-- email correspondence
that is HORRIFYING if true"Hippo Cove was designed for up to 4 hippos, so it will be a fine home for Bibi, Fiona, Tucker, and a possible little one down the road."
What do you mean by that, it it space wise or the size of the pod
Hi there, having seen the behind the scenes area and the exhibit itself, they may meet minimal standards, but it is by no means a spacious home for four.
Not saying it's not minimum but I'm sure the zoo and the SSP have a better idea of what the area can safely house better than any of us even if we've seen it.
Sure they may have a better idea for their standards. That does not mean that I can't voice that it will be horrible in my and many others professional opinions that they brought in another male when their newest motto is "More Home to Roam"
Hippos are a yellow SSP so participation is voluntary.
So sad, she will be missed greatly.
OK exactly! I've been taking in a lot of what changes have been occurring in zoo's across the country. Indeed to many human amenities focused on public over welfare of animal space and construction of questionable exhibits of lately; Denver's fish bowl Tiger exhibit, the amusement structure Indianapolis Orangutan outdoor structures. I'm not being picky just stating a well visual fact growing zoo being built for human entertainment to feed the invisible species: Cash Cow. [ I get it zoo's want to raise money's now championing wildlife conservation around the globe]. Yet the justification to the shrinking of animal collection in favor of a human playground. Yes times have changed, values have changes for the better, animal welfare has gotten better. Portland, Oregon had a very large hippo exhibit both land, and water. They gave up hippo's not wanting to go with expense of dealing with building newer water filtration and focus more to expanding rhino breeding. I'm puzzled seeing these newer hippo enclosures with wonderful underwater viewing but limited space for land grazing ( I understand hippo's use land more so in evenings and at night when zoo is closed). Still I think that a mixed species exhibit of large land for hippos, especially to foster breeding more animals can be functional if human applied more efforts. I have seen regularly the hippos when at Portland Zoo used to rest on the land often.An important question is why do so many of the zoos newer exhibits need improvements so soon after being built. The answer to which is unlike many zoos the zoo is not building with a good level of foresight. Also do these changes have much if any impact on welfare?
I think a lot of the argument regarding this zoo on this site was premised around the fact that this more than other zoos is a zoo built for visitors, where animal welfare often is deprioritized. Expanding a giraffe deck does nothing for its inhabitants. Fiona's exhibit looks amazing for visitors, there is no debate but it was inadequate the day it was built and could have been doubled in size if not for crowd pleasing meerkats and a playground. The classic example is the cat house. The zoo was basically like you know if we turn the lights off people won't realize how bad the exhibits are for the cats.
Also if the giraffes move to elephant house one could simply expand what area is "Africa." Its arbitrary anyways but it is next to the existing complex. Zoogeographic theming is fine but we can't let it stand in the way of basic welfare.
