Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

For those interested in Gulf coast wildlife rescue the Pittsburgh Zoo is currently vying for the Pepsi Refresh Project award. Please vote for them till August 31, 2010 (currently ranked #1 in the 25k award).

Please follow the link: Give injured Gulf coast sea turtles a place to get wll at the Pgh Zoo | Gulf Pepsi Refresh Everything.

Thanks 1 zillion by all those unknown unwanted Gulf wildlife (that coastliners do not care for ... as happened with the Exxon Valdez too). Here is your chance to do gooder. :cool:
 
Similar to what Zoo Beauval is doing in France, Pittsburgh is building a elephant sperm bank, starting with wild bulls in South Africa (15). I'm guessing they are going to use this semen to impregnate the females at the zoo. Victoria, Savannah, and Moja (eventually Angelina and Zuri). Is there a time table for this? Because the sperm collection was announced last summer, same as Zoo Beauval (two of their elephants are already pregnant and due in 2012). Is the zoo wanting to get their females pregnant this way? Or am I reading way too far into this?
 
My wife and I were at the Pittsburgh Zoo in the summer last year (the after Rocky passed away, actually). We weren't terribly impressed...the bear area was a bit of a wasteland (possibly because of the recent loss), as was the African Savannah. We did enjoy the Aquarium quite a bit though.

We're going to be on a bit of a road trip that will pass through the area next month. This road trip will take us near a number of zoos which we have visited on more than one occasion, and we happen to have an extra day at our disposal. We're trying to decide if we should spend that day at one of several zoos we have been to multiple times and know we will enjoy, or if we should give Pittsburgh one more look. All Zoos have "off days," as we all know.

I'm hoping someone on the boards can offer some insight as to what Pittsburgh is like (recently) on normal basis.
 
Hungry Hippo said:
My wife and I were at the Pittsburgh Zoo in the summer last year (the after Rocky passed away, actually). We weren't terribly impressed...the bear area was a bit of a wasteland (possibly because of the recent loss), as was the African Savannah. We did enjoy the Aquarium quite a bit though.

We're going to be on a bit of a road trip that will pass through the area next month. This road trip will take us near a number of zoos which we have visited on more than one occasion, and we happen to have an extra day at our disposal. We're trying to decide if we should spend that day at one of several zoos we have been to multiple times and know we will enjoy, or if we should give Pittsburgh one more look. All Zoos have "off days," as we all know.

I'm hoping someone on the boards can offer some insight as to what Pittsburgh is like (recently) on normal basis.
Click to expand...

What are the other zoos you guys are looking to visit?

We visit the Pittsburgh zoo about 3 or 4 times a year its not the greatest zoo but not horrible either.Like you said the aquarium is their best exhibit as well as their childrens zoo.

Team Tapir
 
Our drive will take us through Columbus and Cincinnati, as well as Louisville.

The Louisville Zoo is already in the itinerary (we've never been, so that's a definite). We've been to Columbus and Cincy a good number of times...for us, its not a matter of if Pittsburgh would be better than either of the two - we aren't expecting that would be the case on its best day.

It's just that we know Columbus/Cincy well enough, and we know we'll be visit them plenty more times in the future. We're just debating if Pitt. is worth one another look or if our (unimpressive) experience was more or less par for the course in which case a second chance isn't the best way to spend our time.
 
Hungry Hippo said:
Our drive will take us through Columbus and Cincinnati, as well as Louisville.

The Louisville Zoo is already in the itinerary (we've never been, so that's a definite). We've been to Columbus and Cincy a good number of times...for us, its not a matter of if Pittsburgh would be better than either of the two - we aren't expecting that would be the case on its best day.

It's just that we know Columbus/Cincy well enough, and we know we'll be visit them plenty more times in the future. We're just debating if Pitt. is worth one another look or if our (unimpressive) experience was more or less par for the course in which case a second chance isn't the best way to spend our time.
Click to expand...
You might as well just stick to interstate 71 hit C-Bus Cincy Louisville then you could even throw in Nashville and Memphis all of which are better than Pittsburgh and half of which you have never been to

Team Tapir
 
kiang said:
Or perhaps with the new bull arriving from Dresden.
]
Click to expand...

No, Thabo Umsai is only five years old, and he is at the zoo not the international conservation center. Plus it was announced that Jackson would be bred with the botswana elephants in 60-90 days. All of this elephant activity in Pittsburgh is so exciting :D
 
I was wondering if the elephant enclosure would ever be expanded considering the herd just keeps growing over the years! If three calves (to Victoria, Savannah, and moja) are born, there will be pretty cramped space... Maybe they could make the zebra/antelope savannah mixed species with the female elephants? What do you think?
 
Pittsburgh just recently committed dollars to a major overhaul of its elephant barn which turned out pretty nice.Your idea of expanding the yard and mixing females with zebra/antelope probably should have been considered at that point.With two big projects already in the works (Veterinary facilty/Top of the World which includes snowleopards,Orangs and sloth bears)we doubt another elephant expansion would happen at this point.

Team Tapir
 
Went to the zoo today and got some new news. 1) One of the female gorillas is pregnant. 2) There will be no more leafy and weedy seadragon exhibit. They put two of there weedy seadragons in with the pot-bellied seahorses. The old exhibit will be home to a new animal. When and what animal it will be idk.3) The elephant they got from Germany Thabo Umasai is at the zoo but still behind the scenes :(.
 
I was supposed to go to the dentist today,but when the weather is in the mid 60's and sunny in the middle of winter I had no choice but to cancel that :).Going to make a visit to Pittsburgh instead.

Marty from Team Tapir
 
What a great day at Pitt Zoo.Mild winter days are the best for active animals and no crowds.

@Gorggrey The zoos two calves Zuri and Angelina were very active.As far as any plans such as pregnancies or acquisitions we were unable to talk with any one at the elephant exhibit.

The construction on the Vet hospital is looking good workers were installing roof shingles today.Its kind of a shame that the building is located directly behind the gorillas outdoor yard taking away a forested back drop and thus giving an already average at best exhibit a even less natural look.

Out of the 4 original bear grottoes (possibly the worst in the country)only one had a bear on exhibit a north american black bear.The other grottoes looked like they had not housed bears in quite some time.Does any one know how many bears are currently residing in Pittsburgh (excluding polar bears who have a modern exhibit)Perhaps its time for a bull dozer.

Team Tapir
 
I would be curious to know how many bears they had as well. I think I read somewhere they just sent their Andean Bear to another zoo recently. With Rocky gone, I believe the Black Bear(s) would be the only one(s) left.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top