Just returned from an excellent evening at the zoo. I was invited to the "Share the Care" event for adopting a red panda late last year. It was an afterhours event where special animal talks and some behind the scenes access were present. I will go into some detail here and read to the end for an exciting update on Tropic World.
-The new tortoise yard by the pachyderm building is a bit strange. The moat is filled in and a small fence surrounds the area and restricts them from back of the exhibit. Not bad, just very strange.
-Some of the talks I attended this evening included a grizzly bear training session, a leashed reindeer outside the main exhibit, a meerkat scatter feed and a sloth demonstration. I will upload some photos shortly.
-As a special bonus, attendees were allowed into the animal nutrition center and animal hospital from 6 to 7:30PM. I went into the former, but there was an hour long wait to get into the hospital so I took a pass.
Tropic World Expansion Update: So just before I departed, I decided to go into tropic world before I left. It was so interesting to see such a immaculate building almost completely void of visitors. While I was there I talked with a primate keeper and she relayed some very exciting bits of info on the future of Tropic World. Long story short, the old baboon island is being destroyed by the end of this year. The demolition is fully funded and in its place, a tropical pavilion for events and gatherings. Then, after that will follow the new ape habitats, which will likely take up some of west mall space and the water conservation trail. Phase 1, the new tropical pavilion, should be completed in Summer 2019, the ape habitats will follow. There are even rumblings of some smaller species getting outdoor exhibits as well. However, there are no plans to make major modifications to the indoor spaces. Still exciting none the less.
