Kopje 1986 - Klipspringer

This exhibit complex opened in 1986 and still exists. It replicates the rocky islands in the savannas of Africa. The individual exhibits include an aviary for eagles, an aviary for smaller birds, an open air mixed-species reptile yard, and a mixed-species mammal yard with dwarf mongoose and klipspringer and rock hyrax. These pictures were taken in 1986 when the exhibit was new. An adjacent older yard housed meerkats which further extended the area theme.

I remember once hearing a guide say this was their first naturalistic immersion exhibit. Although the area is not huge, the actual rock kopje with klipspringers etc is still quite nice.

I've always listed the African Kopje in San Diego in my top ten zoo exhibits anywhere. When this exhibit first opened, I was a child, but it captured my imagination like nothing before. I wish the reptile exhibit was still there.

Arizona Docent said:

I remember once hearing a guide say this was their first naturalistic immersion exhibit. Although the area is not huge, the actual rock kopje with klipspringers etc is still quite nice.

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It was, and is indisputably the best they've ever done. I've been disappointed by every subsequent exhibit at San Diego, with the partial exception of Tiger River, which opened two years after the Kopje.

As pointed out elsewhere, what an astounding gap in creativity and attention to detail between this and Elephant Odyssey. Sad

The loss of the Kopje's reptile exhibit and the neglect of the original plant diversity are unfortunate, but it's still a wonderful exhibit overall.