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Just for the record this "innovative" mesh barrier with the locking diamond pattern originated with the pull up mesh arenas that Hawthorn built in the mid 70's. The first zoo to use the design, hired the company that built Hawthorns arenas to construct it.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Russia's Grizzly Coast--Minnesota Zoo
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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2 comments:
Wade, I had no idea about the mesh. We have seen it in several places, including the Secret Garden of Siegfried and Roy, and at the Toledo Zoo (at the Siberian tiger exhibit and the snow leopard exhibit, not at the champagne lions exhibit, which has glass).
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
Carlos Farfan, a member of the Farfan family, and a brother to Armondo Farfan who had the flying act back in Ringlings glory days of the 70's and 80's had his manufacturing company in Las Vegas. It is a flying act net, done with stainless steel airplane cable. Hawthorn "helped" him start his business and he only made arena exclusively for Hawthorn as needed in his off time. I remember Carlos was excited in 78 or 79 because a zoo in Ohio had contacted him about making a barrier for them. I thought it was Cincinnati but I don't recall. The locking diamond pattern of a flying act net was the secret. The holes could not be expanded like something just strung back and forth. Quite difficult to make so it comes out straight and not crooked.
Wade
Wade
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