Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Zoo next project

team tapir

team tapir

Well-Known Member
For those of you familar with the Cleveland Zoo I am wondering what you think should be the next major project.We have recently read that the two ideas that are being talked about are polar bears or a primate forest. We think they should build a primate forest to include gorillas,mandrills,chimps and other african primates.We would also like a madargascan area as the zoo already has a wide variety of lemurs,lorises and a fossa.In addition to these primates it would be nice to add a pymgy hippo and or red river hogs.

Team Tapir
 
I'd love to see a pygmy hippo, but my vote would be on the polar bear exhibit. Although it's definitely not one of the worst I've seen, it's not up to par with some more modern ones. Northern Trek starts out great with the Mexican Wolf cabin, but then there's the outdated bear grottoes that could use some sprucing. Though I did appreciate the Andean Bear exhibit had nice grass.
 
I think that instead of adding a major new area work should be done to link the existing areas. When I visited in March I felt like there were long walks between major areas with no exhibits. Walking from Africa to Northern Trek or Australia to Primate, Cat, Aquatics there are no animal exhibits at all. The long uphill deck walk provides scenic overlooks but exhibits could be intermixed here. Perhaps something like the Gibbon Ridge exhibit at the National Zoo. Gibbons have access to large netted enclosures on a hillside. This would keep the wooded feel of the uphill deck walk but would add something for visitors to look at. Also the Primate, Cat, and Aquatics building needs to be severely overhauled. The enclosures are basic at best and most seem very small. I would prefer to see more immersive exhibits instead of the current set-up where I feel like I am walking down a museum hallway.
 
The landscape at cleveland limits what can be done in certain areas,a gibbon ridge is not a bad idea but think it would be tough.Our idea for the Primate Forest would demolish the current primate building and utilize the entire surrounding area including the picnic area and food stand.There is no doubt this current building is substandard.

Team Tapir
 
The PC&A Building is very outdated indeed and was built in the 1970's. Although the bear exhibits are bad, they are not in as much of a need of renovation as the PC&A Building. None of our bears are breeders and exist solely for display purposes, while many of our primates are very prolific, and a better home for our bachelor troop of gorillas is severely needed. For this reason, an overhaul of the PC&A building should be the next project turning it into some kind of African forest, with various types of monkeys, chimps, and gorillas, and maybe even hoofstock/reptiles/etc. That indeed would make a great exhibit! After that, a North American Wilderness exhibit next to the Wolf Wilderness featuring Grizzly and Polar bears would make a great exhibit, and there would be plenty of space if the existing reindeer/camel exhibits were taken out. They take up way too much space and don't do much for the zoo visitor. These are just my personal hopes, but Cleveland certainly has a great exhibit in the making already, African Elephant Crossing, opening in just 10 months!
 
So if the African Forest is the way the zoo goes what would happen to all the animals in the current Primate, Cat, Aquatics building? Would they be redistributed throughout the zoo or would most be sent elsewhere? I could see the Cheetahs being incorporated into the savannah. I'd be interested for the zoo to acquire more bird species, so I'm glad to see that an aviary is being included in the new elephant exhibit complex.
 
Zoo Plantman that article is actually the basis of us starting this thread.They really can't go wrong with polar bears or primates but the one thing we totally disagree with is a train.This would be a complete waste of money considering the amount of animal exhibits that are in need of work.despite the zoos size we do not feel its too big to get around in a day unless you are completely lazy.Zoos such as Chicago Brookfield and Toronto are good examples of big zoos that do feel the need to shuttle people around on trains.We hope they are'nt really going to consider this.

Team Tapir
 
Fkalltheway the fish would have to be moved elsewhere along with the snow leopards and gorillas but alot of the smaller primates could be kept at the zoo in other areas such as The Rainforest.It would be nice if one of the bear grottos could be converted into a snow leopard enclosure.

Team Tapir
 
team tapir said:
.Zoos such as Chicago Brookfield and Toronto are good examples of big zoos that do feel the need to shuttle people around on trains.We hope they are'nt really going to consider this.

Team Tapir
Click to expand...

Actually Toronto does have something rather similar to a train but in my opinion much more cost effective....We have the Zoomobile, which is basically a tram which is small, but moves people around to many different sections of the zoo, it is an extra price and many people do seem to use it although i've never felt the need to do so before.

Now i've never been to the Ceveland Zoo, but i believe before adding new, the old should be renovated :) (Toronto is becoming very good at that lol)

Just my 2 cents

Zack :)
 
Actually you are right been to Toronto twice and consider it the best zoo in North America and just dont feel the need to use the train however the infrastructure of Toronto allows this train to run around the perimeter of the zoo this type of setup is not possible in Cleveland

Team Tapir
 
We recently talked to a primate keeper who has been in meetings about a new primate facility and one of the possible ideas being talked about is getting rid of The Metroparks Adminstration Building and closing the entire upper area of the zoo and using it for the horticuture department.The zoo would then develop a large area of Brookside Park into a Primate Forest type area.We aren't to crazy about this idea.We like the idea of getting rid of the admin building but would like to see primates stay in the upper area as its nostalgic to us growing here the gorillas,chimps and mandrill were my favorite animals at the zoo.I used to love the Primate Cat and Aquatics building as a kid and now its in much need of being replaced with a modern facility.The forested pinic area would be ideal for outdoor primate enclosures.What do some of you guys think?

Team Tapir
 
I haven't been there myself but judging on other reviews the primates need new exhibits ASAP. Cleveland has a large collection too, actually I'd rather see a primate forest based on no particular region just because the zoo already has many primates that need new exhibits, not just African ones. Plus so many zoos are constructing African exhibits now.
 
The more I think about this I think it was a mistake to build the Australian Adventure in 2000.While there is nothing wrong with the exhibit.it's very well done the problem is they spent 10 million dollars to improve the Children's Farm.At this time the zoo had many pressing needs Pachyderms,Bears and Primates all needed an overhaul and ten years later two of these three still do.The Aussie Adventure feautures more visitor amenities than it does animal and has now it has set the zoo back.I think the most frustrating thing of all is that alot of these decisions aren't made by animal experts but by stuffy rich folk on the zoologial society board.On the bright side at least Elephant Crossing is looking great and set to open in may.

Martin From Team Tapir
 
team tapir said:
The more I think about this I think it was a mistake to build the Australian Adventure in 2000.While there is nothing wrong with the exhibit.it's very well done the problem is they spent 10 million dollars to improve the Children's Farm.At this time the zoo had many pressing needs Pachyderms,Bears and Primates all needed an overhaul and ten years later two of these three still do.The Aussie Adventure feautures more visitor amenities than it does animal and has now it has set the zoo back.I think the most frustrating thing of all is that alot of these decisions aren't made by animal experts but by stuffy rich folk on the zoologial society board.On the bright side at least Elephant Crossing is looking great and set to open in may.

Martin From Team Tapir
Click to expand...

Zoo development is more complicated than simply up-grading less-than-ideal animal facilities.
Sometimes there are donors who are only interested in funding certain projects.
Sometimes there is a Community need for more or better visitor facilities or children's attractions.
Sometimes a "new" attraction would better serve the building of Membership or visitation than re-doing an old one.
If the zoo has government ties, it may even be that the governing bureaucrats will support this but not that.
In any case, animal experts are not the only ones to make the best decisions or set the priorities for an organization.
They are not the ones who will be paying to keep the place open.

"Aussie Adventure" is quite popular and that creates long term strategic advantages that can help the zoo raise funds for less popular projects down the road.

The life of a Zoo Director is not an easy one.
And in Cleveland, you have one of the best.
 
Zooplantman said:
Zoo development is more complicated than simply up-grading less-than-ideal animal facilities.
Sometimes there are donors who are only interested in funding certain projects.
Sometimes there is a Community need for more or better visitor facilities or children's attractions.
Sometimes a "new" attraction would better serve the building of Membership or visitation than re-doing an old one.
If the zoo has government ties, it may even be that the governing bureaucrats will support this but not that.
In any case, animal experts are not the only ones to make the best decisions or set the priorities for an organization.
They are not the ones who will be paying to keep the place open.

"Aussie Adventure" is quite popular and that creates long term strategic advantages that can help the zoo raise funds for less popular projects down the road.

The life of a Zoo Director is not an easy one.
And in Cleveland, you have one of the best.
Click to expand...

The problem for me is that I grew up during the Rainforest Embezzlement Scandal of the late 1980's.It took the zoo over 10 years to complete the project because of all the wrong doing.This has forever shaken my trust in upper management here in Cleveland and caused me to often question their motives.As far as Mr. Taylor goes I have met him several times,he is a very nice guy and I realize what a difficult job he has.I'll also admit that there is alot about what goes on behind the scenes that I don't understand and would like to know more about it.Zooplantman I respect and appriciate your professional opinion the subject.So the bottomline is that I love the Cleveland Zoo I grew up here and the only reason I criticize it so much is that I want it to improve.I believe it has the potential to become a worldclass zoo and hope they'll continue to strive towards this goal

Martin from Team Tapir
 
Perhaps you can at least take heart in this:
While many zoo directors are business leaders, financial people, or former politicians, (and many of them have become terrific and dedicated zoo directors!) Steve Taylor is an "animal man," a zoo director in the "old style."
 
According to multiple zoo sources it sounds like CMZ is leaning towards Primates to be the focal point of the zoo's next major project,however there is nothing official on this yet.

Team Tapir
 
team tapir said:
it sounds like CMZ is leaning towards Primates to be the focal point of the zoo's next major project
Team Tapir
Click to expand...

I certainly hope so. There is definitely a nice collection of primates to work with (especially if this would include the prosimians)...it's a shame that their all housed in the FAR outdated PCA building. I am also surprised that their hasn't been a push to redo the bear/cat enclosures in The Northern Trek, particularly considering the secondary zoo entrance that has been added (or renovated...maybe its just been so well hidden I haven't seen it for the last decade) in that area.

Cleveland has always been my "home" zoo, and I spend more time their than I'd openly admit in most circles. I have no major complaints with their collection, but the guest experience hasn't kept up with the times.
 
Hungry Hippo said:
I certainly hope so. There is definitely a nice collection of primates to work with (especially if this would include the prosimians)...it's a shame that their all housed in the FAR outdated PCA building. I am also surprised that their hasn't been a push to redo the bear/cat enclosures in The Northern Trek, particularly considering the secondary zoo entrance that has been added (or renovated...maybe its just been so well hidden I haven't seen it for the last decade) in that area.

Cleveland has always been my "home" zoo, and I spend more time their than I'd openly admit in most circles. I have no major complaints with their collection, but the guest experience hasn't kept up with the times.
Click to expand...

Cleveland is very aware of the condition of its bear/tiger grottoes in the northern trek area of the zoo.It just does not have the money to fix bears and primates at the same time.Not to say bears might yet win out first its just that recently those we have spoke to seem to be leaning towards primates.

As far as the secondary northern trek entrance it was built about 4 years ago to accommodate shuttles during the Fulton Road Bridge construction.It also currently serves as a zoo entrance during busy days when the zoo uses its overflow lots at Brookside Park.

Team Tapir
 
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