I guess those chairlift-type skyrides are the latest rage. I first saw one at Wildlife World Zoo (Arizona) a few years ago, then after that at Lowry Park Zoo (Florida). Although I didn't ride them, they look like fun, but I can't help but feel having kids on a precarious seat like that high above the ground is just a terrible accident waiting to happen... (Of course it will really be interesting if some zoo decides to "up the ante" by having one go over a lion or tiger exhibit instead of just hoofstock).
I personally prefer the one at San Diego Zoo that's been there for years - enclosed buckets, not just a chairlift.
As a photographer I enjoy any ride which gives me a good vantage point, but as a zoo enthusiast I worry about the potential lawsuits and safety of these rides too. I also prefer that rides like this do not directly cross animal exhibits.
This particular skyride predates nearly all of the ones popping up everywhere now. It's been there since the 1970s, and I've never heard of anyone falling or jumping off, which is actually fairly remarkable given that this IS the Bay Area! If I'm remembering right, it goes directly over a tiger exhibit....
Actually, after Christmas Day 2007 Oakland staff hastily added about 2 extra feet to the perimeter fence, as their tiger exhibit barrier was well under AZA recommendations, too!
This chairlift will soon be replaced by a monorail that will take visitors up the hill to a completely new exhibit area featuring species native to California (some historically), including California condors, mountain lions, wolves (the first wild wolf in 70+ years showed up in California in 2011), grizzlies, and jaguars.
The camels now have a much larger exhibit up the hill.
