I kick myself in the butt everytime I see pictures of Horn & Hoof Mesa. I tried and tried to get out there before they demolished it, but I just couldn't schedule it. Truthfully, I didn't really expect them to ever demolish it so I thought I had time. I guess I didn't. To they think they replaced this wonderous collection with EO....I mean really?
I kick myself in the butt everytime I see pictures of Horn & Hoof Mesa. I tried and tried to get out there before they demolished it, but I just couldn't schedule it. Truthfully, I didn't really expect them to ever demolish it so I thought I had time. I guess I didn't. To they think they replaced this wonderous collection with EO....I mean really?[/QUOTE]
Asking this question really astounds me. It just seems that so many on here have no idea of what most people care about. Yes, EO is not nearly as good as it should be, especially to people like us, but I guarantee that the vast majority of people greatly prefer that over yard after yard after yard of hoofstock. If it weren't for the giraffes, polar bears, and sky tram, most people probably wouldn't have even bothered going up there imo.
Now they should open up the staff only area which has some really big hoofstock yards, and then the people who care can go check them out.
Hehe. No, I completely understand to most people hoof-stock besides giraffes and zebras are probably very boring unfortunetly, I just hate to see zoos these days get rid of their once wonderous collections and fall in line with all of the other zoos. It seems as if you see the same species in almost all of the zoos any more. The San Diego Zoo was different, but now it's slowly working its way into the line of other zoos.
Hehe. No, I completely understand to most people hoof-stock besides giraffes and zebras are probably very boring unfortunetly, I just hate to see zoos these days get rid of their once wonderous collections and fall in line with all of the other zoos. It seems as if you see the same species in almost all of the zoos any more. The San Diego Zoo was different, but now it's slowly working its way into the line of other zoos.
I see your point, but again, that's something that still really only applies to this crowd. Most people don't visit zoos much at all other than their home zoo or zoos. And there is still a decent difference between zoos in terms of species with the SD Zoo being easily one of the best in terms of a collection.
I do wish there was even more variation though, but it seems that the SSP is partially to blame for that as well.
Again I completely understand what you are saying and I agree. I think when a lot of people here bash the SD Zoo's recent changes and those of other zoos they don't think about the average zoo going person. Though the SD Zoo could have done A LOT better job on EO, it's still not all that bad. No doubt the San Diego Zoo is still very easily one of the best collection wise. Just not what it used to be.
Oh, yes I agree. A prime example of that is the disappearance of the Plains Zebra sub-species and the over taking of the SSP holding Grevy's Zebra in collections. Now the Hartmann's Mountain Zebras have always been rare in collections, and I've personally only seen them once at the Louisville Zoo, and they are considered Vulnerable by the IUCN. I wonder why there isn't a SSP for this species and why more zoos don't start exhibiting and breeding this species? There are only 800 to 1,300 in the wild. There are even fewer Cape Mountain Zebras but there are none in captivity.
