Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 2017 News

The Buffalo Zoo has an interesting Gorilla exhibit, I wonder if when they decide to do these new exhibits or exhibit updates they look and see what other zoos do.
 
TigerValley98 said:
No information is really known except about moving species for room and the possibility of having both a bachelor group and a family group of gorillas. See link for only available details. This is from 2014, so some of these plans have been modified.

http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Uploads/Public/BoardMeetingArchives/Presentations/Zoo 10 Year Capital Plan.pdf
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This was very helpful! Nice to see that they have a good eye on much of what we have also said already.
 
If you go to the link below and listen to the Work Session on 4/17/2014, you can listen to some of the zoo's ideas for the future. I must correct myself. CMZ wants to maintain a bachelor group and not get a family group. PCA itself is here to stay for the long term. It is good structurally and would cost a ridiculous amount to replace completely. 1/3 of the zoo's collection is in PCA. The gorilla exhibit would be new. Mandrills would inherit the old gorilla area. More outdoor exhibits would be added with tunnels attaching to PCA making PCA indoor exhibits primarily Winter exhibits.

http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/Board-Meeting-Archives.aspx
 
TigerValley98 said:
If you go to the link below and listen to the Work Session on 4/17/2014, you can listen to some of the zoo's ideas for the future. I must correct myself. CMZ wants to maintain a bachelor group and not get a family group. PCA itself is here to stay for the long term. It is good structurally and would cost a ridiculous amount to replace completely. 1/3 of the zoo's collection is in PCA. The gorilla exhibit would be new. Mandrills would inherit the old gorilla area. More outdoor exhibits would be added with tunnels attaching to PCA making PCA indoor exhibits primarily Winter exhibits.

http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/Board-Meeting-Archives.aspx
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I'm not sure where you got your information, was it from the meeting in 2014? While the above scenario has been studied I would hold off on making any statements about what they are planning as it is still up in the air. They will announce what they are planning for PCA and the future gorilla exhibit after they make a decision based on the recent study. As of now that decision has not been made public.
 
Thank you for sharing that, I did not know they posted all of that stuff for public consumption. I will need to listen to more of those. Well they've done the Tigers and now they will do a few of the others and it certainly seems like they are building towards the Gorillas and other primates being tended to along with a renovation and revamping of the PAC. Bears or Gorillas first? What do you think?
 
Can't say what Cleveland will decide to do next, but I will say that I hope to God it's the bears. Specifically the sloth and sun bear exhibits (although I do think the others could do with an upgrade too). Only because I hate their exhibits for the same reason I hated the tiger exhibits. Small, far away, and moat barrier (I detest moat/cliff barriers). I also recall seeing some concerning behaviour from the sloth bear a few years ago? I think they could definitely do with a more dynamic and extended habitat, perhaps with more opportunities for climbing and exercise like they've done for the tigers.

(I feel like I should mention I am IN LOVE with the Tiger Passage. I think it's absolutely stunning and represents exactly what an animal exhibit should look and feel like. I love how it gives you the feeling of actually walking through the habitat, and not just around it, or looking in from one side. And I LOVE GLASS. The photo ops and ability to observe the animal so closely, thats a top notch exhibit.)
 
littlewallaby said:
Can't say what Cleveland will decide to do next, but I will say that I hope to God it's the bears. Specifically the sloth and sun bear exhibits (although I do think the others could do with an upgrade too). Only because I hate their exhibits for the same reason I hated the tiger exhibits. Small, far away, and moat barrier (I detest moat/cliff barriers). I also recall seeing some concerning behaviour from the sloth bear a few years ago? I think they could definitely do with a more dynamic and extended habitat, perhaps with more opportunities for climbing and exercise like they've done for the tigers.

(I feel like I should mention I am IN LOVE with the Tiger Passage. I think it's absolutely stunning and represents exactly what an animal exhibit should look and feel like. I love how it gives you the feeling of actually walking through the habitat, and not just around it, or looking in from one side. And I LOVE GLASS. The photo ops and ability to observe the animal so closely, thats a top notch exhibit.)
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After Scruffy dies of old age, sun bears will most likely be phased out because the Bear TAG is phasing sun bears out in the US zoos. Scruffy is up there in age for a sun bear. She is around 30.
 
According to the new breeding plan, the Cleveland's new gorilla exhibit is slated for 2020 or 2021.
 
TigerValley98 said:
According to the new breeding plan, the Cleveland's new gorilla exhibit is slated for 2020 or 2021.
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Of all the big main Ohio zoo's, Cleveland is dead last ever getting it together with gorillas. One of the most endearing zoo animals, Cleveland can't just make it happen accordingly hence the years of delays and or being perplexed with the gorilla species. That's just the way it's been, and I have been to all Ohio zoo's and just about every major zoo in the states, and up into Canada too!
 
Great for the zoo to welcome another baby and I'm sure they will figure out the Gorillas, all things in time.
 
junglejim said:
Of all the big main Ohio zoo's, Cleveland is dead last ever getting it together with gorillas. One of the most endearing zoo animals, Cleveland can't just make it happen accordingly hence the years of delays and or being perplexed with the gorilla species. That's just the way it's been, and I have been to all Ohio zoo's and just about every major zoo in the states, and up into Canada too!
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No Zoo is perfect in displaying, breeding or educating about any species no matter how "endearing" they may be. Bachelor groups of gorillas are needed since these occur naturally in the wild. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has had all male gorillas for a long time. These bachelor groups are far less interesting than a family group. It is not always a zoo's choice in what it displays. Breeding programs dictate where animals are kept and moved. The gorillas at the Cleveland Zoo had the best care and were never neglected. The Cleveland Zoo, as with many zoos, are updating their exhibits in a way that makes the most practical sense. Unfortunately some species are left behind. I have been to some great zoos were some of the most "endearing" animals don't look so endearing. Cleveland's zoo should not be isolated here.
 
I think the CMZ has been a little late to the game in the region for trying to update and spruce up its grounds and facilities. It has a long history with some moments in its past where I guess I would say it didn't have much of a direction. However that has not been the case since the 1980s and I think they have done a fine job of adding to their collection and now are looking to renovate many of their existing exhibits.
 
Scruffy the sun bear will debut at Akron in the next month or so. Unless they get more from elsewhere, I expect the zoo will no longer have sun bears.
 
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