<em>By William K. Baker, Jr., Curator
In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue &amp; Educational Center, Wylie, TX</em>

<strong>Question</strong>
Our facility is working on a new exhibit, what types of primary containment are available?

<strong>Comments</strong>
When I’m asked for recommendations on primary containment fencing, it is truly a situational question. First, it all depends on what you are trying to hold and how much money you’re willing to spend on your primary containment. The answer will also be dictated by whether or not you are designing an exhibit that is for holding purposes, a traditional zoo setting, sanctuary or refuge, private owner, or even a wildlife park, which will require extensive fencing for pasture control and animal management.

The proviso is that whatever will be used must be adequate to contain the species in question without presenting a clear and present danger to the animal, other animals, or members of the public. Translation, the containment chosen must be of quality construction and of a sufficient gauge or strength to hold the animal under all potential conditions, which in retrospect is pursuant to both industry and USDA standards.

The most common style of containment in use today is some type of mesh. It’s normally a specific style and either galvanized, powder-coated, or stainless. I should mention that there are numerous facilities that have successfully used chain link style galvanized fencing for many years with no problems. Still, I do not generally recommend chain link fencing as a general rule. The reason is that once it is breached it can begin to unravel. Normally what I try to do instead is to utilize either a ranch or zoological supplier for mesh. The best resource in my experience for this is in the Commercial Members section in the AZA Directory, (Association of Zoos &amp; Aquariums) or from the AZA website: <a href="http://www.aza.org/FindCommercialMember/">http://www.aza.org/FindCommercialMember/</a>.

Mesh is available in a wide variety of fabrications, and can be had in draped form, rolled form, and welded wire panel form.

The draping form style is usually identified as a woven mesh. Good historical examples of this are Carlos® and Phantom® style meshes. They are of an extremely high quality and can really expedite construction timetables once your support poles are up and rigged for mounting. This style of netting also lends itself to creating truly novel exhibit and enclosure designs. Of the companies currently handling this style of mesh, I recommend Nets Unlimited:

Nets Unlimited, Inc.
28248 N. Tatum Blvd., B1-450, Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Phone: 480-515-1300    Website: <a href="http://netsunlimited.com/start.html">http://netsunlimited.com/start.html</a>

Personally, I prefer using galvanized welded wire mesh that has been either powder coated or vinyl coated. I have found these to have really good properties such as rigidity coupled with a certain degree of flex in the event of animal impact. One of the best examples of this is Shepherd Mesh®, although there are numerous companies that produce quality materials in this style including A thru Z that provides some truly advanced panel products. Priefert® also manufactures this style of welded mesh in a framed powder-coated panel configuration that provides good service as well and, unlike any other product on the market, can provide an instant enclosure in less than three hours set up time once the concrete slab has set and cured, which does lend itself to either crisis, quarantine, or off-exhibit holding applications.

C. E. Shepherd Co., L.P.
2221 Canada Dry Street, Houston TX 77023 USA
Phone: 713.924.4300    Website:<a href="http://ceshepherd.com/index.html"> http://ceshepherd.com/index.html
</a>
Priefert Mfg.
P.O. Box 1540, 2630 South Jefferson Ave.
Mount Pleasant, TX 75456
Phone: 903-572-1741    Website: http://priefert.com/

A thru Z Consulting and Distributing
8620 East Old Vail Rd., Tucson, AZ 85747
Phone: 520-434-8281    Website:  http://athruzcages.com/index.html

One important point - the mesh opening and gauge is usually species specific (birds, primates, hoofstock, and felids). For an example, certain smaller felids may require a 1” x 1” mesh configuration and roofing as well for species prone to climbing and leaping, (ex: Clouded leopards, margays, and ocelots).

One of the other styles that I have seen used for primary containment would be industrial piano wire. It’s a really neat concept and when properly installed and maintained it fades out of the visual spectrum. The downside is that your animal care staff will likely have to walk it every day and physically check each individual wire for weakness. Of course, gunite moats and physical barriers are always………

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