Dallas Zoo Dallas Zoo Changes

cleusk

cleusk

Well-Known Member
I just learned that the Dallas Zoo will be getting rid of the Big Mammal building, which has been there since the 1960s. In its place, they're going to use the area for more picnic space. Not sure if they're going to keep the enclosures, or transfer the camels and rhino to another section.
 
Without the building, the camel and rhino enclosures cannot exist I believe. All of the holding area would be gone. I would still be interested to learn what if anything will happen to the old (now closed) hilltop exhibits. (Perhaps they will warehouse the camels and rhino up there or perhaps they will just ship them to other zoos).
 
From what I've heard, The Hill area is being used for storage and supplies. Oddly enough, the enclosures still exist.

During the Halloween celebration, the camel rides took place near the picnic area, located across from the administration building. So that may become their new home. Just speculation on my part.
 
They are currently crate training our male black rhinoceros, Moyo, I assume for a facility transfer under recommendation of the ssp. The yards and holding facilities on the hill have been demolished.

- the fossa are no longer on exhibit. Giant anteater are now exhibited in their place.
-the female harpy eagle, Kea, has been off exhibit for about a month. I am now speculating that she may have been sent to LA for rainforest of the America's as they just acquired a female harpy from an unknown source
-the elephant herd is fully integrated and introductions to the giraffe continues
-an area of WOA has been cleared (next to the saddle billed stork) for what appears to be designated for future development
-warthog and red river hog enclosures in GOTS are off exhibit as their exhibit is being renovated (the main change is the additions of tunnels)
 
loxodontaafrica said:
-the female harpy eagle, Kea, has been off exhibit for about a month. I am now speculating that she may have been sent to LA for rainforest of the America's as they just acquired a female harpy from an unknown source
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The last time Kea was off-exhibit for a long time, it was because of some sickness. Don't know if that's the case now. But that seems, at least to me, the likelier scenario.
 
jbnbsn99 said:
It won't be. That zoo doesn't care about collection.
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Don't forget that the city council still funds half the zoo costs. As anyone who lives in Dallas knows, the city council has less competence than the guy selling snow cones in the Antarctic.
 
cleusk said:
Don't forget that the city council still funds half the zoo costs. As anyone who lives in Dallas knows, the city council has less competence than the guy selling snow cones in the Antarctic.
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The council is now pretty much hands-off in zoo operations. It's not the council you should worry about anyway. When you have a zoo run by a guy trained in flipping burgers...

Let's just say, don't expect great things.
 
Hmm...a "new phase" that marks the removal of a prominent animal exhibit in favor of something that can be found in any city park in the country may not be something to go shouting on about.
 
I'm baffled by this decision. The western side of Zoo North is turning into a barren wasteland of picnic tables.
 
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I'd have to agree with all of you on this. It makes no sense to turn this area into more picnic space. I wish they'd work on the collection instead of this. I would like to see more herds, more diversity in the ungulates.
 
This makes no sense to me from any angle. Unless it is only a short-term thing and they will build an exhibit or something else more worthwhile there in the future. They are not going to get more attendance because of the new picnic table exhibit. I would think that if anything, making this public would decrease attendance slightly if people know certain large animals they want to see are gone...
 
The more I think about this, the more boneheaded it appears. The large mammal area is located on a somewhat steep slope. Imagine all the potential accidents and lawsuits resulting from kids wanting to roll down the hill. Not to mention the difficulty of eating lunch on a slanted table.
 
I hate to say it but its just further evolution from Zoo to "upper class suburban housewives playdate place"
 
A picnic area is quite easy to convert into exhibit space further down the road. I think people may have forgotten that the zoo only completed Giant's of the Savanna in 2010. Unlike mega institutions like San Diego, Dallas is not able to complete large exhibit areas every one or two years. The current director may not have had initial credentials for being in his position. But he was the director of the neighboring Fort Worth zoo, which until he stepped down for the Dallas position was often applauded as a far superior facility.
 
I agree (and hope) that it is an interim step - just to clear the area for when they are ready to add a new exhibit. Those familiar with the zoo know there are two sides, separated by each other with a long tunnel under a road. If they were to shut down this old side entirely and only have the other side open (Wilds of Africa, Giants of the Savannah), it would still be an outstanding zoo - perhaps the best in the Southwest.

My personal hope would be to turn the old side into a strictly Asia theme - since they already have the relatively new and excellent tiger and otter exhibits.
 
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