Closed Zoo Exhibits You've Visited

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I mention all the former exhibits of the Zoo de Vincennes with a lot of covered galleries under the mock-rock structures. And especially the Lemur house, where it was possible to see half a dozen of nocturnal lemur species including Aye-Ayes, Mouse Lemurs and other rarities.
 
Haliaeetus said:
.....And especially the Lemur house, where it was possible to see half a dozen of nocturnal lemur species including Aye-Ayes, Mouse Lemurs and other rarities.
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I agree. Vincennes had an amazing lemur collection in the 1980s; I saw my first aye-aye there in 1987 and it's still the only place where I've seen sportive lemur and fork-marked lemur. Sadly I suspect I'll never see the last two species ever again.

Other notable exhibits at Vincennes during this period include an African forest elephant and the male Asian elephant "Siam" (definitely the most impressive bull elephant I've ever seen). Vincennes is also the only zoo where I've seen the Siamese subspecies of Eld's deer. And one of the few zoos I've visited that had every species of bear.
 
Tim May said:
I agree. Vincennes had an amazing lemur collection in the 1980s; I saw my first aye-aye there in 1987 and it's still the only place where I've seen sportive lemur and fork-marked lemur. Sadly I suspect I'll never see the last two species ever again.

Other notable exhibits at Vincennes during this period include an African forest elephant and the male Asian elephant "Siam" (definitely the most impressive bull elephant I've ever seen). Vincennes is also the only zoo where I've seen the Siamese subspecies of Eld's deer. And one of the few zoos I've visited that had every species of bear.
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I saw Siam in 1981, must have missed the cyclotis:(
 
FBBird said:
I saw Siam in 1981, must have missed the cyclotis:(
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The Forest Elephant remained until 2002. I've seen it several times, but it was far less popular than the large herd of Asians with the father Siam. And it was labelled as a single African Elephant (and not very impressive with a quite small size and no tusks), many visitors including regular zoo-goers weren't aware about the rarity of this animal.
 
I've got a couple here and there...
  • North Carolina Zoo
    • African Pavilion - My first 1 or 2 visits in 2006-2007 was when it still had animals in it. However, all subsequent visits were after (most of) the animals were removed. My last visit from when the pavilion was still open was in September 2013.
    • Rain Forest Aviary - Last visit was in 2019. RIP.
    • Australian Walkabout - I believe this was just a temporary exhibit? This was where the Kids Zone and Garden Friends Playground are now (across from Rocky Coast).
  • Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (thank god these exhibits are closed)
    • Cat Complex
    • Bear Canyon
    • (The Old) Stingray Bay
  • Tennessee Aquarium
    • Discovery Zone (replaced with Ridges to Rivers)
  • Georgia Aquarium
    • Georgia Explorer (replaced with Truist Pier 225)
  • Bronx Zoo
    • World of Darkness - My last visit was when I was very young so I really have no memory, photos, or memorabilia of my visit.
  • Greensboro Science Center
    • Herpetarium (last visit was just 2 days prior to closure)
 
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The old Whipsnade Discovery Centre, a magical little place with the good range of taxa. Just the kind of thing I'd like to own myself.
 
Haliaeetus said:
The Forest Elephant remained until 2002. I've seen it several times, but it was far less popular than the large herd of Asians with the father Siam. And it was labelled as a single African Elephant (and not very impressive with a quite small size and no tusks), many visitors including regular zoo-goers weren't aware about the rarity of this animal.
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I was even less clued up, back then, probably walked straight past it. I did however see ZSL’s ill-fated Jumbo III…..
 
Akron Zoo -
  • All of Tiger Valley -Sun/Sloth Bear, Sumatran Tiger, and African Lion Exhibits- (Demolished 2018 for Wild Asia)
Cleveland MetroParks Zoo-
  • Old Pachyderm Building (Replaced 2011 by Elephant Crossing)
  • Monkey Island (Replaced 2019 by an expanded Rhino Yard)
  • Tropical Bear Grottos (Replaced 2022 by new Tropical Bear exhibits)
  • Tiger Grottos (Replaced 2016 by Tiger Passage)
  • Birds of the World Building (Torn down 2004, replaced by picnic area for a while before being replaced by the zoo's carousel in 2016)
  • Nile Hippo Retirement Exhibit (Built over in 2015 when the Giraffe deck was expanded outside and was demolished inside after Nile Hippo passed away)
Disney's Animal Kingdom -
  • Animal exhibits in Camp Minnie Mickey (Demolished 2014 to make way for Pandora- World of Avatar)
SeaWorld Cleveland -
  • Technically the whole park but I was like 2 so I don't remember anything about it.
 
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Truth be told, I haven't had the opportunity to visit many zoos in my life so far, so the one now-closed exhibit that does stand out in my mind is the Greater Vancouver Zoo's reptile house. It initially closed, if I remember correctly, due to pandemic restrictions, and from my understanding it will not be reopening in its previous form (i.e. lots of construction/renovations going on). I guess the old elephant enclosure at the front of the zoo might count too, though I only knew it when it housed bighorn sheep. It's all since been torn down and the area is just grass and parking lot now.

Sneaking this in too (as I'm doubtful it actually counts) but I've visited the old polar bear enclosure in Stanley Park several times, though only in its current, barren form.

15947605562_f01259187b_b.jpg

[ Image source ]
 
Tim May said:
Indeed I was referring to "Elephant Island" which had underground dens.

Like you, I would like to have seen the old London Zoo Elephant House, built 1869 and demolished shortly before the Second World War.
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Do any pictures of this 'island' exist?
 
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