Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Zoo next project

At the zoo and just had a very nice conversation with a zoo employee at PC&A about Primate Forest and the future of the Gorilla exhibit. Here's what I learned:

  • Existing RainForest will now be called the “Tropical Forest” with the Orangutan and Gorilla expansions being “Primate Forest”
  • Entrance waterfall is getting the axe, but the rainstorm exhibit is staying, and Tortoises will potentially inhabit it.
  • Aldabra Tortoise will move to Primate Forest. I was told it was for ease of exhibiting them, since they have to be moved up and down the hill twice a year.
  • Orangutans, Atrium, and renovation to existing RainForest will be opening in 2026, Gorillas and Tortoises will be “at least 5 years out”
  • Orangutans will still have the dome exhibit as their second indoor exhibit, as well as a new indoor exhibit.
  • Tamarins will move to PC&A, the rest of the animals will be staying at The RainForest since the majority of the work will be in the entrance. The entire building will be refurbished, but the main focus will be the entrance.
  • The zoo wants at least two Gorilla troops, a bachelor troop of Silverback and a family troop. The hope is to keep Kayembe in the bachelor troop
 
CMZman said:
At the zoo and just had a very nice conversation with a zoo employee at PC&A about Primate Forest and the future of the Gorilla exhibit. Here's what I learned:

  • Existing RainForest will now be called the “Tropical Forest” with the Orangutan and Gorilla expansions being “Primate Forest”
  • Entrance waterfall is getting the axe, but the rainstorm exhibit is staying, and Tortoises will potentially inhabit it.
  • Aldabra Tortoise will move to Primate Forest. I was told it was for ease of exhibiting them, since they have to be moved up and down the hill twice a year.
  • Orangutans, Atrium, and renovation to existing RainForest will be opening in 2026, Gorillas and Tortoises will be “at least 5 years out”
  • Orangutans will still have the dome exhibit as their second indoor exhibit, as well as a new indoor exhibit.
  • Tamarins will move to PC&A, the rest of the animals will be staying at The RainForest since the majority of the work will be in the entrance. The entire building will be refurbished, but the main focus will be the entrance.
  • The zoo wants at least two Gorilla troops, a bachelor troop of Silverback and a family troop. The hope is to keep Kayembe in the bachelor troop
Click to expand...
Thank you for updating us.
 
Very late to the party here, but I wish they would update and revamp this. It's my favorite exhibit at this zoo.
 
Reinberger Homestead is down for good, and I would be shocked if the yagga tree isn't on the chopping block in some way. I wouldn't be surprised if it's safety/maintenance nightmare being 25 years old and unchanged from opening. The top floor has been closed for years, so it's not a stretch for them to just close it.
 
I'd say Australian Adventure is on it's way to being severely revamped, albiet years down the line. Cleveland appears to be (slowly) completely reinventing itself piece by piece. Australia feels like a low priority given it's relatively decent collection and few big draws (Train, Roos, Koalas and Barnyard) that keep interest up, but I imagine it will see a renovation or even retheme someday.
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
I'd say Australian Adventure is on it's way to being severely revamped, albiet years down the line. Cleveland appears to be (slowly) completely reinventing itself piece by piece. Australia feels like a low priority given it's relatively decent collection and few big draws (Train, Roos, Koalas and Barnyard) that keep interest up, but I imagine it will see a renovation or even retheme someday.
Click to expand...
Every time I walk through it feels more and more lifeless somehow. Like once you pass the Wallaby Walk-around, it just feels like they don't know what to do with it and are just letting it close piece by piece
 
It could use it. I think how the original Australian exhibit was designed shifted considerably after they had to fence in the wallabies and kangaroos. They've never quite recovered and since then there are more immersive exhibits that opened up. Tackling the Rainforest was obviously needed and if they felt that that exhibit needed a major renovation and addition then it would only make sense for them to think about Australia. I know one thing I've always found hard about it is the large hill in the middle. It just separates so much and that backside along the road seems dead no matter what. They are working on something by the old Lorikeet Landing, new building but don't think it is an exhibit. If they could revamp Australia with the animals they had and added a few others, it could work but definitely needs work and won't happen for a number of years.
 
mwalle09 said:
It could use it. I think how the original Australian exhibit was designed shifted considerably after they had to fence in the wallabies and kangaroos. They've never quite recovered and since then there are more immersive exhibits that opened up. Tackling the Rainforest was obviously needed and if they felt that that exhibit needed a major renovation and addition then it would only make sense for them to think about Australia. I know one thing I've always found hard about it is the large hill in the middle. It just separates so much and that backside along the road seems dead no matter what. They are working on something by the old Lorikeet Landing, new building but don't think it is an exhibit. If they could revamp Australia with the animals they had and added a few others, it could work but definitely needs work and won't happen for a number of years.
Click to expand...
When the area inevitably is redone it would be nice to see a total rehaul. I loved the feel the theming used to have but it's just slowly losing more and more species. I have a feeling it will continue to decline with little changes until they're ready to refurbish.
A lot of space at Cleveland is just hard to use due to steep hills, forested areas and metropark limitations (IE the walk to Wilderness Trek being essentially just a long empty walking trail), which makes large scale changes a bit of a pickle.
With how their recent new exhibits have shaped up though, I'm confident that the eventual new Australia will look fabulous
 
mwalle09 said:
It could use it. I think how the original Australian exhibit was designed shifted considerably after they had to fence in the wallabies and kangaroos. They've never quite recovered and since then there are more immersive exhibits that opened up. Tackling the Rainforest was obviously needed and if they felt that that exhibit needed a major renovation and addition then it would only make sense for them to think about Australia. I know one thing I've always found hard about it is the large hill in the middle. It just separates so much and that backside along the road seems dead no matter what. They are working on something by the old Lorikeet Landing, new building but don't think it is an exhibit. If they could revamp Australia with the animals they had and added a few others, it could work but definitely needs work and won't happen for a number of years.
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That's a new kangaroo barn. The old one was tiny, a new barn was much needed.
Old-
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New-
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Frankie_number_1_fan said:
When the area inevitably is redone it would be nice to see a total rehaul. I loved the feel the theming used to have but it's just slowly losing more and more species. I have a feeling it will continue to decline with little changes until they're ready to refurbish.
A lot of space at Cleveland is just hard to use due to steep hills, forested areas and metropark limitations (IE the walk to Wilderness Trek being essentially just a long empty walking trail), which makes large scale changes a bit of a pickle.
With how their recent new exhibits have shaped up though, I'm confident that the eventual new Australia will look fabulous
Click to expand...
Species lost in Australia:

- Woma Python (Yagga Tree, actually escaped and drowned in the pond Wooly Bill is in)
- Cane Toad (Yagga Tree)
- Sugar Glider (Yagga Tree)
- Bearded Dragon (Homestead)
- Parma Wallaby (W. Walkaround)
- Swamp Wallaby (W. Walkaround)
- Emu (W. Walkaround, near train station)
- Lorikeets (Aviary, replaced by Bugideers in 2024)
- Camels (Could be ridden in the small ring next to the barn)
- Echida (Gumleaf Hideout)
- Rat Kangaroo (Gumleaf Hideout)
 
EagleScout610 said:
Species lost in Australia:

- Woma Python (Yagga Tree, actually escaped and drowned in the pond Wooly Bill is in)
- Cane Toad (Yagga Tree)
- Sugar Glider (Yagga Tree)
- Bearded Dragon (Homestead)
- Parma Wallaby (W. Walkaround)
- Swamp Wallaby (W. Walkaround)
- Emu (W. Walkaround, near train station)
- Lorikeets (Aviary, replaced by Bugideers in 2024)
- Camels (Could be ridden in the small ring next to the barn)
- Echida (Gumleaf Hideout)
- Rat Kangaroo (Gumleaf Hideout)
Click to expand...
When did the last animals leave the Yagga Tree?
 
mwalle09 said:
It could use it. I think how the original Australian exhibit was designed shifted considerably after they had to fence in the wallabies and kangaroos. They've never quite recovered and since then there are more immersive exhibits that opened up. Tackling the Rainforest was obviously needed and if they felt that that exhibit needed a major renovation and addition then it would only make sense for them to think about Australia. I know one thing I've always found hard about it is the large hill in the middle. It just separates so much and that backside along the road seems dead no matter what. They are working on something by the old Lorikeet Landing, new building but don't think it is an exhibit. If they could revamp Australia with the animals they had and added a few others, it could work but definitely needs work and won't happen for a number of years.
Click to expand...

Agreed Australia definitely needs a major refresh, but like you said it’s going to years before it happens, as I think after Primate Forest and the rest of the Rainforest expansion is finished, they are probably going to turn their attention to PCA, the North American bears, and some stuff in African Savannah before they pay any attention to Australia
 
Matthew Typpo said:
Agreed Australia definitely needs a major refresh, but like you said it’s going to years before it happens, as I think after Primate Forest and the rest of the Rainforest expansion is finished, they are probably going to turn their attention to PCA, the North American bears, and some stuff in African Savannah before they pay any attention to Australia
Click to expand...
Next is Cheetahs, possibly next year. I imagine PC&A will also receive attention once the Gorillas are off the hill.
 
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EagleScout610 said:
Species lost in Australia:

- Woma Python (Yagga Tree, actually escaped and drowned in the pond Wooly Bill is in)
- Cane Toad (Yagga Tree)
- Sugar Glider (Yagga Tree)
- Bearded Dragon (Homestead)
- Parma Wallaby (W. Walkaround)
- Swamp Wallaby (W. Walkaround)
- Emu (W. Walkaround, near train station)
- Lorikeets (Aviary, replaced by Bugideers in 2024)
- Camels (Could be ridden in the small ring next to the barn)
- Echida (Gumleaf Hideout)
- Rat Kangaroo (Gumleaf Hideout)
Click to expand...
Oh my, that is ... a serious downgrading. Seeing the kangaroo exhibit is so depressing and makes for a rather picture imperfect Austalia Experience.
 
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