Akron Zoo Akron Zoo News 2012

Journey to the Reef Info

JOURNEY TO THE REEF CONSTRUCTION UPDATE:

Friday, April 6, 2011:

The Akron Zoo will be inviting guests to take a magical journey under the sea this summer! The zoo is set to unveil its newest exhibit, Journey to the Reef, on May 26, 2012. The exhibit will feature over 17 aquariums of animals that live on or near the reef, live coral and a stingray touch pool. The area will also include several interactive areas for kids to learn about ocean life and conservation.

“We are thrilled to be opening Journey to the Reef this summer,” commented Akron Zoo President & CEO, L. Patricia Simmons. “We have had lots of requests from our community to bring in more aquatic exhibits and we are excited to have an opportunity to open an exhibit that will not only be fun for them but will create awareness about the reef crisis that is facing wildlife in our oceans.”

Journey to the Reef will include many animals that have never been seen before at the Akron Zoo. Octopus, eels, sea horses, venomous lion fish and clown fish are just a few of the animals that will make their debut this summer. The exhibit will also include a couple of species of jellyfish, starfish, schooling fish, crabs and more. The exhibit space will also include a touch tank that will allow visitors to be able to touch stingrays. The zoo will also be growing several different types of branching coral that visitors will be able to see in the coral lab.

The new exhibit occupies the space that was previously the well-liked jellyfish exhibit that was at the zoo from 2008 – 2011. Because of its popularity the zoo decided to stay with an aquatic theme and keep two species of jellies. Pacific sea nettles and moon jellies will remain as part of Journey to the Reef.

The interactive space in the exhibit will feature three different kiosks and an interactive media wall that will teach kids about kelp forests, harbors and reefs while they climb and play.

The entire exhibit space features a mural by local artist, Amy Mothersbaugh-Roos. Mothersbaugh-Roos, who owns Studio 2091 in Cuyahoga Falls, along with several volunteers, has spent over 1,000 hours on the mural that is over 10,000-square feet.

Construction updates
 
Reef is rolling in with the tide

FROM THE AKRON BEACON JOURNAL:
_______________________________________

Reef is rolling in with the tide

By Kathy Antoniotti
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published: April 6, 2012 - 11:36 PM

PHOTO GALLERY: Reef is rolling in with the tide - Local - Ohio

An undersea portal is set to open next month into the mysterious lives of creatures that live on coral reefs.

The Akron Zoo has yet to unveil its newest exhibit, Journey to the Reef, but some of the zoo’s newest residents are already calling the new space home.

A 3-foot long dragon moray eel and a smaller, purple mouth moray are learning to share space in one of the new aquariums in the exhibit that replaced the Jellies: Rhythm in the Blue exhibit that closed at the end of October. The larger eel made no bones about the fact that he is the alpha male of the new neighborhood and he lunged at the smaller invertebrate as if to warn him away.

“Kind of makes you not want to swim in the ocean,” said David Barnhardt, the zoo’s director of marketing and guest services.

Schooling fish, sea horses, venomous lion fish and an octopus from the Pacific Northwest will find new homes in the exhibit alongside some of the older occupants.

Three of the jellies will remain, particularly because of outrage expressed by a public that grew attached to them in the four years they were exhibited at the zoo.

“We were surprised people were as attached to the jellyfish as they are, so we kept them,” said Barnhardt.

“Actually, they fit into the theme of the animals that live in and around the reef,” he said.

Work on the new exhibit, which will include a laboratory that allows visitors to see coral being grown and an underwater petting table that will hold stingrays.

The total cost of the Reef project is $250,000 with the majority of the project done in-house, keeping costs relatively low, said Barnhardt. The space will hold 18 different tanks featuring different species as opposed to the 10 that housed jellyfish. The largest tank will hold 700 gallons of water as fish travel in tandem around the exhibit.

A tank for an octopus from the Pacific Northwest will hold 300 gallons of water, said aquatic keeper Steve Balogh.

“We will be growing 15 different kinds of coral in the laboratory,” he said.

The different type of coral are dependent on many factors, including water quality and the specific level of calcium in the tanks, he said.

“They deposit it until they are all skeletons. That’s how they build the reef,” Balogh said.

An interactive space will feature three different kiosks to teach kids about kelp forests, harbors and reefs while they climb and play. The area will feel as if visitors are in an undersea city.

“There will be a lot of hustle and bustle going on in here, just like a real city,” said Barnhardt.

More than 10,000 square feet of wall space will help visitors feel as if they too are underwater with a seascape mural being created and painted by local artist Amy Mothersbaugh-Roos, owner of Studio 2091 in Cuyahoga Falls. Roos, with the help of several volunteers, has donated more than 1,000 hours to the project.

The Journey to the Reef exhibit will be open to the public May 26 in the zoo’s Komodo Kingdom. The exhibit is free with admission to the zoo.

Reef is rolling in with the tide - Local - Ohio
 
The Art of Journey to the Reef

I was searching online via Google and found this. Amy Mothersbaugh Roos, the local artist whose work will be featured in the Akron Zoo the upcoming "Journey to the Reef" exhibit, has posted a video on YouTube of her work on the project. You can view it at the link below.

 
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I have watched the video I posted above completely now. You do get to see some of the layout of the renovated exhibit. The exhibits remain from Jellies, but some may have been modified or slightly moved. The wall that art children's art on next to the moon jelly exhibit now has a large tank that comes out from the wall with a curved glass window to allow 180 degree viewing. Both sea nettle exhibits remain. the Pacific sea nettles will remain in their old location while I expect the moon jellies to move into the other sea nettle exhibit most likely. There has seems to be exhibits added to either side of the Pacific sea nettle exhibit. On the wall between the blue blubber jelly exhibit and the juvenile moon jelly exhibits where the musical instruments were located, they have added five smaller exhibits. There are several more exhibit additions, but I could not tell from the photos in the video. The artwork is wonderful and very colorful compared to the dark Jellies exhibit. Journey to the Reef looks more like a real aquarium in comparison to the Jellies exhibit. There are only around 18 exhibits, but for the zoo the size of Akron, that works. It will make Cleveland's aquatics look sad and out-of-date. There are no sharks in the exhibit. The zoo does have an exhibit of bamboo sharks in the lobby of Komodo Kingdom which is where Journey is located. Since aquariums tend to be adding reptiles and amphibians now anyway, if you count the rest of the exhibits in Komodo Kingdom (the bamboo shark exhibit; the Ohio stream fish exhibit; the mountain chicken frog exhibit; the Komodo dragon exhibit; the Galapagos tortoise exhibit; the green tree python exhibit; and the rainforest exhibit featuring freshwater stingrays, golden lion tamarins, yellow spotted Amazon turtles, red-crested cardinals, blue-gray tanagers, saffron finches, and Midas cichlids), the facility will have at least two dozen exhibits in the public portion of the facility. I cannot wait to see the finished Journey to the Reef exhibit at the Member's Preview on May 25th.
 
The Akron Zoo is officially behind schedule on Grizzly Ridge as work was supposed to have begun by now.The zoo is now hoping for construction to begin sometime in May.

Team Tapir
 
team tapir said:
The Akron Zoo is officially behind schedule on Grizzly Ridge as work was supposed to have begun by now.The zoo is now hoping for construction to begin sometime in May.
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I seem to remember reading or hearing that a majority of Grizzly Ridge construction would be completed by the fall anyway. I cannot seeing this delay the opening by much if at all. I have always assumed that it would open around Memorial Day weekend 2013 anyway. I could also see a June 2013 opening. I do not see them waiting too long into 2013 to open at least part of the exhibit especially when some the main residents are only several hours away.
 
There has been a Sumatran tiger change at the zoo. The female Kemala has been transferred and another male named Berani is now at the zoo with Jae-Jae. They will be rotated on exhibit. I found this out when someone asked on Facebook.
 
TigerValley98 said:
There has been a Sumatran tiger change at the zoo. The female Kemala has been transferred and another male named Berani is now at the zoo with Jae-Jae. They will be rotated on exhibit. I found this out when someone asked on Facebook.
Click to expand...

Do you know were Kemela went?Also do you know if there are any plans to bring in another female?

Team Tapir
 
There has been no official press release on the transfers and I have not received the spring newsletter yet so if it is mentioned in there I do not know. As for plans for a female. The tigers and lions share a building. The lions are toward the top of the list that will allow them to breed. When this is allowed, the zoo is nervous whether there will be enough room should Shanti have a large litter. They would prefer two or three at the most. Any more that that would case problems because of space. I do not see Akron getting a female until after Shani has cubs. Akron has had tiger cubs, but not lion cubs. Lion cubs would be important to the zoo and to Tamarr and Shani. Tamarr and Shani is probably the one of the most dedicated couples I know. They are usually always together, unlike sloth bears Keesha and Balawat who have 'issues'. Keesha tends to find annoying and immature in my opinion. They act like a sister with an annoying younger brother. She is Lucy and Balawat is a combination of Linus and Rerun. The eyes tell everything. I think that is her opinion too. There is a decade difference in age too. If or when I hear about the tiger switch I will post it here.
 
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More Updates on Journey to the Reef

More Akron Zoo Construction Updates


Wednesday, April 18, 2012:

Check out this cool video of the artists, Amy Motherbaugh Roos, who is painting the mural in the new Journey to the Reef exhibit. She is a wonderful local artists and we are so grateful to have her and the talents of her volunteers creating this wonderful masterpiece!



Monday, April 16, 2012:

Some of the animals that are now here at the zoo for the Journey to the Reef exhibit include the lion fish, starfish, eels, stingrays and a few others.


Construction updates
 
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Another Article on Journey's Art

Local Artist Amy Mothersbaugh Roos Paints the Zoo!

UPublish story by Katie Giallanza
Published: April 7, 2012 - 09:54 AM

One of Cuyahoga Falls' own local artists and Gallery owners, Amy Mothersbaugh Roos has been working since last August, on the new Journey to the Reef exhibit opening this May at the Akron Zoo and Aquarium. Over 1000 volunteer hours have been put into this HUGE project. Mrs Roos, (who is the sister of Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo )owns the Art gallery STUDIO 2091 in Cuyahoga Falls and while working full time on her own gallery, has donated 4 hours a day, (minimum) in painting time since January. She has used over 40 cans of specially mixed paints, and over 65 brushes and other tools.

She has formed an international team of artists who have been painting her vision on the gymnasium sized walls, using different types of scaffolding in the process. Her artist friends, a volunteer team organized by Amy herself are giving their free time and talent in support of Amy and a GREAT cause at the Akron Zoo. Amy taught at least 25 people to paint coral and ocean waves there.

This Journey to the Reef exhibit averaged 2 volunteers, 3X a week and had a school group one day of teens, plus a girl-scout troop of small children. There are 100 seahorses exactly on the walls, with coral and huge 15 foot sea creatures all around. A cave has even been constructed at the entrance, made of a polymer resin.

There is a coloring book page wall that will be painted in as the coral grows to show the speed of coral's growth over a one year time period. There will be ceramic embellishments of sea-creatures on the coloring book page. THAT page will be available as a pdf download on Amy's Studio 2091 website, and the Akron Zoo's website when the exhibit opens.

Amy deserves the greatest hand ever for all her time and effort!!!!

Local Artist Amy Mothersbaugh Roos Paints the Zoo! - UPublish - Cuyahoga Falls
 
Akron Zoo Animal Name Guide

Akron Zoo Animal Name Guide

Andean Condor - Grock (m) and Carlotta (f)
Jaguar - Chauck (m) and Naom (f)
Hyacinth Macaw - Tupi (m) and Yama (f)
Snow Leopard - Roscoe (m) and Shanti (f)
Komodo Dragon - TNT (m)
Golden Lion Tamarin - Rio (m) and Ana (f)
Galalpagos Tortoise - Pagos (f) and Azul (f)
African Lion - Tamarr (m) and Shani (f)
Sumatran Tiger - Jae-Jae (m) and Berani (m)
Sloth Bear - Balawat (m) and Keesha (f)
Barking Deer - Englebert (m) and Freedom (f)
Red Panda - Zheng (m)
Guinea Hog - Cletus (m)

This is a partial list. I will add to this list and update it as changes are made over time.
 
jusko88 said:
New aquatic exhibit coming to Akron Zoo | Video | wkyc.com
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I watched the video. It is really worth taking a look because you can really see all the changed and some of the residents. Here are things I noticed. A ramp was added to go up to the touch tank since it is on an elevated platform. A majority of the painting is done and the residents are moving in. There are more u-shaped tanks than I previous thought. The Pacific sea nettles remain in their old exhibit. The moon jellies are in the old Japanese sea nettle exhibit. The mangrove, or upside-down jellies remain, but I am not sure where. The giant Pacific octopus will occupy one of the u-shaped exhibits. The pot-bellied seahorses will too. The large u-shaped exhibit has a species of fish, but I do not know what species it is because I do not think I have seen it before. The former blue blubber exhibit and the old moon jelly exhibit have been highly decorated with coral and other creatures. There will be an exhibit with a green reef crab and one may have a puffer fish. There is an exhibit with lion fish and an exhibit with a stone fish. I will have a better description and a complete list when it becomes available or when the exhibit opens (whichever comes first). If anyone sees anything I missed in the video, please post and let us know.
 
jusko88 said:
New aquatic exhibit coming to Akron Zoo | Video | wkyc.com
Click to expand...


Akron Zoo ready to go under the sea

3:27 PM, Apr 20, 2012
Written by Ryan Haidet

AKRON -- Following the splashing success with their recent jellyfish exhibit, the Akron Zoo is ready to take visitors under the sea once again.

"Journey to the Reef is our new exhibit, which opens May 26 here at the Akron Zoo and we're really excited to bring some animals to Northeast Ohio that maybe people haven't seen before," spokesman Dave Barnhardt says.

Photos: Akron Zoo's new Journey to the Reef

Jellies, which debuted in 2008 as the Akron Zoo's first-ever salt water aquarium, was one of the most popular exhibits they've ever had. It closed last October and construction started the following day on Journey to the Reef.

"When you come into Journey to the Reef it will be like you're under the ocean," Barnhardt explains. "There will be things hanging from the ceiling like sharks, a boat and a sea turtle so you'll feel like you're underneath them and going through. It will be a little bit dark (and) there will be some shimmering light."

As construction continues on the exhibit, many of the aquatic creatures have already been placed in their new home.

"We are keeping a couple species of jellyfish, but we brought in lionfish, which are venomous and never been at the Akron Zoo before, some moray eels (and) an octopus, which is going to be the star of the show and really cool to see."

To continue the underwater theme, the Akron Zoo brought in a local artist who has painted murals throughout the 10,000 square feet of space.

Guests who want to get a bit deeper into the action can experience the touch tank, which will feature a series of stingrays.

Journey to the Reef, which is inside the Komodo Kingdom Education Center, will be open for a few years.

"It is included in the price of admission, so there is no additional cost to come through the Journey to the Reef."

The Akron Zoo is located at 500 Edgewood Ave.


Akron Zoo ready to go under the sea | wkyc.com
 
The zoo now has digital televisions above the ticketing counter and in the Komodo Kingdom Cafe that display prices. There are also additional televisions elsewhere in Komodo Kingdom and in Barnhardt Family Welcome Center that advertise events, the zoo's gift shop, memberships, and videos of various animals. It is a nice addition. From the photos from WKYC, it looks like Journey to the Reef will have digital signs for displaying species information. Tupi and Yama, the zoo's hyacinth macaws, are now back on exhibit. They say 'Hello' to everyone. The carousel is not operational because it has broke down. There also seems to be another species of sheep in the Farmland as well. I am not sure which species. I will let you know when I figure it out.
 
The Akron Zoo will soon add polypay sheep to the Contact & Feeding Area in its new Farmland. This area already includes Karakul sheep, Boer goats, pygmy goats, Nubian goats, and Oberhasli goats. More pygmy goats and several Barbados black-bellied sheep live in the retirement barn in Wild Prairie.
 
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Zoo Formally Announces New Website, Mobile Site

Check out the zoo's redesigned website and new mobile site!
by Akron Zoo on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 9:55am ·

The Akron Zoo has enhanced their electronic presence by launching a brand new design of its website with new dynamic features at akronzoo.org and adding a mobile website for people to use on mobile devices.

The new website, designed by Highland PR and built by KMIT Solutions, includes the ability to purchase tickets, memberships, register for events and more. The new site is more user-friendly, educational and interactive for visitors and features the zoo's current and future exhibits, spectacular photography, facts about some of the zoo’s animals and is equipped with any information a visitor may need to prepare for a trip to the zoo. The new site provides a wealth of information about educational programs, how to support the animals and the zoo, and information for people who may want to have a party at the zoo.

The mobile website, which users with mobile devices will automatically be directed to when searching for the Akron Zoo, was designed by wddonline and provides users with the most essential information for visiting the zoo. Information on the mobile site includes admission, hours, directions, zoo map, animal information, events and more. People also have the ability to access the full zoo website if they choose.


Akron Zoo Website

Akron Zoo's Mobile Website
 
Zoo Notes From 4/29/2012:

The Conservation Carousel is back up and running.

The green tree python exhibit has been relocated to the Komodo Kingdom Entry Hall. I do not know if this is permanent or temporary. They could be planning something else where it was located since it is next to the Journey to the Reef exit.

Divers have been hung over the Journey to the Reef entrance.

A photo booth has been added to the Conservation Carousel Plaza.

The capybaras are now on exhibit for the first time this year.
 
Another Journey to the Reef article

Artistry of the Sea: Local artist works with zoo to create vast underwater mural

by April Helms | Special Products Editor

More than 1,000 volunteer hours working on more than 10,000 square feet of art has equaled a labor of love for Amy Mothersbaugh Roos, a local artist who owns Studio 2091 in downtown Cuyahoga Falls.

This undertaking, the largest Roos has ever worked on, can be seen at the Akron Zoo. Roos was commissioned to do a wall mural for the zoo's newest exhibit, "Journey to the Reef," which is scheduled to open May 26. This feature will include more than 17 aquariums of animals that live on or near the roof, live coral and a stingray touch pool.

"This is a dream come true," Roos said during an April 23 visit as she walked around the exhibit, which is still under construction. "It's a challenge to do something on so large a scale."

Roos said she has worked 4 to 8 hours a day at least four days a week for several months on the mural, which includes a panorama of coral formations, sea horses, fish and other undersea life. Roos said she studied about 15 different coral formations so she could create them freehand them for the mural.

The bulk of the work has been her creation, but Roos said volunteers and other artists have been instrumental to the project. Local artisan Tom Sullivan from Cuyahoga Falls, for example, made numerous steel fish, which line the upper part of the wall near what will be the stingray pool. Roos said that she has had many individuals, Girl Scout troops and high school students come in to lend a hand.

"I first gauge their artistic ability," Roos said. "Those with little art experience, I hand a roller with blue or brown paint and let them put those colors on the walls. Those with more experience I have trace from a projection what I have drawn onto the walls. I've had so many friends through my gallery and my social networking who were a part of this project and wanted to help."

Roos said the project hasn't been without its challenges, not of the least is that she has "gone through a hundred brushes" in the process. The main challenge is working around the aquariums, several of which already have their animal residents.

"They've had a challenge of taking care of all these animals in the midst of all this construction," Roos said of the Akron Zoo staff. "I will be honest, it was a challenge painting around these living creatures. But the staff here is the best. They care so much for the animals and have been wonderful to work with."

Children who want to try their own hand at coloring coral can find a pdf replica of one of the walls at the Akron Zoo's website, at AkronZoo.org, Roos said.

Roos said that the final result won't be seen "until the 11th hour." Still, Roos said she was pleased with the project, and from the response she has received from the zoo staff.

"I am honored they have trusted me to complement this exhibit," she said.

While many people might miss the zoo's popular jellyfish exhibit, which was open in the same space from 2008-11 and closed last October, Roos said she felt that area residents will enjoy "Journey to the Reef."

"The jellies were exciting, but the variety people will see here is amazing," Roos said. "It's so exciting. I'm so proud to be a part of this."

THE ANIMALS

Those who enjoyed coming to see the jellyfish at the Akron Zoo will still see three types of jellies in the new exhibit, said Pete Mohan, director of animal operations. The Pacific sea nettle, the Moon Jellyfish and the Upside Down Jellyfish are included in the exhibit.

But they will be joined by a host of other creatures, such as starfish, crabs, sea anemones, schooling fish, moray eels and even an octopus, said Mohan, a Kent resident.

Mohan said that there are several considerations that need to be made when housing creatures such as jellyfish. For example, the surfaces of the jellyfish aquariums are slightly rounded and must be absolutely smooth.

"Jellies need ultra-smooth surfaces or they get torn up," he said.

As for the other species of jellyfish, Mohan said they found homes at other zoos. Indeed, the Akron Zoo in many instances traded some of their jellies for other animals at other zoos.

"In one case, we were able to trade some of our spotted jellies for some stingrays for the pool," he said.

Fans of the reality show "Tanked," which features Las Vegas-based Acrylic Tank Manufacturing, designed two of the aquariums at the exhibit, Mohan said. One is for the pilchards, a type of herring, which swim around in a shimmery silver wave around the schooling tank. The other aquarium is for the Giant Pacific Octopus.

"The octopus is the star of the show, in my opinion," Roos said.

Mohan said in the wild, the Giant Pacific Octopus can grow to more than 10 feet long, although "the one we have here, she won't grow that large."

"We are pretty sure it's a she," Mohan added. "This particular octopus probably weighs no more than 15 to 20 pounds and is perhaps 3.5 feet tip to tip. She is already an adult but could reach twice this size."

Another aquarium will highlight poisonous species of fish, such as the lionfish. The lionfish, Mohan explained, came from the Florida coast, where they were accidentally introduced sometime in the mid-90s.

"We think what happened is that they were blown into the Gulf from private owners' aquariums when they had those hurricanes," Mohan said. "There were about a half dozen or so, and they started multiplying."

The lionfish there are considered an invasive species," Mohan said, and the aquarium display will include information about conservation and the impact of non-native species on an area.

Visitors to Journey to the Reef also will get the chance to view live coral displays, Mohan said. The zoo is obtaining coral samples from other zoos.

"Corals you can break and take 'cuttings' of, like you would a plant," Mohan said. "That's how we are getting our coral."

One challenge in growing coral is that they need a strong light source, Mohan said. The zoo will be using 2,000 to 3,000 watt lights in the coral aquariums. The lights are a "special metal halide lighting which closely simulates natural sunlight," he said.

"A tank of this size housing only fishes would typically have one 4-foot fluorescent tube above it and that would be 30-40 watts," Mohan added.

An interesting note about the colors of coral is that the bright colors are a sort of sunscreen the coral uses to protect a type of algae that lives within the coral in a symbiotic relationship, Mohan said. This type of algae also can be found in the upside down jellies.

ZOO INFORMATION

Starting May 1, admission is $10 for adults, $8.50 for seniors and $7 for children ages 2 to 14. Children younger than 2 are free, and parking is $2.

Hours beginning May 1 are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For details, visit AkronZoo.org or call 330-375-2550.


Hudsonhubtimes.com - Artistry of the Sea: Local artist works with zoo to create vast underwater mural
 
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