Louisville Zoo $29 Million Glacier Run

snowleopard

snowleopard

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"Glacier Run" is a multi-phase complex that will eventually be home to polar bears, harbour seals, California sea lions, arctic foxes, sea otters and Steller's sea eagles. Also included is a splash park for children, a small education centre and buildings of a simulated mining town.

Map of "Glacier Run":

http://www.louisvillezoo.org/images/glacierrun/glacierrun-overview-full.jpg

Capital campaign link:

Glacier Run at the Louisville Zoo - Capital Campaign

There is a lot of information on this next link in regards to the new seal/sea lion exhibit which has its grand opening today (June 30th). Apparently there is 1 harbour seal and 4 California sea lions in the pool, but the exhibit can hold up to 14 pinnipeds:

Louisville Zoo - News

Press release:

Glacier Run's seal, sea lion area opening at Louisville Zoo | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
 
This exhibit looks like its going to be sweet its huge.Louisville also has one of the best tiger exhibits arouns it was built a couple of years ago.Louisville is really becoming a world class zoo.
 
Louisville Zoo's "Glacier Run" has slowly been opening in phases, and I toured the zoo (with author Allen Nyhuis) in the summer of 2010 and uploaded several photos of the seal/sea lion pool and the children's splash park. In 2011 the fishing town will be finished, along with the grizzly bear/polar bear complex. In 2012 comes Steller's sea eagles, Arctic foxes and snowy owls:

Louisville Zoo tops fundraising goal | Business First
 
Louisville Zoo met its fundraising goal, and so the Chairman of the Board published an article in the local paper praising public support of the project:

Community Challenge | Community's help for zoo praised | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal

An excerpt:

The final phases of Glacier Run — the Arctic Ambassador Center and the Steller's Sea Eagle Exhibit — will now be built and open in 2012. The spectacular Bear Habitat will open this April. More than 890,000 visitors are anticipated annually with the economic impact for Glacier Run exceeding $33.6 million.
 
Bonnie and I are looking to check it out in a couple weeks,we'll let you all know what we think.

Team Tapir
 
I'll be heading out there this weekend. I expect the exhibit will be quite fine (especially for visitors) but that these forums won't like it very much. Then again, I hate the Columbus exhibit and people here tend to like that so what do I know...
 
Work is coming along well on the new Stellars Sea Eagle exhibit Louisville hopes to have it open sometime in June.

Louisville is still trying to acquire more sea lions or seals they currently only have one of each.

Being that we are regular visitors to both the Brookfield Zoo and the Toledo Zoo we have been around our share of polar bear cubs.None of them have ever been as crazy as Quannik she is a absoulute riot.This was our third visit to Glacier Run and as far as were concerned it continues to get better now that the bears have become acclimated to the exhibit.It is a very good very unique enclosure.

Louisville Zoo is among a few other AZA zoos working with Polar Bears International in the hopes of being able to obtain wild bears to populate american zoos in hopes of saving the species.Most staff we spoke with believe its not a question of if its a question of when.

Team Tapir
 
@team tapir: Is the Arctic Center going to open at the same time as the Steller's sea eagle aviary? Also, are there some grizzlies that rotate with the polar bears in the Glacier Run habitat? Does that mean some bears spend a significant amount of time in their dens, or is there an off-exhibit outdoor area for them? It must be exciting for the zoo to finally finish Glacier Run, as the project has been opening in quite a few stages over the past few years.
 
Both are scheduled to open late spring, however we only saw construction on the aviary. We didn't see anything that shows construction beginning on the Arctic Center. I will post pictures of the construction when we return home.

Grizzlies-yes, 3
Looking from the entrance, on your left is the pool yard with grass all outdoor. There is a ramp that the bears can walk up to to cross over the pedestrian walkway to get to the indoor enclosure that is supposed to look like a abandoned warehouse/loading dock. The entire way is visible to the public. They rotate all day long. The indoor area is obviously smaller, but the keepers pack it full of enrichment for the bears. Ice tubs, peanut butter and honey smeared everywhere, toys, etc. are some ways we've seen. Timing is about a couple of hours in each. When we were there Quannik's schedule was 10-12 in pool, 12-2 nap, 2-4 indoor. Siku and the grizzlies both had their time in the pool area too. Overall we love this exhibit.

Team Tapir
 
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