Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News 2012

An article published in the Plain Dealer a few weeks ago has hinted towards the zoo's plans for 2012: breeding snow leopards and Amur tigers, the acquisition of an aye - aye (which has already been accomplished) and a ropes course/zip line for the kids. How this will be implemented into the zoo's space is beyond me.
 
Does anyone happen to know where the zoo is now with their snow leopards and tigers ?

For tigers, the last time they bred was back in 2001 to Gaia and Tatja, with a male "Danya" and a female "Dasha". Does anyone know where all of these tigers are now ? I remember Tatja being fairly elderly
 
Does anyone happen to know where the zoo is now with their snow leopards and tigers ?
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The zoo currently has three Amur tigers. Gaia and Dasha have remained at the zoo ever since, sharing one of the old grottos. A male named Klechka (spelling?) arrived some time ago. As far as I know, they have not been bred previously, which is a safe bet seeing as there have not been tiger cubs in Cleveland for a few years.

As for the snow leopards, they have a pair. The old male died last summer (I was visiting that particular day) and they have since received a new male. I guess the time is right for cubs.
 
CMZ Future Planning

I just found this. It might be of interest to anyone wanting to know what CMZ upcoming plans might be. See Page 32 about concept designs for Lion, Penguin, Savanna Safari Lodge Event Pavilion, Mega Savanna, Rhino and Monkey Island, & Carousel. This might give us a glimpse of what they are considering. See the link below.

www.clemetparks.com/pdf/Agendas_2012/2-23-12_AGENDA.pdf
 
More on CMZ Plans

I have looked at the document I mentioned in the post before. Here is the full list of projects from Page 12 that are being evaluated to be done after a two year period:
  • Lion Exhibit
  • Penguin Exhibit
  • Savanna Safari Lodge Event Pavilion
  • Mega Savanna - combining the three Africa Savanna exhibits into one large exhibit
  • Rhino Exhibit Expansion
  • Monkey Island demolition and replacement w/ modern exhibits
  • Carousel w/ Birthday Party Rooms
 
It is baffling that Cleveland committ money to some of these projects while it continues to neglect exhibits that are most in need(Primates,Snowleopards,Bears,Tigers).

Lion grotto 1984-While its not the greatest lion exhibit around its certainly not in that bad of shape.Bear/Tiger grottos 1962 are in terrible condition.

Penguins-Not exhibited since Birds of the World was demolished in 2004.No doubt one of the most popular animals not currently at the zoo.

Safari Lodge/Party Center rumored to be at the former Birds of the World location and would overlook the african savannah.

Expanded savannah combining the three paddocks is a cool idea.

Monkey Island 1910 is easily the most iconic exhibit at the zoo.The island was originally home to dozens of Rhesus Monkeys and currently has a small group of Colobus Monkeys, a Rock Hyrax and a Klipspringer.It sounds like it would be demolished to make way for Rhino expansion.

Rhino expansion is not a bad idea its just should not ne priority.

These are just a few of our thoughts on some of CMZ's ideas moving forward.

Team Tapir
 
I agree with you Team Tapir. Changes need to be made in Africa Savanna, but Primate, Cat, and Aquatic & Northern Trek should be a priority. I am surprised at least that in this idea list that it does not include for example moving the cheetahs down with the African animals. If Cleveland wants to concentrate their animals in geographic regions, start placing animals in the appropriate area. I am not surprised about the carousel since most of the zoos in the area have at least one now. I also predict African penguins. Toledo, Erie, and the National Aviary have African penguins. Akron & Columbus have Humboldt. Why not try for something like Magellanic or at least different. There have not been Magellanics in the region since Six Flags left. I am wondering if this current Africa renovation idea has something to do with Columbus' upcoming expansion. If these are the renovations we are going to see from Cleveland, let's just hope we don't have to wait another five to ten years for it. I also hope that they do this exhibits in phases. Renovate or add several exhibits at a time. Don't close all of African Savanna for several years because that would be really annoying.

Akron's Grizzly Ridge will make Northern Trek look ancient. I saw the plans when they were posted to get bids. This exhibit is going to be nice. You are going to be close to all of the species in the new exhibit. Cleveland doesn't seem to want to fix their 'distance' problem in Northern Trek. With Cleveland looking to Africa for the next master plan, I would bet Akron will look to their previous idea of Animals in the Treetops for their next exhibit. Akron needs primates and since Cleveland isn't really going to concentrate on quality primate exhibits anytime soon, Akron might as well.
 
CMZ 2012

I just happened to find this about the 2012 season at CMZ. The following was on Page 49 of that Metroparks agenda I referred to earlier.

The Zoo is currently exploring several options related to various ropes courses, zip lines, and rock climbing walls for the 2012 season.

When you have so many exhibits that need to be improved, why do you waste your money on this. I thought this was Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, not Cedar Point. At least a carousel would be something used by all ages.
 
@Tigervalley we completely agree with you on this.Cleveland is constantly making questionable decisions and its no wonder nothing gets done.For example The Rhino visitor deck was tore down sometime late fall.They brought in new materials started to construct the new deck and then suddenly work has stopped.So for months the deck has sat half finished with the pile of materials just sitting there.Everytime I visit the zoo I wanna bring my tool belt and finish it myself.What really burns me up is that on nearly every visit I see employees just driving around,no one ever seems to be working unlike what I see at other zoos.So anyways wouyld any fellow zoo chatters like to give me a hand with the Rhino deck :D

Team Tapir
 
I noticed in the Zoo Highlights in the portion of the press kit that onagers are being added to Northern Trek. I also noticed something major missing this year. The zoo is not having Flutter!/Butterfly Magic this year. This is the first time in years they have not had the exhibit. The zoo will also celebrate The RainForest's 20th anniversary in November.
 
TigerValley98 said:
I noticed in the Zoo Highlights in the portion of the press kit that onagers are being added to Northern Trek. I also noticed something major missing this year. The zoo is not having Flutter!/Butterfly Magic this year. This is the first time in years they have not had the exhibit. The zoo will also celebrate The RainForest's 20th anniversary in November.
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We are not quite as let down as we were when they stopped putting on zoo lights, but it is still a drag that they are'nt going to have the butterflies any more.

Team Tapir
 
UGH Cleveland

Rumored Safari lodge/party center at former Birds of the World location, HOW ABOUT A BIRD BUILDING at the former bird building location. A new bird building should be FIRST on the list of new projects. And yes monkey island should be torn down in keeping with the zoos tradition of removing all signs of the zoos history.
 
Impalafrank said:
Rumored Safari lodge/party center at former Birds of the World location, HOW ABOUT A BIRD BUILDING at the former bird building location. A new bird building should be FIRST on the list of new projects. And yes monkey island should be torn down in keeping with the zoos tradition of removing all signs of the zoos history.
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You bring up a very good point concerning Clevelands inability to preserve its history.While we would have no problem with a new Bird Building/Aviary its just in no way on the zoos radar.Bears and primates should be priority and its starting to look more and more like the zoo does not seem to think so.As far as Monkey Island is concerned we feel it should be preserved but not to house primates any more.

Cleveland has preserved and restored two Victor Schreckengost elephant sculptures from its Pachyderm building and was supposed to renovate its front entrance and exhibit these historic sculptures.This too has been put on the zoos backburner.

Team Tapir
 
I sure hope to see the Victor Schreckengost murals at the entrance someday in the not to distant future. As far as monkey island goes I'm sure it can be repurposed in some way and it doesn't have to include primates. And for the zoo not to have a building dedicated to one of the largest groups of animals on the planet is not what a world class zoo does.
 
TigerValley98 said:
I also predict African penguins. Toledo, Erie, and the National Aviary have African penguins. Akron & Columbus have Humboldt. Why not try for something like Magellanic or at least different. There have not been Magellanics in the region since Six Flags left.
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Cincinnati zoo has Magellanic penguins i would like to see cleveland try and get Galapagos Penguins.
 
Tim the Aldabra Tortoise dies at age 100+

Aldabra tortoise, thought to be over 100, dies at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is saddened to report the death of one of its oldest residents yesterday, a male Aldabra tortoise thought to be more than 100 years old.

An animal keeper found him unresponsive in the winter quarters he shared with the Zoo’s two other Aldabra tortoises inside the Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine. The Zoo’s veterinary staff is conducting a necropsy (animal autopsy) and results will be released when they become available.

“Tim” was one of three Aldabra tortoises brought to the Cleveland Zoo after a safari to eastern Africa that was sponsored by well-known Cleveland philanthropists Gordon and Vernon Stouffer and Frederick Crawford. He was a fully grown adult when he arrived with the other tortoises and a variety of other African animals in August 1955.

Tim weighed approximately 400 pounds and his shell was 43 inches long and 26 inches across.

Aldabra tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) are native to the Seychelles and other islands off the east coast of Africa. They are vegetarians and routinely live to be over 100 years old. One of the largest species of tortoise in the world, they are classified as “vulnerable” in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Press Release
 
The zoo has almost completed work on rebuilding its Rhino yard deck.

They are set to receive Onagers this Wenesday from the Wilds in rural Ohio.They hope to have them on display soon and have put up burlap around the moated paddock across from polar bears.Staff has concerns that since these animals are used to having such large spaces in which to roam they might feel confined and attempt to escape the enclosure so this should be somewhat interesting to see how it goes.

We were recently informed of a fact that we found hard to believe and its not the first time we have heard this but since its coming from multiple sources we are going to put this out there and see if anyone can confirm this.The Cleveland Zoo is said to own all Masai Giraffes that are currently exhibited throughout the United States.Can anyone confirm this to be a fact.

Cleveland is also said to interested in building a small African penguin exhibit near its amphitheater so that they can use some of them in its education shows.Several sources have confirmed that when the zoo does get penguins it is going to be Africans to fit into the areas African theme.

Team Tapir
 
team tapir said:
They are set to receive Onagers this Wednesday from the Wilds in rural Ohio. They hope to have them on display soon and have put up burlap around the moated paddock across from polar bears.Staff has concerns that since these animals are used to having such large spaces in which to roam they might feel confined and attempt to escape the enclosure so this should be somewhat interesting to see how it goes.
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I wondered where they were going to place the onagers. Are the deers going to remain in that exhibit as well?
 
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