This is the zoo's old Tropical Rainforest building, and on my visit in 2010 I had heard from a docent that it might possibly be demolished in favour of an expansion of the zoo's restaurant. Does anyone know if that is going to happen? If not, then what is the temporary exhibit currently on display?
What was "Nature's Nightmares"? Snakes and spiders? Hopefully they made an effort to take the "nightmare" aspect out of these animals in their educational material accompanying the exhibit?
Precisely. This exhibit was extolling the virtues of animals that are often seen as playing the role of the villain. It had striped skunks, Norway rats, leeches, mosquito larvae, scorpions, spiders, pirahna and king vultures. It was a very well executed display. This area will soon be replaced by a new restaurant called, "Tembo Terrace".
What was "Nature's Nightmares"? Snakes and spiders? Hopefully they made an effort to take the "nightmare" aspect out of these animals in their educational material accompanying the exhibit?
Nature’s Nightmares – This exhibit area is found in the zoo’s old “Tropical Rainforest” building, and every year the zoo features a rotating set of animals and a new theme. There has been a white alligator display, a Madagascar-themed area, and this year there are king vultures, bats, spiders, millipedes, piranhas, scorpions, centipedes and other “nightmares” in basic terrariums. I was told that there are rumors that this aging building might be demolished in favour of expanding the zoo’s main restaurant (“The Beastro”) but I heard that from a volunteer employee and thus nothing has been confirmed at this point. It actually isn’t such a bad idea for the zoo to have a new exhibit area every year within an ancient structure, as there was certainly a line-up of people when the building opened a full hour after the zoo opened.
