Probably because of these exhibits that people don't rank this zoo that high. I just can't believe that the zoo is going to built a new madagascar exhibit when they could be building new outdoor exhibits for their big cats.
I couldn't agree more. One of my all-time pet peeves with zoos is that they spend millions and millions of dollars on new exhibits without bothering to improve the current ones that need work. Omaha will build a kick-ass Madagascar set of habitats, then a 12-acre elephant paddock, then at the same time double the size of the white rhino enclosure...and at least 5 years will go by and the big cats will still be in tiny prison cells. Some zoos have bear grottoes that are over 100 years old and it drives me crazy!
The photo above is a good example of many of the big cat "tanks" at the Omaha Zoo, and even though the outside enclosures are average many of the cats only have access to their indoor cells. Brutal.
The photo above is a good example of many of the big cat "tanks" at the Omaha Zoo, and even though the outside enclosures are average many of the cats only have access to their indoor cells. Brutal.
The mountain lions have an outdoor enclosure as I believe all the big cats do, although they have too many tigers, so they probably have to stay inside most of the time. Yes, these indoor exhibits are bad and they should improve it. I just think its odd that their cat exhibits would likely be rated quite a bit better if they didn't allow people to see the indoor holdings like a lot of zoos do.
@mweb08: the outdoor yards are nothing special at all, and reflect the ideas of exhibit designers more than 30 years ago. The indoor areas are all terribly small, particularly due to the fact that many of the cats rarely get to experience fresh air. With locked gates in every dayroom it is impossible for most of the cats to have access to the outside, and don't forget that this is the zoo that used to pump out white tigers by the dozen. Other aspects of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo are brilliant, but the cat complex is well past its due date.
I know the outdoor exhibits aren't anything special, but they're much better than the indoor ones. I'm not suggesting that the cat house is decent, just that I don't think it's fair that some exhibits aren't really judged on their indoor sections, even ones that hold their animals indoors a lot, while this area is totally bashed for their indoor section even though at least most of the animals do get time outdoors.
