I last visited the Calgary Zoo in August of 2006, and I can honestly say that this African wild dog enclosure is immensely disappointing. The photo doesn't show the entire scope of the exhibit, but it is far too small and barren for the pack of dogs that live at the zoo.
The Calgary Zoo will no longer be exhibiting African wild dogs. According to the CAZA/AZA special review, "the African wild dog exhibit is a significant problem and the Zoo has been unable to manage the population for a considerable period of time". Recently, an individual was severely injured.
Four of the African wild dogs have already been shipped off and the other two will also be moved shortly. I am unsure what animals might replace them in this exhibit. The zookeeper staff do not currently wish to increase the animal population at the Zoo.
It is interesting to note that this area of Destination Africa was originally intended to be an extension of the outdoor gorilla exhibit. Later on in the planning/construction stages it was decided that sitatunga should be exhibited here. Sitatunga were never acquired. When Destination Africa first opened East African grey-crowned crane were exhibited here. Later, African wild dogs moved in. The decision to display African wild dogs here appears to have been a result of the Calgary Zoo's poor institutional collection planning.
