San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego Zoo Safari Park History
- Thread starter Ituri
- Start date
Yes I remember seeing pygmy hippos in the large lake years ago.
The oldest park souvenir guidebook I own was published in 1991 and it shows pygmy hippo. The next park guidebook I own was published in 2000 and it makes no mention of them.
So they stopped some time in the 1990's, sorry I cannot be more specific.
Sadly it is many years since I was last in San Diego so I cannot comment from personal experience.
However, after browsing through the Pygmy Hippopotamus Studbook (2008 edition) I cannot find any record of pygmy hippos in the San Diego Wild Animal Park after 1996.
@Jambo: Oh my god, those good old days! Seeing the now closed WGASA running is kind of heartbreaking. On the other hand it is interesting to see, how the landscape has changed since. Specially the pedestrian parts of the park. They are now full of lush vegetation instead of sand and rocks as they were before. And funny, how the moderator was acting. Well, that were the 70ies where everything went a little more cozy
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Zoo adventures
Well-Known Member
I am searching about Zoo Granby's history and discovered that a black rhino went to San Diego safari park and was exchanged with a giraffe. Later, he went to Cadwell Zoo, produced a calf in 2003, and died in 2013. I want to know if he produced a calf in the San Diego safari park? He was born on December 11 1979 in Granby, Sire? Dam ?. Then transferred to SDZ in March 1981 and then to SDZ-SP in May 1983.
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According to the book "The Rhinoceros in Captivity" (Rookmaaker; 1998), "Cornelius" was born at Granby on 11th December 1979; parents "Bulley" and "Suzie".
The book records that "Cornelius" fathered four calves at San Diego Wild Animal Park:
"Jioni" born 12th September 1988
"Nakili" born 25th February 1990
"Jimma" born 29th November 1990
still born calf 1st December 1992
Zoo adventures
Well-Known Member
Thank you for this information. I do not know if you can find. Is the dam and the sire wildborn?
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Unfortunately I don't have a copy of the Black Rhinoceros Studbook as that would probably answer your latest question.
Frustratingly Rookmaaker's book doesn't state whether or not they were wild born. I suspect they probably were wild born otherwise, if they were captive bred, Rookmaaker would probably know the details about when and where they were born.
Seanamhach
Member
I don’t think the Bronx monorail, or "Asia Tram", whatever it’s called, can ever hold a candle to that of the old school SD Wild Animal Park. I mean, the biggest feat with the Bronx Zoo is how they’re able to fit everything into the Bronx, period. That is incredible. I’ve lived in NYC, so I know! But if I recall correctly, the Asia Tram is one-sided, with the seats facing to the left only… so it’s already limited in that regard. But again, it’s amazing they even have that in the middle of the Bronx. It just doesn’t compare to the nearly hour-long, super informative, classic Wgasa Bush Line tour! I miss that!
I miss Wgasa too. However: I must confess that a "train on tires" (better descriptions are welcome) like at San Diego Wild Animal Park, sorry, cough, Safari Park, would be a good solution for Bronx Zoo as well. Afaik it is much cheaper then a classic monorail (long term) and I think it should be possible for Bronx Zoo to exchange the tracks into a paved path (and bridges). That would also leave the option to give visitors access to those roads to do the loop by foot (theoretically).
By the way: When I was visiting San Diego SP/WAP in the past, I did always two rides or more each visit with the WGASA. And I was always satisfied with what I have seen. Many animals were close by or at least in "photo distance". The only complain was that sometimes the ride was a little too fast.
By the way: When I was visiting San Diego SP/WAP in the past, I did always two rides or more each visit with the WGASA. And I was always satisfied with what I have seen. Many animals were close by or at least in "photo distance". The only complain was that sometimes the ride was a little too fast.
MisfortuneCookie
New Member
I know this thread is old but, does anyone have any sort of collection of maps from the SDSP over the years? I think it's a good way of showing how much things have changed, but I don't have more than a single map I've kept.