Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

My complaint about the Disney effect is that the zoo is already 'bad enough' in that department. Any day at the zoo during prime season is a huge, huge, huge event with thousands of people, what seems like billions of strollers, events, rides, etc. Somewhere in between all the waterpark signs, so-so exhibits for the most part and people, it's easy enough to lose the animals right now. I can only imagine when there's a hotel.
 
I would love to see photos of Polar Frontier all decked out in snow. Or any part of the North American section. When I visited that section this summer, I couldn't help but think that all those animals would be more active if it was wintertime.
 
snowleopard said:
Columbus Zoo had 2.2 million visitors in 2009 but shattered its all-time record with almost 2.4 million visitors in 2010
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This is an amazing number, especially considering that Columbus is not a huge metroplex like NYC, Chicago, or LA. It's similar to the great attendance at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. In both cases, this huge attendance is a testament to these zoos' great former directors, Jack Hanna and Lee Simmons, both of whom are still very involved with the zoos.
 
blospz said:
I would love to see photos of Polar Frontier all decked out in snow. Or any part of the North American section. When I visited that section this summer, I couldn't help but think that all those animals would be more active if it was wintertime.
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Ask and you shall receive. I just uploaded a dozen or so pictures of snowy exhibits and the animals that enjoy them. Lots of polar bear pictures, but some other animals as well. Enjoy.
 
Thanks for uploading the pictures Reedstilt :) I haven't made it up there yet this winter. I'll have to try and make it up there after the next snowfall.

Also, welcome to ZooChat :) (It's Tandala Mkubwa btw)
 
Kudu21 said:
Also, welcome to ZooChat :) (It's Tandala Mkubwa btw)
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Thanks for the welcome and for letting me know about this site in the first place.

Not many people showed up last Saturday, so I was surprised how many people showed up today.

A bit of news from the zoo: the kiwis have laid a fertilized egg, the first for the zoo. Its in the incubator now, so hopefully there will be the pitter patter of baby kiwi feet soon.
 
Reedstilt said:
Thanks for the welcome and for letting me know about this site in the first place.

Not many people showed up last Saturday, so I was surprised how many people showed up today.

A bit of news from the zoo: the kiwis have laid a fertilized egg, the first for the zoo. Its in the incubator now, so hopefully there will be the pitter patter of baby kiwi feet soon.
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You're welcome :)

That's great news! They've layed several unfertilized eggs before, so it's about time that one's viable!

I'll be looking forward to your future updates :)
 
During our visit to Columbus today we spent nearly an hour at Polar Frontier.Having seen this exhibit several times now we are starting to think that it just might be better than Detroit.While it might not match its massive size its still pretty spacious.What truly sets it apart is the trout stocked pool,which at times keepers feed the fish thus triggering predatory behaviors in the bears which is rarely seen in zoos.It is an absolute treat for both the visitors and the bears.In other news the zoo is hopeful that their female pallas cat is pregnant.

Team Tapir
 
I can't do a fair comparison as I've never been to the Detroit Zoo, but judging from photos here are my thoughts. I do agree the live trout at the Columbus Zoo is a wonderful perk. And their exhibit is beautiful, although a bit deceiving as you don't know how far back it actually goes. Are you able to walk around the Detroit Zoo's Polar Bear exhibit. If so, that might be an added perk since it's really just a front view at the Columbus Zoo. Also judging from photos, I think the long underground tunnel at the Detroit Zoo is excellent. I was a bit disappointed they didn't have an underground tunnel like that in Columbus. The window is like a box that goes into their pool so you can see them standing above you, but I'd love to seem them swimming on all sides of me. However, other things I liked at the Columbus Zoo was the wall of cut outs of different bear species and their indoor area, the kid section and the gift shop.
 
Yes you are able to access the front and back of the exhibit in Detroit and don't get us wrong its an awesome exhibit.It's just that Aurora and Anana are very active bears who we have been visiting since they were cubs in Toledo.So just about every visit to Columbus we find ourselves spending lots of time at Polar Frontier.

Team Tapir
 
You bring up a valid point. The look and feel of an exhibit can affect your opinion, but the animal inhabitants can play an important part too. I do remember Aurora and Anana being active and I've seen that through photos of them as well. I can relate as the Buffalo Zoo does not have a great polar bear exhibit, but come winter when Anana and Nanuq are socializing with each other, there's no where else in the zoo I'd rather be.
 
Bodhi, the now seven-year-old male Asian Elephant, will be leaving for the Denver Zoo at the end of the year. He will be joining several other elephants for Denver's up-coming exhibit, Asian Tropics.
 
Does anyone know what's going on with the Markhor exhibit? I was at the zoo this Saturday and the markhors were off exhibit, a lot of the exhibit was disassembled and workers were installing a huge pole in the middle.

On a similar note, anyone know what's going on with the remodeling of the pheasant aviary near the markhors?
 
Reedstilt said:
Does anyone know what's going on with the Markhor exhibit? I was at the zoo this Saturday and the markhors were off exhibit, a lot of the exhibit was disassembled and workers were installing a huge pole in the middle.
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Just a guess, but could they be meshing the entire thing in? The additional barriers, added after the escape, are hideously ugly and looked quite temporary, despite the fact that they've been there several years. Meshing the top and sides would be a much more appealing option.
 
PREMiERdrum said:
Just a guess, but could they be meshing the entire thing in? The additional barriers, added after the escape, are hideously ugly and looked quite temporary, despite the fact that they've been there several years. Meshing the top and sides would be a much more appealing option.
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We had the same thoughts on this but did not want to speculate

Team Tapir
 
Edward, a bull moose, was euthanized today after an ongoing fight to maintain his health.
 
Three of the zoo's young manatees arrived in Florida today and will be released this winter. With the departure of those three, three new manatees, Wheezy, Woodstock, and Pixie, have recently arrived at the zoo.
 
Has anyone ever been to this zoo during spring break? Considering it's a big zoo, I'm curious if the crowds of family are still overbearing. I am trying to avoid what I dealt with at Smithsonian National Zoo this week! To save myself some aggreviation, I'm beelining to the polar bears as soon as the zoo opens up.
 
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