SamMetz
Well-Known Member
Update video for Nora, who is 4 months old now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmcB6BQuMyg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmcB6BQuMyg
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Columbus Zoo and Aquarium News -2016
- Thread starter TZFan
- Start date
Likewise!... And I was not trying to suggest that you were; I was just trying to, perhaps, offer up a likely reason the zoo is going in the direction that it is going at the moment, given the uncertainty it has had recently with regards to its future funding. That said, I completely understand how the consistent rearrangement of plans could leave a bitter taste; however, that is the nature of plans: they change... Constantly. Plans are a lot easier to draw up than funding, unfortunately... And with that, some projects have fallen to the wayside and/or have not produced everything originally suggested... Very rarely does what is actually built look exactly like what is planned! Of course, I, too, much preferred the original Polar Frontier plans, with the pinniped pool, shore bird aviary, caribou, Dall sheep, and others, but the exhibit that was built (minus the Arctic fox exhibit....) is of excellent quality, if it is much smaller of a complex than it was originally to be... Likewise with the second phase of Heart of Africa, although, there is still the chance that this is still in pipeline for later, which I genuinely hope that it is (I'd love to see the black rhinos moved out of the pachyderm building, to see permanent on-show enclosures built for the Watering Hole species, and to see the zoo tackle a Nile hippo exhibit... with grazing! ). That said, I think the zoo will be pretty quiet about its future plans for awhile now that the renewed levy has passed, especially after squabbles that occurred over the first levy attempt... And I cannot blame them for doing so!
I, however, cannot argue that a new penguin exhibit is desperately needed, as that almost certainly the most outdated enclosure in the entire zoo and the aquarium footprint probably could have allowed for a rather nice one to be built. That said, I expect that this was a question of funding... As a penguin enclosure doesn't come cheap! Also, if the zoo were to ever finally progress with a South American complex, a new Humboldt penguin exhibit would much more readily fit into such a region than the predominantly tropical shores Shores region.... This would also allow for the exhibit to be more fluid. The footprint of the old aquarium is quite confined and boxy.
From what the sign says, it looks as though the Shores café will just be a Starbucks and not an actual restaurant café... I'm guessing it was included in order to provide a place a place for parents to sit and get something to drink while they watch their children play, as the food stands behind the flamingos would be too far for this... But again, just because I see the reasoning behind it doesn't mean it doesn't seem a bit excessive!
In other news... The zoo recently celebrated Beco's seventh birthday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYMOm-7or5U
From Facebook:
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will become a smoke-free facility beginning April 8, 2016. We are dedicated to providing a healthy environment for our animals, Zoo guests and employees. This new policy will ban the use of all smoking products, including e-cigarettes, on Zoo grounds. Thank you for your support and cooperation!
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will become a smoke-free facility beginning April 8, 2016. We are dedicated to providing a healthy environment for our animals, Zoo guests and employees. This new policy will ban the use of all smoking products, including e-cigarettes, on Zoo grounds. Thank you for your support and cooperation!
SamMetz
Well-Known Member
From Facebook:
BABY ANIMALS: Two pygmy lorises were born at the Nocturnal Building on March 25. Their parents are Gouda and Muenster and the newborn twins join 9-month-old sibling, Feta. The loris gestation period is about five months. Animal care staff will stick to selecting cheesy names for this adorable duo following a team vote. The pygmy loris is a vulnerable species, with wild populations threatened by illegal pet trade and habitat loss due to deforestation. The pairing of Gouda and Muenster, both second-time parents, was recommended as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan (SSP).
https://www.facebook.com/columbuszoo/?fref=nf
BABY ANIMALS: Two pygmy lorises were born at the Nocturnal Building on March 25. Their parents are Gouda and Muenster and the newborn twins join 9-month-old sibling, Feta. The loris gestation period is about five months. Animal care staff will stick to selecting cheesy names for this adorable duo following a team vote. The pygmy loris is a vulnerable species, with wild populations threatened by illegal pet trade and habitat loss due to deforestation. The pairing of Gouda and Muenster, both second-time parents, was recommended as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan (SSP).
https://www.facebook.com/columbuszoo/?fref=nf
SamMetz
Well-Known Member
Update Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRrQbvNoU8M
The trio of tiger cubs passed their well-check and appear to be healthy. There are two girls and one boy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRrQbvNoU8M
The trio of tiger cubs passed their well-check and appear to be healthy. There are two girls and one boy.
The Zoo has dropped plans for a Japanese macaque exhibit.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium awarded $250,000 from Ohio legislators for Japanese macaque snow monkey exhibit, but zoo says project too costly - Columbus - Columbus Business First
Since when was Columbus planning to add the macaques? I don't recall seeing any news about them until now.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium awarded $250,000 from Ohio legislators for Japanese macaque snow monkey exhibit, but zoo says project too costly - Columbus - Columbus Business First
Since when was Columbus planning to add the macaques? I don't recall seeing any news about them until now.
I'm a member and follow the Zoo pretty closely, and this is the first I've heard of this. Didn't find anything in googling it either. While I'd love to see Japanese macaques at the zoo, I'm not sure where in Asia Quest they would have been added... perhaps replacing the rumored-to-be-phased-out sun bears (though that exhibit is really too small for a macaque troop of any size), but I'm guessing an entirely new exhibit would have been called for.
Polar bear cub, Nora, goes on display Apr 15th.
Polar bear Nora to make debut at zoo April 15 | ThisWeek Community News
Polar bear Nora to make debut at zoo April 15 | ThisWeek Community News
I've been meaning to post a quick update from my visit last weekend:
Anyone hoping to see Nora, the female polar bear cub, on the weekends is best advised to get to the Zoo early. There has been a lot of publicity around her birth, and that translates to huge crowds. Last Saturday (when the weather was quite cold, which may have depressed crowds a bit), I got to the zoo just about 9:10 and by the time I reached the back of North America, the line to see Nora stretched all the way out of the Polar Frontier back to the moose exhibit. The line was single file into the main building at Polar Express, snaked through the building, and then did a switchback outside before finally giving people a view of the exhibit. The line moved rather slowly for most of the time, so it probably took about 40 minutes from when we entered until we finally managed to (briefly) see Nora. As Nora is only on exhibit for around an hour each day, from 9:30 until 10:30, people managing the line were warning people that there were no guarantees that anyone could see Nora (and I'm pretty sure that people who entered the line after 10:00 or so were out of luck). That said, she is cute little bear, and she entertained the crowd by attempting to climb the gate through which she was shortly due to be fed and promptly falling off (after which she'd try again).
There is a lot more to be seen than just the bear cub, of course. Although there had been no announcement that the Heart of Africa had reopened for the year, it was indeed open (three weeks earlier than it had reopened last year). While the giraffes were not out in the early morning (due to the low temperatures) and the cranes and storks were nowhere to be seen, all the other species in the main exhibit were out (including the guineafowl, which were absent most of last year due to avian flu fears). Vervets and cheetah were out, too, as was the entire pride of lions (all nine - the male, two females, and the six cubs born last year - have been integrated). While Nora may have been the reason for our visit, the lions provided the most entertainment, as all nine were awake and active. Also, I got confirmation that the three black-backed jackals are in the Waterhole rotation, as all three were out (along with two companion shepherds) for a short period when we first got back there. I believe Columbus may be the only accredited zoo other than World Wildlife that currently holds the species (please someone correct me if I'm wrong) and it's great to see that they're back on exhibit this year (last year they were only viewable occasionally in the "nursery" window of the old education building and I never managed to see them; for the latter part of the season, they were entirely off exhibit).
In the rest of the zoo, looks like I just managed to miss the young pancake tortoise and beaded lizards. Several closed exhibits in the reptile house, and the former Burmese python exhibit looks like it will become the new home for the yellow anaconda (according to the sign on the exhibit), though the exhibit is currently closed and the anaconda is still to be found in the first of the large turtle exhibits (unsigned) where it had been seen last year. The new Shores Park addition (the cafe, play area, and 4-D theatre occupying the land that was formerly occupied by the old aquarium) is still under heavy construction; while the signs say it is due to open in spring, I'd be surprised if it opens anytime before summer (very little progress had been made in the two weeks since my previous visit and there is still nothing visible beyond a little foundation work for either of the buildings and a lot of torn-up ground). No sign of the penguin chicks that hatched earlier this year. Jungle Jack's Landing was still closed for the season. The two langurs born earlier this year have almost entirely lost their orange coats. The pallas cat exhibit, in which I saw no sign of life all last season (despite my constant attempts to spot any inhabitant), has been occupied by one cat during both my visits this year.
In North America, the central exhibits formerly home to brown and black bears (and later to otters, the last timber wolf, and most recently sandhill cranes) and the former cougar and bobcat exhibits are all closed down for major renovation. As noted earlier, the former bear habitats will be home to new black bears and a renovated otter exhibit, with bobcats going in where the cranes were (formerly timber wolf and earlier black bear), and the cougars taking over both of the former cat exhibits. It looks like it will be some time before all of these renovations are complete. For the present, the otters have returned to their former exhibit, displacing the beavers. The cougars are now occupying the former lion (and most recently overflow Amur tiger) exhibit, with the elder pair on one side and the two younger on the other. With this movement of the cougars and the new births in the Amur tiger family, only one Amur tiger (I believe the year-old male born last year) was on exhibit in Asia Quest.
I think that's about it - the Zoo appears to be focusing on a lot of smaller-scale construction and renovation. It's nice to see some of this long-overdue work finally getting done, and the resulting improvements for the cougars, bobcats, otters, and black bears should be well worth it. I'm less convinced about the need for the new Shores park, but I'm sure the 4-d theater will be a nice additional source of revenue. My best guess is that all of these projects will be completed later this year, though I doubt all will be done by the beginning of the summer season.
Anyone hoping to see Nora, the female polar bear cub, on the weekends is best advised to get to the Zoo early. There has been a lot of publicity around her birth, and that translates to huge crowds. Last Saturday (when the weather was quite cold, which may have depressed crowds a bit), I got to the zoo just about 9:10 and by the time I reached the back of North America, the line to see Nora stretched all the way out of the Polar Frontier back to the moose exhibit. The line was single file into the main building at Polar Express, snaked through the building, and then did a switchback outside before finally giving people a view of the exhibit. The line moved rather slowly for most of the time, so it probably took about 40 minutes from when we entered until we finally managed to (briefly) see Nora. As Nora is only on exhibit for around an hour each day, from 9:30 until 10:30, people managing the line were warning people that there were no guarantees that anyone could see Nora (and I'm pretty sure that people who entered the line after 10:00 or so were out of luck). That said, she is cute little bear, and she entertained the crowd by attempting to climb the gate through which she was shortly due to be fed and promptly falling off (after which she'd try again).
There is a lot more to be seen than just the bear cub, of course. Although there had been no announcement that the Heart of Africa had reopened for the year, it was indeed open (three weeks earlier than it had reopened last year). While the giraffes were not out in the early morning (due to the low temperatures) and the cranes and storks were nowhere to be seen, all the other species in the main exhibit were out (including the guineafowl, which were absent most of last year due to avian flu fears). Vervets and cheetah were out, too, as was the entire pride of lions (all nine - the male, two females, and the six cubs born last year - have been integrated). While Nora may have been the reason for our visit, the lions provided the most entertainment, as all nine were awake and active. Also, I got confirmation that the three black-backed jackals are in the Waterhole rotation, as all three were out (along with two companion shepherds) for a short period when we first got back there. I believe Columbus may be the only accredited zoo other than World Wildlife that currently holds the species (please someone correct me if I'm wrong) and it's great to see that they're back on exhibit this year (last year they were only viewable occasionally in the "nursery" window of the old education building and I never managed to see them; for the latter part of the season, they were entirely off exhibit).
In the rest of the zoo, looks like I just managed to miss the young pancake tortoise and beaded lizards. Several closed exhibits in the reptile house, and the former Burmese python exhibit looks like it will become the new home for the yellow anaconda (according to the sign on the exhibit), though the exhibit is currently closed and the anaconda is still to be found in the first of the large turtle exhibits (unsigned) where it had been seen last year. The new Shores Park addition (the cafe, play area, and 4-D theatre occupying the land that was formerly occupied by the old aquarium) is still under heavy construction; while the signs say it is due to open in spring, I'd be surprised if it opens anytime before summer (very little progress had been made in the two weeks since my previous visit and there is still nothing visible beyond a little foundation work for either of the buildings and a lot of torn-up ground). No sign of the penguin chicks that hatched earlier this year. Jungle Jack's Landing was still closed for the season. The two langurs born earlier this year have almost entirely lost their orange coats. The pallas cat exhibit, in which I saw no sign of life all last season (despite my constant attempts to spot any inhabitant), has been occupied by one cat during both my visits this year.
In North America, the central exhibits formerly home to brown and black bears (and later to otters, the last timber wolf, and most recently sandhill cranes) and the former cougar and bobcat exhibits are all closed down for major renovation. As noted earlier, the former bear habitats will be home to new black bears and a renovated otter exhibit, with bobcats going in where the cranes were (formerly timber wolf and earlier black bear), and the cougars taking over both of the former cat exhibits. It looks like it will be some time before all of these renovations are complete. For the present, the otters have returned to their former exhibit, displacing the beavers. The cougars are now occupying the former lion (and most recently overflow Amur tiger) exhibit, with the elder pair on one side and the two younger on the other. With this movement of the cougars and the new births in the Amur tiger family, only one Amur tiger (I believe the year-old male born last year) was on exhibit in Asia Quest.
I think that's about it - the Zoo appears to be focusing on a lot of smaller-scale construction and renovation. It's nice to see some of this long-overdue work finally getting done, and the resulting improvements for the cougars, bobcats, otters, and black bears should be well worth it. I'm less convinced about the need for the new Shores park, but I'm sure the 4-d theater will be a nice additional source of revenue. My best guess is that all of these projects will be completed later this year, though I doubt all will be done by the beginning of the summer season.
It is good news, indeed, to hear that the jackals have been incorporated into the Waterhole rotation! Hopefully I will run the chance of seeing them sometime this summer, as I was not so lucky last. While I understand that the Waterhole rotation is the key concept of Heart of Africa, I do wish that the zoo would consider building permanent exhibits for the species within its rotation that are only visible in the Waterhole, such as the black-backed jackals, spotted hyenas, aardvarks, warthogs, lesser flamingos, and the black-casqued hornbills used for fly-overs. Heart of Africa's biggest weakness, besides the fact that it is closed for a good portion of the year and the rather mundane Dromedary camel yard, is its lack of small exhibits. There are no small mammal exhibits, no aviaries, and no reptile, fish, or invertebrate exhibits either. By providing permanent on-exhibit homes for these smaller animals currently in the Heart of Africa collection, surely it would be easy to incorporate a few smaller exhibits around them to complete the exhibit? Not to mention the fact that the black-backed jackals are the only ones of their kind in AZA-accredited facilities and of only a few on public display at all, and that the spotted hyenas, aardvarks, and hornbills are not particularly common either, thus, making it quite frustrating if your visits do not happen to be when any of these species are on display.
So the yellow anaconda was back in the first of the turtle exhibits? It had moved to the former Burmese python exhibit several weeks ago... And I should know! It was one of the animals I was studying, and it moving exhibits threw a little bit of a wrench into my data!
In other news, here is a video on the pygmy slow loris twins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBs9kLGqpfs
I agree with this generally. There are vervet monkeys, the cheetahs and the lions, but that's about it.
That explains why only the male was visible on exhibit two weeks ago then. Guess I have to go back soon to see the calves. I believe greater kudu is the fourth species to successfully breed in the Heart of Africa after the vervet, dama gazelle, and lion.
While HOA had originally promised a breeding herd of Masai giraffes and a bachelor herd of Reticulated, I've seen the subspecies mixed before (in both the main exhibit and the giraffe feeding section) and am actually not sure what the Zoo is holding currently in terms of subspecies/gender and whether breeding is anticipated/desired. Anyone happen to know?
Likewise! Greater kudu calves will definitely be worth making a trip back up to Columbus soon! That said, it still would've been nice had they been out while I was still only 20 minutes away while at university. And yes, the greater kudu is the fourth species to breed in HOA.
As far as the giraffes go, that is something that I have wondered myself, as I do not know the (sub)species/gender make-up of the giraffe herds either. I personally have never seen the subspecies mixed out on the main savanna, but I have seen them mixed in the giraffe feeding yard; however, the Masai giraffes in the giraffe feeding yard with the "reticulated" giraffes were all males. That said, perhaps they are currently housing a mixed bachelor herd and a breeding herd of Masai and perhaps they rotate between the two exhibit? Or are they all just truly mixed together? I am honestly not sure. It would be something to try and look into on a next visit. It does seem odd, however, that there have been no calves born nor any pregnancies confirmed with the exhibit now having been open for almost two years....
Speaking of the unknown gender ratios of the giraffe herds, I'm not sure that the gender ratios have been confirmed for any of the species on the savanna... Which would be something interesting to discover, especially given the fact that only four species have bred..
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SamMetz
Well-Known Member
Heres the ratios for the giraffes according to the most current studbooks.
Giraffes, Masai
Zuri (Female)
Enzi (Male)
Adia (Female)
Giraffes, Reticulated
Sweta (Male)
Zawadi (Male)
Kasamba/Sam (Male)
Nitro (Male)
Dasher (Male)
Waibig (Male)
Kipawa (Male)
John Peterson (Male)
Two males, both under a year, should have/will be received from Jacksonville
Thanks for this, SamMetz. I knew there was a small number of Masai, but I didn't know it was that skewed. I have seen at least one Masai mixed in with the Retic males, but as Kudu said, that may well have been the male. Hopefully breeding among the Masai is still in the cards...
Breeding would still be in the cards for the Masai. Enzi is one of the most valuable male Masai in North America. He is the only son and one of two surviving calves of his father. His great grand mother was an import with very very few living descendants. The SSP wants Enzi breeding.