Hunting is a mixed bag. You have those who do it to live off the land and use every single piece off that animal. Then, those that stroke their egoes that can afford to travel to exotic locales and bag their prize to hang in their man-cave or great room. Then there are these ranches that have animals that were once Zoo-stock for whatever reason and “Big Bob" rolls out on his rascal scooter and takes aim with a high-powered weapon that will literally knock him off his scooter and rip his oxygen mask off. Aside from the hunting and what not, Zoos do still retain the ABC's of Hoofstock. Giraffe, Zebra and others. Animals people know and love from animated films and books (remember those?). I know this is a dead horse that is dragged through the mud, but what has become of SDZ's H&H Mesa? They plowed and grated those areas and built a themed land that maybe some visitors understand or not. Only ones that remember the “olden days" are nerds like us. EO has a little something for everyone now. Engages the visitors, stuff for kids to do and learn. The educational value doesn't really exist much anymore. How many times can we say that people have their faces buried in some device or using a tablet to take a pic that blocks views for others? I've seen it a lot. The phrases that usually follow are social media related. Book this, gram that, tweet this. SELFIE! Now they have these giant poles to take “hands free" photos. People share them on social media hoping for an ego boost of a like, share or comment. Zoos and Aquariums are deeply involved in social media where they want you to share and hashtag. Then some drone of a person at the Zoo likes or shares your photos, and you feel quantified for all the wrong reasons. Another thing, parents so absorbed into their tech, the Zoo acts as a babysitter while parents take a break. Emailing, social media, sharing photos of their super adorbs kiddies to show their friends and family how good of parents they are. While their children run amok and create havoc in a controlled setting and disrupt the visit for visitors. Little Johnny, got out of line and staff had to speak to him. Mom or Dad feel threatened on one elevel or another and Johnny can do no wrong. How dare you tell Johnny what to do?! When it clearly states the rules at the gates, on the maps, even on exhibits. The parent was too absorbed in tech and social media they're embarrassed and lash back and make verbal threats of bad reviews on yelp or social media. So they can be reaasured they did not fail as a parent. It's sad. It happens a lot. Not just at Zoos or aquariums, but even playgrounds and other places. Parents forget how they were raised and go by some blog, book or whatever how to raise their children. More often than not, they encourage them to take Mom and Dad time while hanging with their kids. It's a messed up time in this world and there's always someone out there that will agree that Mommy and Johnny did no wrong. But Mommy got three shares, 27 likes and 14 comments on her check-in, pics and other social media. So, it was worth it in the end. Sad reality. It's not just played to one side of predators vs. prey. The ABC's of prey are there. Feed the giraffes. Almost every Zoo does this or is doing it. Is it educational? Ehhh, maybe. Does it bring in money? Yes. Does it get shared on social media? Please, believe it. It is free advertisement that the visitors share and garner interest of others wanting to do the same thing and get their social media game up. Predators do nap, but there are regions and weather that can encourage otherwise or force the remark come early or stay later when Tony the Tiger is first out or is pacing at the end of the day to go into holding and eat his 10 pounds of horse meat. The trends are there, larger exhibits, seals, sea lions, penguins, great apes, cats, elephants, etc. While the smaller animals like meerkats, prarie dogs and others fill the gaps. This leaves Zoos with options for more dining, gift, rest room/family/nursing rooms and satellitie playscapes to build into each area. There may be some left over area for the true animal lover curator or manager that convinced the higher ups to keep that odd ungulate or animal. Zoos follow trends. How many Savanna's have opened in recent years with all the ABC's of the Lion King or Madagascar! Movies? Reminds me of the Veldt days before my time and during my younger years. Zoos need the stars to force gates or have a beyond healthy relationship with the community that throws money at them and they can not build fast enough or be creative. The days of houses for animals seem to be over except for Reptiles, as Zoos pour multimillion dollars into these buildings with 40 plus exhibits with smaller vivariums and the larger marquee animals. Ungulates and Birds are getting short horned or perched. People want what they know. What they don't know, someone blogged or they can be super lazy and believe the drool of Wikipedia. Africa Rocks! With all that it entails and if built as is so far, is a fairly complete area of the lesser known animals mixed with the commercially driven ones. Most Zoos could build just that and that would satisfy both public and nerd. It's just another part of SDZ, adding to a fairly comlplete Zoo in the eyes of nerd and public on decent land that has since been lost due to ADA complaincs and exhibit enlargement. We can want the weird ungulates and the obscure but in the end, the penguins, seals and sea lions, savannas, great apes, cats and others will prevail.
Sorry, Tsc, I know you have/had your heart set on what was once promised in ungulates and mixed exhibits. Trails has done wonders for the Zoo and the Bulls getting along in the same yard, is quite extraordinary. Same for Tadpole and the Rhinos. It may not evoke the feel of Dallas Giants mix, but does well all by itself. Giants is an overload of the senses and hard to truly enjoy. Whereas Trails does well and works great. Asian Passage can be promising. It has worked for Zoos like Virginia. This will also free up space in the older buildings for renovation and removal to bring in new animals and exhibits. And the Orangs finally go outside! Hard to beat and gets off the Zoochat list of indoor only exhibits. If done right, the climate can help for a more natural look versus the playground. The director has done well and continues to do well. Can push attendance higher and actually make it a destination visit.
