Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Zoo News 2022

Amphibiman said:
Does anyone remember how, in The Swamp building once you went past the insect exhibits set into the wall there was a whole room located along that back wall that the giant salamander are on now? It had a bunch of small and interesting exhibits in there with things like different newts and salamanders. I know an electric wheelchair went back and broke one of the benches that was in that area, but does anyone know why they closed that entire area off? I just recalled that today and it has been bothering me ever since I recalled it.
Click to expand...
Never even realized that was originally an exhibit space. Back when the giant salamander exhibit was being installed I peaked through the glass and looks like its used for off exhibit space now, as I remember seeing a few terrariums in the room.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Never even realized that was originally an exhibit space. Back when the giant salamander exhibit was being installed I peaked through the glass and looks like its used for off exhibit space now, as I remember seeing a few terrariums in the room.
Click to expand...
From recollection that room was closed off sometime in the late 2000s. Even when it was publicly accessible it consisted of relatively basic terraria for smaller amphibian and arthropod species. I don't have any insight into why it was closed off unfortunately.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Never even realized that was originally an exhibit space. Back when the giant salamander exhibit was being installed I peaked through the glass and looks like its used for off exhibit space now, as I remember seeing a few terrariums in the room.
Click to expand...
I am fine with it being used for off exhibit space. I would imagine any extra space is helpful. I was just hoping it wasn't something silly like that bench being cracked and instead of repairing or removing it they just closed the space off. It's not a huge building and contains a lot of various species, so I am sure any little bit of space is useful.
 
As of this past week, the zoo is in the process of getting quotes from various companies to contract with a design and construction firm for the new gorilla and orangutan habitats. Still a long way to go, but I'm hopeful there may be official news by the years end.
 
I cannot believe we all missed this, but at the end of last year during a podcast CEO Dr. Adkesseon officially confirmed outdoor gorilla and orangutan exhibits as the next big project. And here's something new, there is also mention of a second phase which would see outdoor exhibits for the smaller primates down the line.

New Brookfield Zoo director wants animals to be as 'happy' as possible
 
pachyderm pro said:
I cannot believe we all missed this, but at the end of last year during a podcast CEO Dr. Adkesseon officially confirmed outdoor gorilla and orangutan exhibits as the next big project. And here's something new, there is also mention of a second phase which would see outdoor exhibits for the smaller primates down the line.

New Brookfield Zoo director wants animals to be as 'happy' as possible
Click to expand...

Sweet, actual progress. It was inevitable, but at least this should help enrich the space for these two great apes. Outdoor exhibits for the tangs and gorillas was long overdue, but I'll gladly look forward to this.
 
birdsandbats said:
Why?
Click to expand...
Unobstructed viewing, as mesh is too obstructive/cagey and glass, more often than not, gives a terrible glare. Plus, if the apes have access to the moat, (so more of a ha-ha or a ditch than a true moat lined with hotwire), it's more unique terrain for them to traverse. Lincoln Park's gorilla exhibit is a good example, along with Woodland Park or San Diego's respective gorilla habitats. I understand the usage of mesh for smaller primates, and definitely so for orangutans, but I see it as less necessary for gorillas.
 
StoppableSan said:
Unobstructed viewing, as mesh is too obstructive/cagey and glass, more often than not, gives a terrible glare. Plus, if the apes have access to the moat, (so more of a ha-ha or a ditch than a true moat lined with hotwire), it's more unique terrain for them to traverse. Lincoln Park's gorilla exhibit is a good example, along with Woodland Park or San Diego's respective gorilla habitats. I understand the usage of mesh for smaller primates, and definitely so for orangutans, but I see it as less necessary for gorillas.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't count on it. In the podcast I linked above Adkesson specifically mentions how he wants to have large glass windows as the primary viewing opportunity, and considering how flat the site is it would be much more cost effective to not have to dig an enormous moat or ditch.

There was an initial site plan shown off internally earlier this week. The exhibits are going to stretch the entire length of the building on the North end, so a good chunk of the west mall is getting filled in as a result.
 
Aardwolf said:
Moats are also pretty greedy with land, and if you're trying to build within an existing site plan, you could easily wind up with more land area being lost to the moat than made available to the animals.
Click to expand...
How does Lincoln Park do it with their moated exhibit? I know they only have one moated space and two netted over spaces, and if Lincoln Park can do it with a limited amount of space, why can't Brookfield? At least for the gorillas, but if the orangutans can get an exhibit on par with Saint Louis, I'm 100% on board with that.
 
Building a moated exhibit can be done, no question about it. It's just that if going with glass or mesh allows you to maximize the amount of space that you offer the animal, which is understandably a major appeal. Brookfield could absolutely do a moat, but they might decide that the trade off isn't worth it - especially since there's already an indoor exhibit that allows unobstructed viewing. Furthermore, a solid barrier reduces the ability of people to throw things, feed the animals, drop their small child into an exhibit, etc.
 
Aardwolf said:
Building a moated exhibit can be done, no question about it. It's just that if going with glass or mesh allows you to maximize the amount of space that you offer the animal, which is understandably a major appeal. Brookfield could absolutely do a moat, but they might decide that the trade off isn't worth it - especially since there's already an indoor exhibit that allows unobstructed viewing. Furthermore, a solid barrier reduces the ability of people to throw things, feed the animals, drop their small child into an exhibit, etc.
Click to expand...
It doesn't have to be 100% moated, maybe if there was a moat on one side and glass on another?
 
Jambo said:
Quite possibly, an exhibit like San Diego would be great, one side moated the other, with glass.

Or, maybe they could just build a single, large moated enclosure that could be rotational for Gorillas and Orangutans if there are space issues.
Click to expand...
I'd be fine with this, as long as there was *an* unobstructed viewing area via moat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top