Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Columbus Zoo News - 2012

gerenuk said:
I wasn't looking at the roads at all. I know the zoo doesn't own much to the East of this development. However they own a lot to the immediate North and South of this area. Of course, most of the zoo's service areas are to the West. Unless they plan on relocating its service facilities somewhere and then expanding onto this property. Expanding Safari Africa to the South would make the most sense. However in past masterplans this area was for South America or Madagascar.

Expansion to the North also makes a lot of sense, but only if the remaining phases were viewed only from a safari truck/van ride. In my opinion, it wouldn't be wise or fiscally responsible to spends millions on this exhibit to later place a path straight through the middle of the new exhibit to reach any further phased expansions of Safari Africa.
Click to expand...

Do you or does anyone else thinks its possible that they have abandoned the idea of multiple phases for the savannah?Past rumors have included African Elephants,Nile Hippos,Gorillas,Black Rhinos and even a hotel.Perhaps they are going with a much simpler plan.

Team Tapir
 
team tapir said:
Do you or does anyone else thinks its possible that they have abandoned the idea of multiple phases for the savannah?Past rumors have included African Elephants,Nile Hippos,Gorillas,Black Rhinos and even a hotel.Perhaps they are going with a much simpler plan.

Team Tapir
Click to expand...

The layout shown really seems to limit possibilities for future extensions or expansions. It also curiously restricts the use of the rear savanna hoofstock areas for anything other than serving as a scenic backdrop for lions and giraffes at a feeding deck.
 
The only thing i can see them expanding with is adding more animals to the exhibits being built. Or thinking about rotating animals like African Wild dogs and cheetahs ssince the cheetahs travel with the zoo sometimes. Even if they got more animals but not make it large I would consider this a giant blunder I loved the columbus zoo and was so excited for this exhibit but know this makes me sad. Can't thay replace the camels with something else? I think that any animal would be better for this exhibit it would be benifical for the visitors (most peope would rather see a rare animal than a boring camel) and the camels (so the camels won't have to give rides to anoying people).
 
Last edited:
Now to end the speculations:
What is shown in the rendering is the entire Safari Africa exhibit, however it is likely that it will still open in phases as each individual exhibit is completed. In a direct quote from the customer contact associate:
What is shown in the new edition of the Beastly Banner is the current model of the entire region. Since we are finally down to the last planning stages, it is highly unlikely that we will further modify this rendering. It is still likely however that the region will be opened in phases as each exhibit is completed.
Click to expand...
 
With so much hype surrounding this project ,what is being portrayed here is a bit disappointing hopefully we are wrong and the savannah is an incredible addition to Columbus.Our biggest problem is that it would appear a Nile Hippo exhibit is no longer an option.

Team Tapir
 
team tapir said:
With so much hype surrounding this project ,what is being portrayed here is a bit disappointing hopefully we are wrong and the savannah is an incredible addition to Columbus.Our biggest problem is that it would appear a Nile Hippo exhibit is no longer an option.

Team Tapir
Click to expand...

Do we have something like a species road map?
What is this speculation re black rhinos not included (I thought these were at the helm of the Columbus Zoo)?
 
Well, what's really the point in building a massive, large-scale African Savanna exhibit at the zoo, when you manage a 10,000 acre exotic wildlife preserve just an hour down the road.
 
That is the only reson I did not go t the wilds because I was only staying their for two days and I went to the zoo for two days since it is large. The Wilds may not be 2 and a half hours and only be 2 hours but definitly more than 1 hour.
 
TropicWorld54 said:
That is the only reson I did not go t the wilds because I was only staying their for two days and I went to the zoo for two days since it is large. The Wilds may not be 2 and a half hours and only be 2 hours but definitly more than 1 hour.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear that. Growing up as a child, the nearest zoo to me was over 200 miles away. So driving a few hours or so, doesn't seem that extreme to me.
 
well does anyone know how many black rhinos they have? and how old? maybe this could be the answer to why there not included in the new exhibit. like cleveland zoo still has blackie the hippo but in a retirement exhibit in the giraffe barn.
 
There are 0.2 eastern black rhinoceroses left at the Columbus Zoo: Kulinda Kifaru (24), and Rosie (22).
 
I visited the Columbus Zoo today. A few observations:

-no visible construction on Safari Africa from inside the zoo
-Stingray Bay is not open yet (signs said expect mid-June). Also, this attraction requires an additional fee- $3 for non-members and $2 for zoo members.
-Jack Hanna was at the zoo today!

I posted some pictures of the Stingray Bay exhibit on my blog including the Columbus Zoo 2012 map so you can see where exactly it is located.
 
Brookfield Zoo has a stingray bay also and it is a bit disapointing. It also cost money there and I have only done it once and when I did it the area was very crowded. Brookfield Zoo changes it up a little including having sharks one year. A couple of years ago 16 stingrays died because of a life support malfunction: http://www.zoochat.com/22/16-stingrays-dead-21358/
 
Matoke, the male okapi calf, has started to spend time out in one of the okapi yards with his mother.
 
Amnesiac said:
I visited the Columbus Zoo today.
Click to expand...

Coincidentally, so did I. Do you know why Jack Hanna was there? I happened to see him zip by in a golf cart on my way over to Asia Quest.

What did you think of the renovated Asian aviary? This was the first time I'd been up there since it opened, but unfortunately I didn't get much time for it. Not even sure how many species are in there now. Definitely more than pheasants now though. Nice to get a good look at the Reeve's Muntjac for once.

Kudu21 said:
Matoke, the male okapi calf, has started to spend time out in one of the okapi yards with his mother.
Click to expand...
Aw... We didn't get a chance to go back to the Africa rainforest section today. I'll have to make another trip up soon to see the Matoke.
 
Did you take any photos of the new aviary? Wasn't there muntjac by the entrance of Asia Quest and if there was what replaced them I know that they had another species of small asian hoofstock by there so did they get acess to the entire area.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top