Rare Rhinos of Africa

Great Plains Zoo (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

ECOS worked closely with Great Plains Zoo to plan, research, design, write, fabricate and install an interpretive graphics package for this state-of-the-art exhibit. GPZ has one of the most successful programs in the world for breeding highly endangered black rhinos.

In addition to our outside interpretive signage for this project, ECOS created a set of interactive exhibits in the rhino holding building. GPZ has one of the most successful programs in the world for breeding highly endangered black rhinos. We worked closely with zoo staff to plan, research, design, write, fabricate and install a variety of exhibits. Interactive elements include a touch screen video display, an audio crank radio, numerous tactile elements, an olfactory exhibit, a kids art desk, and binocular stations where visitors interact with wildlife photos and sculptures inside and outside the room.

Using a skin safe mold material, ECOS produced horn and skin replicas from a living black rhino for the project. Now that was an interesting and heart-pumping challenge!

Our interpretive graphics work appeals to a broad age range, attracting visitors through punchy text, playful illustrations, contour-cut graphics, and tactile elements.