Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News 2020
- Thread starter Tiramtortlephant
- Start date
I saw them a few weeks ago
They would need some pretty extensive exhibit modifications to make something that large. I do wish they would gain more Aussie animals though. It's a country that has extremely different wildlife than the rest of the world. A tasmanian devil, perhaps some aqua exhibits, definitely more reptiles. I'm unsure the safety of Saltwater crocs in zoos. I know that in the wild they are very dangerous. I wish the CMZ could do more with the big hill in the middle of Australian Adventure.
They were on exhibit last Monday but a few months ago when I went they were not.
I don't know much about the details of how it's safe, but I'm pretty sure Toledo has saltwater crocs in an exhibit that's not much larger than CMZ's gharial exhibit. That being said, however, given relative conservation values, I would opt for gharials any day despite them being more common in US zoos.
Toledo only has one saltwater croc IIRC?
A breeding troupe would definitely be a good initiative for fundraising. I was curious about the Mandrills - they were the only other large primate in PC&A which makes it that much easier to starting moving out of the building.
While I applaud the (probable) move to bigger gorilla habitat and renovation / rebuilding, it is sad to see a very attractive primate species like mandrill - also endangered species ... - go from the collection. Any hopes of a return some time in the future (part Masterplan?)?
SamMetz
Well-Known Member
Visited the zoo on Sunday. Heres some things I noticed while there;
* The new rhino paddock (Monkey Island) has been leveled. What looks like the beginnings of a shade structure has been put in, and a stone wall has gone up in the back.
*The remaining bear grottoes are looking BAD. The one around the corner of the tigers, which use to house the sloth bears, looks like its been left to rot. Its very jarring to see these beautiful new exhibits right next to these awful relicts. I honestly wish instead of jumping from from one animal to another, they would do a complete update of an entire area the zoo before moving on. But I do understand the importance of getting the marque animals new homes first, such as the rhinos and gorillas.
*While in the Rainforest I noticed in the "Research TreeHouse" the small area to the side which would let you see into the mixed exhibit of Tamarins and sloth, has been closed off. It looked like the glass on either side is being converted into shift doors. Maybe they are getting rid of that viewing area? Also the mouse infestation seems to be getting worse. While in the aviary you could see a ton of mice running around in the plant beds. It was very off putting and the person I was with was very confused when I told him, no they were not suppose to be there. There was enough rodents running around that a normal visitor thought they were part of the exhibit....
* The new rhino paddock (Monkey Island) has been leveled. What looks like the beginnings of a shade structure has been put in, and a stone wall has gone up in the back.
*The remaining bear grottoes are looking BAD. The one around the corner of the tigers, which use to house the sloth bears, looks like its been left to rot. Its very jarring to see these beautiful new exhibits right next to these awful relicts. I honestly wish instead of jumping from from one animal to another, they would do a complete update of an entire area the zoo before moving on. But I do understand the importance of getting the marque animals new homes first, such as the rhinos and gorillas.
*While in the Rainforest I noticed in the "Research TreeHouse" the small area to the side which would let you see into the mixed exhibit of Tamarins and sloth, has been closed off. It looked like the glass on either side is being converted into shift doors. Maybe they are getting rid of that viewing area? Also the mouse infestation seems to be getting worse. While in the aviary you could see a ton of mice running around in the plant beds. It was very off putting and the person I was with was very confused when I told him, no they were not suppose to be there. There was enough rodents running around that a normal visitor thought they were part of the exhibit....
Two weeks ago I noticed some of the same things. At the Rhino Expansion, the Bull Rhino Barn is coming along, it is larger than I thought it would be.
I wonder if the area in the RainForest you mentioned is due to the eventual replacement of the dome.
The Bear Grottoes are nothing to look at, I think CMZ is trying to improved the substrate of these exhibits from concrete to a more natural setting.
I didn't see any mice in the RainForest Aviary, but I did see a lot of cockroaches on the floor of the Bat Exhibit.
Those grottos should've just been trashed when Tiger Passage was built. The Grizzly/Black/ex. Polar Bear exhibits should've been right behind them
All in time. They did not have the money to do that. Their investments in exhibits and spaces since 2004 have been:
$25 million for AEC
$4.1 million for Tiger Passage
$5.8 million for Asian Highlands
$3 million for Circle of Wildlife play area and carousel
$2.3 million for Stillwater Place
$8.8 million for Steffee Allison Center
$500k for Welcome Pavilion
Unsure what the cost of the Gogolick Giraffe Encounter and 4D theater was.
Maltz Rhino Reserve comes at a $2.5 million price tag. The Rainforest expansion and dome renovation (hopefully a few other renovations too there) will be a major investment. Preliminary visions for the bear grottoes I'm sure have happened but until they get their money in order for it, it's a fantasy. I wonder what their time frame is for the Rainforest expansion though?
The RainForest projects is slated to be complete by the zoo’s 150th in 2032.
You're right, a lot of money has been spent on projects. Some people go to the zoo to see a diversified display of animals in a natural setting, not welcome pavilions, event centers or carousels. These amenities are necessary however to support the overall picture. So it is a little frustrating to some supporters to see money spent that could have been used to update exhibits long over due for a overhaul, or exhibits that are renovated knowing that they are on the chopping block in the near future. Every fan of the CMZ wants to see the zoo improve. It will happen in time.
We all must be patient and supportive. I wouldn't mind a $1.00 parking fee per car, including zoo members, to help with animal exhibit updates.
Also that would be RainForest's 40th anniversary.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Any planned exhibit or improvement that is 12 years in the future is a mirage. I do not trust this date.
The time frame may be about raising a portion of the money. Any campaign will have a quiet phase where they will line up some of their big donors first and a public phase to get them to the finish line. Unsure how the Zoological Society will run this but I know other nonprofits run things that way.
Well for all we know that could change. I'm not sure if there's any date on bears yet, but if that goes on in 2023-2026, that would leave 6 years for Rainforest. Keep in mind Elephant Crossing was first announced (albiet with a different name + with hippos/tapirs)in 2006 and broke ground in 2008 before opening in 2011. That's 3 years construction, plus 2 year of public knowledge before construction.