Birmingham Zoo (Alabama) $15 Million Trails Of Africa Exhibit
- Thread starter snowleopard
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Has anybody visited Birmingham Zoo recently? Was wondering if anybody had any other reviews on this exhibit.
My Review of the Trails:
First off the "Trails of Africa" is the new collective name for the entire already existing Africa Animal Exhibits
To those who haven't been to Birmingham, they had the 70s style "Pachyderm" exhibit with Black Rhino's, Asian Elephants, and Hippos for years. Why they switched to White's IDK. Anyway, the middle exhibit that used to house the Asians was consolidated for the White Rhinos giving them double the space they had before. (when I was little they had Whites, then got Blacks about the time they lost AZA accreditation and then Blacks and Whites together from 07-08 until Ricko left)
The following animals make up this exhibit:
Reticulated Giraffes (5)
Kudu (5)
Ostrich (4)
Gemsbok (there used to be some though last time I didn't see any)
Grevy's Zebra (6)
Thompson Gazelle (4)
Red River Hog (3)
White Rhino (2, with a male to arrive pretty soon)
Hippo (1)
Elephant (3 males soon to be 4)
Aldabra Tortoise (5)
Also the 7 lions (2 adults and Quintuplet newborns) and Afirican Hunting Dogs are across the path in indoor/outdoor hybrid exhibits. The Lions actually are only separated from the hoofstock by an almost invisible metal mesh fence so that is good enrichment for them, being able to see and smell the hoofstock.
The original plan for the Trails when first announced was that each species has their own main exhibit and that we have a central four acre "flex exhibit" on which everything from the Elephants to (according to a Zoo keeper back in 07) the Lions would be given an hour a day on the flex exhibit. (teaming up compatible species to fit it into the operating day of course)
The Trails was first announced in 07, but was delayed in 08 because of the recession. In 09 though, Birmingham mayor (and accused felon) Larry Langford agreed to a yearly donation to the now privatized Birmingham Zoo (I could write pages about that whole debacle, just glad we have Dr. Foster now)
The remodel of the exhibit is amazing. They went full out on the "cultural immersion" with African music playing etc.
The Flex exhibit like I said is about four acres. It has various trees (though they are oaks/birch, I don't know what real African trees we could grow in Alabama soil/climate) and 3 watering holes with one being big enough for the Elephants to wade in.
When I went the first time though, Ajani had not arrived and they were still exhibiting Callee and Bulwagi separately as they were getting used to each other. (Thabo Usami will not arrive until next spring I am told)
The rest of the exhibit is a remodel but the actual Elephant part is completely new construction. To those who haven't been in years, the Elephant part is where the Cheetah and the Bison used to be. They pushed into that part and the empty space behind it.
The Elephant part specifically includes five basic parts. That way I assume in a situation where they need to separate the planned four elephants they can.
1 the Flex exhibit, as mentioned before they are planning to rotate other animals on it when they get the Elephants were they can be together, but as of now they put one elephant here and the others in the other exhibits.
2 the secondary exhibit. This is considered the "contact yard". Here is where they will do both the Elephant encounters and the already in progress rhino encounters, where guests are allowed to touch and interact with the animals with safe steel barriers separating them. When not doing encounters though, an elephant is also placed here.
3. the "back" exhibit. This exhibit is unique because guests can't get to it. This gives the Elephants a half acre where they can just be Elephants away from the prying eyes of guests. This exhibit is so well hidden that it is behind the new barn. The only way to see it is on the Zoo train and even then you don't get near it enough to bother the Elephants.
4. the Barn. The Elephants have a brand new large and modern protected contact Elephant barn. Again this is very private so I don't know much beyond that it is Protected contact.
5 the infrastructure. Whether or not they ever attempt the "rotation" aspect they have completed the infrastructure of fencing in order to do it. All of the above exhibits are linked by large steel beam fencing (seriously nothing like I have ever seen in a Zoo this is more Jurassic Park) in order to safely accomodate the movement of the animals
Pros - General design. Ambitious plan. Details. Modern.
Cons - Flora, especially trees. Out of place with the rest of the zoo (good start for updating but they blew their wad on this) Bulwagi seems traumatized (that may be from Disney though because Callee and Ajani are lively)
All and all I give it a 9.5 out of 10. If they ever successfully pull off the rotation thing and plant a few Umbrella thorn acacia and maybe a Baobob. (as well as add a leopard exhibit, seriously predators are lacking in this zoo) then it goes to a 10 easily.
First off the "Trails of Africa" is the new collective name for the entire already existing Africa Animal Exhibits
To those who haven't been to Birmingham, they had the 70s style "Pachyderm" exhibit with Black Rhino's, Asian Elephants, and Hippos for years. Why they switched to White's IDK. Anyway, the middle exhibit that used to house the Asians was consolidated for the White Rhinos giving them double the space they had before. (when I was little they had Whites, then got Blacks about the time they lost AZA accreditation and then Blacks and Whites together from 07-08 until Ricko left)
The following animals make up this exhibit:
Reticulated Giraffes (5)
Kudu (5)
Ostrich (4)
Gemsbok (there used to be some though last time I didn't see any)
Grevy's Zebra (6)
Thompson Gazelle (4)
Red River Hog (3)
White Rhino (2, with a male to arrive pretty soon)
Hippo (1)
Elephant (3 males soon to be 4)
Aldabra Tortoise (5)
Also the 7 lions (2 adults and Quintuplet newborns) and Afirican Hunting Dogs are across the path in indoor/outdoor hybrid exhibits. The Lions actually are only separated from the hoofstock by an almost invisible metal mesh fence so that is good enrichment for them, being able to see and smell the hoofstock.
The original plan for the Trails when first announced was that each species has their own main exhibit and that we have a central four acre "flex exhibit" on which everything from the Elephants to (according to a Zoo keeper back in 07) the Lions would be given an hour a day on the flex exhibit. (teaming up compatible species to fit it into the operating day of course)
The Trails was first announced in 07, but was delayed in 08 because of the recession. In 09 though, Birmingham mayor (and accused felon) Larry Langford agreed to a yearly donation to the now privatized Birmingham Zoo (I could write pages about that whole debacle, just glad we have Dr. Foster now)
The remodel of the exhibit is amazing. They went full out on the "cultural immersion" with African music playing etc.
The Flex exhibit like I said is about four acres. It has various trees (though they are oaks/birch, I don't know what real African trees we could grow in Alabama soil/climate) and 3 watering holes with one being big enough for the Elephants to wade in.
When I went the first time though, Ajani had not arrived and they were still exhibiting Callee and Bulwagi separately as they were getting used to each other. (Thabo Usami will not arrive until next spring I am told)
The rest of the exhibit is a remodel but the actual Elephant part is completely new construction. To those who haven't been in years, the Elephant part is where the Cheetah and the Bison used to be. They pushed into that part and the empty space behind it.
The Elephant part specifically includes five basic parts. That way I assume in a situation where they need to separate the planned four elephants they can.
1 the Flex exhibit, as mentioned before they are planning to rotate other animals on it when they get the Elephants were they can be together, but as of now they put one elephant here and the others in the other exhibits.
2 the secondary exhibit. This is considered the "contact yard". Here is where they will do both the Elephant encounters and the already in progress rhino encounters, where guests are allowed to touch and interact with the animals with safe steel barriers separating them. When not doing encounters though, an elephant is also placed here.
3. the "back" exhibit. This exhibit is unique because guests can't get to it. This gives the Elephants a half acre where they can just be Elephants away from the prying eyes of guests. This exhibit is so well hidden that it is behind the new barn. The only way to see it is on the Zoo train and even then you don't get near it enough to bother the Elephants.
4. the Barn. The Elephants have a brand new large and modern protected contact Elephant barn. Again this is very private so I don't know much beyond that it is Protected contact.
5 the infrastructure. Whether or not they ever attempt the "rotation" aspect they have completed the infrastructure of fencing in order to do it. All of the above exhibits are linked by large steel beam fencing (seriously nothing like I have ever seen in a Zoo this is more Jurassic Park) in order to safely accomodate the movement of the animals
Pros - General design. Ambitious plan. Details. Modern.
Cons - Flora, especially trees. Out of place with the rest of the zoo (good start for updating but they blew their wad on this) Bulwagi seems traumatized (that may be from Disney though because Callee and Ajani are lively)
All and all I give it a 9.5 out of 10. If they ever successfully pull off the rotation thing and plant a few Umbrella thorn acacia and maybe a Baobob. (as well as add a leopard exhibit, seriously predators are lacking in this zoo) then it goes to a 10 easily.
Dallaspachyderm
Well-Known Member
Could you explain how Bulwagi is traumatized?
So people have said it was because he was torn away from his mother after being with her for over two decades.
So people have said it was because he was torn away from his mother after being with her for over two decades.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
The large trees were existing and of course it is better to save what you have than start from scratch... especially when giving shade to elephants is concerned.
And acacias and boabobs will not happen outdoors in Birmingham until global warming has a few more decades under its belt.
But on another note: the idea of an exhibit designed to hold both lions and elephants is intriguing. Hard to image that it wouldn't be the most in your face fence-heavy exhibit ever built
And acacias and boabobs will not happen outdoors in Birmingham until global warming has a few more decades under its belt.
But on another note: the idea of an exhibit designed to hold both lions and elephants is intriguing. Hard to image that it wouldn't be the most in your face fence-heavy exhibit ever built
If you can consider Pallas Cats and Tayras "predators". When I was little the predator collection was impressive. Snow Leapards, Black and Regular Leopards, Cougars, Wolves, 3 species of Bears, Maned Wolves, two species of Tiger back then. Now all the predators are small other than Lions and Tigers. The Predator building is mostly empty. Now that they redid the African animals based on Giants of the Savannah at Dallas, the next expansion needs to copy Cat Country or Teton Trek. Large predators and North American animals in general are missing in Birmingham.
The large trees were existing and of course it is better to save what you have than start from scratch... especially when giving shade to elephants is concerned.
And acacias and boabobs will not happen outdoors in Birmingham until global warming has a few more decades under its belt.
But on another note: the idea of an exhibit designed to hold both lions and elephants is intriguing. Hard to image that it wouldn't be the most in your face fence-heavy exhibit ever built
Again that was back in 07, and the plans for this exhibit have changed many times. The "animal transport hub" basically a giant corral is missing from the original drawings. They probably scrapped the rotation thing, which if they did why even have the flex exhibit?
Could you explain how Bulwagi is traumatized?
He isn't as sociable or "mature" as the much younger Callee. He stares at the wall and sways back and forth a lot when in the contact exhibit. He does better in the field exhibit though. Doesn't seem like he is good around people.
Because the zoo understands that not all of the animals will get along all the time. So it may be necessary to keep certain individuals or even an entire species out of the mix for a limited or permanent period of time. Have the "hub" enclosure gives the zoo this kind of flexibility and still allows guests to see the animals.
So are they going to eventually rotate the hoofstock onto the big exhibit. The hoofstock really need more room.
Clarification, they did not build the hub. If they followed Hoar's original mock ups there would be a way to block off the path so you could move animals from the old Giraffe/hoofstock exhibits to the big exhibit, which they seem to have not built it.
I just checked the gallery and there are no photos posted of the new exhibits. I hope you will post some soon.
They instead built the hub between the old & new elephants houses.
The project's expenses sky-rocketed when construction crews had to dig into the slate bedrock (that the zoo forgot was beneath the property) to place the infrastructure for the large pool in the big enclosure. Hence, many cuts were made including scaling back the elephant house design, the movement of antelope/giraffe into the new enclosure, and several small exhibits that were supposed to be apart of the new area. Many of these cuts were made in hope that they could be added later.
Also Trails of Africa was not modeled after Dallas' Giants of the Savanna (though they were both designed by the same architecture firm) They were both planned around the same time, but I'm pretty sure that Birmingham's was designed first. The Dallas project saw few setbacks which is why it opened first.
The project's expenses sky-rocketed when construction crews had to dig into the slate bedrock (that the zoo forgot was beneath the property) to place the infrastructure for the large pool in the big enclosure. Hence, many cuts were made including scaling back the elephant house design, the movement of antelope/giraffe into the new enclosure, and several small exhibits that were supposed to be apart of the new area. Many of these cuts were made in hope that they could be added later.
Also Trails of Africa was not modeled after Dallas' Giants of the Savanna (though they were both designed by the same architecture firm) They were both planned around the same time, but I'm pretty sure that Birmingham's was designed first. The Dallas project saw few setbacks which is why it opened first.
One big problem is even for us members they keep up in the dark with things like you just mentioned. When they hired Foster I thought that would change. Plans change way too much I don't know if that comes from Foster or what but the zoo is very secretive compared to other zoos, stuff happens and we don't get a press release for 3 months. Twitter would be a great thing for the Zoo to adopt, they are very slack on their social networking.
Gerenuk, you seem to know stuff behind the scenes that goes on. It seems that most of the rarer animals that used to be the collection are long gone, was that directly correlated with the loss of AZA accreditation a few years back or is it a money thing? I mean the Zoo bills itself as the most visited attraction in Alabama but it seems all the improvements pre Trails were on the human side and the animal collection beans all the brunt of cutbacks. Even trails seems to have unnecessary "fluff' to entertain three yr olds than go to the real needs of the zoo. I mean I was looking at an album of pics and the collection is in worse shape today than it was in 96 or even the late 80s? Any insight as to why?
Is he run with the other bulls (would be better beh.enrichment, social contact and for the very fact that bulls learn by example of other bulls ...)?
On black rhino Ricko: where did they transfer him to?
Dallaspachyderm
Well-Known Member
Is he run with the other bulls (would be better beh.enrichment, social contact and for the very fact that bulls learn by example of other bulls ...)?
He may not be with Callie & Ajani yet, but they are supposed to be all introduced soon. The exhibit was built with the purpose of an older bull mentoring these adolescents into proper bulls.
Is he run with the other bulls (would be better beh.enrichment, social contact and for the very fact that bulls learn by example of other bulls ...)?
On black rhino Ricko: where did they transfer him to?
He runs with Callee now. I think Ajani is now out of quarantine so they will be to introduce him to the other two (they added the bulls in states, first Bulwagi, then Callee, now Ajani, later Thabo Usami)
The idea is that Bulwagi who has always seen as "emotionally underdeveloped" will mature into a psychologically adult bull by being around the two 10 yr olds and the 5 yrd old and the other three will learn from him at the same time.
The way I feel with so much spent (both a baseline number and the investment compared to the rest of the zoo budget) and the ambition of the this project (a bachelor herd of bulls) that it will be a spectacular success or a spectacular failure.
Ricko went to Dallas I think.