Exhibit will be empty for awhile. However, we now know what will go here (assuming we can raise enough money). New master plan has just been unveiled and while a few smaller items are subject to change, this area is the one big ticket item that we will push for. (Just as with the last ten year plan that just ended, elephants were the big thing which did happen while a few smaller things did not). Will take a few years at least, because it will cost at a few million, but... (are you ready for it)... this area will hopefully be the new home of river hippos with underwater viewing!
There is one aquarium and 10 zoos in North America with underwater viewing for Nile hippos, and so for Reid Park to be another addition to that illustrious list (along with Memphis in another year or two) is fantastic news! That little zoo in Arizona keeps chugging along, and hopefully Expedition Tanzania's success will kickstart a whole slew of new projects.
Establishments with underwater Nile hippo viewing:
1- Saint Louis Zoo
2- San Diego Zoo
3- Toledo Zoo
4- San Antonio Zoo
5- Calgary Zoo
6- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
7- Sedgwick County Zoo
8- Busch Gardens
9- Adventure Aquarium
10- Granby Zoo
11- Ellen Trout Zoo
Reid Park Zoo seems to do a great job with animal enclosures, so hopefully this hippo enclosure won't disappoint; it will have great views of the animals underwater, and enough land space for the river horses.
