When was the exhibit changed to allow for capybaras to occupy it? Do you know what animal enclosures were altered when the zoo was closed for 2 years (2008-10) before it re-opened after $70 million in improvements?
When was the exhibit changed to allow for capybaras to occupy it? Do you know what animal enclosures were altered when the zoo was closed for 2 years (2008-10) before it re-opened after $70 million in improvements?
The capybaras replaced the sea lions when the last sea lion died in the early 2000s I think. The main zoo did not change a great deal when the renovations were made. The main zoo changes were the construction of the upper zoo area (the new barn area for the domestic animals, the new red-ruffed lemur exhibit and playground, and the new parma wallaby exhibit). The domestic animals, red-ruffed lemurs, and wallabies were all in the lower zoo before the renovation.
Much of the renovation was in the theme park section of Happy Hollow, which was charming but decrepit, not having been changed much since the 1970s. Now it is like a small-scale Disneyland.
Some of the changes made in the zoo during the renovation were the addition of the foosa, Chacoan peccaries, and squirrel monkeys. The peccaries are in the old pygmy hippo exhibit. The pygmy hippo left in the early 1990s to go to another zoo with hippos. The fossa lives in what used to be a fishing cat exhibit. The squirrel monkeys are in the old red-ruffed lemur cage (I think).
The jaguar exhibit, capuchin cage, ring-tailed and black and white lemur exhibits, spurred tortoise, and fennec fox exhibits were all left intact during the renovation.
In a time long, long ago (1976) when I first visited Happy Hollow as a kid the zoo had a baby African elephant, chimpanzee, black bear cubs, a lion, giant tortoises (not sure if Galapagos or Aldabra), and an exhibit of domestic dogs that kids could play with (dachsunds I think, but not sure). I remember the dog exhibit well, because it is still the only dog exhibit that I have seen in a zoo (not counting the dog that keeps the cheetahs company at San Diego Zoo). They had no giraffes, which was what I REALLY wanted to see. I had a strange giraffe obsession then, but fortunately it went away (or did it?).
This is probably much more information then you wanted, but you got me remembering a happy memory from my youth.
I also remember this zoo from the 70s. It was not too impressive then. I also recall it's former director--Peter Batten--wrote a pretty harsh anti-zoo book around the same time: "Living Trophies" or something to that effect.
I also remember this zoo from the 70s. It was not too impressive then. I also recall it's former director--Peter Batten--wrote a pretty harsh anti-zoo book around the same time: "Living Trophies" or something to that effect.
I remember that book. It was the Zoochat of its day. He had pictures of really horrible zoo exhibits and hazards to animals. At the time the Sacramento Zoo had an Asian elephant exhibit with a chain link fence around it with jagged wires sticking out of the top of it, He cited this as a hazard to the elephants and the fence was removed, so it I suspect his book did some good.
@DAVID: thanks for such an informative post, as I've been quite curious at the history of this small zoo since my 2 visits this past summer. Your description of it as being like a "small-scale Disneyland" is particularly apt, and I'd even go one step farther in saying that the park is really geared towards younger kids (perhaps 9 and under). It sounds as if the zoo has phased out a lot of larger animals over the years, and I'm still amazed that the facility actually remained closed to the public for 2 full years while $70 million was spent on renovations and additions. What struck me more than anything about this small zoo was its cleanliness: bathrooms, cafe, playground, pathways, etc, were all spotless and much more impressive than many major zoos that occasionally have overflowing garbage cans first thing in the morning (Oakland) or dirty exhibits with zero animals in them (Sacramento). Happy Hollow will not entice ZooChatters to visit who do not have kids, but those with children would be silly not to stop in for a tour.
@DAVID: thanks for such an informative post, as I've been quite curious at the history of this small zoo since my 2 visits this past summer. Your description of it as being like a "small-scale Disneyland" is particularly apt, and I'd even go one step farther in saying that the park is really geared towards younger kids (perhaps 9 and under). It sounds as if the zoo has phased out a lot of larger animals over the years, and I'm still amazed that the facility actually remained closed to the public for 2 full years while $70 million was spent on renovations and additions. What struck me more than anything about this small zoo was its cleanliness: bathrooms, cafe, playground, pathways, etc, were all spotless and much more impressive than many major zoos that occasionally have overflowing garbage cans first thing in the morning (Oakland) or dirty exhibits with zero animals in them (Sacramento). Happy Hollow will not entice ZooChatters to visit who do not have kids, but those with children would be silly not to stop in for a tour.
The park is definitely geared towards young children, and quite wonderful for them and the adults accompanying them. It is nice that several of the rides are built for kids and adults to ride together. My daredevil niece insisted that we ride in the front car of the roller coaster. Wheeeee.
The zoo is small, but quality. A good starter zoo for future ZooChatters.
Between Happy Hollow and the new California Academy of Sciences one can have a nice family zoological adventure in the Bay Area. Being an African megafauna junkie I would throw in the Oakland Zoo too for the giraffes and elephants...good children's zoo there too.
