Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News 2019

Tiramtortlephant said:
So I visited the CMZ and thought I'd share some thoughts during a relatively slow year on the CMZ forum:
  • I noticed the drained pond at Wolf Wilderness as well. There was no explanation posted.
  • Asian Highlands makes excellent use of the awkward topography in the "Adventure Trek" area. But I did feel a bit underwhelmed. The flatscreens were playing David's Attenborough documentaries on snow leopards which just feels lazy. The Amur Leopard was pacing incessantly . . . granted, he always has but I would hope they factor such behavior into an exhibit. But I'm not a zoo keeper or designer so I can't fairly criticize as I cannot present a solution.
  • I spoke to a few docents and whatever staff I could find who wanted to talk - the general sentiment is that the Monkey Island destruction was mishandled. They raised an excellent point -it was not only an icon but the last familiar exhibit for a generation. Monkey Island was a fixture of their childhood zoo experience. And then it's suddenly and unceremoniously gone. They wish there was more notice and explanation, as opposed to the popular perception of "Poof! And it's gone."
  • There was some sort of ceremony for (what I assume to be) donors to the new rhino exhibit. Chris Kuhar was speechifying to a crowd of well-dressed people. The rhino yard is in desperate need of expansion and I'm curious (and nervous) to see what it ultimately looks like.
  • I love AEC. I always liked it - even if I still want it to be bigger - but as I see the elephants moving thru and using the space, I feel and know their quality of life has vastly improved. It's a gorgeous exhibit in autumn and a wonderful addition to the CMZ landscape.
  • When will they create a single, unified savannah? Its been discussed and I think its exactly the change that entire spot needs.
  • Australian Adventure is just sad. It feels devoid of the spirit it opened with, sparsely populated with animals, and hasn't aged tremendously well. I have a lot of nostalgic attachment to this one so I find it sad, especially since you can still see the relics of what they were attempting.
  • PC&A feels like a ticking clock. It has that pervading feeling of "you're next to go" in terms of its upkeep and appearance. To me, the biggest reason for that is the removal of the sharks - that was always a highlight attraction for the building. While my animal management side is happy as that thank was tremendously small and they're in a much better place at the Henry Doorly Zoo, the space feels so empty without them.
  • The deckwalk is such an asset. Whatever plans they have, I hope with every fiber of my being that they keep that as part of the experience.
Overall, it's great to see the continued renovations. My worry is that it's too much, too fast. CMZ is limited by space, and they are working on building inward (as they must) with their exhibits. But it makes it feel like a smaller zoo for me, despite the size and number of animals on display. AEC - an inward renovated exhibit - conveys a size and grandeur since you can see the old Pachyderm building and trace the old exhibit from there. Asian Highlands and Tiger Passage both make excellent use of the hilly terrain and I hope that continues. But I also hope they go further in make the exhibits feel like bigger "events."
Furthermore, exhibits of the old regime (AEC, Wolf Wilderness, Australian Adventure especially) are extremely thematic, and that went into every facet of the design. You can see places where docents, educators, and experiences were built into the design of the exhibit. That's missing from Asian Highlands and Tiger Passage. And while both are undeniable improvements, they lack a certain flair that radiates from the older exhibits. It's clear (to me) that they are designed from the top down and they don't go down very far. Someone told me the education staff hasn't even been part of the rhino expansion discussions. I'm curious to see what the first "big" project will be and how it will be built and I hope it's another trailblazer. I want CMZ to be the talk of the zoo community again.

This concludes my personal, very subjective thoughts on the current trajectory of CMZ. I hope you all enjoyed reading them.
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Well thought out summary and I agree with most of what you said. Communication out of the CMZ hasn't been the best. Much of what is posted comes from meetings having to do with the Metroparks as a whole and not an official announcement from the zoo. For large scale projects, this works out because they eventually show renderings or sketches of what they are going to do with more detail in the form of a press release but for smaller maintenance sorts of things it gets annoying. I love Wolf Wilderness, it is one of my favorite exhibits and I enjoy the thematic scenery. I'm sure the draining of the pond, which is a zoo-goer's highlight since the wolves tend to be up the hill more, is routine; although they have not specified. Australian Adventure is dreary in the winter and at some point they close it down I believe? It probably needs some updating and I wonder if its full vision could ever be realized now. With the train and accident in 2004, it seems that the Zoo started to shy away from things there.

Monkey Island represents a lot of good memories to baby boomers and I believe the sentiments you shared are spot on in relation to how they feel about its destruction. I think that a new generation will really enjoy the expanded Rhino exhibit though and it will be better for all the animals involved. PCA's days are numbered, its just a question of when and how much it will cost. Long term, they would like to do a much better gorilla exhibit but they have been hush hush about the scope and cost and timeline.

Your best point I think has to do with the education staff though. Does CMZ need to look at their education staff and see if its training and numbers are adequate? Their newer exhibits do not have as much. Would this look like more people around or more video boards with in-home produced content? I'm not sure.
 
mwalle09 said:
Well thought out summary and I agree with most of what you said. Communication out of the CMZ hasn't been the best. Much of what is posted comes from meetings having to do with the Metroparks as a whole and not an official announcement from the zoo. For large scale projects, this works out because they eventually show renderings or sketches of what they are going to do with more detail in the form of a press release but for smaller maintenance sorts of things it gets annoying. I love Wolf Wilderness, it is one of my favorite exhibits and I enjoy the thematic scenery. I'm sure the draining of the pond, which is a zoo-goer's highlight since the wolves tend to be up the hill more, is routine; although they have not specified. Australian Adventure is dreary in the winter and at some point they close it down I believe? It probably needs some updating and I wonder if its full vision could ever be realized now. With the train and accident in 2004, it seems that the Zoo started to shy away from things there.

Monkey Island represents a lot of good memories to baby boomers and I believe the sentiments you shared are spot on in relation to how they feel about its destruction. I think that a new generation will really enjoy the expanded Rhino exhibit though and it will be better for all the animals involved. PCA's days are numbered, its just a question of when and how much it will cost. Long term, they would like to do a much better gorilla exhibit but they have been hush hush about the scope and cost and timeline.

Your best point I think has to do with the education staff though. Does CMZ need to look at their education staff and see if its training and numbers are adequate? Their newer exhibits do not have as much. Would this look like more people around or more video boards with in-home produced content? I'm not sure.
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Whenever I go to the CMZ, I spend most of my time talking to the Education staff. That includes full-time & seasonal employees and all the docents. They have (and have had) a lot of very gifted, passionate people in that department. The problem is they are not utilized efficiently, if at all. I think a telltale sign is how the exhibit graphics have barely changed in the past 30 years. Thats why I emphasize the "thematic" side of exhibit design. AEC is an excellent example - the whole point of the crossing is to show how elephants and humans occupy the same spaces and there's a place for everyone. The entire exhibit was built around this one, educational point. I don't see the same guiding principles in the newer additions. They obviously put animal welfare first and thats extremely important, but the concepts of an exhibit that combines education and animal husbandry are not mutually exclusive. AEC, Wolf Wilderness, even the Rainforest are all excellent examples of this.

Education staff are not as valued at the CMZ as other zoos I've visited. If you've ever been to the Contact Yard or Lorikeet Landing in Australia - those are education staff. They are increasingly used as crowd control. At times that seems like their primary function, which means they spend less time educating and providing those unique experiences.

A few years ago, I saw some educators working a really phenomenal event. They had a black rhino "crime scene" complete with crime scene tape and a chalk outline of a black rhino. Visitors drifted passed, where told the rhino was killed by poachers, and had to look at the clues collected at the crime scene to figure out why the rhino was poached. Wow! It was great and a lot of people seemed to like it. When I asked about that years later, I heard two things - a lack of time and trained people to do it and the administration didn't like it and its look. This tells me everything: they have and have always had great Education administrators and staff that are deliberately kept down.

This might seem pessimistic and I admit it's entirely subjective. But for me, docents and staff make a zoo visit. They're the ones who make a zoo visit truly extraordinary with their knowledge and tidbits of information. And for me, the more of those experiences I have the healthier the zoo overall. Columbus Zoo is the model CMZ is trying to follow and model, but matching their rapid expansion and exhibits is only part of that model. The other is providing people with experiences and memories beyond the animals they see. Cbus knows this and (while far from perfect) places more resources and thought into it. I hope CMZ returns to that mentality.

It was there before; it can be again.
 
Tiramtortlephant said:
Whenever I go to the CMZ, I spend most of my time talking to the Education staff. That includes full-time & seasonal employees and all the docents. They have (and have had) a lot of very gifted, passionate people in that department. The problem is they are not utilized efficiently, if at all. I think a telltale sign is how the exhibit graphics have barely changed in the past 30 years. Thats why I emphasize the "thematic" side of exhibit design. AEC is an excellent example - the whole point of the crossing is to show how elephants and humans occupy the same spaces and there's a place for everyone. The entire exhibit was built around this one, educational point. I don't see the same guiding principles in the newer additions. They obviously put animal welfare first and thats extremely important, but the concepts of an exhibit that combines education and animal husbandry are not mutually exclusive. AEC, Wolf Wilderness, even the Rainforest are all excellent examples of this.

Education staff are not as valued at the CMZ as other zoos I've visited. If you've ever been to the Contact Yard or Lorikeet Landing in Australia - those are education staff. They are increasingly used as crowd control. At times that seems like their primary function, which means they spend less time educating and providing those unique experiences.

A few years ago, I saw some educators working a really phenomenal event. They had a black rhino "crime scene" complete with crime scene tape and a chalk outline of a black rhino. Visitors drifted passed, where told the rhino was killed by poachers, and had to look at the clues collected at the crime scene to figure out why the rhino was poached. Wow! It was great and a lot of people seemed to like it. When I asked about that years later, I heard two things - a lack of time and trained people to do it and the administration didn't like it and its look. This tells me everything: they have and have always had great Education administrators and staff that are deliberately kept down.

This might seem pessimistic and I admit it's entirely subjective. But for me, docents and staff make a zoo visit. They're the ones who make a zoo visit truly extraordinary with their knowledge and tidbits of information. And for me, the more of those experiences I have the healthier the zoo overall. Columbus Zoo is the model CMZ is trying to follow and model, but matching their rapid expansion and exhibits is only part of that model. The other is providing people with experiences and memories beyond the animals they see. Cbus knows this and (while far from perfect) places more resources and thought into it. I hope CMZ returns to that mentality.

It was there before; it can be again.
Click to expand...
Apparently CMZ hasn't learned anything of value of educational instructional personal involvement. GEE look at the historical history of Merlin Perkins started at Buffalo Zoo, then off to Lincoln Park Zoo briefly, then his work at the St. Louis Zoo. Very, very rich institution that St. Louis Zoo is. Far too much currently zoo's are banking on the package experience for the public. It's the pay as you go experience in hopes someone will give a rip about the necessary survival of others species than our own on this planet. Please reframe the lecture speech of need for conservation, as I get it! Were bent on the notion save the planet. We have culture isolated from wild experiences, and understanding anything but themselves. Indeed education is an undervalued tool. Back in the day when I designed a interactive rainforest model display for the zoo they couldn't of cared less. On the flip side when I had young children explore and play with it they loved it! It blew me away for one little girl knew exactly how things operated and the concepts involving the pieces I provided for her to discover! It's not rocket science, it's ridiculiously simple concepts. Much of CMZ educational lack there of is ego!.. Ego of higher up's who know it all!
 
I visited the CMZ on Friday.

Giraffe's being on my favorites list I watched them in their indoor barn for some time. I witnessed the juvenile male kick the youngest calf to the ground, the calf struggled to get up to no avail. The keeper rushed to get the others out to tend to it. The calf was not able to get up, they sat with it for awhile calling for help. Shortly after we were asked to leave. Wondering if anyone close to the zoo can get an update on the calf?

I also noticed they have 5 wolves now. 3 males and 2 females. The lowest ranking female was terrified and had jumped onto the island in the beaver pond.

Most exciting, There's a new tiger out on display! I'm assuming female. So that makes a total of 3.
 
benb said:
I visited the CMZ on Friday.

Giraffe's being on my favorites list I watched them in their indoor barn for some time. I witnessed the juvenile male kick the youngest calf to the ground, the calf struggled to get up to no avail. The keeper rushed to get the others out to tend to it. The calf was not able to get up, they sat with it for awhile calling for help. Shortly after we were asked to leave. Wondering if anyone close to the zoo can get an update on the calf?

I also noticed they have 5 wolves now. 3 males and 2 females. The lowest ranking female was terrified and had jumped onto the island in the beaver pond.

Most exciting, There's a new tiger out on display! I'm assuming female. So that makes a total of 3.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you had a fairly eventful visit . . .
 
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