Project Spotlight: The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk – Shade Sails for all Species!
At Awnings by Bigley & Hogshire, every project is an opportunity to bring comfort, protection, and style to a space — and our installations at the Norfolk Zoo are a perfect example. This unique project combined function with purpose, delivering shade sails designed not just for our typical clients, but for a new type of customer: zoo animals!
Creating Comfort for Wildlife
Shade is more than just a convenience; for animals, it’s essential. Many zoo species are highly sensitive to heat and sunlight, and prolonged exposure can impact both their health and behavior. To help combat this, our custom shade sails provide:
- Cooler environments that reduce heat stress and help regulate body temperature.
- UV protection that limits harmful sun exposure.
- Behavioral benefits, as animals are more active and comfortable when they have relief from direct sunlight.
- Individual choice and control over how animals engage in their environment, allowing for better health and welfare.
Species-Specific Benefits
- 🐻 Moon Bears – With their thick coats, moon bears are particularly prone to overheating, especially in warmer months. Shade sails create cooler resting areas, helping them regulate body temperature and remain active.
- 🦓 Zebras – As grazing animals, zebras spend much of their day in open spaces with little shade from nearby trees in the wild. Shade sails provide large, protective areas to their zoo habitat where they can retreat, reducing sun exposure while still enjoying outdoor time.
- 🦧 Orangutans – Highly intelligent and active, orangutans thrive when their habitats offer both enrichment and comfort. Shade sails give them flexible, shaded areas to climb, rest, and interact — mimicking the canopy cover they would seek in the wild. Though Orangutans aren’t scientifically considered monkeys, they do tend to “monkey around” by climbing on the shade sails, which we don’t recommend our human customers do with our products!
- 🦏 Rhinos – Rhinos are especially sensitive to prolonged heat and sun exposure, as many species of rhinos, including the Southern White Rhinos at this zoo, can’t sweat enough to cool their large bodies down! They require other methods of temperature regulation, like wallowing in mud and resting in cooler shaded areas. With wide coverage, shade sails offer much-needed relief for these massive animals, keeping them more comfortable and helping them avoid stress caused by high temperatures.
Enhancing the Visitor Experience
The benefits of shade sails extend beyond the animals. For visitors, these strategically placed, carefully engineered shaded habitats make for more enjoyable and engaging zoo experiences:
- Guests are more likely to see animals active and comfortable, rather than seeking shelter out of sight.
- Shaded areas around habitats improve viewing conditions, particularly during hot summer days.
- Visitors gain peace of mind knowing the animals are cared for with thoughtfully designed environments.
By supporting both animal welfare and visitor satisfaction, shade sails create a win-win for zoos and their guests.
A Model for Other Zoos
This partnership with the Norfolk Zoo demonstrates how thoughtful shade solutions can directly improve animal welfare. Zoos across the country face daily sun, widely varying seasonal temperatures, and an increasing focus on animal care standards. The AZA and USDA, the primary regulatory organizations for zoos worldwide, set clear standards to ensure animals are protected from excessive heat and provided with adequate shade and comfort. At the Norfolk Zoo, Awnings by Bigley & Hogshire helped bring these standards to life with custom shade sail installations that not only meet compliance requirements but also enhance animal welfare and the overall guest experience. Shade sails are a smart, cost-effective investment that supports both animal well-being and visitor experience.
At Awnings by Bigley & Hogshire, we specialize in designing custom shade solutions that meet the unique needs of each environment, whether our customers are human or animal. Our work at Norfolk Zoo reflects our commitment to innovation, durability, and care — values we believe are essential when working in spaces that serve both animals and human guests.
