Just got done going through the new and improved Wings of the World. Here are all the changes:
1. Every single sign that was in there was replaced by something more modern looking.
2. Much of the false foliage was taken out and it appears so much brighter. This especially works in the South America atrium, where you can finally see the birds hidden in the back.
3. Some of the mock rock and interactive displays along the sides were removed so the paths are much wider.
4. Sammy the Salmon-crested cockatoo, now takes up the island while Henry, the Mitchell's cockatoo takes up that first outdoor cage. Meaning nothing currently inhabits the island outside of the Reptile House.
5. Some of the names of the exhibits were changed: Montane is now called Mexico - Grasslands is now called the African Savannah - Wetlands is now called South America (another South America), and it is now the home to four Andean Cock-of-the Rocks - both arctic exhibits are called the Northern Oceans - the Sub-Antarctic Coast is now called Southern Oceans.
6. The zoo did right by NOT replacing the "darkroom" exhibits with more animals. Instead the entire area was converted into a play area where kids can learn about migration.
7. As mentioned months ago, where ever there was harpwire, it has been replaced with mesh. (And I proved photographing the birds wouldn't be a problem after the growing concern of this change
)
Other changes in the zoo:
8. Sabu's waterfall is finally working again but I didn't see him on exhibit
9. I overheard a child confirm to me that Jati was in his exhibit earlier in the day.
10. The former feathertail glider exhibit in Jungle Trails has been blacked out, and it appears they won't be replaced any time soon.
11. The pottos in the African building were off exhibit along with the Bamboo lemur
12. The Bonobo termite/marble ball game was gone.
13. In Manatee Springs, the green tree frogs were gone
14. In the Reptile House, the poison dart frogs replaced the Green tree python - nothing took over their tank.
15. An eastern rat snake now lives with the eastern Diamondbacks.
16. Spitting cobra eggs are openly being incubated - they replaced the eyelash viper. The vipers moved in with the Terciopelo.
17. The timber rattlesnake moved in with the northern copperhead. An Indo-chinese spitting cobra, a new species, took over their home.
18. Like I said, an Emu replaced the warthog in wildlife canyon with him now living in Africa. Nothing took over the former Emu exhibit..
19. In the Children's Zoo, a somewhat tall cage was placed on the spot where the Animal Ambassador Center and the Petting Zoo meet. I suspect it will be a rotated scheduled home to both Lucy the Bearcat, and the Southern Tamanduas.
