Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Zoo next project

TeamTapir223 said:
I spoke to Dr. Kristen Lukas Curator of Conservation and Science and head of the Gorilla SSP this past winter and was told that Cleveland's Gorilla exhibit would accommodate both a bachelor group and a family group this will pretty much become a new standard of all new gorilla exhibits (Como Zoo and Houston Zoo for example).
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Accommodating family and bachelor groups been a standard for new gorilla exhibit design for the last 15 years.
 
During a recent CZS event, I took the opportunity to snap a quick pic of the plans for the forthcoming Nature Discovery Zone which will be accompanying the new Wildlife Carousel breaking ground October 2013 on Savanna Ridge.
Enjoy!
 

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I've always wanted to see Cleveland make more use of their hillsides in terms of exhibiting animals.
 
team tapir said:
The original plans for Elephant Crossing included a new front entrance to the zoo.This eventually had to be cut and was supposed to done at a later time.However it now appears that these plans for new entrance have been completley scrapped in favor of something much bigger.These new plans would completely move the zoos main entrance from where it currently sits to behind the Rainforest which oddly is located outside the current zoo entry.The zoo would then more than likely turn its overflow lot into an everyday lot and use its Northern Trek entrance as a secondary everyday entrance.

Another possible project we have heard is a private event facility located at the site of the old bird building which would overlook the zoos African Savannah.Columbus has plans for something similar theirs includes a hotel.The big differnce being Columbus has space and huge amounts of money for a brand new Savanna.Cleveland's 1980's Savannah is three fairly large paddocks separated by awful looking chain link fence,not exactly what I wanna gaze out at during a private event.While we completely understand the concept that this facilty is intended to make money for the zoo we just don't feel its right for Cleveland at this time.Cleveland needs to get creative,get more money coming in and get a new Primate Forest project going.

Team Tapir
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The zoo will be putting Viktor Schrekngost's bird tiles back at the site some how
 
CMZman said:
The smaller bird tiles will be placed on the property somehow, and a lady at the zoo told me when I asked
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The Shreckengost bird tiles from the old bird building will be displayed on the zoos upcoming carousel.This is a really cool idea because the carousel is being built on the site of the old bird building so its kind of a nice way to honor some zoo history.

Team Tapir223
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Indeed, a lack of balance and too few species delisted (why would anyone then still want to visit). The zoo needs a representative set up of species.

Incidentally, it is quite possible to have say several primate species (baboon, colobus, pat as and Cercopithecinae) with the rhinos for instance. Would make a nice multi functional storey exhibit.
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So true numerous species would truly be actually: ZOOLOGICAL! Additionally a further benefit would address: ECOLOGICAL! However, in this world of ours nothing is ever so simple. Given the track record of recent zoo accomplishments it clearly shows the zoo has become yet another extended part of the Metroparks built for people pleasant and enjoyment, and anything related to helping the current animals on display is an after thought! It does appear clearly the zoo is being built to house people and entertain them rather than developing and studying the importance of learning of animals and the great variety that share our planet! Amusing ourselves to death we cannot see clearly, and hence cannot develop understanding to knowing about animals. If I want to walk in the park, I'll go to a park! If I want to learn and understand animals better to page through books!
 
gerenuk said:
Accommodating family and bachelor groups been a standard for new gorilla exhibit design for the last 15 years.
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What seems like ages ago, I tried my best to point out this concern of gortilla's with Timmy! I was labeled a trouble maker! When invited to Director's office I was told that Metroparks exhibits differ than say Cincinnati Zoo's, and inspight of the difference the issue of gorillas was washed under the bridge, and the zoo skirted the issue looking at other zoo's. I was only trying to point out the need of socialization of gorillas in family groups, as was later proven 1000 successfully by Timmy when he went to the Bronx Zoo, and later to the Louisville Zoo. Always the message was Timmy was not a breeder, but yet he proved everyone wrong! So much for those "quote" zoo/animal experts! Been to Como Zoo before and after the new gorilla exhibit, and soon will be going to Houston Zoo this year!
 
gerenuk said:
I've always wanted to see Cleveland make more use of their hillsides in terms of exhibiting animals.
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The San Diego Zoo had successfully done it. As a kid I drew up plans as it is possible! Himalyan Tahr lifed on the hills for years! It required innovation, and challenges beyond the shallow quick get it done themes. Possible yes! That's whats makes great zoo's different than every zoo looking the same, with same themes. Back in the day, in Germany when space was limited exhibit were built ontop of one another, and lead to the standard of moated exhibits! Again: ZOOLOGICAL!
 
The soils in Cleveland are quite different from San Diego. They are essentially sand dunes. Work on the hills has to be done carefully and might get VERY expensive (they collapse regularly)
That may account for why they don't make extensive use of the hills.
Besides, the zoo is not hurting for space for exhibits as it is, IMO
 
I am impressed with how much the zoo has changed since 1980. They seem to be slowly changing exhibits so that they are more exciting and long lasting while keeping with some major capital projects. Rainforest, Australia, Elephant Crossing and the Wolf Lodge I would say are capital projects. Enhancing their current exhibits are things that they seem to do in between. The Tiger Passage and Giraffe Overlook were not huge projects but certainly make for a better experience. I also like what they have done for kids and long term financial sustainability with the event halls. I guess my question is what is next? There are numerous other exhibits that could use some work, lions, and African Savanna exhibits, the P,C and Aquatics building continues to be a sort of catch all for animals that don't fit and the large hill seems to be a space that could be re-imagined. Anybody know of what is next?
 
mwalle09 said:
I am impressed with how much the zoo has changed since 1980. They seem to be slowly changing exhibits so that they are more exciting and long lasting while keeping with some major capital projects. Rainforest, Australia, Elephant Crossing and the Wolf Lodge I would say are capital projects. Enhancing their current exhibits are things that they seem to do in between. The Tiger Passage and Giraffe Overlook were not huge projects but certainly make for a better experience. I also like what they have done for kids and long term financial sustainability with the event halls. I guess my question is what is next? There are numerous other exhibits that could use some work, lions, and African Savanna exhibits, the P,C and Aquatics building continues to be a sort of catch all for animals that don't fit and the large hill seems to be a space that could be re-imagined. Anybody know of what is next?
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Things that have been mentioned include a new gorilla exhibit, a new entrance uniting the zoo and the RainForest, and the continued renovation of Wilderness Trek.
 
TigerValley98 said:
Things that have been mentioned include a new gorilla exhibit, a new entrance uniting the zoo and the RainForest, and the continued renovation of Wilderness Trek.
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All of those would be needed and very cool! At the Buffalo Zoo they have a wonderful rainforest exhibit within their zoo and I remember thinking how ours should be included. Anything with that Primates, Cats and Aquatics building would be an upgrade and parts of Wilderness Trek are good i.e. Tiger Passage, Wolf Lodge and the seal exhibit (although I'd love for them renovate that so that you could view under water) but the bears, reindeer, camels and others need a lot of work in my opinion.
 
The zoo is in the process of seeking proposals for remodeling the PCA Building and adding a new gorilla exhibit.
 
I think the PCA building is the area in most need of an update. It is tired and does not evoke the same sort of feelings the other exhibits do. I would love for them to re-imagine their walk up to the PCA building but that would be extremely expensive. There is construction going on near there on a new building but I could not tell if it was for the zoo or for the Metroparks HQ. Also some construction going on opposite end of the Giraffe Encounter, not sure what they were doing.
 
mwalle09 said:
I think the PCA building is the area in most need of an update. It is tired and does not evoke the same sort of feelings the other exhibits do. I would love for them to re-imagine their walk up to the PCA building but that would be extremely expensive. There is construction going on near there on a new building but I could not tell if it was for the zoo or for the Metroparks HQ. Also some construction going on opposite end of the Giraffe Encounter, not sure what they were doing.
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I know in the original 10 year MP the fences were planned to come down and the ditches filled in, connecting the three paddocks and created one large African Plain area so maybe thats whats happening with the giraffes?
 
In reading back through some of the previous posts, it seems that CMZ has a lot on its plate and a rather ambitious plan to attempt to complete in the next decade. I think the most difficult thing for them is finding the balance between promoting learning and conservation while also maintaining their financial viability. I think the carousel and event centers were created so that they could have some independent funding to use for projects without going through the red tape.
 
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