Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News 2024

Aviary in Australia is planned to open tentatively in August. Birds had a serious problem with illness due to wildlife so who knows at this point.

Insects (ants and surrounding terrariums) will not return after Rainforest Renovations are completed according to a Keeper at the zoo. Have since heard conflicting information that ants may be returning so that is also up in the air. Other insects will not.

Fog machine and storm are currently planned to be removed during renovations as well as the Waterfall (thank god for waterfall it’s way too loud whenever I’m trying to talk to my kids there but I will miss the storms I have loved it since I was a child!)
 
CMZman said:
I believe the sharks went to Henry Doorly if I'm remembering the sign in the building. I'll have to check.
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i dont get up there very often, usually just go to see the Gorillas and head back down so I wouldn’t know if there is a sign there or not! I’ll have to check tomorrow when I go. I have heard that at first the animals didn’t realize they were in a larger tank and stayed in the area of the tank at CMZ :( wish we could have had a more accommodating enclosure because that area was my favorite.

side note I have heard that the Cheetahs will be getting a bigger enclosure after RF is complete
 
CMZ KNOW IT ALL said:
Aviary in Australia is planned to open tentatively in August. Birds had a serious problem with illness due to wildlife so who knows at this point.

Insects (ants and surrounding terrariums) will not return after Rainforest Renovations are completed according to a Keeper at the zoo. Have since heard conflicting information that ants may be returning so that is also up in the air. Other insects will not.

Fog machine and storm are currently planned to be removed during renovations as well as the Waterfall (thank god for waterfall it’s way too loud whenever I’m trying to talk to my kids there but I will miss the storms I have loved it since I was a child!)
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Bummer about the waterfall and storms. They added such a Disney-level of immersion to the RainForest. Thank goodness I've been documenting every inch of the RF before they shut it down. Which, if you haven't heard, is possibly October
 
CMZman said:
Bummer about the waterfall and storms. They added such a Disney-level of immersion to the RainForest. Thank goodness I've been documenting every inch of the RF before they shut it down. Which, if you haven't heard, is possibly October
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from what I’ve heard from workers (I go nearly every day so they tend to let a little extra slip to me) it’s planned to close down closer to September and will be closed until 2026. Also the entire brick area in the entrance will be repaved soon to keep up with AZA Regulations (it’s considered a tripping hazard). Can confirm actually that Budgies will have some form of construction to keep them safer in the next few months as well before reopening to the public. You can hear the birds from the benches outside the restrooms!
 
CMZ KNOW IT ALL said:
from what I’ve heard from workers (I go nearly every day so they tend to let a little extra slip to me) it’s planned to close down closer to September and will be closed until 2026. Also the entire brick area in the entrance will be repaved soon to keep up with AZA Regulations (it’s considered a tripping hazard). Can confirm actually that Budgies will have some form of construction to keep them safer in the next few months as well before reopening to the public. You can hear the birds from the benches outside the restrooms!
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Honestly? Good that it'll be down that long. The last few times I've been through its been showing its age pretty badly. Especially the rockwork in the entrance area (since the waterfall barely works anymore) and the lower forest. The deforestation machine (Which I'm hoping stays) has been hit or miss lately too.
 
CMZman said:
Honestly? Good that it'll be down that long. The last few times I've been through its been showing its age pretty badly. Especially the rockwork in the entrance area (since the waterfall barely works anymore) and the lower forest. The deforestation machine (Which I'm hoping stays) has been hit or miss lately too.
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have you seen the concept video? I hope it looks like that because then it will be amazing! I know the Bear Hollow took a large departure from its concept art however so I am a little worried Primate Forest will follow that trend.
 
CMZ KNOW IT ALL said:
i dont get up there very often, usually just go to see the Gorillas and head back down so I wouldn’t know if there is a sign there or not! I’ll have to check tomorrow when I go. I have heard that at first the animals didn’t realize they were in a larger tank and stayed in the area of the tank at CMZ :( wish we could have had a more accommodating enclosure because that area was my favorite.

side note I have heard that the Cheetahs will be getting a bigger enclosure after RF is complete
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There are gars in the tank now. I believe spotted.
 
Just left Cleveland. Here's what was new/worth reporting-
  • Both Snow Leopards were on exhibit, obviously in separate yards.
  • Highlands Café is fenced off aside from the bathroom.
  • Ruskin the Red Panda was a no show.
  • The zoo does still have White Storks. The only sign for them is in the covered viewing area across from the Rhinos.
  • If any of the porthole views in PC&A were uncovered, they're recovered. Every single one is tarped over again.
  • Wooly Bill wasn't working
  • One of the Primate exhibits is temporarily covered due to a broken pane of glass. This must have happened recently as I don't remember it being broken last week.
  • Rainy Island exhibit seems to no longer storm. Waited a good 5 minutes and nothing happened.
  • Deforestation display in Lower RainForest has been seemingly disabled. The lights were entirely shut off and the display counter wasn't counting, just stuck in place. I'm guessing it won't be surviving the renovation either.
  • Spoke to two employees, both confirmed September for closure of The RainForest
 
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CMZman said:
Just left Cleveland. Here's what was new/worth reporting-
  • Both Snow Leopards were on exhibit, obviously in separate yards.
  • Highlands Café is fenced off aside from the bathroom.
  • Ruskin the Red Panda was a no show.
  • The zoo does still have White Storks. The only sign for them is in the covered viewing area across from the Rhinos.
  • If any of the porthole views in PC&A were uncovered, they're recovered. Every single one is tarped over again.
  • Wooly Bill wasn't working
  • One of the Primate exhibits is temporarily covered due to a broken pane of glass. This must have happened recently as I don't remember it being broken last week.
  • Rainy Island exhibit seems to no longer storm. Waited a good 5 minutes and nothing happened.
  • Deforestation display in Lower RainForest has been seemingly disabled. The lights were entirely shut off and the display counter wasn't counting, just stuck in place. I'm guessing it won't be surviving the renovation either.
  • Spoke to two employees, both confirmed September for closure of The RainForest
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There is a smaller crack in the tarp where the viewing port used to be.
 
Did a short visit to Cleveland with my fiancee today. We only did one lap as opposed to our usual 2/3. Here's what was new-
  • It was a trading card Thursday. Unfortunately I'm not a member (Probably should be) so I couldn't see what the animal was
  • Finally saw the Southern Three Banded Armadillo in PCA for the first time.
  • The small snack stand next to the seals have been removed
  • Asian Highland Cafe is still under renovation
  • V the American Black Bear and the Sloth Bears were no show.
  • Ruskin the Red Panda was on display he had been a no show my last few trip
  • Prevost Squirrel was off exhibit.
  • Storm and deforestation display were back to working.
  • The zoo still has four American Bison
 
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CMZman said:
Finally saw the Nine Banded Armadillo in PCA for the first time.
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What exhibit was the armadillo in?? I visited just Tuesday and did not see a sign! What a shame that I missed it…:(:(

CMZman said:
V the American Black Bear and the Sloth Bears were no show.
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For what it’s worth I saw both (well, one Sloth bear) when I visited :).

CMZman said:
Rainy Island exhibit seems to no longer storm. Waited a good 5 minutes and nothing happened.
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This is the ex-porcupine exhibit, right? Because if so, it rained while I was there!
 
ZooBinh said:
What exhibit was the armadillo in?? I visited just Tuesday and did not see a sign! What a shame that I missed it…:(:(


For what it’s worth I saw both (well, one Sloth bear) when I visited :).


This is the ex-porcupine exhibit, right? Because if so, it rained while I was there!
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Armadillo was in the mixed exhibit with White Faced Saki, Golden Lion Tamarin, and the Two Toed Sloth. Yeah, the rainy island and deforestation display were working when I went today. Sloth Bears are usually out, while V the Black Bear is very hit-or-miss due to her age.
 
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