Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News, 2023

Like I said earlier, both the treehouse and Homestead are relics of their time. While I have tons of nostalgia for getting scared of Woolly Bill after sliding down the snake, and watching the Koala and Kookaburra animatronic in the home, I wouldn't be saddened to see either be removed/redeveloped
 
TigerValley98 said:
The Homestead should be renovated to hold smaller species like insects, amphibians, and reptiles that are native to Australia.
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I remember the Yagga Tree had small reptiles/mammals in the base at one point. I will have to check next time I go to the zoo
 
CleZooMan said:
I can assure you there are still no small animal exhibits in the Yagga Tree...
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Good to know, because the website still says "the fifty-five-foot Yagga Tree contains small animal exhibits, a giant snake slide, and educational displays."
 
TinoPup said:
Good to know, because the website still says "the fifty-five-foot Yagga Tree contains small animal exhibits, a giant snake slide, and educational displays."
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That website is grossly out of date and does not account for recent animal changes... for example, the Australian Adventure aviary switched from lorikeets to budgerigars in early 2022. Lorikeets are still listed as being there. Persian onagers were replaced by bison also in 2022- bison were added, yes, but onagers are still listed on the website.
 
CleZooMan said:
That website is grossly out of date and does not account for recent animal changes... for example, the Australian Adventure aviary switched from lorikeets to budgerigars in early 2022. Lorikeets are still listed as being there. Persian onagers were replaced by bison also in 2022- bison were added, yes, but onagers are still listed on the website.
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It accounts for some of them, though, which makes it more of a problem.
 
TinoPup said:
Good to know, because the website still says "the fifty-five-foot Yagga Tree contains small animal exhibits, a giant snake slide, and educational displays."
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The zoo said in the reopening announcement the top level of the treehouse, where all the educational stuff is, has not reopened yet. That leaves only the slide and Wooly Bill open. I wonder if they're planning to put something new up there.

Edit: As of 5 mins ago this is what the Yagga Tree page says: The 55-foot Yagga tree is a simulated Australian baobab tree and virtual Aussie playground. Let the kids climb up to the treehouse, walk across a suspended bridge and slither down the snake-like slide. Head down to the Crocodile Caverns Sinkhole, and you may get a surprise visit from an animatronic freshie (crocodile). Note: The Yagga Tree is open seasonally, April through October
 
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I went to the zoo a couple days ago, noticed that a lone bontebok is living in the giraffe exhibit. Note that atleast one bontebok is still living in now main bontebok exhibit. Also a binturong is living in the former fishing cat exhibit. The Binturong exhbit by the entrance of the upper forest is empty.
 
Baryonyx said:
I went to the zoo a couple days ago, noticed that a lone bontebok is living in the giraffe exhibit. Note that atleast one bontebok is still living in now main bontebok exhibit. Also a binturong is living in the former fishing cat exhibit. The Binturong exhbit by the entrance of the upper forest is empty.
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Oh wow! I just saw the binturong in the entrance exhibit on June 4. I wonder why they'd move it... unless they're getting something else for the upper forest entrance exhibit? Hmmmmm
 
CMZman said:
Obviously that's where the Gorillas are moving
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No offence but we were talking about the entrance to the Upper Forest area of the rainforest. The area of the rainforest with the otters, orangutans, ocelots and anteaters.
 
CMZman said:
Like I said earlier, both the treehouse and Homestead are relics of their time. While I have tons of nostalgia for getting scared of Woolly Bill after sliding down the snake, and watching the Koala and Kookaburra animatronic in the home, I wouldn't be saddened to see either be removed/redeveloped
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I agree with this. In retrospect, I wonder if Australian Outback wasn't the best investment overall. The fact that it is closed for large parts of the year and the lack of use for parts of the exhbits makes me think that way. It also seems that CMZ in general has a better understanding of what it wants in its exhibits and that vision is different than what Australian Outback offers. There are theme park characteristics to the area, which I'm not totally against, but the top two boxes to check should always be what's best for the animals and education. It's way down on the priority list but redeveloping it wouldn't be the worst thing, especially getting some use out of it some way in the Winter months.
 
mwalle09 said:
I agree with this. In retrospect, I wonder if Australian Outback wasn't the best investment overall. The fact that it is closed for large parts of the year and the lack of use for parts of the exhbits makes me think that way. It also seems that CMZ in general has a better understanding of what it wants in its exhibits and that vision is different than what Australian Outback offers. There are theme park characteristics to the area, which I'm not totally against, but the top two boxes to check should always be what's best for the animals and education. It's way down on the priority list but redeveloping it wouldn't be the worst thing, especially getting some use out of it some way in the Winter months.
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Keep in mind that when it opened in 2000, it was the only real "Kid area" of the zoo. Now that the Carousel, Nature Play, Zip Line, 4D Movie are open, and I presume Primate Forest will have a kid area, I would have no doubt there will be/have been plans to change Australian Outback at some point
 
CMZman said:
Keep in mind that when it opened in 2000, it was the only real "Kid area" of the zoo. Now that the Carousel, Nature Play, Zip Line, 4D Movie are open, and I presume Primate Forest will have a kid area, I would have no doubt there will be/have been plans to change Australian Outback at some point
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That's a good point, although I seem to remember an old school playground where the carousel is. Still, nothing like what was built in 2000. I just feel like if they were to do something now, they would not have terrariums and exhibits in the same area where kids would play, I just don't think it's great for the animals.
 
mwalle09 said:
That's a good point, although I seem to remember an old school playground where the carousel is. Still, nothing like what was built in 2000. I just feel like if they were to do something now, they would not have terrariums and exhibits in the same area where kids would play, I just don't think it's great for the animals.
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Birds of the World sat where the Carousel is now until 2004, then a playground was added when the building was torn down.
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CleZooMan said:
That website is grossly out of date and does not account for recent animal changes... for example, the Australian Adventure aviary switched from lorikeets to budgerigars in early 2022. Lorikeets are still listed as being there. Persian onagers were replaced by bison also in 2022- bison were added, yes, but onagers are still listed on the website.
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For as put together as CMZ is, the website is a problem. I wonder if that's because its connected to the Metroparks overall stuff but they could be better for sure.
 
Just left the zoo, here's what's new-
- WYRAS Recycling Plant has been demolished
- Aviary in Australia closed - possibly permanent according to employee.
- Food Court renovations are complete and the court is open
- Top row of PCA Primate exhibits closed for refurbishment.
- New wood paneling being added to the walls of exhibits in PCA
- Wooly Bill was a no-show (Waited for about 10 mins)
- Shiva the Sloth Bear has returned to Cleveland.
- Skipped Rainforest
 
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