Chapter 14

After Quan Xiangsong recorded all the required data, the two stopped disturbing the green peacocks. Kong Bi recorded all the information on the computer while discussing with Quan Xiangsong about the reconstruction of the peacock garden.

In fact, considering the conditions of most domestic zoo venues, the peacock garden’s venue is already at a mid-to-high level. However, given the zoo’s long history, although it can still be used for the time being, reconstruction is inevitable.

Firstly, the electrical facilities need to be considered. Although the peacock garden exhibition area is designed to be natural, electricity is still an indispensable part. The long-term use of electricity for the keepers’ operating room and the cameras in the park is essential. Then, the ratio of stainless steel mesh, sand, and greenery is also very important, followed by preventing the invasion of harmful organisms.

After all, this is a zoo. Even if it is not open for the time being, it will gradually open in the future, so the factor of tourists naturally needs to be taken into consideration. Although these green peacocks do not look as timid and shy as young chickens in people’s impression, we cannot ignore the possibility that they will be frightened. Animal stress will not only affect reproduction and spirit, but even lead to death in serious cases. Kong Bi had already checked a lot of information when she was playing the game, so she simply took out the original design drawings.

Because it is impossible to use glass curtain walls in the exhibition halls of birds, Kong Bi naturally will not make such a low-level mistake. She used the standard stainless steel woven mesh. The indoor shed is adjacent to the keeper’s operating room, making it convenient to store miscellaneous items and providing a clear direction for driving the green peacocks during physical examinations.

However, Kong Bi prefers immersive exhibits, so she tries to hide any human-related buildings as much as possible.

Immersive exhibits represent the highest standard of display in zoos, emphasizing the concept of ‘immersion.’ They create a feeling for visitors of being in the wild, as if visiting the animals’ homes. Therefore, the operating room and indoor sheds appear from a distance like hollowed-out trees, with an aerial walkway built above them. Visitors can stroll along this walkway to a viewing platform, where even the view seems to take flight with the birds.

The existing stream in the peacock garden has been retained. Animal behaviors like drinking and bathing are highly entertaining, and the flowing water also encourages the green peacocks to drink more.

The entire space is free of any overhead netting. The less visually appealing woven mesh has been treated to a dark brown color, making it less conspicuous and better integrated into the environment. The main path for visitors entering the peacock garden exhibit is separated by shrubs, flowers, rockeries, and trees. A low wooden fence is set outside the shrubs. The varied slopes and non-straight paths create an illusion of traversing the green peacocks’ habitat. These obstacles also make it difficult for visitors to approach the woven mesh, minimizing the risk of visitors shaking the mesh or feeding the animals. It also prevents the green peacocks from pecking at visitors through the mesh when they are in a bad mood.

Anyone who has been pecked by geese, chickens, or other birds knows that the pain is no less than that of a dog bite or cat scratch. It’s not uncommon for someone to be attacked and end up in the hospital with bleeding.

In addition to the main road, a forest trail was specially designed, bordered by sparse-leaved forests on both sides. The trees chosen were familiar and edible to the green peacocks, such as high mountain chinkapin and stone oak. The not-too-dense, yet not desolate, forest provides shade for the green peacocks during the hot summer days and doesn’t obstruct visitor viewing. The observation deck at the end of the trail is a sandy area. Most birds dislike getting their feathers wet, so they usually take sand baths or preen themselves when their feathers are damp with morning dew.

In addition, green peacocks like to build nests in this type of environment. When they lay eggs, they will incubate them away from the group. At that time, just closing the end of the road can prevent them from being disturbed by tourists.

As for the naturally growing trees already in the peacock garden, Kong Bi doesn’t plan to cut them down. The varied heights of the trees provide natural enrichment, preventing the animals from feeling bored or lonely. Moreover, Kong Bi added shrubs and easy-to-grow fruit trees to serve as their food sources. As for the weeds on the ground – green peacocks only eat tender grass, Kong Bi believes they won’t eat all the hardy weeds bare, unless she hasn’t prepared enough food. Therefore, there shouldn’t be too much to worry about, especially since she has prepared multiple food sources.

Kong Bi planted mostly shrubs that green peacocks like in the peacock garden, such as Solanum incanum, Chinese wild pear, Flemingia philippica, and Mallotus barbatus. Especially the shrubs near the woven mesh are all edible, so green peacocks can be easily observed when they come to eat. And the abundance of food sources will enhance their well-being.

Of course, despite all these measures, the green peacocks’ primary food source still relies on artificial feeding. After all, space is limited, and even with only a dozen or so of them, they could still potentially graze the vegetation bare over time. Therefore, these plants in the exhibit are merely snacks for them to nibble on, and it’s impossible to let them eat them all, as that would inevitably affect the aesthetics.

Kong Bi is a greening enthusiast. After these adjustments, the exhibit’s scenery already looks very natural. If it weren’t for the fact that green peacocks actually prefer open spaces, she would definitely maximize the greening.

Quan Xiangsong looked at the simple concept map drawn by Kong Bi and raised his eyebrows in surprise: “You… The funds can’t support it.”

When deciding to let Quan Xiangsong come, the department naturally provided a certain amount of funds, but in Quan Xiangsong’s opinion, it would at most allow the peacock garden to add some enrichment and weaving nets, but if it is according to Kong Bi’s idea, the funds will not be able to bear it.

Kong Bi said, “I can pay for it myself.”

Quan Xiangsong: “…………” He smacked his lips, feeling that his worries were indeed a bit superfluous. “Alright, I don’t see any problems, but we still need to find a professional designer. You haven’t shown the water and electricity here, so we’ll definitely need to make some adjustments based on this.”

As for the issue of no overhead netting, Quan Xiangsong completely ignored it. Firstly, peacocks have limited flight height. As long as the woven mesh is raised high enough, they can be prevented from wandering around. If a large peacock comes, it will still have a way out without overhead netting.

However, Quan Xiangsong is most concerned about the installation of cameras. In his imagination, the funds approved by the authorities should be used to the maximum extent to purchase cameras, so that they can watch them 360° without blind spots, so as not to miss any details and observe them better.

Kong Bi put away the concept drawings, a smile naturally appearing on her face. She actually hadn’t expected the funding provided by the authorities. After all, if it weren’t for the big peacock hanging in the balance, she felt they probably wouldn’t care much after observing for a while. However, she didn’t regret showing her face even though she knew there were cameras. Without that appearance, things might not have been as easy as they are now. Plus, there’s at least some financial support, preventing her from having to ask her family for money after just a few days of starting her own business. If she were to build everything according to her vision, it would probably cost several million or even tens of millions.

The drawings Kong Bi showed to Quan Xiangsong were only a part of the plan. The peacock garden isn’t completely enclosed. Some seemingly open areas are ‘passages’ that Kong Bi deliberately left. Green peacocks can be mixed with other animals. For example, the forest, without the obstruction of overhead netting, will naturally attract some birds to come and roost. By making the boundaries less clear, future expansion will be much easier and smoother. After all, when visiting an animal’s home, how could you not see other animals along the way?

In the original game, all the exhibition areas of the finished zoo after Kong Bi cleared the game were connected. When visitors watched the green peacock drinking water by the pool, they would also see the crocodile in the water, the tiger that all monsters avoided, the flock of birds that were scared away, and the little monsters that were too lazy to leave.

Of course, the nature of animals must be taken into consideration, and the necessary partitions must be there, but they were cleverly hidden. After all, you can’t expect a beast to coexist peacefully with another animal on its diet.