It seems someone overheard your pleas!
Philadelphia Zoo Philadephia Zoo News 2018
- Thread starter Milwaukee Man
- Start date
Too bad all of the images are super close up and don't show what the exhibits look like!
I have a basic feel what the otter exhibit will now look like, but I am still unsure about red pandas. I guess I will find out tomorrow and I'll try to take exhibit photos.
You're crazy for going tomorrowGood luck!
Aren't we all a little crazy being zoo lovers? I mean @snowleopard travels to zoos in the summer when it's hot and very crowded. What we do for the love of zoos.
Water is Life is a great modification of the red pandas and giant otters exhibits. From a photographer's point of view, the second red panda exhibit is hard to shoot through the mesh and the blue sign added to the fossa exhibit creates a constant glare. I also was not a fan that a former animal exhibit, one for the coati, was used for water sculptures.
The red pandas had a barrier removed from their former two exhibits so it's one big one. One side used to be open air, but now everything is meshed in. It also looks like they expanded the vertical space in the exhibits and planted in some trees. The red panda trail leads to the second red panda exhibit, the former ground hornbill exhibit. The female, Spark is currently in this exhibit and loves to sleep in a corner that's hard for guests to locate her. Khumbie, the male, is in the bigger exhibit. Being a younger red panda, he's got energy and wasn't sleeping the day away. A sign mentioned that the Canada lynx (off exhibit that day) and the fossa can also use these areas in rotation with the red pandas. Although I could see it being beneficial for the fossa, the furniture would be awkward for the lynx. However, perhaps all she needs is a corner to sleep in. The exhibit between the former ground hornbill exhibit and fossa exhibit has a wooden fence structure blocking it, but I could see in a crack that there is a former exhibit is behind there. Maybe the lynx can go in that area? The giant otters smallest exhibit is the former Canada lynx exhibit. A pool area has been added to the exhibit. There is a trail from that exhibit that can go into the new beach area with the blue slide. However, yesterday that access was blocked off and one pair of otters had access to the new beach area and the original giant otter exhibit. With time I am hoping they give more time with rotation into the beach area for each pairing as I find putting one in the former lynx exhibit area all day is a bit unfair. From the beach area to the main giant otter exhibit, the otters can swim under the visitor pathway and go up/down a rocky waterfall trail. The area finishes with another water structure and a refill bottle station that has become a trend at zoos. The otter pairing are opposite sex siblings. The females cannot be mixed as they are very dominant in their territory. The pair in the beach area had a lot of enery and loved rolling around in the sand, in the logs, and swatting at the slide. They are still trying to get used to this new addition.
I will try to post photos of the modified area sometime this week.
4 Indian Peafowl wander away from zoo, one found dead:
Peacocks Go Missing From Philadelphia Zoo; 1 Found Dead
Peacocks Go Missing From Philadelphia Zoo; 1 Found Dead
My family and I visited the Zoo for the first time on Sunday June 3rd. Just thought I would share some thoughts and reviews of the exhibits.
The overall zoo is quite nice and one of the better landscaped zoos I have been too, and while it was not a hot day unlike the previous day, it seems like there would be an adequate amount of shade to keep one cool. The Rare Animal Center was somewhat of a let down, while the species were nice and some rare (Red-Shanked Douc Languor, Rodrigues Fruit Bat) the exhibits were truly lacking in design. One would expect more from such a large and prestigious zoo. The outside of the building was pleasing to the eye but once you stepped inside it was just a basic row of glass fronted enclosures that didn't really hide that fact.
The same could be said for the Small Mammal House which was the biggest disappointment. Incredibly small window fronted enclosures in the main hall in which only one side had any species on exhibit. I believe if I remember correctly maybe 8-10 species were on exhibit in the whole building. The final two exhibits were nicer, one for Sloths and the other for an Aardvark and meerkats. Hopefully they plan to renovate this building next.
The KidZooU was really nice for a children's zoo/exhibit with its extensive goat trail which like the many Zoo360 trails were the most impressive feature of the zoo and made up in many cases for them having smaller enclosures for some species. The KidZoo also had a very nice interpretive building with neat exhibits that correlated animals and how we can help them utilizing animals such as Budgies, Ants, Butterflies, and a coral reef exhibit.
One of the better buildings and exhibits for me at least was the Reptile and Amphibian House. The collection was impressive despite it being challenging to see most exhibits due to the crowds in the building. What appears smaller on the outside just kept going with several rooms to view species in. And the outside Tortoise yards were quite nice and large for them.
Several of the outside exhibits that were not part of a building were decent but nothing to write home about. Cheetahs and Maned Wolves along with Colobus Monkeys had exhibits at the far South End of the zoo in what appear slightly dated now. And the African Animal exhibits were average at best. The Giraffe exhibit was upsetting in that the majority of the exhibit featured an asphalt base with one corner of dirt/sand.
Big Cat Falls was a decent exhibit that once again featured the Zoo360 system. We were able to see Amur Leopard, Snow Leopard, African Lions and two exhibits had Amur Tigers. While each exhibit was beautifully designed and very green and natural, each seemed slightly undersized. The Lion exhibit seemed to be the largest from our perspective, while the Leopard exhibit which would be the third exhibit seemed nicest too me with a small stream and plenty of hiding spots if need be.
The most interesting exhibit for me was the PECO Primate Reserve. For being a more modern exhibit I was quite surprised that the inside exhibits for the Primates took on such a dated feel. the Larger Ape exhibits especially felt in-natural with no real substrate or natural look/design. The small primates at least had more of an attempt to mask the artificial look. One of the animals I was most excited to see, the Aye-Aye was very hard to see with its near pitch black exhibit, while this is good for them, it was almost too dark. The outside exhibits were somewhat better for the larger Apes, especially the Orangutan/Gibbon exhibit.
The McNeil Avian Center was probably one of the better overall exhibits, while not the largest birdhouse, it had a very nice Rainforest area with lots of height for flying birds and a nice pair of Rhinoceros Hornbills. Along with smaller exhibits featuring island birds and African Birds. The little theater show was a nice touch too.
Overall Philadelphia has a decent zoo but the majority of exhibits were not overly amazing, many proved to be average at best. Some were slightly disappointing even, but all the animals appeared happy and content from what we saw. I would hope they renovate the small mammal house and possibly update their African Animal Exhibits. I know they are in the process currently of making a new Penguin exhibit from the Old Polar Bear Grotto, so that's one step towards new exhibits. If your in the are certainly visit but don't expect a Columbus or San Diego Zoo by any means, but you wont be horribly disappointed either.
The overall zoo is quite nice and one of the better landscaped zoos I have been too, and while it was not a hot day unlike the previous day, it seems like there would be an adequate amount of shade to keep one cool. The Rare Animal Center was somewhat of a let down, while the species were nice and some rare (Red-Shanked Douc Languor, Rodrigues Fruit Bat) the exhibits were truly lacking in design. One would expect more from such a large and prestigious zoo. The outside of the building was pleasing to the eye but once you stepped inside it was just a basic row of glass fronted enclosures that didn't really hide that fact.
The same could be said for the Small Mammal House which was the biggest disappointment. Incredibly small window fronted enclosures in the main hall in which only one side had any species on exhibit. I believe if I remember correctly maybe 8-10 species were on exhibit in the whole building. The final two exhibits were nicer, one for Sloths and the other for an Aardvark and meerkats. Hopefully they plan to renovate this building next.
The KidZooU was really nice for a children's zoo/exhibit with its extensive goat trail which like the many Zoo360 trails were the most impressive feature of the zoo and made up in many cases for them having smaller enclosures for some species. The KidZoo also had a very nice interpretive building with neat exhibits that correlated animals and how we can help them utilizing animals such as Budgies, Ants, Butterflies, and a coral reef exhibit.
One of the better buildings and exhibits for me at least was the Reptile and Amphibian House. The collection was impressive despite it being challenging to see most exhibits due to the crowds in the building. What appears smaller on the outside just kept going with several rooms to view species in. And the outside Tortoise yards were quite nice and large for them.
Several of the outside exhibits that were not part of a building were decent but nothing to write home about. Cheetahs and Maned Wolves along with Colobus Monkeys had exhibits at the far South End of the zoo in what appear slightly dated now. And the African Animal exhibits were average at best. The Giraffe exhibit was upsetting in that the majority of the exhibit featured an asphalt base with one corner of dirt/sand.
Big Cat Falls was a decent exhibit that once again featured the Zoo360 system. We were able to see Amur Leopard, Snow Leopard, African Lions and two exhibits had Amur Tigers. While each exhibit was beautifully designed and very green and natural, each seemed slightly undersized. The Lion exhibit seemed to be the largest from our perspective, while the Leopard exhibit which would be the third exhibit seemed nicest too me with a small stream and plenty of hiding spots if need be.
The most interesting exhibit for me was the PECO Primate Reserve. For being a more modern exhibit I was quite surprised that the inside exhibits for the Primates took on such a dated feel. the Larger Ape exhibits especially felt in-natural with no real substrate or natural look/design. The small primates at least had more of an attempt to mask the artificial look. One of the animals I was most excited to see, the Aye-Aye was very hard to see with its near pitch black exhibit, while this is good for them, it was almost too dark. The outside exhibits were somewhat better for the larger Apes, especially the Orangutan/Gibbon exhibit.
The McNeil Avian Center was probably one of the better overall exhibits, while not the largest birdhouse, it had a very nice Rainforest area with lots of height for flying birds and a nice pair of Rhinoceros Hornbills. Along with smaller exhibits featuring island birds and African Birds. The little theater show was a nice touch too.
Overall Philadelphia has a decent zoo but the majority of exhibits were not overly amazing, many proved to be average at best. Some were slightly disappointing even, but all the animals appeared happy and content from what we saw. I would hope they renovate the small mammal house and possibly update their African Animal Exhibits. I know they are in the process currently of making a new Penguin exhibit from the Old Polar Bear Grotto, so that's one step towards new exhibits. If your in the are certainly visit but don't expect a Columbus or San Diego Zoo by any means, but you wont be horribly disappointed either.
The new penguin exhibit has a name: Penguin Point. It will be interesting to see how the Zoo modified Coldilocks' old yard for the penguins.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
PECO is 19 years old.
You don't say much about seeing animals use the Zoo360 trails. No impressions?
While it is impressive and a great option for the animals, we didn't see any animals utilizing them other than in the new Water is Life exhibit. Even then it was just to switch one pair of Otters into a different part of the exhibit. I would have loved to seen more animals utilizing it. Most likely the Primates were not using them was because it was fairly cool out even for June and quite breezy
As it would have it, I also visited the Philadelphia Zoo for the first time last week, although I went on Tuesday. While I can see how the exhibits of the RSCC would leave some wanting for more, getting to see the great collection was definitely worth it for me: blue-eyed black lemur, Rodriguez flying fox, black-and-rufous elephant shrew, pied tamarin, red-capped mangabey, and of course North America's last red-shanked douc langur, Toi. I actually missed Toi in the morning, so I had to go back in the afternoon to see if she was out. Luckily, she was!
I was also successful in seeing my other must-see, the aye-ayes (which I failed to see at Cincinnati two years ago). I saw three of them, active during feeding time. Although it was quite dim, I was able to see pretty well and got even better views of them romping around and feeding than I thought I would. I had to give my eyes some time to adjust in order to see that well; most of the visitors that walked through did not stay long enough for that to happen, and ended up not being able to see aye-ayes that were right in front of them.
The Small Mammal House definitely needs more species. I wouldn't even say that it needs to be renovated per se; it just feels empty and rather forgotten. One entire wall has all of the windows covered up with wallpaper, which conveyed a sense of hopelessness for the building. I hope it's not just biding its time before closure, but that sure seems to be the case. Additionally, I did not like the aardvark enclosure at all, as it was all concrete with no digging opportunities.
The Reptile & Amphibian House was great. I counted up and it had ~60 species, which was less than I've been led to believe, but still nothing to sniff at. They had a pretty good repertoire as well: king cobra, Weber's sailfin lizard, black tree monitor, Hosmer's skink, dwarf crocodile (off-display as the female is nesting!), and splendid tree frog. I do wish they would replace the Nile croc and American alligator with small endangered crocs, but otherwise I really enjoyed it.
The rest of the zoo interested me less and most of what I saw species and exhibit wise just seemed okay. On the upside, I liked the McNeil Bird House and how most of the species in the walk-through aviary were visible, as that is not the case at every zoo (*cough* San Diego *cough*). The hornbill enclosure looked really small though. On the downside, Bird Alley is very underutilized at the moment, and the penguins lack water deep enough for submerging. Fortunately, the new digs they get soon should solve the problem.
Save for two barely visible squirrel monkeys sleeping in the Primate Building's entrance to the trail, I also did not see any animals utilizing them. Definitely a neat concept though.
I was also successful in seeing my other must-see, the aye-ayes (which I failed to see at Cincinnati two years ago). I saw three of them, active during feeding time. Although it was quite dim, I was able to see pretty well and got even better views of them romping around and feeding than I thought I would. I had to give my eyes some time to adjust in order to see that well; most of the visitors that walked through did not stay long enough for that to happen, and ended up not being able to see aye-ayes that were right in front of them.
The Small Mammal House definitely needs more species. I wouldn't even say that it needs to be renovated per se; it just feels empty and rather forgotten. One entire wall has all of the windows covered up with wallpaper, which conveyed a sense of hopelessness for the building. I hope it's not just biding its time before closure, but that sure seems to be the case. Additionally, I did not like the aardvark enclosure at all, as it was all concrete with no digging opportunities.
The Reptile & Amphibian House was great. I counted up and it had ~60 species, which was less than I've been led to believe, but still nothing to sniff at. They had a pretty good repertoire as well: king cobra, Weber's sailfin lizard, black tree monitor, Hosmer's skink, dwarf crocodile (off-display as the female is nesting!), and splendid tree frog. I do wish they would replace the Nile croc and American alligator with small endangered crocs, but otherwise I really enjoyed it.
The rest of the zoo interested me less and most of what I saw species and exhibit wise just seemed okay. On the upside, I liked the McNeil Bird House and how most of the species in the walk-through aviary were visible, as that is not the case at every zoo (*cough* San Diego *cough*). The hornbill enclosure looked really small though. On the downside, Bird Alley is very underutilized at the moment, and the penguins lack water deep enough for submerging. Fortunately, the new digs they get soon should solve the problem.
Save for two barely visible squirrel monkeys sleeping in the Primate Building's entrance to the trail, I also did not see any animals utilizing them. Definitely a neat concept though.
I thought the collection in the RSCC was excellent, but it did prove hard to view many of the species with the crowds. Unfortunately they made it hard to stay and actually look for them if they weren't immediately visible.
And The Aardvark exhibit wasn't great for digging but it still was somewhat better than most of the exhibits still in the Small Mammal House, and it was my first Aardvark which was cool.
I stayed too looking for the Aye-Aye but I never was able to adjust to the lighting so unfortunately I missed out on seeing them.
And The Aardvark exhibit wasn't great for digging but it still was somewhat better than most of the exhibits still in the Small Mammal House, and it was my first Aardvark which was cool.
I stayed too looking for the Aye-Aye but I never was able to adjust to the lighting so unfortunately I missed out on seeing them.
I hit the RSCC when I first walked in, thinking I should get it out of the way on the very slim chance that my trip was cut short or something, but I had the same problem. When I went back later in the day (maybe like 3:30 pm) to look for Toi again, the house was almost devoid of people and I was able to watch the douc langur, flying foxes, and lemurs for some time with no noise and no distractions. Some of the animals were off exhibit by that time, but if you go again maybe try visiting between 1-3 pm, when you know the morning crowds will have dissipated.
Also forgot to mention that I missed the brown spider monkey; the signage for that species is still there, but I can't say for sure that they still hold it.
Interesting, all of the times I've been to Philly, I've barely seen another person in the RSCC.
Unfortunately the 360 options are all mostly dependent on the animals choosing to use them, and at this point the newest ones are a bit over a year old (meerkats), so they aren't as novel to the animals as they were before. Keepers do encourage the animals to use them by placing food and things in them, but it's all timing dependent. One one visit last year I happened to catch a keeper walking through the gorilla one, placing things on the floor and in the swing, etc. A tiger was in the part that goes along the ground underneath the gorilla walkway and watching it stalk her was one of the coolest things I've seen at a zoo.
Unfortunately the 360 options are all mostly dependent on the animals choosing to use them, and at this point the newest ones are a bit over a year old (meerkats), so they aren't as novel to the animals as they were before. Keepers do encourage the animals to use them by placing food and things in them, but it's all timing dependent. One one visit last year I happened to catch a keeper walking through the gorilla one, placing things on the floor and in the swing, etc. A tiger was in the part that goes along the ground underneath the gorilla walkway and watching it stalk her was one of the coolest things I've seen at a zoo.
The zoo just posted a video on their Facebook page of the Humboldt Penguins in the former polar bear enclosure, now called Penguin Point. This seems like a much larger space for the colony, I wonder if they will add any additional bird species into it in the future.
Edit: The video is also posted on their website, which is an easier link!
https://philadelphiazoo.org/penguin-point
Edit: The video is also posted on their website, which is an easier link!
https://philadelphiazoo.org/penguin-point
After quite a bit of time spent at the zoo today, I have seen and can confirm the following new species:
Great myna, white-rumped shama, and orange-breasted leafbird (!) sharing the exhibit that until recently just held white-crested laughinthrush.
Japanese white-eyes in the exhibit that has olive-headed lorikeets, among others.
Allen’s gallinule in the rainforest walkthrough (this took two hours for me to find. At the end of the day, I left the walkthrough for about 10 minutes, during which it went to a good dish. When I entered it was scared away, but I saw it in a tree).
Red-whiskered bulbul and Chinese hwamei in the Wings of Asia aviary.
Iguana Cove giant tortoise (C. vicina) in Bird Alley, the next exhibit up from the flamingos. There were also Andean geese in a different exhibit, but I’m not sure if these were new.
Western banded gecko in the Reptile House, replacing Mali uromastyx (which moved one exhibit to the left. I do not know what it replaced). Additionally, the zoo now has East African and West African gaboon vipers, exhibited next to each other.
Great myna, white-rumped shama, and orange-breasted leafbird (!) sharing the exhibit that until recently just held white-crested laughinthrush.
Japanese white-eyes in the exhibit that has olive-headed lorikeets, among others.
Allen’s gallinule in the rainforest walkthrough (this took two hours for me to find. At the end of the day, I left the walkthrough for about 10 minutes, during which it went to a good dish. When I entered it was scared away, but I saw it in a tree).
Red-whiskered bulbul and Chinese hwamei in the Wings of Asia aviary.
Iguana Cove giant tortoise (C. vicina) in Bird Alley, the next exhibit up from the flamingos. There were also Andean geese in a different exhibit, but I’m not sure if these were new.
Western banded gecko in the Reptile House, replacing Mali uromastyx (which moved one exhibit to the left. I do not know what it replaced). Additionally, the zoo now has East African and West African gaboon vipers, exhibited next to each other.
Thanks for such a detailed update! Man, the gaboon is the one thing in there that really freaks me out, now I have to worry about avoiding two of them?!