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What is the zoo's plan for elephants? Are they looking for another elephant to meet AZA standards?
 
Anybody seen the Zoo's updated Master Plan yet? It has plans to expand Asian Highlands a little, completely update the Small Animal Building, New habitats for Apes and Monkeys, and even bringing back the Flex Exhibit Hub.

(See Page 8 - 9) http://www.hoglezoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Annual-Report-2013.pdf
The small animal house and ape house need extensive renovation. Those are major blights on the zoo IMHO. The monkey exhibits could also use a little updating as well. What's the Flex Exhibit Hub?
 
What's the Flex Exhibit Hub?
Back in the day, Hogle Zoo had a Tropical Building that would house temporary exhibits for animals like Koalas, Komodo Dragons, Parakeets, and more. It closed down in 2014 when they opened a cafe called the Beastro.
 
Back in the day, Hogle Zoo had a Tropical Building that would house temporary exhibits for animals like Koalas, Komodo Dragons, Parakeets, and more. It closed down in 2014 when they opened a cafe called the Beastro.

Just as a historical note, the Beastro was built sometime prior to 2013 because I had lunch there then. There are some pictures of the old tropical building in the gallery for an exhibit they had called "Nature's Nightmares" starring "icky" animals like spiders. I'm told that they had a temporary Madagascar exhibit in it once also with tenrecs, chameleons, spider tortoise, etc.
 
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Polar bear Rizzo has been diagnosed with renal failure. :(

Hogle Zoo's beloved polar bear diagnosed with renal failure

I have often wondered why they never acquired a male polar bear to mate with her. However, it looks like fate had another plan. If or when she goes, I am sure the exhibit will be used by the brown bears, but I am curious if SSP will eventually relocate a polar bear there. Perhaps one of the Columbus Zoo cubs or Hope from Toledo when they are mature. I hope poor Rizzo the polar bear passes away in peace.
 
And before that it was used for seasonal butterfly displays.

Just as a historical note, the Beastro was built sometime prior to 2013 because I had lunch there then. There are some pictures of the old tropical building in the gallery for an exhibit they had called "Nature's Nightmares" starring "icky" animals like spiders. I'm told that they had a temporary Madagascar exhibit in it once also with tenrecs, chameleons, spider tortoise, etc.
 
Rizzo has been euthanized. :(

https://www.google.com/amp/www.nbcn...anized-after-kidney-failure-diagnosis-n744406

The Zoo plans to continue housing polar bears according to the bottom of the article. As blospz pointed out earlier, it would be interesting to find out who would come down to Salt Lake City.

A sad loss; may she rest in peace.

They may plan to continue keeping polar bears, but they could be in for a reality check. There aren't a lot of animals to spare nowadays, and I don't know of any zoos that are looking to get themselves out of polar bears. Not only that, but there are several zoos with single elderly bears that will end up in this same situation within the next few years.
 
I visited the zoo today and saw keepers introduce their three Harbor Seals into the former Polar Bear enclosure. I assume this is a temporary filler of the space, since they previously were housed with the sea lions in an adjacent exhibit. It's strange to me that they didn't give the grizzlies access through the shift doors built in for the bears, and instead carried the seals over in kennels and then released them into the exhibit.
 
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