The Detroit Zoo on this site has been infamous for many phaseouts over the years, and after reading the Brookfield Zoo speculation thread I felt like it would be a good idea to make a thread like this for Detroit. This thread is for talking about ideas for new animals / exhibits or how you would improve the Detroit Zoo. Just try to keep it as realistic as possible.
Detroit definitely has been improving over the last few years with the import of several new species, mostly in the way of primates. And they've also announced a brand-new children's zoo called Discovery Trails, overhauling 7 acres of the American Grasslands to exhibit stingrays, domestics and even the return of Bush Dogs. Construction has already begun, and the complex will be completed by 2026.
As for any other major projects, rumor has it that a potential Asia expansion is in the works. I'd love it if the zoo moved the Japanese Macaques down by the unused picnic site, as Detroit has too many of those that rarely get used. As for new species, I could see them expanding into the forest where the dinosaur and Lego exhibits go for the summer. While Sloth Bears will be temporarily staying from Philadelphia, I could see Detroit getting them permanently. I'd love to see Detroit get a new Asian hoofstock species like babirusas, tapirs or takin.
There were plans to turn the old Penguinarium into a Bat Conservation Center, but then covid hit and we haven't heard anything sense. I'd personally would love to see it get turned into a state-of-the-art Aquarium (which ironically, was also planned for downtown Detroit at one point), but the smaller species would need to be different to avoid competition with the Belle Isle Aquarium. Bigger species like sharks and sea turtles would definitely be a big draw and the whole thing would keep with the aquatic theme of the building.
Detroit has a lot of unused potential, and I'd love to see them capitalize on it, but I've rambled on long enough. What do you foresee in the zoo's future? What would you bring into the collection? What do you think is likely to happen?
Detroit definitely has been improving over the last few years with the import of several new species, mostly in the way of primates. And they've also announced a brand-new children's zoo called Discovery Trails, overhauling 7 acres of the American Grasslands to exhibit stingrays, domestics and even the return of Bush Dogs. Construction has already begun, and the complex will be completed by 2026.
As for any other major projects, rumor has it that a potential Asia expansion is in the works. I'd love it if the zoo moved the Japanese Macaques down by the unused picnic site, as Detroit has too many of those that rarely get used. As for new species, I could see them expanding into the forest where the dinosaur and Lego exhibits go for the summer. While Sloth Bears will be temporarily staying from Philadelphia, I could see Detroit getting them permanently. I'd love to see Detroit get a new Asian hoofstock species like babirusas, tapirs or takin.
There were plans to turn the old Penguinarium into a Bat Conservation Center, but then covid hit and we haven't heard anything sense. I'd personally would love to see it get turned into a state-of-the-art Aquarium (which ironically, was also planned for downtown Detroit at one point), but the smaller species would need to be different to avoid competition with the Belle Isle Aquarium. Bigger species like sharks and sea turtles would definitely be a big draw and the whole thing would keep with the aquatic theme of the building.
Detroit has a lot of unused potential, and I'd love to see them capitalize on it, but I've rambled on long enough. What do you foresee in the zoo's future? What would you bring into the collection? What do you think is likely to happen?
