Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News 2013

Impalafrank

Impalafrank

Active Member
Went to CMZ sunday 12/30/12 and saw Blackie the hippopotamus . Photos and videos were not allowed due to him being kept off exhibit in the giraffe barn. It was great to see him and I wish they would do this more often. The docent was very nice and we spent about 20 minutes viewng Blackie and asking questions
 
About 5 8 ft rods have been welded across the front of the sea lion exhibit.A Northern Trek keeper has confirmed that this is the start of a structure to enclose a type of canopy over the exhibit which has been closed since early fall.

The zoo is currently replacing the staircases of the indoor colobus monkey building.

The zoo is expanding the Metroparks Administration Building located in the upper portion of the zoo.It had been previously mentioned that the building be closed and the offices moved to another location to accomodate a new primate area however this expansion indicates that to be unlikey.

Team Tapir223
 
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to build carousel ride for 2014

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to build carousel ride for 2014

Have you ever wanted to ride a tiger? How about a zebra? Starting in spring 2014, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will be giving its guests that chance -- on a new wildlife carousel.

The Cleveland Metroparks Board of Commissioners approved a contract yesterday with Carousel Works Inc., of Mansfield, Ohio, to build and install the new amenity.

The Zoo’s carousel will be 54 feet in diameter with 64 hand-carved, wooden animal figures and two hand-carved, wooden “chariots.” The animals will be grouped together by habitat including African grassland, tropical forest and tundra.

The carousel will be built in the Savanna Ridge area, where there is currently a playground and a small event tent. The carousel project will include other updates for the site including a pavilion to house the carousel and a nature play zone area. The Zoo hopes to build an event rental space adjacent to the carousel sometime in the future.

Construction and installation of the carousel is expected to cost $785,000. Site preparation and the additional amenities put the cost for the entire project at $2 million. The Cleveland Zoological Society will lead the fundraising charge for the carousel project and has committed to raising $2 million in private funds.


Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - News Room
 
The Cleveland Zoo has closed the front portion of its Zoo Admistration Building (Talty Building Exhibit Hall)for structural work.There is no time table on the completion of this work.

Dinosaurs are said to be returning to the Cleveland Zoo this summer.Supposedly bigger and better than ever.

The Zoos harbour seal and 3 sea lions are back on exhibit after completion of a 8ft high netting structure across the entire front of the exhibit.The observation deck which sits between the polar bear and seal exhibit as well as the lower level under the deck remain closed.The zoo does intend to eventuall enclose the entire exhibit thus allowing them to reopen the deck.This whole thing is a real shame, however absolutely necessary considering the repeated failed attempts at getting the public to stop throwing objects into the exhibit which on multiple occasions resulted in the loss of animals (Ignorant People Ruin Everything)

Cleveland is set to receive a male fishing cat from the Columbus Zoo either tomorrow or wenesday.The zoos current pair do not get along at all.

Team Tapir223
 
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TeamTapir223 said:
Dinosaurs are said to be returning to the Cleveland Zoo this summer.Supposedly bigger and better than ever.

Team Tapir223
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Not again. Cedar Point and Kings Island have them yearly now. You cannot tell me that there is not anything minor or temporary the zoo could add for the summer season. Lack of creativity.
 
TeamTapir223 said:
Dinosaurs are said to be returning to the Cleveland Zoo this summer.Supposedly bigger and better than ever.


Team Tapir223
Click to expand...

I just read through the history page on Roger Williams Park Zoo's website today, and each of the 4 years that the zoo had some kind of temporary animatronic dinosaur summer display attendance jumped by 100,000 people. Wow! ZooChatters might not give a damn about yet another dino rental, but it sures brings the crowds and big bucks into the facility. The same goes for carousels, as those money-making ventures require little upkeep and rake in the dollars forever. Cleveland has made a couple of really smart economic decisions there, even though the projects lack glamour and originality.
 
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo marks 20 year attendance milestone in 2012

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo reached a significant milestone in 2012 – 20 consecutive years with more than a million visitors through its gates.

Attendance last year was 1,170,443 guests, despite 2012 being the warmest year on record in Cleveland with 28 days reaching 90 degrees or higher. Attendance in 2011 was 1,318,458.

The Zoo broke two attendance records in 2012 -- highest November attendance total at 55,999 guests and best Thanksgiving Day at 15,249. June 25 saw the year’s highest daily attendance at 15,732, while the lowest occurred January 13 with 160 guests.

It’s no coincidence the 20-year attendance streak was reached the same year the Zoo celebrated the 20th anniversary of The RainForest exhibit. Attendance has been over the million visitor mark every full year since it opened.

Three new animal species debuted at the Zoo in 2012, including an aye-aye, which is a nocturnal primate, a subspecies of Asiatic wild ass known as the Persian onager and two dingoes. The rhino barn was the source of big animal news when a new calf marked the start of a third generation of rhinos to be born at the Zoo.

The most bittersweet milestone reached in 2012 however, was the announcement that after 24 years as Zoo Director, Steve Taylor would retire at the end of the year. Cleveland Metroparks Executive Director Brian Zimmerman announced in November that the Zoo’s Curator of Animals, Dr. Chris Kuhar, would be Taylor’s successor -- securing a smooth transition for the Zoo.

Northeast Ohio’s most-visited year-round attraction, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. From November 1 through March 31, 2013, admission is discounted to $8.25 per person, $5.25 for kids ages 2 to 11 and is free for children younger than 2 and Zoo members. Parking is free. Located at 3900 Wildlife Way, the Zoo is easily accessible from Interstates 71, 90 and 480.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - News Room
 
We can confirm that CMZ's newly acquired male fishing cat is Rybar a 6 yr old breeding male from the Columbus Zoo(It had been recently unclear whether we were getting him or one of his offspring from 2011)Zoo staff is very excited as well as hopeful in having him here.:)

Team Tapir223
 
CMZ has confirmed it. See info below. They should have spent the money on a new smaller exhibit.

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DINOSAURS!
Open daily beginning May 9!
10 a.m.-5 p.m. through May 26
10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sat. & Sun. beginning May 27

The prehistoric age comes to life through the magic of animatronic technology when DINOSAURS! return this summer for a sixth earth-shaking season at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

The wooded path around Waterfowl Lake will tremble with the roar of 20 animatronic dinosaurs, six of which will be making their Zoo debut, including Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest flying creatures that ever lived, and Troodon, one of the first fossilized dinosaurs found in North America. They will be appearing alongside returning favorites such as the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex and the towering Brachiosaurus.

People of all ages are fascinated with these prehistoric beasts, making them one of the most popular seasonal exhibits ever mounted at the Zoo. Created and built by the Billings Production Co. of McKinney, Texas, the larger-than-life robotic dinos at the Zoo will capture the imaginations of visitors from the ages of 1 to 101.

DINOSAURS! 2013 also includes ten custom-painted dinosaur sculptures, which will be seen this summer in various locations throughout the Zoo.

Dinosaurs! opens Thursday, May 9 and runs through Sunday, September 15. Admission is $3.50 per person or $2 per person for Zoo Society members.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - Upcoming Events
 
From what I understand, the previous five appearances have always drawn a profit for the zoo, so I'm not completely surprised by a sixth visit.
 
It appears that exterior work on the Talty Building(Exhibit Hall)has been completed with new windows installed.The building remains closed while interior work continues.

The new staircase for the indoor colobus monkey holding at monkey island has been completed.

A new varnished timber style guard rail is being installed at the polar bear exhibit.

Team Tapir223
 
Thank you to the Cleveland Zoological Society for including four paragraphs on this summer’s opening of the Akron Zoo’s Grizzly Ridge in the Membership Matters section on page 18 of in the Spring 2013 edition their membership magazine Z.
 
A Black howler Monkey was born at the zoo today!It was very cool to be at the exhibit just after this occured!

Team Tapir223
 
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