AZA Zoo for Las Vegas?
- Thread starter Loxodonta Cobra
- Start date
I'll believe that a zoo is coming to Las Vegas when I see actual evidence of construction, and not before. This seems to happen every year, and the fact that these people think they can get Giant Pandas and Polar Bears show they don't understand how to obtain animals.
Blackleopard207
Well-Known Member
I totally agree! I just posted this website so people could see what’s being discussed. But yeah, animals like polar bears and pandas especially seem a bit far-fetched.
My thoughts on this zoo? I've seen Planet Zoo videos that are more realistic than this. Hell, I could make a better zoo in Las Vegas by simply embracing species that live in arid or hot areas. Tho, luckily, that means I can use all the charismatic stuff from Africa. Fill it out with some other stuff that can thrive in really hot climates, and a dedicated Nevada exhibit, and you're good.
Blackleopard207
Well-Known Member
Speaking of creating zoos, does anyone know of an app or website that would be good for designing zoos that’s not super expensive? Free would be good as well, but whatever works. I design zoo exhibits for fun a lot, and would like to have an app or website suited for something like that.
Planet Zoo.
This project crops up on the site every so often, and there's still yet to be any actual movement on this. It still sits in the planning stage and for what they want to do it's better off that way. Many of the animals they want are not at all suited for the local environment and/or are hard to obtain. I also note the choices are extremely ABC based, and between this and the suitability issues I don't think there's actual proper animal professionals involved.
I don't think Las Vegas needs a place like this anyways, it is still first and foremost a tourist town that is known for gambling, expensive shows, and its nightlife. Personally I'd have some concern for the conduct of what guests it might attract. This might be remedied some by putting it further towards the edge of the city (where I assume it would need to go anyways) but then you'd probably have a harder time getting as many visitors, especially in the summer. I just don't see a full-sized zoo in Las Vegas being an appropriate venture.
I don't think Las Vegas needs a place like this anyways, it is still first and foremost a tourist town that is known for gambling, expensive shows, and its nightlife. Personally I'd have some concern for the conduct of what guests it might attract. This might be remedied some by putting it further towards the edge of the city (where I assume it would need to go anyways) but then you'd probably have a harder time getting as many visitors, especially in the summer. I just don't see a full-sized zoo in Las Vegas being an appropriate venture.
Blackleopard207
Well-Known Member
Maybe a good idea would be to put one up by Reno, which is also a decent-sized city. Reno may have casinos too, but it’s not like a city attracting tons of gamblers like Las Vegas.
I don't see how the presence of gambling or casinos has anything to do with a zoo. It's an urban area of 2 million people, located a far distance from any other major zoos. As @SwampDonkey pointed out most visitors would be locals; Vegas is growing in population and many of those are families with children. Actually, many of the tourists visiting Vegas nowadays are also families with children and the city has been trying to develop more family friendly attractions. The zoo doesn't have to be located anywhere near the Strip. The climate is also broadly similar to Phoenix, which has a major zoo with several ABC species. I understand where some of these ideas might come from, but honestly none of these arguments about why LV shouldn't have a major zoo seem very convincing to me.
That being said, I have no comment on the specific project being talked about here; apparently it's made little to no progress, so for now critiquing it feels more like a thought exercise.
That being said, I have no comment on the specific project being talked about here; apparently it's made little to no progress, so for now critiquing it feels more like a thought exercise.
@Coelacanth18 , all great points.
Actually, Phoenix has two major zoos, the Phoenix Zoo and Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium. The Living Desert in Palm Springs also holds several ABC species in an arguably even more extreme environment.
Blackleopard207
Well-Known Member
After further research, I thought I’d Nevada were to have a zoo, why not locate it in between Lake Tahoe and Carson City (Nevada’s Capital) which are only 30 minutes apart. Tahoe attracts 15 million tourists annually and Carson a city is only 30 minutes from Reno. That would be a nice location.
I've actually mentioned elsewhere that I think with the closure of the Mirage's animal habitats, local appetite for a zoo will likely increase. Having big cats and dolphins in a hotel isn't good from a welfare standpoint, but if you have dolphins and big cats close by, that will sap a lot of casual interest in a zoo for whom such animals are more of a draw. I think the potential for a zoo in Vegas is high... but I doubt this proposal will be what sells it.
Chris Peterson
New Member
100 acres seems very small. I've been working around Vegas and animals for many years. I think a much larger facility is warranted. 2000-3000 acres like wild animal park with multiple revenue creation venues to keep the public I retested and educated. A static exhibit would be boring to someone looking for the entertainment value found on the strip. Mandalay has the aquarium other facilities used former San Diego Zoo horticulture staff in lush gardens with minimal water use. The talent is there but a 100 acres in Vegas is too small and would do little for a conservation program. Former zoo director here, just my opinion.
I think it really depends on the "mission" of the zoo. It it is to be a large conservation park in the vain of SD Safari Park or The Wilds then you are absolutely correct. If it is to be more of a "new" city style zoo then 100 acres is adequate to large. But whatever it is, this dream map is not a reality.
Could the LV area climate support a large outdoor conservation style park? I am not sure that it really should, the weather extremes and environment would be a challenge for a large safari park. In your opinion could the weather be an issue for large hoofstock paddocks or big cat pens where the animals are exposed most of the time?
Trying to compete with the strip for entertainment will fail. This facility (if it ever gets built) needs to be done well and geared to a local resident, not a vacationer. But many new builds are done well, we don't see new build zoos often, but the new build aquariums have been done rather well. A small zoo focusing on smaller animals in an immersive indoor environment could take up well under 100 acres and contribute greatly to conservation.
That's awesome! We don't have too many people here that are or were actually involved behind the scenes. Can you share where you were a director at?
Chris Peterson
New Member
Hi
Manager of Education, Assistant to the Director at Sea World San Diego 5 years, San Diego Zoo Wild Aimal Park Public Relations Marketing, Media Production and Education Dept. 15 years, Director and Society President Winston Oregon Wildlife Safari 3 Years, Director Zoological Society President Virginia Zoo, Norfolk Virginia 2 Years.
Have you ever read the famous work by William Conway, NY Zoological Society, called "How to display a bullfrog"? If not you should.
Most zoos spend between 50-60% of revenue on salary alone and more than that if unionized. That only leaves 40% for everything else. And zookeepers love to work with animals more than they like working with people. Probably because they get along with animals better than people. So you have a divided staff from the get go 1/2 are trying to bring people in and the other 1/2 would prefer that they don't come in to leave "their animals" alone. Like it or not a zoo is an entertainment education conservation revenue generating institution and all hands on deck to support a well oiled zoo that accomplished all those goals.
Vegas has entertainment revenue generating bits down pat and a zoo is trying to do that AND education and conservation. You are asking a zoo to be more productive than the MGM Caesars and now the Vegas Raiders, monster truck show stadium.
I think the Phoenix zoo the Sonora desert museum have a instincts for raising and displaying arid flora fauna wildlife. Disney does all that on a couple thousand acres with revenue in a tourism mecca.
San Diego is the best in the world at teaching a local community how to get behind conservation, utilize the facility for education and be proud to raise generations of family members to be paying members. Sea World has taken some of the greatest steps in entertainment to include rides and their humane innovations in animal care have ripple effects throughout the zoo world.
Especially in no contact elephant and primate behavioral enrichment.
But I do not see a 100 acre facility fulfilling the mission of the AZA and creating a destination that competes with the most glamorous locations in the world. Gotta think big, gotta think revenue generation gotta think big conservation and Big for those animals that we love.
How about convincing many casinos to display birds, small cats and primates in areas of the casino with their own specialties. 1000 hyacinth macaws at the Mandalay Bay, Big cats at the MGM,. Cheetahs at the Luxor, ad manatees and fish to the canals at the Venetian all managed and cared for by the world famous Vegas Zoological Society keepers and scientists. Injured manatees and waterfowl in some of the many of the fountains converted to care for endangered soecies
You do not compete with their tourists you enhance their visit.
Maybe 100 acres could turn into 300 acres on casino properties. Maybe multiple partnerships could do a better job than building a zoo outside of town. I don't know, I'm a zoo guy who dreams about working with people to save animals.
Chris Peterson
New Member
This is a unique idea that I think fits LV very well.
Unlike the person heading up this idea, he is not a zoo person originally and from personal dealings with him, he is not someone I would ever do business with again.
That would be a neat idea.
With big size comes an expensive bill, which means higher ticket prices. Personally, I think smaller zoos with an affordable ticket price do a whole lot more to support conservation education efforts than a large zoo with a ticket price prohibitively large for the average family to visit (or, in some cases, want to visit). 100 Acres is also larger than the majority of zoos in the AZA, and many smaller zoos are doing incredible work in the realms of education, conservation, and yes, entertainment.