Ah, I see. Cincinnati Zoo does have a bias towards black rhinos as well, as it is on their logo and such. So it'll be interesting to see all the work they do there.
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati Zoo News 2018
- Thread starter Moebelle
- Start date
If you look at recent history the zoo was actually more biased towards Indian rhinos in that area. After two failed attempts with AI on the Indian rhino, Nikki, the zoo seemed to stop the breeding program. I read somewhere that a black rhino became their logo because the zoo was once the leader in number of black rhino births sometime between the 70's-80's. Their focus on Okapis however, will most likely not change, and there has been two births since they moved to Rhino Reserve (again) in 2012.
Interesting, I did not know that.
Did anyone ever discover what is going to be living in the Margay exhibit, as I guess the Margay no longer is on exhibit.
Did anyone ever discover what is going to be living in the Margay exhibit, as I guess the Margay no longer is on exhibit.
Since a new page was created, just in case people missed it, here are the master plan's concept art.
Roo Valley: 15,000 sq ft walkthrough exhibit that will replace Wildlife Canton (Capybara, warty pigs, wild horses, camels). It will be home to Red kangaroos. The walkabout will contain a cascading waterfall that flows through the descending guest path and ends in a new exhibit for Little Penguins. The little penguins have a nice home in the Children's Zoo but it does not have an underwater viewing area. Roo Valley will have a Rope Course that will allow children to walk over the Kangaroos. This will be completed by 2020. Eagle Eyrie will most likely remain.
Photo: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RooValley-1.jpg
Rhino Reserve: This area will remain but the left half will be completely upgraded. The current Indian rhino yard, and both the black rhino exhibits will be combined to make one large yard for Black rhinos and Plains Zebras. Unlike Rhino Reserve of today, small waterfalls and streams will be added. The current Zebra yard will be home to separated black rhino males. The wall between the okapi and bongo exhibits will be taken down, and they will be separated by a pool. This will be completed by 2023.
Photo: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RhinoReserve-1120x884.jpg
Elephant Trek: The current safari parking lot, safari camp stations, safari picnic areas, and nearby restaurants will be bulldozed and turned into one giant complex for their Asian elephants. That's over seven acres of available land. There will be two, similar sized natural looking exhibit with constructed streams and large swimming pools. They will loop around Manatee Springs and one of the viewing areas will take over the White Lions. The plans imply this will be built for next generation elephants. This will be completed by 2025.
Photo: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ElephantTrek.jpg
Elephant Reserve Renovations: The whole master plan map implies that the current elephant complex will remain. I misread it earlier but now I can see and confirm that BOTH yards will be combined to make one large yard. Now I'm assuming that Elephant Reserve will be home to male(s), and Elephant Trek will be home to cows. Don't hold me to that but it sounds ideal.
See here, top right corner: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2025MasterPlan-1.jpg
Roo Valley: 15,000 sq ft walkthrough exhibit that will replace Wildlife Canton (Capybara, warty pigs, wild horses, camels). It will be home to Red kangaroos. The walkabout will contain a cascading waterfall that flows through the descending guest path and ends in a new exhibit for Little Penguins. The little penguins have a nice home in the Children's Zoo but it does not have an underwater viewing area. Roo Valley will have a Rope Course that will allow children to walk over the Kangaroos. This will be completed by 2020. Eagle Eyrie will most likely remain.
Photo: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RooValley-1.jpg
Rhino Reserve: This area will remain but the left half will be completely upgraded. The current Indian rhino yard, and both the black rhino exhibits will be combined to make one large yard for Black rhinos and Plains Zebras. Unlike Rhino Reserve of today, small waterfalls and streams will be added. The current Zebra yard will be home to separated black rhino males. The wall between the okapi and bongo exhibits will be taken down, and they will be separated by a pool. This will be completed by 2023.
Photo: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RhinoReserve-1120x884.jpg
Elephant Trek: The current safari parking lot, safari camp stations, safari picnic areas, and nearby restaurants will be bulldozed and turned into one giant complex for their Asian elephants. That's over seven acres of available land. There will be two, similar sized natural looking exhibit with constructed streams and large swimming pools. They will loop around Manatee Springs and one of the viewing areas will take over the White Lions. The plans imply this will be built for next generation elephants. This will be completed by 2025.
Photo: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ElephantTrek.jpg
Elephant Reserve Renovations: The whole master plan map implies that the current elephant complex will remain. I misread it earlier but now I can see and confirm that BOTH yards will be combined to make one large yard. Now I'm assuming that Elephant Reserve will be home to male(s), and Elephant Trek will be home to cows. Don't hold me to that but it sounds ideal.
See here, top right corner: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2025MasterPlan-1.jpg
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What species currently like within the Night Hunters exhibit? Do Tayra still live there?
As of February of this year, and based on what I know: Spectacled Owl, Pallas' cat, [Fossa - Deceased - Most likely empty exhibit], Aardwolf, Clouded Leopard, Screaming Hairy Armadillo, Aardvark/Indian Flying Fox/Nothern Greater Galago, Ocelot, Everglades rat snake, Black-footed Cat, Sand Cat, Caracal, Bearcat, Large-spotted Genet [Took Tayra's place], Three-banded Armadillo, Fennec Fox, Fishing Cat, [Former Margay/Bobcat exhibit - will be home to new species]. If you have any questions like these, I suggest you DM me.
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Could the Indian rhinos move to the current elephant exhibit?
Hey, I was just at Cincinnati last fall and one of my favorite parts was the Japanese macaques (a first time seeing the species since I've been to mostly southern zoos). I just read about their exhibit renovating to bald eagles and tortoises (it was an old exhibit). Does anyone know if they're being kept at another part of the zoo (massive zoo and map), phased out, or if they will be brought back eventually?
They were phased out.
One other thing I just noticed after analyzing the new plan. There is no mention of it in words but if you look closely at the 3D view of the new elephant exhibit, the current white lion space will be turned into an island. On it is a bunch of wooden shoots and vines that make up the entire length of the island - and there's two viewing canopies on either side. I'm betting this will be a brand new Gibbon exhibit as well.
I saw that. It would make sense. With this announcement, Columbus’s Adventure Cove, Toledo’s ProMedica Museum of Natural History and tunnel reopening, we await official announcements from two zoos in Ohio for the next project. Cleveland will officially announce the cheetah exhibit later this summer most likely. Finally, the announcements I have been stressing over and anxiously waiting for for at least a year, Pride of Africa and Wild Asia at Akron. I only wished I had an idea when the Akron announcement is coming.
I like the elephant yard idea for the back lot. I'm okay with the changes to Rhino Reserve. I strongly dislike the Wildlife Canyon conversion to a kangaroo exhibit. Frankly, it sounds extremely boring. All of those interesting hoofed stock kicked to the curb for a run-of-the mill roo walkthrough. They also appear to be pretty high on streams and waterfalls.
After knowing the plans of an Australia attraction for a few months, the idea was confusing but it eventually grew on me. Especially with the twist of adding little penguins. Compared to what it used to be, I no longer consider Takin, elderly wild horses (The zoo acted as a "retirement home" for Przewalski's horses), or domestic Camels as entirely interesting.
My only concern now is what will happen to Eagle Eyrie? From the looks of it, based on the concept art, the condor cage will be taken down. Leaving the eagles. However, that flight cage will be a part of Roo Valley. My guess is that may be one day be home to a bunch of Australian birds. Based the zoo's new apparent standards of "what a good exhibit is" now, there is just no more room for improvement for hoofstock exhibits down there. Now here comes the wishful thinking part. The Elephant Reserve renovation description mentions a "New animal habitat", which could open up to a lot of ideas of what that might mean. The closeup of Elephant Trek shows that the left yard may be home to Sabu, possibly ruining my theory of Elephant Reserve being home to only bulls. So fingers crossed that they convert Elephant Reserve into an Asian hoofstock facility. There's no specifics on what it would've displayed but the old master plan states that Elephant Reserve was going to be referred to as "Asia" when renovated once more. We'll just have to wait and find out.
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In regards to Australian birds being put in Eagle Eyrie, what I'd like to see would be wedge-tailed eagles. I highly doubt the Zoo would obtain those.
Here's also a look at the future parking garage, it will be finished in 2023:
http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/VisitorAccess.jpg
And speaking of Asian hoofstock, take a look at what's on top of the waterfall/rock of Elephant Trek: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ElephantTrek.jpg
I'm looking at the 2018 map, and it turns out that an Emu took over the warthog exhibit in Wildlife Canyon.
http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/VisitorAccess.jpg
And speaking of Asian hoofstock, take a look at what's on top of the waterfall/rock of Elephant Trek: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ElephantTrek.jpg
I'm looking at the 2018 map, and it turns out that an Emu took over the warthog exhibit in Wildlife Canyon.
Is elephant holding underground?
It's definitely interesting to see a couple of other species in the new Elephant Trek area.
As for Australia, I just wish they'd do a little better than kangaroos and penguins. it seems like a pretty skippable part of the zoo, to be honest. Couldn't they get some other Australian species? Maybe some cassowaries or wombat? Dingos? I don't know. That arrangement seems underwhelming to me.
As for Australia, I just wish they'd do a little better than kangaroos and penguins. it seems like a pretty skippable part of the zoo, to be honest. Couldn't they get some other Australian species? Maybe some cassowaries or wombat? Dingos? I don't know. That arrangement seems underwhelming to me.
It is not, you can see it in the back between the two yards. It appears very small and doesn't offer any indoor viewing. Which then again, opens up another idea that Elephant Reserve will be a winter home for all/most of their elephants. There's no attracting people to the Festival of Lights without having an indoor viewing for the elephants - or for that matter, no attracting people in the colder months at all.
What is that glass roof area near the deck on the right side of the drawing? That building does not look big enough.
It mentions on the Roo Valley description that the bird area is for the sea eagles and the condors.
Like I said, the possible night home for the elephants.