It's been used as a rotating Grizzly/Black Bear exhibit since then, and was recently used for Sloth Bears while Bear Hollow was being built. Alot of people refer to it as the Polar Bear exhibit out of nostalgia
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News, 2023
- Thread starter CleZooMan
- Start date
According to the Andean Bear Population thread, there's a chance our female Andean Bear will be Oja from Reid Park Zoo, as every other eligible female is related to Pacha
That’s just speculation. I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Fair. I'll be at the opening of Bear Hollow on the 25th so I'll see if I can get info out of anyone
Asian Lantern Fest has been extended to September 16th
The zoo is temporarily closed due to flooding. Not shocked given how much rain there's been here lately.
Correction; the zoo is open. Asian Lantern Festival is canceled tonight
My thoughts on Bear Hollow today: I gotta say, I loved it!
In all honesty, it ranks right up there with Tiger Passage and Elephant Crossing as the best at the zoo. It does an absolutely incredible job of creating something incredible on the footprint of the previous Grottos.
All of the habitats have climbing structures and plenty of hiding spots for the bears. The only thing I could say was a stream or pond would have added a touch more to the exhibits.
The exhibit features two viewing areas for guests. The first features a climbing area for kids, and the second more information about the Sloth and Andean Bears.
The Sloth Bears, Shiva and Balwat were having an absolute blast running along the windows, Balawat was the most active, as Shiva decided to hunker down inside whe. It started drizzling. The keeper told me new Andean Bear Pacha was having a bit of stage fright and hanging out in the indoor holding.
Overall I would give this exhibit a 9/10, and it's a very enjoyable exhibit to explore. Fun fact- I was among the first 100 guests to see it. I got there right as they were wrapping up the speeches pre opening and the VIPS were finishing their tours
In all honesty, it ranks right up there with Tiger Passage and Elephant Crossing as the best at the zoo. It does an absolutely incredible job of creating something incredible on the footprint of the previous Grottos.
All of the habitats have climbing structures and plenty of hiding spots for the bears. The only thing I could say was a stream or pond would have added a touch more to the exhibits.
The exhibit features two viewing areas for guests. The first features a climbing area for kids, and the second more information about the Sloth and Andean Bears.
The Sloth Bears, Shiva and Balwat were having an absolute blast running along the windows, Balawat was the most active, as Shiva decided to hunker down inside whe. It started drizzling. The keeper told me new Andean Bear Pacha was having a bit of stage fright and hanging out in the indoor holding.
Overall I would give this exhibit a 9/10, and it's a very enjoyable exhibit to explore. Fun fact- I was among the first 100 guests to see it. I got there right as they were wrapping up the speeches pre opening and the VIPS were finishing their tours
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WKYC Cleveland on Instagram: "FIRST LOOK: The new Susie's Bear Hollow habitat is now open at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Link in bio for everything you can experience during your next visit."
Looking at the aerial view, I am trying to figure out how the exhibits are three time the sizes (what I read in an article) they used to be. It looks like where the moat used to be is the filled in area outside the exhibit with dirt and trees. Maybe they use that term because the two bear species can roam to more than one exhibit? Although before they closed it down for renovation, I thought each bear species had two exhibits a piece anyway. Are they further back than they used to go?
The renovated exhibits do look nice, but I will miss an open-air viewing of the exhibits. With it enclosed in mesh, the windows seem to be the best spaces to see in the exhibits.
Looking at the aerial view, I am trying to figure out how the exhibits are three time the sizes (what I read in an article) they used to be. It looks like where the moat used to be is the filled in area outside the exhibit with dirt and trees. Maybe they use that term because the two bear species can roam to more than one exhibit? Although before they closed it down for renovation, I thought each bear species had two exhibits a piece anyway. Are they further back than they used to go?
The renovated exhibits do look nice, but I will miss an open-air viewing of the exhibits. With it enclosed in mesh, the windows seem to be the best spaces to see in the exhibits.
The bears got the space formerly used by the moat and the second, closer, visitor path around the Bear Grottos (highlighted green). The current guest path is the old 2nd path around the exhibits (Highlighted yellow). The exhibit back wall is the same as the old exhibits due to the Bear/Tiger building. Blue/Red are the rough layout of the Bear Yards/Viewing areas This info actually came from Travis Vineyard, who I spoke to for a few minutes at the grand opening this morning.
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Also on the topic of Andean Bears, I also talked with Mr. Vineyard (who was very kind) about the female Bear coming to Cleveland. He told me they have not identified any female Andean Bears of interest to bring in and that they will have a more concrete plan next year once Pacha reaches maturity.
Add Cleveland Zoo’s new $8.5M bear habitat to these other major additions over last dozen years
I found this to be nice perspective on all the work they've done since AEC. I know that the Rainforest revamp and Primate forest will be on that level. Most of these I think have been hits. (Have not been to Suzie's Bear Hollow yet but people seem to like it) The Rhino Reserve I think was more about space but they did not do much for visitors, on the flip side of that the Giraffe Encounter really enhanced the visitor experience. Suzie's Bear Hollow seems more like Tiger Passage and Asian Highlands, a mix of expanding animal areas while also allowing for a more intimate viewing for visitors. I cannot wait to see the transformation the Rainforest will have with the Primate Forest but continuing these smaller exhibit renovations or creations is also really great.
I found this to be nice perspective on all the work they've done since AEC. I know that the Rainforest revamp and Primate forest will be on that level. Most of these I think have been hits. (Have not been to Suzie's Bear Hollow yet but people seem to like it) The Rhino Reserve I think was more about space but they did not do much for visitors, on the flip side of that the Giraffe Encounter really enhanced the visitor experience. Suzie's Bear Hollow seems more like Tiger Passage and Asian Highlands, a mix of expanding animal areas while also allowing for a more intimate viewing for visitors. I cannot wait to see the transformation the Rainforest will have with the Primate Forest but continuing these smaller exhibit renovations or creations is also really great.
From the Zoo's Facebook-
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s gorilla troop will be featured in a weekly two-hour livestream “Baby Gorilla Cam” on Netflix every Thursday from 10 a.m. to Noon EST for the month of September and available on demand.
Starting at the premiere episode, viewers will have the opportunity to help name the newest female baby of the troop by voting via the Zoo’s Instagram @clemetzoo.
Read more at clevelandmetroparks.com/news. #BabyGorillaCam
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s gorilla troop will be featured in a weekly two-hour livestream “Baby Gorilla Cam” on Netflix every Thursday from 10 a.m. to Noon EST for the month of September and available on demand.
Starting at the premiere episode, viewers will have the opportunity to help name the newest female baby of the troop by voting via the Zoo’s Instagram @clemetzoo.
Read more at clevelandmetroparks.com/news. #BabyGorillaCam
The name of the baby gorilla will be announced tommorow
Just left the zoo. Here's what was new
- Male Snow Leopard and Black Bear passed away.
- Both Bear Grottos seem to be for the Grizzlies
- Wooly Bill was completely turned off at the bottom of his pond.
- Pacha the Andean Bear was a no show again
- Reinberg Homestead and Bugideer Aviary are both "Being re-evaluted for future use"
- Male Snow Leopard and Black Bear passed away.
- Both Bear Grottos seem to be for the Grizzlies
- Wooly Bill was completely turned off at the bottom of his pond.
- Pacha the Andean Bear was a no show again
- Reinberg Homestead and Bugideer Aviary are both "Being re-evaluted for future use"
Also, after walking through the area today, I think we're seeing the beginning of the end for Australian Adventure. Every exhibit across from the nature pavilion was empty, the BBQ place, Aviary, and Homestead are permanently closed, and the Yagga Tree seems to be on its last legs, as it looked REALLY bad when I went through it (aside from Bill seeming to be down for good, it just looks really unloved inside. The top layer is still closed, the rock work is falling apart). I wouldn't be surprised if they start closing the remaining parts of the area one by one, until it just cuts off at the train tracks and Wallabys
That's a shame. I liked the area (I didn't go in or near the yagga tree), with a bit of refreshing it would look fantastic again.
I forgot to mention this earlier but the map of the area by the deckwalk was also removed. I get it was out of date but it was still a pretty cool part of Australian Adventure.
PC: @snowleopard
