Akron Zoo Akron Zoo News 2012

My Journey to the Reef

I have now seen Journey to the Reef and I absolutely loved it. I will post photos sometime this weekend, but I wanted to give you a review. Not everyone has moved in yet, but you would not notice. The reef is a city. Each resident has its role to play. Before you enter, you can can have you photo taken with Diver Dan. While you are in the exhibit, you are under the water. Animals and a boat hang overhead. Each exhibit is themed who what is in it. The moon jelly exhibit has an interactivity that allows you to change the color of the light in the exhibit. The false pilchard exhibit is long with curved ends. There is a wall in the middle. This allows the school the swim in circles, just like a race track. Some of the exhibits have a decent number of species in. One exhibit have a huge plumose anemone in. It is huge. There are small screens that display information on exhibit and some of the species. They handed out species identification lists. I will list the species below this review. There is still a Jellyfish Nursery set-up in the Coral Lab. There are three children activity areas for them to play. There is also a wall with a computer game about stopping pollution in the oceans. You touch the wall to play it. The touch tank is also nice. There is two yellow stingrays, two blue-spotted stingrays, multiple horseshoe crabs, and an Akron Zoo born bamboo shark. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch kiosk is located outside the exhibit across from the rainforest exhibit. This is not a comprehensive aquarium by aquarium review, but I wanted to give you a general sense of the new exhibit. All I can say is that it is wonderful. This is a wonderful addition to the zoo.


Reef Identification Sheet

Red Lionfish
Spotted Scorpionfish
Foxface
Goldspotted Spinefoot
False Pilchard
Neon Goby
Clown Anemonefish
Yellow Clownfish
Tiger Goby
Rusty Goby
Fringed Filefish
Caribbean Sharpnose Pufferfish
Royal Gramma
Molly Miner Blenny
Redlip Blenny
Sixline Wrasse
Sailfin Scalpin
Longfin Sculpin
Banggai Cardinalfish
Mandarinfish

Dragon Moray Eel
Viper Moray Eel
Spotted Moray Eel
Purplemouth Moray Eel

Potbellied Seahorse
Lined Seahorse

Staghorn Coral
Elkhorn Coral
Cauliflower Coral
Brush Coral
Lettuce Coral
Elegance Coral
Encrusting Coral
Mushroom Coral
Brain Coral

Ritteri Anemone
Merten's Carpet Sea Anemone
Strawberry Anemone
Long Tentacle Anemone
White-Spotted Anemone
Plumose Anemone

Moon Jelly
Japanese Sea Nettle
Upside-Down Jelly

Atlantic Deer Cowrie
Atlantic Triton's Trumpet
Horse Conch
Giant Clam
Giant Pacific Octopus
Tulip Snail
Rough Keyhole Limpet
Black Chiton
Mossy Chiton

Shovelnose Slipper Lobster
Striped-Legged Slipper Lobster
Hermit Crab
Red Leg Hermit Crab
Spot Prawn
Scarlet Lady Shrimp
Grass Shrimp
Sharp-Nosed Crab

Purple Urchin
Pencil Urchin
Pincushion Urchin
Rock Urchin
Sea Apple
Chocolate Chip Sea Star
Bat Star
Brown Spiny Sea Star
Blood Star
Purple Star


This is not all of the species in the exhibit because there are some differences between this list and the one the zoo gave me. The list I posted from the zoo had more species on it, so it is most likely the full list of species is a combination of the both lists.
 
Bonnie and I are split on Journey to the Reef,we visited today and each have a different opinion on it.I just feel its not that much different from what it was before when it featured jellies.While it is slightly better its just not what it needs to be in order to be a top notch aquarium exhibit.Its my opinion that the aquarium portion of this building should eventually converted into a permanant reptile building.

Marty of Team Tapir
 
team tapir said:
Bonnie and I are split on Journey to the Reef,we visited today and each have a different opinion on it.I just feel its not that much different from what it was before when it featured jellies.While it is slightly better its just not what it needs to be in order to be a top notch aquarium exhibit.Its my opinion that the aquarium portion of this building should eventually converted into a permanant reptile building.

Marty of Team Tapir
Click to expand...


First of all, this exhibit area is a rotating exhibit area. There has never been any talk of it becoming a reptile-only building. Considering four of the high-ups in animal care at the zoo are former SeaWorld of Ohio employees, I do not see any aquatic emphasis leaving any time soon. It is not like they just placed them in former primate exhibits like Cleveland did. Everyone I have heard from doesn't like the Greater Cleveland Aquarium for one reason or another. Plus GCA does not have jellies, an octopus, or live coral. The new exhibit has a lot of cnidarians, but the cnidarians are some of the most interesting resident of the reef. They are also some of the more often overlooked species in the ocean. The invertebrates of the ocean outnumber the vertebrates in the ocean, it not the entire planet. Akron is also becoming a biomedical corridor. There are properties that the cnidarians and other sea life have that will be key to future medications to ensure human health. This gives the public a way to see these species up-close and a reason to help preserve the coral reef. I do see at some point Akron considering a permanent aquarium, but I do not think it should be over the top. Akron does not do this. This is something done by Cleveland and Columbus on some of their latest exhibits. Wasting too much money at the aesthetics for the guest side of fence/glass, when the money could have been better spent on the actual exhibits or on additional exhibits. As for it looking too much like Jellies, I thought the same thing of the African Elephant Crossing that Cleveland spent $25 million on. There are changes, but it looks too much like the old area. For $25 million, I expected more changes. Now they are raising money to add to the exhibit because they did not plan for items that Toledo thought ahead of time about. I know a little bit what I am talking about in discussing various zoo because I am a member to Akron, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. The exhibit may not have some of the bigger players of the reef due to the exhibit's size, but this is the Akron Zoo not PPG Aquarium or Shedd Aquarium or Monterey Bay Aquarium.
 
TigerValley98 said:
First of all, this exhibit area is a rotating exhibit area. There has never been any talk of it becoming a reptile-only building. Considering four of the high-ups in animal care at the zoo are former SeaWorld of Ohio employees, I do not see any aquatic emphasis leaving any time soon. It is not like they just placed them in former primate exhibits like Cleveland did. Everyone I have heard from doesn't like the Greater Cleveland Aquarium for one reason or another. Plus GCA does not have jellies, an octopus, or live coral. The new exhibit has a lot of cnidarians, but the cnidarians are some of the most interesting resident of the reef. They are also some of the more often overlooked species in the ocean. The invertebrates of the ocean outnumber the vertebrates in the ocean, it not the entire planet. Akron is also becoming a biomedical corridor. There are properties that the cnidarians and other sea life have that will be key to future medications to ensure human health. This gives the public a way to see these species up-close and a reason to help preserve the coral reef. I do see at some point Akron considering a permanent aquarium, but I do not think it should be over the top. Akron does not do this. This is something done by Cleveland and Columbus on some of their latest exhibits. Wasting too much money at the aesthetics for the guest side of fence/glass, when the money could have been better spent on the actual exhibits or on additional exhibits. As for it looking too much like Jellies, I thought the same thing of the African Elephant Crossing that Cleveland spent $25 million on. There are changes, but it looks too much like the old area. For $25 million, I expected more changes. Now they are raising money to add to the exhibit because they did not plan for items that Toledo thought ahead of time about. I know a little bit what I am talking about in discussing various zoo because I am a member to Akron, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. The exhibit may not have some of the bigger players of the reef due to the exhibit's size, but this is the Akron Zoo not PPG Aquarium or Shedd Aquarium or Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Click to expand...

Wow I have quite a bit to respond to here lol.For starters I would like to point out that both Bonnie and I also know what we are talking about when it comes to zoos.No one spends more time visiting zoos than we do.That being said lets get to Journy to the Reef.Bonnie wanted me to make it a point again to say that she likes it and does not agree with me on this.I grew up visiting Shedd and realize that a zoo like Akron cannot come close to aquatic exhibits of this nature.Now with that being said thats my point I just feel like JTR and Jellies are just to rinky dink for my liking.Does it send a great conservation message ? Yes, but its just not that great of an overall exhibit.I really like the Monterey Bay smart seafood choices station by the way.

Now lets talk about Cleveland.When Gordon Park Aquarium closed its doors in 1986 and Cleveland took on much of its collection this might be one of the worst things CMZ ever did exhibit wise.Its Shark tank is one of the Worst I have ever seen.I am not all that fond of the new Greater Cleveland Aquarium either.When it comes to Elephant Crossing we seem to be on the same page.I was than and still am upset that Hippos were cut from the project and for 25 mil I expected much more.I do love the Mopani Range,but the barn leaves much to be desired.We really should get together sometime at any of our local zoos as both Bonnie and I love to talk about zoos and wildlife anywhere and anytime with like minded enthusists.

Team Tapir
 
Journey to the Reef's diva needs a name

Help us name our octopus - contest starts Friday!

by Akron Zoo on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 4:51pm

We will hold a naming contest for our giant Pacific octopus that resides in the new Journey to the Reef exhibit. The contest will start on World Ocean’s Day, Friday, June 8, 2012, and conclude at midnight on June 17, 2012. The person submitting the winning name will receive an octopus prize pack and a behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo’s new exhibit.

You can vote for a name at the zoo on June 8, during World Ocean’s Day, on June 13 during Brew at the Zoo, June 17 at the Dad’s Day celebration or online at AkronZoo.org. The zoo will narrow the names down to three and then present them in the tank to the octopus and let her select her own name.

The octopus has been a favorite of people that have seen the zoo’s new exhibit thus far. The nameless octopus weighs about 20 pounds and is about four foot long from the top of its head to the end of its arms.

Giant Pacific octopuses can be found in the Northern Pacific Ocean from southern California north along the coast of North America's Pacific Northwest and south to Japan. They live in rocky areas, caves and kelp forests, from the shores to depths of more than 500 feet. They eat fish, shrimp, crabs, scallops, clams and other shellfishes. They are considered mollusks and are related to clams, oysters, squid and snails.


Help us name our octopus - contest starts Friday! | Facebook

Octopus Naming Contest
 
Akron Zoo wants help naming octopus

By Paula Schleis
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published: June 7, 2012 - 11:31 PM

Akron Zoo officials want some help naming the star attraction of their new Journey to the Reef exhibit.

The giant Pacific octopus, which is expected to be in town for at least the next three years, “came in without a name, and ever since we opened that exhibit, people have been drawn to her and are in awe of her,” zoo spokesman David Barnhardt said Thursday. “What we thought would happen is that she’d be the fan favorite, and she is.”

A contest to name her begins today and runs until midnight June 17. Suggest a name at www.
akronzoo.org or while visiting the zoo.

When the contest closes, zoo officials will narrow the suggestions to three finalists. Those options will be lowered into the tank so the long-legged lovely can make her own selection.

The winner will get an octopus prize pack and a behind-the-scenes tour of the exhibit.

Here’s the red beauty’s resume:

She weighs 20 pounds and is about 4 feet long from the top of her head to the end of her eight arms.

Her family comes from the northern Pacific Ocean — from America’s west coast to the south of Japan. This type of octopus lives in rocky areas, caves and kelp forests, from shallow shores to depths of more than 500 feet.

Her favorite foods are fish, shrimp, crabs, scallops, clams — or just about anything on the menu at Red Lobster.

Also, she has a remarkable camouflaging skill, and can instantly change from red to gray to look less prominent against a rocky background.

Barnhardt said 24,291 people have visited the octopus and reef exhibit since it opened last month. That’s nearly as many as the 25,010 who rushed to see the former jellyfish exhibit when it first opened in 2008.

The jellies gave the zoo “the largest attendance year in history, and if that trend carries through [with the current reef exhibit], we’ll be looking at a great attendance year again,” Barnhardt said.

The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8.50 for seniors and $7 for children ages 2-14. Children under 2 are free. Parking is $2.

Akron Zoo wants help naming octopus - Local News
 
I was at the zoo today for World Ocean's Day. Several more species have been added to Journey to the Reef. I expect several more will be added as they exit quarantine. Everyone is now out on exhibit elsewhere in the zoo. There is now a trailer on the former Perkins Park Drive. They were also flattening some land by the former road which means Grizzly Ridge construction has begun at last.
 
I asked the zoo on Facebook about the glass for the snow leopard exhibit and when it is going to be fixed. They said it is being custom made and should arrive in the next couple of weeks. It will be installed before mid-July.
 
While I haven't been down to see the Reef yet, I'm REALLY excited about Grizzly Ridge.

Once the new aviary is installed with the new part of the campus, I would think the "trail" out of Tiger Valley that stretches from the defunct gibbon enclosure, past the barking deer/red pandas and including the archaic restroom/old aviary would be ripe for "re-imagining." As park popularity grows, it is a horrible bottleneck on busy days and simply atrocious for anyone attempting maneuver a stroller and/or wheelchair.
 
I see the Don Drumm restrooms most likely staying because it is one of the remaining old zoo buildings left and because of the artwork. I do see the restroom renovated though. They need to be modernized. Plus Grizzly Ridge will have no restrooms and the restrooms in Nature's Theater in the Zoo Gardens are closed June to September while the Wild Animal Show is running. I know the zoo has discussed the bottleneck in the Asian Trail section of Tiger Valley. If and when the current aviary comes down that means the barking deer exhibit must be modified. I think that they could add a second path where the aviary is located and have it intersect the Asian Trail path as a wheelchair/stroller bypass. The terrain is an issue in this region so I can't see a major exhibit in that area. The current aviary is still in use even though it is closed. It contains some of the animals for the new aviary and the spare turkeys for the wild turkey exhibit. The former gibbon exhibit not likely to be touched until 2014 at the earliest. I have asked and there are no plans for that area at the present. I would much rather see the gibbon exhibit replaced and see the zoo expand more onto the new land before Asian Trail gets too much of a major makeover.

SIDE NOTE - The fence that split the barking deer exhibit is gone. It separated Englebert and his daughter Freedom. I did see Englebert, so I bet he may have died of old age. They have removed some of the older trees from the exhibit and new trees have been added.
 
Endangered Humboldt penguin born!

by Akron Zoo on Monday, June 11, 2012 at 2:17pm

An endangered Humboldt penguin was born at the Akron Zoo on April 8, 2012. Not only is the birth significant because Humboldt penguins are an endangered species, but the egg was fostered at the Akron Zoo. The egg was brought to the Akron Zoo from penguins at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in late March. It is the first time in the Akron Zoo’s history that an animal has fostered young from another zoo or aquarium.

The chick, named Antia, which means “invaluable” is still in the burrow with her parents, Carlos and Penya, but is expected to emerge any day and will be on exhibit at the zoo’s Penguin Point. Carlos and Penya were selected to foster the egg because they have had successful births at the Akron Zoo in the past.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium had several penguin eggs that were laid this spring and called upon the Akron Zoo to help foster some to increase the chances of successful birth of this critically endangered bird. On March 26, 2012, two fertile eggs were transported to the Akron Zoo and placed in the burrows, but only one successfully hatched, which is not uncommon.

Antia currently weighs about 5.5 pounds. Chicks are not able to eat on their own so her parents are still feeding her. The parents are fed four times a day, twice as much as the other penguins at the Akron Zoo. They are fed two varieties of fish, which include capelin and smelt. The parents feed the penguin chicks by eating first and then regurgitating the food into the chick’s mouth. Antia should start eating on her own in a couple of weeks.

The Humboldt penguin is currently an endangered species primarily due to commercial harvesting of guano for agricultural fertilizer. Without nesting locations, Humboldt penguins are in serious danger of extinction. Some estimates indicate the possibility of extinction in the wild in the next 10 years. The Akron Zoo is proud to have these penguins as part of the Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP). The mission of the SSP is to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife species. Through scientifically-controlled managed breeding programs, SSP’s are a proactive approach to preventing extinction. SSP's were formed back in 1981 to help ensure the survival of endangered species. SSP's are managed by the AZA, of which the Akron Zoo is an accredited member.

Endangered Humboldt penguin born!
 
Here is the second Akron Zoo commercial for 2012. It is the regular commercial whereas the first on was created specifically for Journey to the Reef.

 
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Cora, Scarlet, or Octavia

Akron Zoo narrows octopus names to final three

Beacon Journal staff report
Published: June 22, 2012 - 09:19 AM | Updated: June 22, 2012 - 09:46 AM

Octavia.

Cora.

Scarlet.

Those are the three names that will be lowered into the watery home of the Akron Zoo’s resident octopus at 9:30 a.m. Monday so she can make the final choice herself.

More than 2,200 suggestions were submitted in a contest to name the 20-pound giant Pacific octopus, who moved to Akron this year to headline the zoo’s new Journey to the Reef exhibit.

Octavia received the most submissions of any name. Cora is a shortened name for coral, the theme of the exhibit and a popular habitat for octopuses. Scarlet pays homage to her red skin.

If more than one person submitted the winning name — to be determined by whichever identity she first swipes with one of her eight long arms — a random drawing among those entries will be held to determine who wins the prize package, which includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the new exhibit.

Journey to the Reef opened last month, replacing the Jellies: Rhythm in the Blue jellyfish exhibit that had an unexpectedly long four-year run. The new exhibit, and its star attraction, are scheduled to remain in town for at least three years.


Akron Zoo narrows octopus names to final three - Break News - Ohio
 
This is not an Akron Zoo post, but it about animals in Akron. I am a member at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens member too and I wanted to spread the word on an new exhibit at one of Akron's other major attractions. I wanted to share this news especially since CMZ does not have butterflies this year.

--------------------------------------------------------

Butterflies have landed at Stan Hywet!

Beauty in Flight: Butterflies of North America

Opens on Saturday, June 23

Visit our Estate and enjoy this captivating interactive display
with over 400 butterflies in a specially created outdoor habitat
near the Corbin Conservatory.

Tuesday - Sunday 10am-6pm
Now through September.

Volunteers from Stan Hywet, MetroParks of Summit County and
Cuyahoga Valley National Park will be on hand daily from to
11am to 3pm to provide informal education and answer questions.

Your butterfly experience is included in a Gardens & Grounds Admission.
FREE to Members.

Beauty in Flight: Butterflies of North America
is generously sponsored by The J.M. Smucker Company.


Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
 
Birds take wing at Akron Zoo

By Kathy Antoniotti
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published: June 22, 2012 - 11:25 PM

Newborns at the Akron Zoo rarely arrive by stork — even though that particular delivery system might seem appropriate.

The zoo, which is actually home to two white storks, generally gets its deliveries in the more traditional manner.

But what is good for the goose, who sits atop her own clutch of eggs, is not necessarily good for an endangered gander, whose survival depends on special treatment.

As part of its accreditation with the elite Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Akron Zoo is required to follow strict guidelines to ensure an animal’s survival. Each endangered animal has its own personal Species Survival Plan.

“The AZA’s species survival plan enables us to manage the species long term. Ninety to 95 percent of the genetic diversity is for 100 years,” said Doug Piekarz, vice president of planning and conservation at the zoo.

Of the more than 700 animals that call the Akron Zoo home, 40 of them, from the Partula snail from the French Polynesia to the snow leopard from Central Asia, have a specific species survival plan that must be followed. An animal with such a plan cannot be bred with another animal without a directive from the international nonprofit organization that has determined that the two animals will be able to produce healthy offsprings.

“We use genetics to determine they have the lowest possible inbreeding coefficient,” before reproduction is encouraged, Piekarz said.

In March, for the first time in zoo history, an endangered Humboldt penguin egg was transported from the Columbus Zoo to be fostered in Akron. The penguin, named Antia which means “invaluable,” was born at the zoo in April. David Barnhardt, director or marketing and guest services, said the penguin will be a resident in the zoo’s Penguin Point.

Antia is not the first bird to arrive in Akron before coming out of her shell.

In 2005, zoo officials traveled to Miami Metrozoo, now Zoo Miami, and Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana to collect two clutches of the critically endangered white-winged wood duck eggs. They were brought back to Ohio, where they were added to a clutch at the zoo.

The eggs hatched to form a colony that is now housed at Hiram College’s Endangered Waterfowl Conservation and Propagation Center. Seven birds from the original three clutches have survived. The college and Akron Zoo formed a partnership that allows zoo officials to maintain control over the management of the birds to comply with its AZA protocol. Based on a 2005 study, it is estimated that only about 800 white-winged wood ducks survive in the wild today and 83 in captivity throughout America. Two of them remain housed in the zoo’s aviary.

But flight plans for endangered birds do not always end at the Akron Zoo.

In 1994, the zoo transported a flock of trumpeter swans from Akron to Iowa to help that state’s Department of Natural Resources increase native populations. Hunted to near extinction in the 1800s, the trumpeter swan has rebounded and is relatively common today.

Birds take wing at Akron Zoo - Local News
 
The giant Pacific octopus has picked Cora as her name. The sloth bear exhibit is closed and they are working around it. I am trying to find out what is going on. I also noticed some improvements at the former gibbon exhibit, so something maybe happening there, but I am not sure. I am trying to get an answer on that too. I will let you know when I get some answers.
 
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