Jul. 2013 - African Plains + African Lion Exhibits

Moebelle · 5 Jul 2013

On June 29 the zoo opened ts largest exhibit ever, Africa. Africa will will be an 8 acre complex featuring the wild beauties of the African Savannah.
2008: Phase 1: Giraffe Ridge - Masai Giraffes
2010: Phase 2: Cheetah Encounter + Greater Flamingo
2013: Phase 3: Lions + Cheetahs
2014: Phase 4: Grevy\\\'s Zebras/Giant Elands/Gazelles/Ostriches/Crowned Cranes/Marabou Stork + Vulutures
2015: Phase 5: African Wild Dogs + Red River Hogs + Nile Crocodiles + Hippopotamuses

snowleopard · 6 Jul 2013

I see that the zoo has included the fake weaver bird nests in this exhibit as well, and there is certainly a lot of what appears to be termite mounds. The landscaping is beautiful, the already infamous "vulture island" blends into the background, and the grass awaits being trampled by hoofstock!

jbnbsn99 · 6 Jul 2013

Why exactly is it going to take another year for this to open?

Moebelle · 6 Jul 2013

snowleopard said:
I see that the zoo has included the fake weaver bird nests in this exhibit as well, and there is certainly a lot of what appears to be termite mounds. The landscaping is beautiful, the already infamous "vulture island" blends into the background, and the grass awaits being trampled by hoofstock!

It certainly is breathtaking. The animals will feel so close. That's one of the only benefits of that terrible bird log exhibit. Hopefully as another member said that they may just be putting them there for nesting reasons. Vultures apparently do not have an issue with water, and the water that surrounds half the island is very shallow.

Moebelle · 6 Jul 2013

jbnbsn99 said:
Why exactly is it going to take another year for this to open?

The African Plains will have to open in 2014 because the fencing and holding areas are not finished. The zoo also does not have the elands, gazelles, and ostriches. They do have the Grevy's Zebras, crowned cranes, and vultures (off), however.

jbnbsn99 · 6 Jul 2013

Fencing, unless it is super fancy fencing, shouldn't take more than a week or so to do. I have a feeling that you will be seeing animals in here sooner than planed is the exhibit is already at this stage.

Moebelle · 6 Jul 2013

jbnbsn99 said:
Fencing, unless it is super fancy fencing, shouldn't take more than a week or so to do. I have a feeling that you will be seeing animals in here sooner than planed is the exhibit is already at this stage.

Well according to the map the viewing for the wild dogs will be literally right next to the plains. The viewing area wil be an elevated boardwalk, therefore that may be the hoofstock fencing as well.

Gulo gulo · 6 Jul 2013

the construction fence with green tarp on the far left is Phase V?

Moebelle · 6 Jul 2013

Gulo gulo said:
the construction fence with green tarp on the far left is Phase V?

Yes, beyond that fence will be wild dogs, red river hogs, Nile crocodiles, and hippopotamuses which will be finished in 2015.

ThylacineAlive · 7 Jul 2013

jbnbsn99 said:
Fencing, unless it is super fancy fencing, shouldn't take more than a week or so to do. I have a feeling that you will be seeing animals in here sooner than planed is the exhibit is already at this stage.

It gets very cold here in the winter so, by the time all the animals are at the zoo and everything is finished, it may be too cold to display anything.

~Thylo

Jul. 2013 - African Plains + African Lion Exhibits

Moebelle

snowleopard

jbnbsn99

Moebelle

Moebelle

jbnbsn99

Moebelle

Gulo gulo

Moebelle

ThylacineAlive

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