San Diego Zoo future Panda exhibit

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sandiegomaster

Well-Known Member
I'm surprised that this hasn't been posted yet but if you read the President's note in the zoonooz (if you get the San Diego zoonooz), it outlines the two year plan to change the panda exhibit. The plan includes adding a new Chinese wildlife walk with authentic elements along the trail. It will include takins, red pandas, mangshan pit viper, and red-crowned cranes along with the pandas. Sights will include stands of bamboo, stone bridges, and a small village with a panda field research camp providing interactive opportunities for guest and a glimpse into the life of pandas.
 
I just got my Zoonooz today and I think that will be pretty cool, especially seeing the Takin in a more beautiful and more thematically appropriate area instead of being up by the Polar Bears. The Red Pandas too could user a nicer more photogenic exhibit as well.
 
I think it's a very good idea especially when you compare San Diego's panda exhibit with the National Zoo's, which from a purely aesthetic point of view is vastly superior in my opinion.
 
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Glad to hear this, always thought that the enclosures were rather small for Giant Panda personally.
 
mweb08 said:
Very good news although not my first choice for something to be re-done at SD Zoo.
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I agree with you there, there are plenty of exhibits that need attention. Although, San Diego's panda exhibit is a disgrace for the zoo with the best track record breeding them. Good thing about this exhibit is that it will probably generate a lot of support and attention for the Zoo. The new Tiger at the WAP hasn't been such a big deal lately (so much for marketing huh?), but I am really sure that when this exhibit surfaces, there will be a huge interest in it. Given the exhibit will probably be a disappointment for most of us here due to the direction that San Diego has been going. I'd love to be proven wrong though.
 
After recently visiting the zoo, I'd say that while the new exhibit is not very ambitious, it is a big upgrade, especially for the red pandas who now have a very good exhibit rather than their former awful one. The takin exhibit is solid and it's nice to see them in a themed exhibit. I really liked the viper exhibit as well. Lastly, a big plus is the elimination of the big line to get into the panda exhibit, which was annoying.
 
mweb08 said:
After recently visiting the zoo, I'd say that while the new exhibit is not very ambitious, it is a big upgrade, especially for the red pandas who now have a very good exhibit rather than their former awful one. The takin exhibit is solid and it's nice to see them in a themed exhibit. I really liked the viper exhibit as well. Lastly, a big plus is the elimination of the big line to get into the panda exhibit, which was annoying.
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If you look at the comments attached to the photos of the takin exhibit in the gallery, you will find no one else here thinks it is solid. Most people, myself included, find it hugely disappointing (and yes I have seen it in person).
 
Arizona Docent said:
If you look at the comments attached to the photos of the takin exhibit in the gallery, you will find no one else here thinks it is solid. Most people, myself included, find it hugely disappointing (and yes I have seen it in person).
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Are there ANY great takin exhibits in the zoo world? All the ones that I've seen are pretty much the same: dusty and/or muddy yards with room for the takins to roam about and various enrichment items for them to bash around. By this definition what isn't solid about the new takin exhibit in the panda complex?

Is there a leopard habitat going into the panda complex as was originally announced? It wasn't there when I visited in March. If it is there, is it a decent leopard exhibit?
 
DavidBrown said:
Are there ANY great takin exhibits in the zoo world? All the ones that I've seen are pretty much the same: dusty and/or muddy yards with room for the takins to roam about and various enrichment items for them to bash around. By this definition what isn't solid about the new takin exhibit in the panda complex?

Is there a leopard habitat going into the panda complex as was originally announced? It wasn't there when I visited in March. If it is there, is it a decent leopard exhibit?
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The original press release was unfortunately worded. The new leopard exhibit was not for Panda Trek, but is the new "Chinese Leopard" exhibit in the African Kopje.

I personally would have liked to see the takins given the entire hillside (or at least more of it).
 
Arizona Docent said:
If you look at the comments attached to the photos of the takin exhibit in the gallery, you will find no one else here thinks it is solid. Most people, myself included, find it hugely disappointing (and yes I have seen it in person).
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Well if we are to go by popularity, I guess you should admit that CA is the best state for zoos. ;)

Solid is not really much of a compliment. I think it is solid as it has a decent amount of space, good viewing, nice signage, is part of a themed exhibit instead of just randomly placed, and it has a good group of takin including young ones.
 
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