Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari

We need a first-hand report from someone who has been here.

If that article is correct, admission is only $6 ??? Surely the least expensive drive through park in America. Although as a sister facility of Henry Doorly Zoo, I am surprised HDZ members don't get in free (only get $1 off).
 
I read that the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari has the largest herd of captive Gaur in the country. I checked to see if there were still still any at the Omaha Zoo but it looks like they got replaced replaced with Indian Rhinos and the small herd got moved back to the conservation park.

Has anyone been there? It looks like on their website that they only have North American wildlife on public display and they do their breeding of exotic species behind the scenes like at White Oak. Would they let a huge Gaur fan like me see them if I asked? I can't believe they aren't being included in the Asian Highlands exhibit the zoo is constructing!
 
Sarus Crane said:
I read that the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari has the largest herd of captive Gaur in the country. I checked to see if there were still still any at the Omaha Zoo but it looks like they got replaced replaced with Indian Rhinos and the small herd got moved back to the conservation park.

Has anyone been there? It looks like on their website that they only have North American wildlife on public display and they do their breeding of exotic species behind the scenes like at White Oak. Would they let a huge Gaur fan like me see them if I asked? I can't believe they aren't being included in the Asian Highlands exhibit the zoo is constructing!
Click to expand...
They were, but got cut alongside the Andean Foothills.
 
I was there more than a decade ago. The gaur are behind the scenes in a non-public area.

I'd suggest the San Diego Safari Park as a good gaur-watching destination, but they are largely off public view now too since the monorail was shut down. I think that the Bronx Zoo has gaur in Wild Asia? But make sure that you go visit when Wild Asia is open, which is only in spring and summer. Seeing gaur in the U.S. seems like an increasingly difficult sport...
 
Until very recently (really the last 6 months) the Toronto Zoo had Gaurs just outside the Indonesian House ( the area they were in is the site of the new Orangutan exhibit). I think I took them for granted as I had no idea they were so rare in North American zoos.
 
Went to the park today, and I have never seen so many cars driving through there! So many people were excited to be able to get out and do something, I hope the revenue helps the Omaha Zoo overall through this challenging time.

Also, since there is not any foliage on the trees, you can see past some of the exhibits. I am fairly certain that there is still a herd of gaur behind the scenes! I know at one time, behind the park and the zoo, Omaha had one of the largest herds in the US, but the zoo no longer displays the species and I wasn't sure if the park still had them or not.
 
MidwestFan said:
Went to the park today, and I have never seen so many cars driving through there! So many people were excited to be able to get out and do something, I hope the revenue helps the Omaha Zoo overall through this challenging time.
Click to expand...

What are the highlight exhibits of this park these days? I was there about 15 years ago and remember a great wolf exhibit that also had black bears in it.
 
MidwestFan said:
Went to the park today, and I have never seen so many cars driving through there! So many people were excited to be able to get out and do something, I hope the revenue helps the Omaha Zoo overall through this challenging time.

Also, since there is not any foliage on the trees, you can see past some of the exhibits. I am fairly certain that there is still a herd of gaur behind the scenes! I know at one time, behind the park and the zoo, Omaha had one of the largest herds in the US, but the zoo no longer displays the species and I wasn't sure if the park still had them or not.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear they still have gaur. Their are only 4 or so zoos with them in the US as of now (Bronx, San Diego Safari Park, Miami, Gladys Porter). With Bronx having the largest herd at about 20. I wish more zoos would consider this species. They surely are an impressive exhibit animal.
 
nczoofan said:
Glad to hear they still have gaur. Their are only 4 or so zoos with them in the US as of now (Bronx, San Diego Safari Park, Miami, Gladys Porter). With Bronx having the largest herd at about 20. I wish more zoos would consider this species. They surely are an impressive exhibit animal.
Click to expand...
Wild Animal Safari in Georgia.
 
DavidBrown said:
What are the highlight exhibits of this park these days? I was there about 15 years ago and remember a great wolf exhibit that also had black bears in it.
Click to expand...
For the drive thru portion: Elk, White Tailed Deer, Bison, Waterfowl, Cranes. When the paths are open, they still have the wolf exhibit and black bear exhibit. They also have several smaller exhibits with smaller North American animals by the entrance you can walk through when open. A new prairie dog exhibit was built last year as well. Behind the scenes (which they do offer conservation tours now), is the cheetah and Amur tiger breeding centers. You still can not see the hoofstock conversation areas on the tours, so besides the gaur I caught a glimpse of, I am not sure what other species they have. They moved a lot of hoof stock there when the zoo was under renovation, but not sure what they kept or sent to other facilities.
They used to have pronghorn with the bison, but those have not been there for several years now. I am not sure why they stopped exhibiting that species, they were a nice addition to the bison area. There are some elk in with the bison now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top