No, and I don't think you will find one person on here who thinks it was. It was built as a temporoary home in 2002 after director Mark Worums was having some trouble with the AZA. After he got the orangs out of the great ape house, they were put into this as a temporary holding area, but plans for a larger exhibit were never relized, and now they sit in this exhbit. They have something like 8 orangutans, both Bornean and Sumatran.
It's all about money (or the lack thereof). The master plan concept for a new orang exhibit is years away from even starting. Penguins are "next" as the zoo tries to recover from the huge attendance losses that followed the 90s "new zoo" that the public really did not respond to. All the recent money has been invested in crowd-pleasing exhibits near the entrance, and making Africa more accessible.
It's all about money (or the lack thereof). The master plan concept for a new orang exhibit is years away from even starting. Penguins are "next" as the zoo tries to recover from the huge attendance losses that followed the 90s "new zoo" that the public really did not respond to. All the recent money has been invested in crowd-pleasing exhibits near the entrance, and making Africa more accessible.
Thanks for the info reduakari. I have to admit that this zoo has not been on my radar. I had a vague knowledge that they had some good Africa exhibits. What was the 1990s "new zoo" meltdown that you mention that bombed and drove off zoo visitors?
Before the mid 1990's the zoo was full of mostly mediocre exhibits. Then in 1990, voters approved $50 million in in new exhibits. The "New Zoo" that reduakari mentioned used over 1500 local companies to help build the new exhibits. The main attractions opened were Australia in 1993, and Africa the following year. The attendance reached an all-time high of about 700,000 in 1998. However, people started to complain about these new exhibits, such as the immense size of Africa. Then there was serious problems with the AZA, and they almost lost accredation due to the orangutans being kept in the Great Ape House. Luckily they got them out, and then into this crappy exhibit. The attendance had been falling. They brough in Randy Wisthoff from Omaha in 2003. He worked on making improvements toward the front of the zoo to attract more visitors, such as Discovery Barn, Shortcut to Africa, Tropics, a new entrance, and Polar Bears. The master plan is one for 2020, so it could be a much as 9 years before the orangs and tigers are in decent exhibits.
Before the mid 1990's the zoo was full of mostly mediocre exhibits. Then in 1990, voters approved $50 million in in new exhibits. The "New Zoo" that reduakari mentioned used over 1500 local companies to help build the new exhibits.
Thanks for the info KCZooFan. I hope that the orangs get out of this before 2020. I have to say that the awe I felt looking at your chimp exhibit photos is completely washed out by seeing what the orangs have to live in. From what you are saying this is an improvement over what they were in before. UGH.
Well I'm glad the new tax was approved and this is one the list of exhibits they want to renovate.
K
klbranstetter
The orangs really need a new home. I don't normally photograph the orangs due to their exhibit. Yesterday, I took some pics of some of their hands on the bars. Made my heart melt. I wish that their exhibit was next on the list to be replaced after Penguin Plaza is completed. The tigers have a nice new temporary home.
