Depending on if you and Cincy go back more than 1-2 years, you might perhaps tell me where you feel it is heading rare species-wise please.
They certainly earn extra points if they are bringing in Aardwolves! The rarities in the Cat House have slowly been dying out; I saw a Pampas Cat there in 2003 but I understand this species is gone from the US now. The walruses had died a year or two before and the last Zebraduiker died around the time I was there, I saw the exhibit and it was still labelled but the small creature may well have been hiding in the tall grass.
For years it was more or less on par with San Diego in terms of rarities; SD only winning in terms of fame because it was the holiday spot 'Sunny San Diego', not a rainy, medium-sized 'fly-over' Great Lakes city. I've been wondering if I should go back to San Diego at some point; and I would if I was a millionare; but given the choice between making a return visit to either Cincy or San Diego, especially after seeing on photos how Elephant Odissey turned out, I'd take Cincy any day.
Depending on if you and Cincy go back more than 1-2 years, you might perhaps tell me where you feel it is heading rare species-wise please.
They certainly earn extra points if they are bringing in Aardwolves! The rarities in the Cat House have slowly been dying out; I saw a Pampas Cat there in 2003 but I understand this species is gone from the US now. The walruses had died a year or two before and the last Zebraduiker died around the time I was there, I saw the exhibit and it was still labelled but the small creature may well have been hiding in the tall grass.
For years it was more or less on par with San Diego in terms of rarities; SD only winning in terms of fame because it was the holiday spot 'Sunny San Diego', not a rainy, medium-sized 'fly-over' Great Lakes city. I've been wondering if I should go back to San Diego at some point; and I would if I was a millionare; but given the choice between making a return visit to either Cincy or San Diego, especially after seeing on photos how Elephant Odissey turned out, I'd take Cincy any day.
Rare species seem to come and go at the Cincinnati Zoo. The Sumatran Rhinos, Steller Sea Eagles, and Manatees are really the only ones that haven't shifted. Some of the rarer species have vanished from the collection while others have popped up in their place. We have lost wonderful species including Philippine Tarsiers, Elephant Shrews, Chinese Giant Salamanders, Aardwolves, Zebra Duikers, Asian Golden Cats, Marbled Cats, Pampas Cats, Giant Elands, and Bharal just to name a few. When in recent years, species like Tayras, Fossas, Cloud Rats, Przewalski's Horses, Congo Peafowl, Lesser Adjutants, Screaming Hairy Armadillos, Small Spotted Genets, Banded Palm Civets, and Keas have been brought in. The closing of the Cat House took out several rarer species of cats including Margays, Geoffroy's Cats, and Eurasian Lynx. The hoof-stock areas of the zoo are the areas that have really seen the lack of diversity in recent years. Damara Zebras were moved out for Grevy's Zebras, Mhorr Gazelles moved out for Slender-horns, Okapis have bounced around the zoo to make room for elephants and rhinos, and Emus have moved in and replaced the Tufted Deer that replaced the Zebra Duikers.
All in all, though a lot of Cincinnati's rarer species have left, they still have a better collection than most. I still think that the Cincinnati Zoo still cares about the lesser known species and the return of the Aardwolves, recent additions, and the plans for the African Savannah prove this. They still have three species of armadillos, three species of rhinos, three species of bears, 14 species of cats, and 23 species of primates. The collection just isn't what it used to be, like with most zoos.
Every year I make a rating of zoos based on selected by me the most attractive and rare animals. This year, my favorite Cincinnati zoo, unfortunately, only on 15th place. totalstatstars.asp
