Philadelphia Zoo How would you change Philadelphia Zoo?

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Wyman said:
What if the entirety of the site that the old Children's Zoo/Beer Garden, Children's Train, Wings of Asia are on was used for elephants? Provided that the barn is the size of Cleveland's (underground as well to provide natural insulation...?) and several old growth trees are maintained to create a "Miombo" or "Mopani" range?
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Your elimination of so many zoo exhibits and features to accommodate elephants is precisely why this small zoo decided that to do a proper elephant exhibit would come at too great a cost to the visitor experience of the zoo.
And even an underground barn needs natural light (the elephants will be spending several months inside)
And, finally, all of this development and the preservation of old growth trees is a conflict.
 
Wyman said:
What if the entirety of the site that the old Children's Zoo/Beer Garden, Children's Train, Wings of Asia are on was used for elephants?
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What you've described is what I've seen in a couple of the zoo's master plans, linked below. Speaking of which, does anyone know where to find higher quality versions of these images?

Master Plan v#1

Master Plan v#1

  • Media owner A1st
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Master Plan v#2

Master Plan v#2

  • Media owner A1st
  • Date added
 
Zooplantman said:
Your elimination of so many zoo exhibits and features to accommodate elephants is precisely why this small zoo decided that to do a proper elephant exhibit would come at too great a cost to the visitor experience of the zoo.
And even an underground barn needs natural light (the elephants will be spending several months inside)
And, finally, all of this development and the preservation of old growth trees is a conflict.
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A1st said:
What you've described is what I've seen in a couple of the zoo's master plans, linked below. Speaking of which, does anyone know where to find higher quality versions of these images?

Master Plan v#1

Master Plan v#1

  • Media owner A1st
  • Date added
  • Comments 3
Master Plan v#2

Master Plan v#2

  • Media owner A1st
  • Date added
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Basically the idea I had is a hybrid of those master plans and some ideas of my own for utilization of that very space. Maybe the beer garden could be moved elsewhere in the zoo (perhaps near the ropes course or a utilization of an underused space?), and as for Wings of Asia, that would be moved elsewhere in the zoo as well. So stuff wouldn't necessarily be removed (save for the train, the swan boats would be maintained of course if the zoo would like to keep those), but rather rearranged. That way a system of habitats and trails could be implemented for elephants, hoofstock like wildebeest, impala, sable, etc., cheetahs, (maybe even painted dogs). Some experiences would be lost, some would be repurposed, and all in all the zoo would benefit from the triumphant return of a large, charismatic species. It's less about how much space is used and more how the space is used to begin with. Even if the main yards hypothetically total at 2 or 2.5 acres, with one yard being 1.75 acres and another being .75 acres, trails would still be a factor for giving the elephants more space to roam.
 
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Let's go back to 2011 (pre-Pachyderm House renovation). If I was CEO of the zoo what I would've done is renovate the existing building into a superior holding barn for Indian Rhinos. I would've combined the former elephant, female rhino, and okapi yards as a large multi-use general yard for females and their calves like at Basel. then I would've had the former rhino bull/Highland cattle and hippo yard join together for a bull rhino yard. I'd renovate the interior of the pachyderm building to have the floors redone in the rhino stalls with mulch for the rhino's foot health and kept the two pools for bathing. The former inside elephant enclosure would've been demolished and instead be made as a little museum about Indian Rhinos and those that formerly lived at the zoo such as Pete, Billy, and Xavira. The Academy of Natural Sciences has Pete's skeleton in their collection. I feel like this would've been a good idea given the proximity of the zoo to the Bronx Zoo where they have multiple Indians in Wild Asia. Between the two zoos, it could've been a powerhouse for the Indian Rhino SSP perhaps even rivaling the San Diego Safari Park.

For elephants, I agree with what has been said here. Since they now have KidZooU they could reutilize the former Children's Zoo area into an African Elephant complex. Additionally, I would put up historical markers throughout the zoo so visitors can see how it has changed over the past 150+ years.
 
Wyman said:
I posted something similar in the "Changes You Would Make to Your Zoo" thread a while back, and I figured I would revisit those plans and propose something that, while somewhat realistic, also maintains an optimistic (and somewhat collection-heavy) sense of where I ideally would like the Philadelphia Zoo to go.

African Plains:
  • Utilizing the site of the old children's zoo, Wings of Asia, the Septa PZ Express Train, and any surrounding areas would be a complex for African elephants that provides a complex space in a wooded area. Other animals featured in a similar ecosystem to the Miombo would be wildebeest, sable antelopes, impala, red-billed hornbills, genets, painted dogs and cheetahs. The spaces will be rotational (the genets, hornbills and other animals native to the Miombo ecosystem would be housed in an underground facility that also acts as the elephants' night/winter quarters a la Dierenpark Emmen.
  • On the site of the current African Plains yards, a new boardwalk would be constructed closest to the eastern edge of the McNeil Avian Center (the massive greenhouse), and all yards (save for the hippos and rhinos) would be combined into a "mega savanna". The wildebeest, sable antelope and impala mentioned earlier would have access to this mega savanna, giraffes would benefit significantly from the expanded space, and more antelope such as lesser kudu and Thompson's gazelles would have access. The existing holding underground for the gazelles/antelope would be expanded if necessary. Giraffes would be maintained, and receive a heated range/hardstanding for winter.
  • Hippos would receive a new filtration system, an expanded yard/access to the mega savanna at night to graze, and underwater viewing complete with a tunnel akin to Detroit's Arctic Ring of Life. Birds such as ground hornbills, secretary birds and potentially ostrich would be implemented.
  • White rhinos would be phased out in favor of black rhinos, who would take over the existing rhino/zebra exhibits (and the path going through separating the gazelle yard from rhino/zebras, giraffes and hippos) with two yards.
  • In Princess the condor's former cage, lappet-faced vultures and griffon vultures would take residence, and glass viewing/multiple perches would be added.
Bear Country
  • In general, the rockwork would be spruced up and the enclosures made to reflect the animals' respective ecosystems, like the sloth bears' deciduous dry forest (the most successful of the three), the Andean bear's cloud forests, and the polar bear's coastal/arctic beaches. A trail system would be implemented as well, surrounding the complex and being akin to a "halo".
  • In the case of polar bears (should the Zoo stay true to its intent of bringing them back), the pool would be galvanized so as to utilize saltwater rather than freshwater (given its properties for a polar bear's vision), and a "beach" with pebbles and artificial whale bones would be added. The waterfall would be removed in favor of a wave machine, and native plants to Pennsylvania that are also similar to the polar bears' environments in the taiga would be added. A snow machine would be added as well along with misters so as to keep the bears cool and stimulated.
  • Andean bears would be mixed with white-nosed coatis and/or potentially howler monkeys (and the exhibit barriers would allow for this so as the bears would be able to take advantage of their space while guests would still have unobstructed viewing with a moat.
  • The sloth bears' yard would be maintained albeit with slightly more realistic rockwork and a glass viewing area complete with a simulated termite mound.
Big Cat Falls
  • Updating the signage/making the "scavenger hunt" of animal sculptures much more apparent.
  • Adding harp wire in some areas to provide further unobstructed viewing of the big cats.
  • Lions would have a trail that extends all the way to African Plains, even going alongside the proposed boardwalk so to one's right they can view a lion up close and personal and to one's left they can view hoofstock.
  • (Not exhibit related), some commemoration of the spot where Rocky proposed to Adrian in front of the tiger exhibit.
Bird Valley
  • A new filtration system would be added to the stream running down the row of enclosures, and the former penguin exhibit would be connected to the nearby Reptile and Amphibian House, and utilized for either the resident West African crocodile or a new species to the zoo (Indian gharial?!?!) Basically some would become outdoor crocodilian enclosures for rarer species (Cuban crocodiles, West African crocs, etc, potential holding/expansion of the Reptile and Amphibian House to include a greenhouse where the crocs can stay during winter) and others would be home to rarer species of waterfowl/ground dwelling birds.
  • Signage would be implemented highlighting birds and reptiles along with their evolutionary link with dinosaurs.
KidZooU
  • Maintained, although the shade structure/"tower" that the elephants once went through would become a barn owl exhibit, the emphasis of how animals like rats, ants, pigeons, squirrels, etc. are misunderstood would be increased, and rarer species of livestock would be added as well.
McNeil Avian Center
  • Maintained, although the free-flight Tropical Rainforest exhibit would stick to one geographical region, namely the Congo given the turacos' position in the building.
Outback Outpost
  • Maintained/holding would be expanded, Western grey kangaroos and Australian brush turkeys would be added, and unnecessary/inconsistent fencing would be removed. Maybe instead of a "desert" theme, maybe some conifers and/or or some tall grasses could be planted.
PECO Primate Reserve
  • Natural substrate would be added to all indoor enclosures, the gorillas' enclosure would be renovated significantly to provide more complex space/immersion (they did so actually with the Gorilla Treehouse but even then...), and the colobus monkeys in the southern end of the zoo would be mixed in with the gorillas.
  • Computers/tablets built into the walls would be installed so people can compare their cognitive skills to those of great apes/smaller primates.
  • Aye-ayes would be maintained, more prosimians that are nocturnal such as lorises and pottos would be added (colugo maybe?)
Penguin Point
  • Relocated to an underused corner of the zoo (who needs event space anyways? :p), constructed as an aviary, steamer ducks and Inca terns would be maintained.
Rare Animal Conservation Center
  • Rethemed as an Annamite Mountains complex, species list can be tweaked given AZA stipulations but this is a good starter point: (Wildlife Wonders — Wonders of the Annamites)
  • Of course Douc langurs would be brought back, in an exhibit that is akin to Zoo Chleby's methods but is much more natural.
  • Binturongs, clouded leopards, porcupines and Francois langurs (in place of Hatinh langurs) would be brought in along with a plethora of tropical birds, reptiles and amphibians.
  • The general direction of this building would be JungleWorld meets Madagascar, with intimate galleries and hyper-realistic trompe l'oeil dioramas.
Reptile and Amphibian House
  • Modernized, skylights would be implemented wherever necessary, the tortoises along with any crocodilians in the building would receive a new greenhouse, and all species would receive natural substrate and plants.
Small Mammal House
  • Converted into a bat house, with the old kangaroo enclosure converted into a walkthrough aviary for Rodriguez flying foxes, Jamaican fruit bats and (at night), Seba's short-tailed bats. The older nocturnal collection highlighted im @snowleopard's 2010 review would be brought back as well in bigger and more realistic/naturalistic habitats. Naked mole rats would receive a new habitat, and the meerkats/meerkat trail would be moved to near KidZooU, where turkeys curremtly reside.
Water is Life
  • The otter exhibit would be heavily planted with canes, reeds, hardy palms and other plants to better reflect a wetland environment, and signage would be added regarding the Pantanal ecosystem. Willy the fossa's exhibit would receive a facelift in the way of native Malagasy plants/rainforest fare, more carnivores would be added (species suggestions would be greatly appreciated), and as for the red pandas, their enclosures would be filled to the brim with bamboo. The former coati exhibit would become a desert enclosure for an animal like an ocelot or a caracal.
General Zoo
  • All in all, very well kept. Aside from maintaining a clear main route/backbone of the zoo, I think we're in good hands so far.
If anyone's willing to discuss these suggestions I'd be more than happy to do so. If you made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to do so.
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I would also like the zoo to bring back Elephants, I would also add a Sea Lion Pool as well, plus a building near the Australian Outback that houses Tasmanian Devils and Tree Kangaroos, I would also like to see the zoo introduce Proboscis Monkeys at the Rare Animal Conservation Center in hopes that some American zoos can start exhibiting this rare primate once again, I would also have Vervet Monkeys and Spotted Hyenas in the African Savanna exhibit, some carnivores I would recommend for Water is Life would be Bat-Eared Foxes, Bush Dogs, Raccoon Dogs, Honey Badgers, and Tayras.
 
ZooFan1 said:
I would also like the zoo to bring back Elephants, I would also add a Sea Lion Pool as well, plus a building near the Australian Outback that houses Tasmanian Devils and Tree Kangaroos, I would also like to see the zoo introduce Proboscis Monkeys at the Rare Animal Conservation Center in hopes that some American zoos can start exhibiting this rare primate once again, I would also have Vervet Monkeys and Spotted Hyenas in the African Savanna exhibit, some carnivores I would recommend for Water is Life would be Bat-Eared Foxes, Bush Dogs, Raccoon Dogs, Honey Badgers, and Tayras.
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.... where would these all fit?
 
Honestly I'm not crazy about the idea of sea lions returning to the zoo. I'm cool with elephants and polar bears returning, if the elephants were a bachelor group of 2 or 3 and the polar bear was a rescue or a cub born several years prior. AFAIK the zoo's priority is filling in Bird Lake to make a new space for its giraffes, which I guess could work if they at least kept the wetland "spiral" currently there and perhaps implemented it into the giraffes' watering hole. I love that vista of Bird Lake and have fond memories of the swan boats, and there should be some remainder of it should the zoo does decide to follow through with that plan. Ideally for me, the old Children's Zoo becomes a new elephant complex with some additional yards/holding next to or on the Urban Green, along with a Large Mammal Trail, penguins get a new space elsewhere in the zoo/Penguin Point is converted back into a polar bear habitat (complete with a Zoo360 "halo"), Bird Valley becomes new outdoor space for their crocodilian collection, African Plains becomes a "megasavanna" with additional space for the giraffes to come down from the Bird Lake site along with new spaces for hippos and black rhinos, and the Rare Animal Conservation Center becomes an Annamite Mountains building complete with signage about or an actual exhibit for red-shanked douc langurs (this is a pipe dream if there ever was one tbh). That and Water Is Life maybe getting additional species like ocelot, clouded leopard, Florida bobcat, etc.
 
I am surprised I cannot for the love of the world trace back the original Masterplan for Philadelphia Zoo. If you surf the net you might get the reference to Zoo 360 plan which is a brochure a mere 2 pages of advertisement and an old CLR Design studio set up (see the one above).

Begs the question: where is the current Master or Strategic Plan?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I am surprised I cannot for the love of the world trace back the original Masterplan for Philadelphia Zoo. If you surf the net you might get the reference to Zoo 360 plan which is a brochure a mere 2 pages of advertisement and an old CLR Design studio set up (see the one above).

Begs the question: where is the current Master or Strategic Plan?
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I have tried many times to find it. Maybe they don't want to release it to the public yet?
 
If I were to improve Philly

Africa Trails- Combining the small mammal house, impala lawn bird valley, current Africa and outback outpost. Make a large space for giraffes, antelope, etc. Make a larger home for the rhinos and hippos. Keep river hog exhibit the same but add shades and possibly bongo. Bring over the lions, elephant shrews colobus, guenons, and cheetahs. Add new meerkat/ leopard tortoise space. Extend gorilla exhibit.

Asian Falls- Lions have been removed and tigers will take up the space, extend the rotational leopard yard to the jaguar exhibit and remove the jaguars. Make a new leopard yard in KidZooU and use the rest of the space to bring in gibbons, Francois langurs, red pandas, and clouded leopards. Use remaining space for a tapir and komodo dragon exhibits and a small plaza. Give asian theme and naturalism update to endangered species conservation center as well as removing the bats, tamarins, and species previously mentioned.

South America- Combine former cheetah and maned wolf space for new maned wolf/anteater mixed exhibit. New andean condor exhibit. New tapir, capybara, waterfowl mixed enclousure, *replace red pandas with howler or spider monkeys. Make new tunnel system featuring aforementioned tamarins and add new sloth space.

Keep everything else the same. Leave space for improvement
 
I
Antimony96 said:
Big Cat Falls is probably the least problematic of the outdoor exhibit complexes. I generally prefer regional complexes to taxonomical ones but not everything has to be regional.
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I never said everything had to be regional, but its that I find the leopard and jaguar spaces too small. Also note that with the way they rotate at least 1 cat doesn't have access to a yard so adding at least another yard would be nice and moving the lions was so more tigers could have an outdoor yard.
 
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