Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Columbus Zoo and Aquarium News 2023

Status
Not open for further replies.
Okay, maybe dumb question but it hit me today and now I can’t forget it: do the pelicans in the manatee enclosure ever go for the smaller fish in the tank? Does the zoo just kind of accept that might happen, same as the risk in most moray / shark / smaller fish mixes?
 
Persephone said:
Okay, maybe dumb question but it hit me today and now I can’t forget it: do the pelicans in the manatee enclosure ever go for the smaller fish in the tank? Does the zoo just kind of accept that might happen, same as the risk in most moray / shark / smaller fish mixes?
Click to expand...
As far as I know, no they do not.
Its the same reason why most facilities are okay with allowing sharks in with large aquariums: they're well fed and used to their specific diets.
Now thats not to say it's never happened, but at Columbus specifically I believe their pelicans are all human dependent rescues who ate human food exclusively to the point where it was harming them, Im not even sure they remember HOW to properly pelican lol.
 
We have both bad and good news relating to Caribou (Reindeer):
Obviously, we start with the bad news that the zoo's longtime female Caribou Sugar Plum sadly passed away recently from degenerative joint disease.
The good news is that, 2 new, 7-month-old Caribou called "Figgy Pudding" and "Candy Cane" arrived from an Alaska farm last month, who joined Abby, the zoo's resident Caribou in the North America region.
In a poignant blend of joy and... - Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
 
Some updates from when I visited yesterday!

Construction on North America has officially actually begun! The wolf, swan, former prairie dog and former bison habitats have all been ripped out. It does not appear that any building has begun just yet.

Also, all GOHR signage has been removed from the outdoor exhibit, and a lot of the barrier fencing has been deconstructed. Indoor signage has also been removed aside from those combined with elephant signage.
I think its safe to say there are no pressing plans to bring back rhinos to the zoo.
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
We have both bad and good news relating to Caribou (Reindeer):
Obviously, we start with the bad news that the zoo's longtime female Caribou Sugar Plum sadly passed away recently from degenerative joint disease.
The good news is that, 2 new, 7-month-old Caribou called "Figgy Pudding" and "Candy Cane" arrived from an Alaska farm last month, who joined Abby, the zoo's resident Caribou in the North America region.
In a poignant blend of joy and... - Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Click to expand...
What subspecies of caribou is held by the zoo?
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
Some updates from when I visited yesterday!

Construction on North America has officially actually begun! The wolf, swan, former prairie dog and former bison habitats have all been ripped out. It does not appear that any building has begun just yet.

Also, all GOHR signage has been removed from the outdoor exhibit, and a lot of the barrier fencing has been deconstructed. Indoor signage has also been removed aside from those combined with elephant signage.
I think its safe to say there are no pressing plans to bring back rhinos to the zoo.
Click to expand...
I tend to disagree on the management of rhino within the collection. The white rhino are a gregarious species that can be maintained in a multi species Savannah environment. So, can black rhino ... but given their more.solitary disposition require a different set of Elements for their exhibition, their general status in the wild and also AZA guidelines have been demanding of their participant zoos to increase the number of holders for both black rhino and GOH rhinos.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I tend to disagree on the management of rhino within the collection. The white rhino are a gregarious species that can be maintained in a multi species Savannah environment. So, can black rhino ... but given their more.solitary disposition require a different set of Elements for their exhibition, their general status in the wild and also AZA guidelines have been demanding of their participant zoos to increase the number of holders for both black rhino and GOH rhinos.
Click to expand...
I meant specifically Indian Rhino. If the zoo planned to bring them back in the near future then I doubt the sinage would be taken down completely, and part of the exhibit deconstructed. Thats not to say they never will, but I just find it currently unlikely. Columbus' current GOHR facility can only hold a singular animal and isn't anything to write home about otherwise imo.
I do think the zoo could easily hold White Rhinos if they chose to given that they have existing stock at the wilds and a sizable savannah exhibit. But, similar to the Indian Rhino, The Wilds offers a much higher quality living space for both species.
The initial reason the zoo's last GOHR was even at the main zoo is because he was to go to the Wilds once he hit sexual maturity, plans obviously changed but he was really only there because they didn't have room for him at the other facility.
 
Last edited:
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
I meant specifically Indian Rhino. If the zoo planned to bring them back in the near future then I doubt the sinage would be taken down completely, and part of the exhibit deconstructed. Thats not to say they never will, but I just find it currently unlikely. Columbus' current GOHR facility can only hold a singular animal and isn't anything to write home about otherwise imo.
I do think the zoo could easily hold White Rhinos if they chose to given that they have existing stock at the wilds and a sizable savannah exhibit. But, similar to the Indian Rhino, The Wilds offers a much higher quality living space for both species.
The initial reason the zoo's last GOHR was even at the main zoo is because he was to go to the Wilds once he hit sexual maturity, plans obviously changed but he was really only there because they didn't have room for him at the other facility.
Click to expand...
Allright and thanks for explanation.

Columbus Zoo used to hold black rhino not too long ago and for a good number of years. I would love to see them back at the CZ
 
Last edited:
Kifaru Bwana said:
Right, Columbus Zoo used to hold black rhino too for a good number of years.
Click to expand...
Iirc, those girls were "leftover" from before Asia Quest was constructed so they were always a bit out of place. Their seperate yards were converted into a singular one for Indian Rhino Brian, so if they held Black Rhinos again my guess is they'd have a complex build in HOA! I'd like to see them hold Black rhinos honestly given that the Wilds already holds GOHR and White rhinos.

I am honestly very curious as to why the rhino yard is being deconstructed to a degree though. I doubt its falling apart since they just redid it for Brian hardly 4 years ago iirc so it HAS to be intentional. It has been discussed on the elephant threads that perhaps the plan is to convert the yard into elephant space, which imo seems the most likely scenario, but given the two existing construction projects ongoing I didn't anticipate this soon. I haven't heard anything but if anyone else has I'm all ears!
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
Iirc, those girls were "leftover" from before Asia Quest was constructed so they were always a bit out of place. Their seperate yards were converted into a singular one for Indian Rhino Brian, so if they held Black Rhinos again my guess is they'd have a complex build in HOA! I'd like to see them hold Black rhinos honestly given that the Wilds already holds GOHR and White rhinos.

I am honestly very curious as to why the rhino yard is being deconstructed to a degree though. I doubt its falling apart since they just redid it for Brian hardly 4 years ago iirc so it HAS to be intentional. It has been discussed on the elephant threads that perhaps the plan is to convert the yard into elephant space, which imo seems the most likely scenario, but given the two existing construction projects ongoing I didn't anticipate this soon. I haven't heard anything but if anyone else has I'm all ears!
Click to expand...
I rechecked some earlier regional plans and the black rhino space seems to have been managed to phase out (older non-breeding female) to a temp situation for Indian GOH rhino and then nothing. This was in 2021, so it may have changed since ....
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I rechecked some earlier regional plans and the black rhino space seems to have been managed to phase out (older non-breeding female) to a temp situation for Indian GOH rhino and then nothing. This was in 2021, so it may have changed since ....
Click to expand...
Not surprising at all, those plans appear to line up with what we've seen thus far. I'd be surprised if the space wasn't utilized as further animal exhibition at ALL just due to the indoor barn area as well. But we'll just have to wait and see I suppose. Im still betting (hoping) on an elephant yard expansion since it's no secret the yard neighboring the rhino one is small.

I went back again today and even more of the fencing of the GOHR outdoor exhibit was deconstructed, so whatever they're doing they want the animal barriers down fast. It appears the doors to the indoor part of the complex aren't even on anymore either, they're closed off with white tarp.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top