Akron Zoo Akron Zoo News 2025

Akron Zoo
IT'S JUST A DRILL! The Akron Zoo will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 5 as we conduct joint safety drills alongside Akron Fire Department, Akron Police Department and Summa Health. These drills allow us to ensure guest and animal safety and also serves as a training opportunity for our first responders.

All animals will be safely in their habitats and bedrooms. The only animals running around will be those staff members in animal onesies!

We'll resume regular daily operations of 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6.
 
The zoo is hinting on Facebook that there will be changes in other areas of the zoo coming soon, not just in Legends of the Wild.

Changes abound!

During the next several months, there will be many changes happening throughout the Akron Zoo, especially in our Legends of the Wild area. These changes could result in temporarily empty habitats, animals moving to different habitats, etc.

We hope you can "bear" with us during this transition time. The end result is sure to be worth it. As new friends arrive, we'll share more. Our first new species is the green crested basilisk, currently located in the primate building in Legends of the Wild.

The only thing I can think of aside from everything related to Africa Phase II would be Curious Creatures being rethemed and the rainforest in Komodo Kingdom being renovated as TigerValley mentioned.
 
EagleScout610 said:
The zoo is hinting on Facebook that there will be changes in other areas of the zoo coming soon, not just in Legends of the Wild.

Changes abound!

During the next several months, there will be many changes happening throughout the Akron Zoo, especially in our Legends of the Wild area. These changes could result in temporarily empty habitats, animals moving to different habitats, etc.

We hope you can "bear" with us during this transition time. The end result is sure to be worth it. As new friends arrive, we'll share more. Our first new species is the green crested basilisk, currently located in the primate building in Legends of the Wild.

The only thing I can think of aside from everything related to Africa Phase II would be Curious Creatures being rethemed and the rainforest in Komodo Kingdom being renovated as TigerValley mentioned.
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Curious Creatures is probably not getting rethemed. It will probably be getting some new residents. I think they decided to switch some species out rather than completely redo the area again. Too many other construction projects going on. I still think we could see an additional elsewhere. You forgot the hoofstock habitat in Pride. The main species is changing. I have no idea where the remaining lemurs might go. I wish the zoo would do something in the former rabbit yard area next to the barn owl habitat. They need to do something there. It has been over a decade.
 
Another habitat to watch is the larger fruit bat habitat. It has been empty. Both species are being phased out of the zoo's collection. I am curious what will move into that habitat. The zoo doesn't really need two bat habitats.
 
Notes from today's visit (11/21)

  • Pygmy Slow Loris and the fruit bats next to it are no longer signed in the nocturnal house in Legends.
  • Giant prickly stick insect exhibit is empty.
  • The electricity theming from the former eel exhibit in Curious Creatures has been removed.
  • The Andean Condor exhibit had reopened. The signage along the pathway to the play area has also been removed.
  • Way-finding signage in Legends has been updates to say “Primate building” with a vector of what looks like a Saki monkey, and “Big cat” pointing towards the Jaguar exhibit. Not sure why they didn't just say the species.
  • Jasper was the Komodo dragon on exhibit again. I haven't seen Padar for a few months, so I'm wondering if they don't bring him out as frequently, or if I just have really really bad luck when it comes to the dragons.
  • The Aztec art at the mara exhibit is being painted over, so I'm guessing the retheme of the Jaguar exhibit will be sooner than later.
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Snow leopard renovation:
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I think they are replacing all the signage in Legends. They have temporary signage in places. When Legends opened, it did not have the traditional sign with species, scientific name, and range. I hope these type of signs are made permanent along with the traditional signs in the area.
 
TigerValley98 said:
I think they are replacing all the signage in Legends. They have temporary signage in places. When Legends opened, it did not have the traditional sign with species, scientific name, and range. I hope these type of signs are made permanent along with the traditional signs in the area.
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Right now many exhibits have paper signage as seen below. I'm personally glad to see the signage updated, as the old circular signage was easy to miss.
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I am wondering if the gecko habitat will be relocated to Komodo Kingdom or Curious Creatures since the Primate Building is going to have a South American theme.
 
TigerValley98 said:
I am wondering if the gecko habitat will be relocated to Komodo Kingdom or Curious Creatures since the Primate Building is going to have a South American theme.
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Wasn't in Komodo Kingdom before it moved to Madagascar? Because I'm pretty sure it used to be there.
 
The zoo has announced the replacements for the bats and loris in the nocturnal exhibits are chinchilla and prehensile tailed porcupine.

There are two new species in our nocturnal building - prehensile-tailed porcupine and chinchillas!
Quinn, our prehensile-tailed porcupine is a cuirous, but shy girl. She moved here from the Milawaukee County Zoo. She is 7 years old, having celebrated her birthday just last week on Nov. 19!

Our two chinchillas are curious, active and friendly! Chinchillas are often thought of as pets, but did you know they are endangered? The Akron Zoo partners with the Chinchilla Saving Animals from Extinction, or SAFE, program, which aims to protect these animals by working with the Chilean government's recovery and conservation plans for short-tailed and long-tailed chinchillas.
 
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