Fresno Chaffee Zoo Fresno Zoo News 2011

Jordan-Jaguar97

Jordan-Jaguar97

Well-Known Member
News 2011,
Two baby Sumatran Orangutans have been made their public apperance:)!
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo proudly debuted two Sumatran Orangutan babies on Friday, March 18th. The male, Labu, was born on October 31st, 2010, and the female, Ndari, on December 18th, 2010.
 
It is interesting that the zoo admits that it has "antiquated facilities", but the future appears to be quite promising. I'll be visiting this zoo in the next 10 days and I'm doubtful that I'll be impressed, so I'll just have to tour it again once the new African area is built!:)
 
snowleopard said:
It is interesting that the zoo admits that it has "antiquated facilities", but the future appears to be quite promising. I'll be visiting this zoo in the next 10 days and I'm doubtful that I'll be impressed, so I'll just have to tour it again once the new African area is built!:)
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The Fresno Zoo is a local zoo in the sense that it primarily draws from its local region rather than being a destination zoo. Unlike most local zoos though it has some financial resources to transform its inadequate exhibits and facilities.

The seal lion, elephant, and hoofstock exhibits will be replaced with modern exhibits relatively soon. The current red wolf, rain forest, and orangutan exhibits are already quite nice. The horrible great ape grottos which used to house orangs, chimps, and gorillas have been transformed into an adequate South America exhibit with anteaters, capybaras, and coatis.

The grizzly bear exhibit is an outdated grotto and it seems likely that when the current old bear dies it would not be replaced. The completely outdated hippo exhibit was phased out when the hippos died.
 
Interesting that they are going to phase out their current asian elephants and then bring in a new "breeding group" of african elephants. Their new zoo director (started less than two years ago), Scott Barton, was the curator at my zoo (Reid Park Zoo) until he took this position. I wonder if the fact that he has ties with us and we are about to open a new breeding exhibit for african elephants is part of the decision?
 
Arizona Docent said:
Interesting that they are going to phase out their current asian elephants and then bring in a new "breeding group" of african elephants. Their new zoo director (started less than two years ago), Scott Barton, was the curator at my zoo (Reid Park Zoo) until he took this position. I wonder if the fact that he has ties with us and we are about to open a new breeding exhibit for african elephants is part of the decision?
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I was wondering about this also. My best guess would be that the San Diego Wild Animal Park (Er, Safari Park) is going to need homes for all of the offspring that their herd is producing. Reid Park and Fresno would be logical places to start "satellite" herds. This is just speculation.
 
Indeed, it would make a good southwest elephant consortium. Although apparently Lowry Park Zoo (Tampa, Florida) is also part of the consortium with Safari Park that we are joining and Tampa is certainly about as far from San Diego as you can get in the continental U.S.

I do know that our former curator (now Fresno director) came to the groundbreaking for our new elephant exhibit and in fact they had to schedule it so that he could attend. So it makes perfect sense that they would join us.
 
In my opinion, Fresno should import it's own group. If we end up relying entirely off the swaziland's offspring, the genetics won't be very variable. And if they want a BREEDING group, I doubt the SDSP would give up it's only two female calves.

But I love the idea of the region working together :D
 
Again? I thought this had already been settled.

(I am glad no one opposed my zoo taking over the soccer field for our elephant expansion).
 
Sea Lion Cove construction is ahead of schedule. Official opening is stated as being September, but the zoo may actually open it the end of August. The pool is filled (I was given a tour of the exhibit two days ago by the zoo director) and the sea lions will be moved in about two weeks. They have four california sea lions and one harbor seal. Once the move is complete, the current sea lion exhibit will be renovated for african spot necked otters.

One feature of the new exhibit which no other US facility does (as far as I know) is up close encouters. For an extra fee, visitors can put on a wetsuit and go to a shallow pool on the edge of the exhibit and meet a sea lion in person (no barriers). The underwater viewing window has a covered area that will be rented out at night for special events. A sound and lighting system has been installed, which includes spotlights that will shine into the water to simulate shafts of moonlight. Very cool!
 
Arizona Docent said:
Sea Lion Cove construction is ahead of schedule. Official opening is stated as being September, but the zoo may actually open it the end of August. The pool is filled (I was given a tour of the exhibit two days ago by the zoo director) and the sea lions will be moved in about two weeks. They have four california sea lions and one harbor seal. Once the move is complete, the current sea lion exhibit will be renovated for african spot necked otters.

One feature of the new exhibit which no other US facility does (as far as I know) is up close encouters. For an extra fee, visitors can put on a wetsuit and go to a shallow pool on the edge of the exhibit and meet a sea lion in person (no barriers). The underwater viewing window has a covered area that will be rented out at night for special events. A sound and lighting system has been installed, which includes spotlights that will shine into the water to simulate shafts of moonlight. Very cool!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update on the sea lion exhibit. Is there any projection as to when the new African exhibit complex construction will start and what will be in it? It looks like African-spot necked otters are likely to be part of the show. I'm wondering if the plans for a new African elephant exhibit are still intact?
 
The spot necked otters will NOT be part of the new expansion - they will be in the old (actually current) sea lion exhibit in the center of the zoo.

The expansion will be... actually I forgot what he said except for elephants (but there will be other animals). Yes, they will build an african elephant exhibit, get a new group of africans, and phase out their current (small) asian elephant exhibit.

I believe construction starts next year (2013) with an opening sometime in 2014.
 
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