Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter Mai Thai
- Start date
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
Hippo Cove can then become a Pygmy Hippo or Nile Crocodile exhibit.
If not any of those, I'd like to move the African penguins there.
Mai Thai
Well-Known Member
Why? There would be not point as they already have a brand new state of the art habitat near wolf woods which was built specially for the penguins needs.
Mostly in the interest of more strongly connecting African penguins to the Africa region as well as more suitable transition to Wolf Woods and Children's Zoo. I thin Wolf Woods is one of the Zoo's stronger, lovelier, and more underrated areas, but it is difficult to get to. You have to go across the train tracks, past the penguins, and through Children's Zoo.
There are no public photos of the renovation yet, but the decor in the Chinese Alligator exhibit has been replaced with a tall tree stump, hollowed out in the middle so they can crawl through it. Spoiler alert, the exhibit was not improved.
Before the renovation: Dec. 2019 - Reptile House - Chinese Alligator Exhibit - ZooChat
Before the renovation: Dec. 2019 - Reptile House - Chinese Alligator Exhibit - ZooChat
It's difficult to improve an exhibit that's more or less just a small to medium basin in the floor. They already made the best possible improvement years ago when they removed several individuals.
The zoo has one brand new penguin exhibit and one recently renovated one. It has yet another one in the bird building. I think the zoo is reaching it's penguin exhibit quota. Add in the Newport Aquarium's exhibit across the river, and the city is basically an all you can handle penguin over saturation.
I would also have thought that at the most 2 penguin habitats would suffice (either polar and sub-tropical)? As it is Cincinnati sports the iconic Australian little blues as well as sub-tropical African black-footed penguins and Antarctic polar penguins (parade) in the Bird House. Perhaps given the total acreage and outlay of the zoo it is not that overwhelming ...
It’s even more strange considering the King penguin and African penguin are an overlap with Newport Aquarium (who additionally hold Gentoo, Macaroni and Chinstrap). Both facilities would benefit from maintaining a point of difference.
Auckland’s aquarium holds Subantarctic species (King and Gentoo) and Auckland Zoo holds Little blue penguin. It was agreed from a tourism perspective to avoid competition and in turn benefits both. Auckland Zoo is the main tourism destination of the two, but are happy with this arrangement as the Little blue penguins can be housed outside without the expense of a temperature controlled exhibit.
Plans for the Bear Hill and more from the master plan have been released!
Upcoming Zoo Projects
North American Habitat
The Cincinnati Zoo’s Bear Hill habitat was ahead of its time when built in 1937, with a barless design and technique of using “gunite” to simulate rockwork. But the area hasn’t aged well and needs a refresh – both to provide best of care for our animals and a better visitor experience. Factoring in the current habitat’s age and space limitations on its hilly site required a lot of consideration from animal care and facilities teams, but we have landed on a terrific solution: create open spaces to showcase North American species. The new plan includes converting the lower grotto into a saltwater system for Sea Otters.
A larger, multi-species habitat would go into the combined middle grottos, and at the top of the hill we will highlight species who can take advantage of vertical spaces, such as birds. The refreshed space will give visitors an exciting and more intimate view of the habitats and animals.
Rhino Reserve
As one of the oldest habitats at the Cincinnati Zoo, the Veldt has been through a myriad of renovations through the years. The habitat has been tweaked, pulled, and pushed in many directions to the point where it has lost any cohesive message about the animals living there. To provide More Home to Roam for all the animals in our existing Veldt area, we will redesign the habitats currently occupied by Flamingoes, Okapi, Bongos, Zebras, and Black Rhinos into multiple yards with expansive vistas across species, much like our Africa habitat.
Visitors will enjoy an immersive experience, with a winding pathway that leads into the heart of the habitat to a central viewing area into each species. Plans include expanded moats, new holding areas, and visitor viewing decks. Importantly, we will also expand space for our critically endangered Black Rhinos to encourage breeding. This species is solitary except when breeding or rearing young, so “alone time” space is crucial for them to thrive.
Rhino Reserve will put our Zoo on the leading edge of rhino care, research, and management for the purpose of saving the species from extinction:
Next Gen Rhinoceros Management & Facilities
World-class Breeding Program
Enriching Indoor & Outdoor Environments
Naturalistic, Park-like Habitat
Optimal Visitor Experiences
Environmentally Sustainable Design
Giraffe's Tower / Elephant House
As one of the most recognized buildings at the Zoo, the Elephant House has been the centerpiece of animal habitats since the day it was built in 1905. Its current occupants are elephants, but after our herd moves to its new digs in Elephant Trek, we are planning something wonderful for the space. By combining the yards around the Elephant House and expanding towards Entry Village, this new, larger habitat would open up vistas to one of the Zoo’s most sacred pieces of architecture, and accommodate a much larger giraffe herd in the bargain.
Imagine entering the Zoo and the first thing you see is a herd of 15-20 giraffes sweeping across a wide open plain! Additionally, we plan to create an elevated visitor experience that is literally built around a tree, with a giraffe feeding station, leisurely resting spot, and group event space.
Carousel
The carousel is moving up to Swan Lake, where it will go from 32 to 64 seats surrounded by a vintage-style open air structure and boardwalk.
Upcoming Zoo Projects
North American Habitat
The Cincinnati Zoo’s Bear Hill habitat was ahead of its time when built in 1937, with a barless design and technique of using “gunite” to simulate rockwork. But the area hasn’t aged well and needs a refresh – both to provide best of care for our animals and a better visitor experience. Factoring in the current habitat’s age and space limitations on its hilly site required a lot of consideration from animal care and facilities teams, but we have landed on a terrific solution: create open spaces to showcase North American species. The new plan includes converting the lower grotto into a saltwater system for Sea Otters.
A larger, multi-species habitat would go into the combined middle grottos, and at the top of the hill we will highlight species who can take advantage of vertical spaces, such as birds. The refreshed space will give visitors an exciting and more intimate view of the habitats and animals.
Rhino Reserve
As one of the oldest habitats at the Cincinnati Zoo, the Veldt has been through a myriad of renovations through the years. The habitat has been tweaked, pulled, and pushed in many directions to the point where it has lost any cohesive message about the animals living there. To provide More Home to Roam for all the animals in our existing Veldt area, we will redesign the habitats currently occupied by Flamingoes, Okapi, Bongos, Zebras, and Black Rhinos into multiple yards with expansive vistas across species, much like our Africa habitat.
Visitors will enjoy an immersive experience, with a winding pathway that leads into the heart of the habitat to a central viewing area into each species. Plans include expanded moats, new holding areas, and visitor viewing decks. Importantly, we will also expand space for our critically endangered Black Rhinos to encourage breeding. This species is solitary except when breeding or rearing young, so “alone time” space is crucial for them to thrive.
Rhino Reserve will put our Zoo on the leading edge of rhino care, research, and management for the purpose of saving the species from extinction:
Next Gen Rhinoceros Management & Facilities
World-class Breeding Program
Enriching Indoor & Outdoor Environments
Naturalistic, Park-like Habitat
Optimal Visitor Experiences
Environmentally Sustainable Design
Giraffe's Tower / Elephant House
As one of the most recognized buildings at the Zoo, the Elephant House has been the centerpiece of animal habitats since the day it was built in 1905. Its current occupants are elephants, but after our herd moves to its new digs in Elephant Trek, we are planning something wonderful for the space. By combining the yards around the Elephant House and expanding towards Entry Village, this new, larger habitat would open up vistas to one of the Zoo’s most sacred pieces of architecture, and accommodate a much larger giraffe herd in the bargain.
Imagine entering the Zoo and the first thing you see is a herd of 15-20 giraffes sweeping across a wide open plain! Additionally, we plan to create an elevated visitor experience that is literally built around a tree, with a giraffe feeding station, leisurely resting spot, and group event space.
Carousel
The carousel is moving up to Swan Lake, where it will go from 32 to 64 seats surrounded by a vintage-style open air structure and boardwalk.
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So... what does this mean for the inclusion of *a* bear species/the current Giraffe Ridge?
This may partially answer this question for the time being:
"We hope you enjoy this information on upcoming projects at the Zoo. Please know that all of these projects are still in the early stages of design and have not been finalized, so these plans could still change. We will share More information about ongoing construction in the upcoming months as the projects continue."
PercideRolo
Well-Known Member
[/QUOTE]North American Habitat
The Cincinnati Zoo’s Bear Hill habitat was ahead of its time when built in 1937, with a barless design and technique of using “gunite” to simulate rockwork. But the area hasn’t aged well and needs a refresh – both to provide best of care for our animals and a better visitor experience. Factoring in the current habitat’s age and space limitations on its hilly site required a lot of consideration from animal care and facilities teams, but we have landed on a terrific solution: create open spaces to showcase North American species. The new plan includes converting the lower grotto into a saltwater system for Sea Otters.[/QUOTE]
Sea Otters, Neat! I wonder species to be mixed? Deer & Crane?
The Cincinnati Zoo’s Bear Hill habitat was ahead of its time when built in 1937, with a barless design and technique of using “gunite” to simulate rockwork. But the area hasn’t aged well and needs a refresh – both to provide best of care for our animals and a better visitor experience. Factoring in the current habitat’s age and space limitations on its hilly site required a lot of consideration from animal care and facilities teams, but we have landed on a terrific solution: create open spaces to showcase North American species. The new plan includes converting the lower grotto into a saltwater system for Sea Otters.[/QUOTE]
Sea Otters, Neat! I wonder species to be mixed? Deer & Crane?
After thoroughly looking over the ground level rendering, you can see "den viewing" labeled by the bird habitat. I really hope the middle section is dedicated to some species of bear, and the zoo isn't confirming anything just in case acquiring them falls through. I heard from insiders there would be otters (didn't know they would be sea otters), but they were repeatedly stating black bears would be included.
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
Perhaps the Hippos could move to Giraffe Ridge if there is enough room for them
I mean... Hippo Cove *is* a recent addition for the zoo, and they did pride themselves on having hippos at that very location.
I'd love to see that, especially since you'd be able to see the hippos year round (depending on how tall you are) but I can't imagine the zoo reworking that space to have yet another massive filtration system.
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I hope it all goes well. I can't see a lot more going into the North American section outside of bears and otters. The grottoes were already pretty small. it would somewhat defeat the purpose of renovating Bear Hill if it were overloaded with more species than appropriate. If they are going with the most run-of-the mill bear species, ie black bears, the exhibit itself needs to be a show stopper.