Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News 2024

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.
Three-Banded Armadillo was signed on my visit and in that picture, so definitely didn’t miss that exhibit.

I saw the sign outside the bear exhibits noting the repeated behaviors of the bears (which I’m assuming is one of the sloth bears? Saw it running up against the wall repeatedly) and that they were under observation. Would anyone happen to know what’s going on with the bears?
 
I saw the sign outside the bear exhibits noting the repeated behaviors of the bears (which I’m assuming is one of the sloth bears? Saw it running up against the wall repeatedly) and that they were under observation. Would anyone happen to know what’s going on with the bears?
I believe that's Balawat who does the weird wall dance. I actually saw that sign for the first time today.
 
Did a short visit today because it was free Monday and I had some free time between errands. Not much new but still stuff to report on:
  • Since it was free Monday I had to park past the Northern Trek entrance. Not complaining, I like that entrance.
  • V the American Black Bear was out and more active than I've seen her in a while.
  • Does anyone know what's in the small white cage in front of the Reinberg Homestead? There's no sign from the walkaround and I didn't do the train so idk if they say what it is.
  • Andean Bear, Sloth Bear, Ruskin the Red Panda, and Yellow Belly Mangabeys were no-shows
  • Didn’t do the RainForest since I had stuff to do before and after the zoo
  • Wooly Bill still isn’t working
  • Spoke to an employee about the Australia aviary. He says he’s heard if they don’t have the aviary open in August, they will reopen it for Summer 2025
 
Went to Cleveland for a longer visit today. The threat of rain/storms kept the crowds away so I was able to really take my time and enjoy.
  • Highland Cafe is now called “Wow Bao”
  • Dino Cove and the Giraffe Deck were closed due to the weather
  • There's tree/land clearing and path repaving going on next to the seal exhibit.
  • Pacha the Andean Bear was in the big yard. I don't think I've seen him in that yard before.
  • Rode the train for the first time in years.
  • Only saw one Snow Leopard. They were too far away to tell if it was Sombra or Misha
  • Found out that Balawat is the Sloth Bear that does the weird wall/head banging dance. The employee said he's a “ladies bear” and does the dance because he wants to get to Shiva.
  • The banner style sign at the entrance to Primate Cat and Aquatics is back
  • Gharials and Agouti were no-shows. Starting to wonder if they've left the zoo.
 
Did a shorter visit to Cleveland today.

Main Zoo
  • A large tree was being removed in the train station plaza. The tram, train, and Wallaby Walk-around were not open while I was there.
  • Didn't go through the rest of Australia, except for the Koalas due to time.
  • Saw construction workers moving stuff into/out of the old aviary. Unfortunately I couldn't get closer to see exactly what they're doing.
  • Muller's Gibbon were off exhibit as the glass was still broken
  • Ruskin the Red Panda, and the Sloth Bears were a no shows
RainForest
  • All except one of the entrance temple exhibits were signed as off exhibit.
  • I was told by an employee the zoo only has one Gharial at the moment. Not sure if the 2nd one died or transferred.
  • The Agouti was back on exhibit
  • The Ocelot and Prevost Squirrel are off exhibit and no longer signed.
  • While there's no definite date yet, I was told the RainForest will be closed “Before Halloween”. The employee I talked to said there could be a farewell event for the RainForest.
  • Several people with blueprints were walking around the entrance, medical trail, and lower forest. I had my earbuds in so I couldn't hear their conversation but they were pointing out various support columns.
 
Primate Forest now has a website with a new rendering of the main entrance:

Primate Forest Website

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ORANGUTANS:

Orangutan Gallery introduces the first-ever outdoor habitat for orangutans in Cleveland and various indoor multi-level views of animals for guests of all abilities.

Orangutan Gallery will include a new outdoor habitat, more complex climbing structures, new nesting opportunities, and animal management hubs and an orangutan dayroom for guests to see animal training and husbandry. A unique outdoor feature adjacent to Orangutan Gallery is the Adventure Trail for guests. The adventure trail is comprised of rope bridges and fully-accessible towers.

RAINFOREST:
Since 1992, the RainForest has been an architectural icon at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the home of 10,000 plants and 600 animals.

The Primate Forest project has been designed to be constructed in phases to ensure continuous guest accessibility to the RainForest, as well as to maintain high animal welfare standards for the 95 species now at home in the building. Updates to the current building include retrofitting and expanding current animal habitats and holding spaces, adding new animal habitats, and updating education signage and spaces.
 

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Primate Forest now has a website with a new rendering of the main entrance:

Primate Forest Website

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ORANGUTANS:

Orangutan Gallery introduces the first-ever outdoor habitat for orangutans in Cleveland and various indoor multi-level views of animals for guests of all abilities.

Orangutan Gallery will include a new outdoor habitat, more complex climbing structures, new nesting opportunities, and animal management hubs and an orangutan dayroom for guests to see animal training and husbandry. A unique outdoor feature adjacent to Orangutan Gallery is the Adventure Trail for guests. The adventure trail is comprised of rope bridges and fully-accessible towers.

RAINFOREST:
Since 1992, the RainForest has been an architectural icon at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the home of 10,000 plants and 600 animals.

The Primate Forest project has been designed to be constructed in phases to ensure continuous guest accessibility to the RainForest, as well as to maintain high animal welfare standards for the 95 species now at home in the building. Updates to the current building include retrofitting and expanding current animal habitats and holding spaces, adding new animal habitats, and updating education signage and spaces.
Looking absoloutly incredible. The future of Cleveland is bright!
 
Did a nice long visit to Cleveland today, was there from 10:30 to 2 so I got to check on alot of things.

Main Zoo
  • Ruskin the Red Panda was a no show
  • Australian Adventure closed at 1 to set up for Twilight at the Zoo
  • There's a new Dippin Dot stand next to the seals
  • Deckwalk inside the Budgie aviary is currently being replaced. It will likely open at the end of this season, or the beginning of the next one
  • Only saw one Red Panda in Asian Highlands.
  • The Pied Tamarin exhibit in PC&A was empty and they were signed as off exhibit. Their sign had also been removed.
  • An employee I spoke to confirmed the Zoo is currently in talks with other zoos to bring in a female Andean Bear to attempt to breed with Pacha. We could receive our female by the end of the year, but it's unknown at this point.
  • We also should be getting our male Snow Leopard in the next month or so.
  • Only saw one Wallaby in the walkabout area.
  • All 4 species of bear were out (rare to see all 4 at once)
  • Spoke to an employee at PC&A about the gorilla move. They said that they heard the current exhibit could have new primates brought in but it's unknown right now.

The RainForest
  • Prevost Squirrel was confirmed to have left the zoo by an employee
    Agouti, Anteater, and Gharial were all no-shows. The signage for the Gharial seems to have been removed from the exhibit, so it’s possible they have left the zoo.
  • The dome exhibit could be reused in the renovation, but there's no word on what it could be used for.
  • Finally saw the Ocelot for the first time in a few months.
 
Did a shorter visit to Cleveland today.
  • American Black and Sloth Bears were no shows
  • Flemish Giant Rabbits are back on display in Australian Adventure. They're along the side of the train barn, and their exhibit has been refurbished.
  • All the Wallabies and Wallaroos seem to be back on exhibit.
  • Didn’t see the Ring Tail Lemurs or their signage so I wonder if they’ve left the zoo.
  • The train seemed to have broken down as I was driving out, as people were being taken off it. Not newsworthy, just kind of interesting.
  • Capybara were a no show.
  • Misty/stormy island effect has been fixed. I was getting worried they were going to leave it turned off until they closed the RainForest.
  • Spoke to an employee about Ruskin the Red Panda. They said he prefers to stay inside due to the heat at his age, can’t say I blame him.
The rabbit exhibit:
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