Jefferson
Well-Known Member
Went for a visit yesterday, cool but sunny day. Front entrance is coming along, a ton has been cleared on the right side as you come in, where the new building will go, and the left side where the old entrance was is cleared out. The old ticket booth for all the rides is gone and that areas is widened and paved over, I suspect for where the temporary entrance will be during construction.
Unfortunately both the giraffe house and Indo-malaya pavilions were closed for power system maintenance. It was announced on the website prior, I was just silly and forgot to check.
The Malayan woods is so nice to have back, the clouded leopard was right out hanging out, best view I have ever gotten. They are such beautiful animals. It's nice to have some inverts back in there as well. It still makes me so sad to think about losing the clouded leopards, which then gets me down the spiral of being sad about species being phased out. We could see down where the new boardwalk was being built, and the fences for the tigers are completely gone. Will be interesting to see if there are going to be any exhibit modifications when they go back up.
Americas was its usual self, but the Sakis were not on display, some exhibit maintenance in the middle exhibit. It seems so much quieter with only the two sloths, a few of the Golden Lion Tamarins there. RJ, the otter was super playful and the snapping turtle was up sunbathing which was cool to see.
There was some maintenance on the core woods boardwalk as it looks like a tree fell on the railing during a recent storm.
At the Rainforest pavilion the Gorillas were in the day room due to the glass being broken. They are fixing it now as there is some construction boarding up and there was some welding going on. Interestingly, the panel that was broken last year and replaced with solid wall was not behind the cladding, so looks like it will be permanently covered. Family troop was in the day room. The bachelors in the back off view.
I don't know if has been mentioned but the Aldabra Tortoise who had surgery is back in the enclosure with her companion.
The outdoor gorilla exhibit is getting a ton of new wooden structures built in it. They are beautifully done. Although far out, I can't wait for the day that we have an open air outdoor gorilla enclosure, although I don't know when that day will come.
The new board walk is coming along, as in the pictures it comes out at the picnic site, Right at the end of the Jungle rope course and the start of the restaurant. My hope is that it will sort of lead directly into where the new Savanna Pavilion will be in the future.
Savanna was quiet, the hippos were out, although when we went by they were starting to shift in it appeared. Cheetah, Baboons, Lions, Hyenas and Watusi were out. The rest (Giraffe, Warthog, Kudu, Zebra, Rhino, Ground hornbill, Eland, and ostrich) were inside and not viewable. The hyena, who I was told likely Kanzi, was very active and rich tup to the glass, although I see there is some new fencing that blocks direct access to the glass viewing parts of the hyena exhibit. I am guessing one of the hyenas was not responding well to guest being so close.
The new sign at the start of the walk to the Domain is great (they have two actually, one at the zoo mobile station and one past ostrich enclosure. Honestly would love to see more of these signs around the zoo (perhaps at the entrances of pavilions and areas). I attached a photo of it, although I don't know why it is sideways..)
The moose are off display, everything else is out, although we couldn’t see the raccoons. Bowen, the new cougar was quite active, all over the exhibit and up int he hammock. A definite highlight of the day. We got one vocalization. Shintay the grizzly was up and foraging midway through the exhibit. The bison were all at the back of their respective paddocks.
We were running out of time at this point so just saw the polar bears and tigers. Mazy the Amur tiger, and Kemal the sumatran were out, each with access to the inside and outside exhibits of their respective sides. Hard, the male sumatran, was not viewable, so much be in holding. We did not walk by the third new exhibit, but could still see lots of construction equipment around. Not sure what the status is there as it seemed to move so quickly and now came to complete halt.
Did not get to the temple, Australasia or the rest of Eurasia.
Overall a good visit, the amount of construction and closures does feel a little overwhelming. As a regular guest this doesn’t bother me too much, but could see it being frustrating for some visitors. However it is all steps in the right direction and hopefully things will be a bit more opened up for the summer! Let me know if any questions.
Unfortunately both the giraffe house and Indo-malaya pavilions were closed for power system maintenance. It was announced on the website prior, I was just silly and forgot to check.
The Malayan woods is so nice to have back, the clouded leopard was right out hanging out, best view I have ever gotten. They are such beautiful animals. It's nice to have some inverts back in there as well. It still makes me so sad to think about losing the clouded leopards, which then gets me down the spiral of being sad about species being phased out. We could see down where the new boardwalk was being built, and the fences for the tigers are completely gone. Will be interesting to see if there are going to be any exhibit modifications when they go back up.
Americas was its usual self, but the Sakis were not on display, some exhibit maintenance in the middle exhibit. It seems so much quieter with only the two sloths, a few of the Golden Lion Tamarins there. RJ, the otter was super playful and the snapping turtle was up sunbathing which was cool to see.
There was some maintenance on the core woods boardwalk as it looks like a tree fell on the railing during a recent storm.
At the Rainforest pavilion the Gorillas were in the day room due to the glass being broken. They are fixing it now as there is some construction boarding up and there was some welding going on. Interestingly, the panel that was broken last year and replaced with solid wall was not behind the cladding, so looks like it will be permanently covered. Family troop was in the day room. The bachelors in the back off view.
I don't know if has been mentioned but the Aldabra Tortoise who had surgery is back in the enclosure with her companion.
The outdoor gorilla exhibit is getting a ton of new wooden structures built in it. They are beautifully done. Although far out, I can't wait for the day that we have an open air outdoor gorilla enclosure, although I don't know when that day will come.
The new board walk is coming along, as in the pictures it comes out at the picnic site, Right at the end of the Jungle rope course and the start of the restaurant. My hope is that it will sort of lead directly into where the new Savanna Pavilion will be in the future.
Savanna was quiet, the hippos were out, although when we went by they were starting to shift in it appeared. Cheetah, Baboons, Lions, Hyenas and Watusi were out. The rest (Giraffe, Warthog, Kudu, Zebra, Rhino, Ground hornbill, Eland, and ostrich) were inside and not viewable. The hyena, who I was told likely Kanzi, was very active and rich tup to the glass, although I see there is some new fencing that blocks direct access to the glass viewing parts of the hyena exhibit. I am guessing one of the hyenas was not responding well to guest being so close.
The new sign at the start of the walk to the Domain is great (they have two actually, one at the zoo mobile station and one past ostrich enclosure. Honestly would love to see more of these signs around the zoo (perhaps at the entrances of pavilions and areas). I attached a photo of it, although I don't know why it is sideways..)
The moose are off display, everything else is out, although we couldn’t see the raccoons. Bowen, the new cougar was quite active, all over the exhibit and up int he hammock. A definite highlight of the day. We got one vocalization. Shintay the grizzly was up and foraging midway through the exhibit. The bison were all at the back of their respective paddocks.
We were running out of time at this point so just saw the polar bears and tigers. Mazy the Amur tiger, and Kemal the sumatran were out, each with access to the inside and outside exhibits of their respective sides. Hard, the male sumatran, was not viewable, so much be in holding. We did not walk by the third new exhibit, but could still see lots of construction equipment around. Not sure what the status is there as it seemed to move so quickly and now came to complete halt.
Did not get to the temple, Australasia or the rest of Eurasia.
Overall a good visit, the amount of construction and closures does feel a little overwhelming. As a regular guest this doesn’t bother me too much, but could see it being frustrating for some visitors. However it is all steps in the right direction and hopefully things will be a bit more opened up for the summer! Let me know if any questions.
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