RandomZooVisitorYT
Well-Known Member
Finally, someone who gets it
Philadelphia Zoo How would you change Philadelphia Zoo?
- Thread starter ZPA
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Brayden Delashmutt
Well-Known Member
Honestly I think that spotted hyenas or something not-cat would be a good choice
TheCappyCouple
Active Member
With the exception of the Aviary, the buildings are the hindrances of this zoo, most notably the PECO Primate Reserve.
As someone who just came back from visiting the respective zoo. I have a few ideas that might be worth sharing.
Now, in addition to the current projects that the zoo is currently working on (Bear Country, Flamingo Walkthrough, etc.); listed below are some relatively simpler changes I would make for this zoo.
Now, in addition to the current projects that the zoo is currently working on (Bear Country, Flamingo Walkthrough, etc.); listed below are some relatively simpler changes I would make for this zoo.
- Give the South End of the zoo (Cheetahs; Eagles, etc.) more pizzazz… essentially, make this the site of the zoo’s next major expansion. I won’t care what goes there, just make it more than the dead space it currently is.
- Change Wings of the World’s name to “Wings of Asia”; not the most creative, I know, but it would better suit the current collection of birds a bit better.
- Entirely transform the African Plains into a more original (therefore, more creative) interpretation of the same theme. If a multi-million dollar reimagining is too much — just combine the zebra/rhino yard with that of the giraffe enclosure, and make it into one larger savanna.
- Additionally, phase out the watusi cattle and replace them for a hardy African antelope or two as another easy addition that could save the zoo an extra buck or two.
- Demolish, then transform the plot of land where Bird Valley is located; and its place, let it be either an expansion for the neighboring PECO Primate Reserve (additional gorilla / orangutan yards) or, perhaps, the site for an entirely new exhibit several years down the road.
Doing research towards a potential Philly trip!
As cool as ambitious mixes sound on paper, I'd probably recommend against it - giraffe can be sensitive and zebras are known to be on the aggressive side. I've seen a lot of zoos that once mixed giraffe either pull back or take a good while experimenting, particularly when mixing with zebra. Omaha's African Grasslands has had to keep rhinoceros separated from a giraffe/antelope mix for years and it does undermine the complex a little, and the zebra were rarely seen for years since they were intended to be mixed with elephant.
This is actually the original name of the exhibit and I believe it was only changed recently, they probably moved in some non-Asian birds.
I'm not sure how you could get more original or creative with an African Plains theme. The most popular ones (ie North Carolina, Omaha, Disney, etc.) are always the biggest and most expansive and not usually a great question of theming besides some of the debate about including references to manmade elements (ie thatched huts, wrecked helicopters, safari trucks)
As cool as ambitious mixes sound on paper, I'd probably recommend against it - giraffe can be sensitive and zebras are known to be on the aggressive side. I've seen a lot of zoos that once mixed giraffe either pull back or take a good while experimenting, particularly when mixing with zebra. Omaha's African Grasslands has had to keep rhinoceros separated from a giraffe/antelope mix for years and it does undermine the complex a little, and the zebra were rarely seen for years since they were intended to be mixed with elephant.
To save an extra buck? Are antelope cheaper to keep than cattle? I would have assumed the upkeep would be higher especially since antelope tend to be flighty, anxious animals and are more weather-sensitive, while cattle are... cattle.
Why demolish Bird Valley? I'm not super informed on that one, is it a poor exhibit? Do the gorillas and orangutans not have enough space? I thought PECO Primate Reserve's outdoor enclosures were considered fine and people just didn't like the indoor areas but it's been a while since I've read on this exhibit.
@JVM , granted, I was entirely basing these ideas on personal observations; so I’m going to list my respective responses accordingly:
- I only thought Wings of the World was considered a confusing name due to their list of species (which I’ve listed below for context). Therefore, I never knew that “Wings of Asia” was the original name of the aviary.
- Golden-Crested Myna
- Indian Peafowl
- Chinese Hwamei
- Golden Pheasant
- Spotted Dove
- Scarlet-Faced Liocichla
- Red-Whiskered Bulbul
- Temminck’s Tragopan
- Second, I brought up the changes to the African Plains as I thought it was one of the zoo’s biggest weaknesses in terms of enclosures (though, the zebra-rhino yard did have so aesthetic elements that slightly improved its design).
- Theming-wise, I was moreso leaning towards exhibits like Busch Gardens’ Edge of Africa and Lincoln Park’s African Journey (the outdoor portion); in that a savanna complex can still be themed while still being tight on space.
- Debatably, I suppose you have a point about the mixed species situation regarding the giraffes/zebras/rhinos. I only brought it up to justify having the giraffes in their current enclosure, which, in my opinion, is one of the weakest I’ve seen for the species.
- While I may’ve worded it as such in my post, I never said that antelope were cheaper than cattle. Rather, it would be SSP-recommended swap from the cattle they have now to (for example) a herd of Addax.
- Admittedly, I intentionally skipped the entirety of Bird Valley on the day of my visit. So I have no observation to back up the claim of demolishing it for something new; and I only brought up an expansion to PECO due to its close proximity to Bird Valley (at least, from the map).
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That's why I am sharing the information with you.
I love researching the history of zoos before and after a visit.Is Busch Gardens' tight on space? That's not one of the examples I'm very familiar with, I figured they were a larger space.
African Journey is probably a reasonable comparison. It works okay in its current form but I recall when it opened it was intended to be a more ambitious mix with Grant's gazelle, ostrich and secretary bird, but I never saw the latter species and the exhibit ultimately spent some time with only giraffe before the Plains zebra started mixing in. I've always half-hoped they bring in a gazelle or antelope again.
I'm probably out of date on this but I recall hearing Philadelphia wanted to build a new giraffe enclosure some years ago over the 'Bird Lake' area. It looks like this could/would be a lot larger than their current enclosure.
You said that replacing the watusi cattle with an antelope would "save an extra buck or two" so that's why I asked. Addax are a wonderful species and I know Kudu and Nyala are both easygoing and impressive antelope.
I just looked in the 2022 thread, which discusses the arrival of the Ankole and had some interesting discussion suggesting the zoo could not keep antelope in the current exhibits, and apparently the zoo formerly held together Addax with much more famously the last Mhorr gazelle in the United States.
Why did you skip Bird Valley intentionally? Lack of interest in birds or is there something about welfare involved? I know they have some of the only Andean Goose there and used to have quite the waterfowl collection some years ago.
I'm sorry if I come off like I'm asking too many questions, it's just a new facility for me and I'm trying to get information.
No worries @JVM , Philadelphia was a new facility for me as well; so don’t take it too personally.
Looking back, the language I used probably wasn’t the best for describing this change. Yet, again, I only brought this terminology to explain that it would be an easier way for the zoo to acquire a new animal without having to spend too much money on an extensive refurbishment.
SBNO - standing, but not occupied
I only mentioned Edge of Africa as an example since it allows Busch Gardens to create a well-themed viewing space for charismatic African fauna (including hippos) without being intrusive on the neighboring Serengeti Plain.
I suppose that makes more sense; after all, Lincoln Park does have more a limited space to work with compared to Busch Gardens, hence, why I gave it a mention.
While in theory, it sounds possible. I would rather have the zoo rework the giraffe enclosure somewhere else. For me, Bird Lake was a naturalistic change of pace from the old-fashioned enclosures; so taking away that natural aspect would be detrimental in my eyes.
Looking back, the language I used probably wasn’t the best for describing this change. Yet, again, I only brought this terminology to explain that it would be an easier way for the zoo to acquire a new animal without having to spend too much money on an extensive refurbishment.
Interesting, I must’ve forgotten it happened relatively recently; it’s just I don’t like the practice of using domestic animals as a “filler species” for SBNO enclosures.
SBNO - standing, but not occupied
Whenever I go to any zoo or aquarium these days, I always establish certain species, exhibits, etc. as a “priority” over others. Therefore, compared to say, the McNeil Avian Center. Bird Valley simply wasn’t a priority for my initial visit.
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That's fair enough. I was mostly bringing that up to suggest the zoo knows the giraffe exhibit is not up to par.
I see. You intended to say an antelope would "save a buck or two" as a contrast to the costs of building an entirely new enclosure. It sounded to me that you were suggesting that in contrast to keeping the cattle there. I understand now.
That's a valid perspective, although personally I cannot stand perpetually "SNBO" exhibits, having seen some last for fifteen years or more.
This is another place I misunderstood you. When you said "intentionally skipped" I thought you were suggesting that you had enough time to visit but still decided not to do so.
I totally understand having a priority list and I usually do as well.[/QUOTE]