo. They are
hoping to have that land donated to the zoo and that is where I've proposed we
build this exhibit.
Let me know if you can help. I'll be going back one week
from this coming Friday with the plants. Just about anything would be very
helpful and much appreciated.
Thanks!
Steve Lucas
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