Akron Zoo Akron Zoo News 2014

From the zoo's facebook page:

"It is with great sadness that the Akron Zoo announces the passing of their male sloth bear, Sakar. The Animal Care Department had recently noticed a change in Sakar’s behavior and noticed he had also become jaundiced. He was transferred to the Animal Hospital today for diagnostics and exploratory surgery. During the exam, it was discovered that Sakar had cancer in his liver and stomach. Because of the severity of the diagnosis and the inoperability of the tumors, the zoo had to make the difficult decision to euthanize Sakar. Sakar was born December 29, 2004 and has been with the Akron Zoo since June 4, 2014. The zoo’s female sloth bear, Keesha, will be on exhibit daily."
 
blospz said:
From the zoo's facebook page:

"It is with great sadness that the Akron Zoo announces the passing of their male sloth bear, Sakar. The Animal Care Department had recently noticed a change in Sakar’s behavior and noticed he had also become jaundiced. He was transferred to the Animal Hospital today for diagnostics and exploratory surgery. During the exam, it was discovered that Sakar had cancer in his liver and stomach. Because of the severity of the diagnosis and the inoperability of the tumors, the zoo had to make the difficult decision to euthanize Sakar. Sakar was born December 29, 2004 and has been with the Akron Zoo since June 4, 2014. The zoo’s female sloth bear, Keesha, will be on exhibit daily."
Click to expand...

This has broken my heart because Keesha was getting along with him so much better than Balawat. My heart goes out to his keepers and to Keesha, of course. RIP Sakar.
 
Freedom, the zoo's only remaining barking deer, died on July 24th. She was born on 9/11/2001. The exhibit is currently empty.
 
SamMetz said:
I can't remember what happened to the others. I assuming the male and other female have also passed?:confused:
Click to expand...

The male was Englebert, Freedom's father. I assumed that he died in the last year when he was no longer on exhibit because Freedom would have been 13 yesterday. I have no idea how old Englebert was, but he was older than Freedom. Barking deers can live into their late-teens, so Englebert was most likely getting old.

There was a time when a barking deer was being held in the former gibbon exhibit, but assume it moved to another zoo because that was at least a year ago before a pair of white storks moved in there. This area has been closed off again and is not being used as of a month ago.
 
TigerValley98 said:
The male was Englebert, Freedom's father. I assumed that he died in the last year when he was no longer on exhibit because Freedom would have been 13 yesterday. I have no idea how old Englebert was, but he was older than Freedom. Barking deers can live into their late-teens, so Englebert was most likely getting old.

There was a time when a barking deer was being held in the former gibbon exhibit, but assume it moved to another zoo because that was at least a year ago before a pair of white storks moved in there. This area has been closed off again and is not being used as of a month ago.
Click to expand...

I wonder what they'll do with the exhibit. Theres not a lot you can do with it, other than more Barking Deer. Orrr maybe give Zheng more room and get him a female red panda to form a breeding pair. If he is SSP approved.;)
 
Boo at the Zoo tickets are now on sale! Get them for a discounted price if you purchase them before Oct. 11. Boo at the runs October 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26. New hours - 11:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. For more details visit www.akronzoo.org
 
One of the Asian cave snakes has been placed in an aquarium inside of its exhibit because it is not big enough for its exhibit yet. The exhibit formerly had a male red-tailed boa in it.
 
cloudedleopard said:
What ever happened to the red-tailed boa?
Click to expand...

I believe he may have died. The exhibit has been closed this summer while alterations take place. I also believe that the new residents, the Asian cave snakes, are youngsters and the zoo wants them to be bigger before they are allowed in the exhibit. The one that is out now in an aquarium is still small.
 
The following was posted by the zoo as a response to a Throwback Thursday photo the zoo posted of baby elephant Ebenezer who lived at the zoo in the early 1970s. I thought it may give a glimpse of what the zoo is looking at for the future:

“The Akron Zoo prides itself on an up close and personal animal experience for our visitors. We are working on new exhibits in the future which will provide experiences with larger animals, however, the planning process is extensive and the management of many of the mega-mammals can be costly. The zoo very cautiously approaches every new animal acquisition and exhibit to make sure we can safely deliver an up close and personal experience while being good stewards of our resources.”

https://www.facebook.com/AkronZoo/p...65/10152412411430866/?type=1&relevant_count=1
 
TigerValley98 said:
The following was posted by the zoo as a response to a Throwback Thursday photo the zoo posted of baby elephant Ebenezer who lived at the zoo in the early 1970s. I thought it may give a glimpse of what the zoo is looking at for the future:

“The Akron Zoo prides itself on an up close and personal animal experience for our visitors. We are working on new exhibits in the future which will provide experiences with larger animals, however, the planning process is extensive and the management of many of the mega-mammals can be costly. The zoo very cautiously approaches every new animal acquisition and exhibit to make sure we can safely deliver an up close and personal experience while being good stewards of our resources.”

https://www.facebook.com/AkronZoo/p...65/10152412411430866/?type=1&relevant_count=1
Click to expand...

In my opinion Akron needs to focus on iconic species in which Cleveland (Big Brother) does not have.Chimps/Bonobos or Hippos/Pygmy Hippo would be ideal.The only dedicated geographic zones in Cleveland are Africa and Australia.That being said Akron could choose to focus on an immersive multi species such as Asia or South America.

Team Tapir223
 
TeamTapir223 said:
In my opinion Akron needs to focus on iconic species in which Cleveland does not have. Chimps/Bonobos or Hippos/Pygmy Hippo would be ideal. The only dedicated geographic zones in Cleveland are Africa and Australia. That being said Akron could choose to focus on an immersive multi-species such as Asia or South America.

Team Tapir223
Click to expand...

New tiger and lion exhibits are likely coming soon because we need bigger exhibits for breeding. I would prefer Sumatran or Bornean orangutans or gorillas than chimpanzees. I think bonobos would be harder to get. Akron could have Africa or Australia exhibits. They can have a wallaby walkabout where you can actually get near the wallabies and kangaroos for example. I do not think because Cleveland has something, Akron should not get the same thing. If Akron can display a species in a different (and closer) way, they should do it if they are able to do so.
 
If they get rid of Lehner Family Zoo Gardens (takes up a lot of space and is useless) they would have room for a wallaby walkthrough or some wallabies in pens. I don't mean koalas or anything like Cleveland, Columbus, or SD. I know wallabies are easy to get. Australia or Africa, or maybe reviving Wild Prairie should be the next project for Akron. They should restock the dome by the snowy and burrowing owls and put prairie dogs there. There would be plenty of room for armadillos, thick-billed parrots, or even bison if they utilize the Prairie Picnic Area/bison cutout/barn/Frontier Town area. Akron Zoo used to have chimpanzees in the 50s and early 60s, so they should get chimpanzees back.
 
Only the old pony barn area needs to be redone in Wild Prairie. Wild Prairie is more or less an extension of Grizzly Ridge anymore. The gardens are here to stay. It is popular with the members and guests because there are no public gardens in Akron besides Stan Hywet. It is also used for weddings, wedding photos, and other events. The house across the old Perkins Park Drive from the zoo has an historic carriage house on it and the property has been willed to the zoo in the future. It will become part of the Lehner Family Zoo Gardens someday. The zoo's chairman said recently the zoo has around 15 to 20 acres that have not been used, so there is no need to get rid of the gardens. Grizzly Ridge only uses a small piece of this land. The zoo is already evaluating this area for the next major expansion. Tiger Valley will also been renovated at some point in the future.
 
Akron Zoo Announces New CEO

After an extensive nationwide search, the Akron Zoo Board of Directors announces the selection of Doug Piekarz as its new President & CEO. Piekarz will start in his new position January 1, 2015. In Piekarz's 17 years at the Akron Zoo, he has held various positions including four years in his current position as Vice President of Planning & Conservation. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Rutgers University and a Masters of Science degree in biology, ecology and evolution from Montclair State University. He has 27 years of experience in the zoological industry starting his career at the Wildlife Conservation Society and Bronx Zoo. "I am humbled by the Board of Directors confidence in me to lead the Akron Zoo," commented Piekarz. "I look forward to keeping the Akron Zoo as a leader in conservation as well as a thriving asset for our community. I am excited to continue to work along side such a talented and dedicated group of staff and volunteers."

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact...547e4&ch=95afc3a0-5350-11e3-99dd-d4ae527547e4
 
TigerValley98 said:
Akron Zoo Announces New CEO

After an extensive nationwide search, the Akron Zoo Board of Directors announces the selection of Doug Piekarz as its new President & CEO. Piekarz will start in his new position January 1, 2015. In Piekarz's 17 years at the Akron Zoo, he has held various positions including four years in his current position as Vice President of Planning & Conservation. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Rutgers University and a Masters of Science degree in biology, ecology and evolution from Montclair State University. He has 27 years of experience in the zoological industry starting his career at the Wildlife Conservation Society and Bronx Zoo. "I am humbled by the Board of Directors confidence in me to lead the Akron Zoo," commented Piekarz. "I look forward to keeping the Akron Zoo as a leader in conservation as well as a thriving asset for our community. I am excited to continue to work along side such a talented and dedicated group of staff and volunteers."

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact...547e4&ch=95afc3a0-5350-11e3-99dd-d4ae527547e4
Click to expand...

This doesn't really give a flavor of Doug. First of all, the new Director of the Akron Zoo is an animal person (not an MBA). He has worked with several of the best zoo directors of the past fifty years. The renaissance of this zoo will no doubt continue under his leadership
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top