Here is Part 1 to my busy August 6th day.
Review of the Rio Grande Zoo
https://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/biopark/zoo
The Rio Grande Zoo, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, opened for business in 1927. Today, the Zoo, made up of more than 250 animal species, is one of four sections of the Albuquerque BioPark; the other three being the Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Botanic Garden, and Tingley Beach.
Much like the Buffalo Zoo a few years ago, the Rio Grande Zoo was a surprise for me. There are not many exhibits that really stand out amongst the major zoos around the country. However, what makes up for that is the well rounded animal collection, a great layout, and a gorgeous setting. The Zoo was much lusher than I anticipated, and the plantings really added a nice touch to some of the exhibit paths. I also enjoyed the attention to detail in many areas, particularly in Adventure Africa and Outback, two of this Zoo’s best complexes.
Ape Walk – Three ape species can be seen in four different exhibits that are overall hit-and-miss in quality. Up first is a pair of gorilla exhibits, which are both grassy, have a few bushes, trees that are fenced off, and a wooden climbing area. Viewing is mainly across a deep moat where I saw a silverback climb down at one point, along with a cave with two small side windows that each look into an exhibit. With their small, narrow shape and grotto-like appearances, the two exhibits in my opinion reminded me of smaller and weaker versions of San Diego Safari Park’s Gorilla Forest. Up next is an average orangutan habitat with another deep moat, a large taller wooden climbing structure, and some tall plants. Something to note here is that I saw six of the red apes coexisting together – the most I’ve seen in a single Zoo enclosure. The best part of this complex is the last exhibit home to a trio of siamangs. The mesh habitat is quite lush and packed with climbing opportunities, with the highlight here being a bridge that visitors can cross over to a large platform, allowing them to view the lesser apes amongst the branches. Visitors wrap around one side of the siamang habitat down a ramp to view the ground level area. The complex ends with a view into the “Gorilla Playroom,” an indoor exhibit for the gorilla troop.
Outback – Thanks to a few additions over the last five years, this section in my opinion has easily become one of the better Australian complexes in the U.S. Up first is a walkthrough lorikeet aviary where people can feed the squawking birds some seeds, followed by is a kookaburra aviary, and a shack that provides interesting information about the land down under. Across the path is a building called “Koala Creek.” Here two all-indoor exhibits are found for Matschie’s tree kangaroo and, of course, a sleeping koala. Both exhibits have sand floors and various trees and branches for climbing. Across the path one can enter a cave, where a kookaburra/snake-necked turtle exhibit, a Great Barrier Reef tank, and a snake (forgot the species) terrarium can be found. On the way out of the building is another walkthrough aviary – this time for a variety of parakeet species, along with separate exhibits for two species of cockatoos. Of course, the highlight species of this Aussie complex (and the Zoo for me) is just ahead – the Tasmanian devils (added in 2013). The carnivorous marsupials have a fantastic home here, half of it is lush with small trees and patches of dirt and grass, and the other half is rocky for the devils to clamber all over. There are also several logs and a pool to entertain the energetic creatures as well. Nearby is a pair of habitats for the country’s only group of Tasmanian wombats (added in 2010, and a first for me) that are pretty good with lots of digging areas and a pool in one of the exhibits. I’d definitely give this Aussie area a thumbs-up.
Adventure Africa – For me, this complex, which opened in 2004, is the best complex that Rio Grande has to offer. Not only are most of the exhibits nice, but the attention to detail here is superbly done as well. Plenty of African style buildings, props, and the overgrown vegetation on the pathways really added to immersive experience (along with the New Mexico heat). The journey begins with a pen for majestic Ankole cattle that is small, dusty, and viewed through wooden fencing. From there, things go rapidly uphill. A village comes into view featuring the Matunda café next to the Ankole cattle, an African-themed gift shop, and a gathering place featuring a variety of African scenery. After passing some restrooms, the first animal habitat comes into view – a nice tall habitat for de Brazza’s monkey that features good climbing opportunities and shady areas. Up next are two good side-by-side exhibits for muntjac (from Asia – oops!) and klipspringers (viewed through wooden fences). Then visitors cross a bridge over a great Nile hippo lagoon. For the most part, the best hippo habitats usually have vast underwater viewing windows; having said that this is definitely one of the better non-underwater viewing hippo exhibits in the country. The hippos have a land area that could’ve been a little bigger, but the pool is deep and refreshing, and there is a beautiful waterfall with boulders and logs in the back of the habitat. Visitors can also get within feet from the aquatic pachyderms on the bridge and by another area in front of the pool. The best part of this exhibit was the pod of hippos – I saw five of them including a cute four-month old calf. They were very active, interacting with each other, and playing with enrichment balls by biting and swinging at them with their colossal heads.
Behind the hippo pool (when looking to the left of the bridge) is a red river hog exhibit that was all right, but nothing spectacular. Next-door are narrow, decent scrubland-like habitats for African wild dogs, a spotted hyena, and cheetah (this fleet-footed feline has two different ways of viewing: a glass window, and an ascending ramp with viewing through a rope barrier). Across the pathway is a very good aviary featuring saddle-billed storks, a marabou stork, two vulture species, and a few other bird species. Perhaps the most unique feature is a walkthrough portion where guests are surrounded by a chain-link barrier, and the birds can fly up on top of the tunnel. After passing a lush, but small, wattled crane aviary and a shaded area for guests with African-style painting on the walls, a small stream comes into view, which turns out to flow into the chimpanzee habitat – an exhibit similar in design to the ape habitats back on the Ape Walk. While there are plenty of large viewing windows, lots of grass, and a decent-sized troop of apes (including two adorable twins born last November), I felt there could’ve been more climbing structures and ropes – another average great ape habitat for Rio Grande. After passing a small amphitheater, one will come across an above average habitat for a trio of white rhinos. While barren, it is tastefully designed with several shady areas, mud holes, and a low rocky surrounding. This is followed by a pair of Sichuan takin exhibits that are misplaced and sadly severely lacking in quality; nice to see the unique animals again though! The path continues past a really nice habitat for a herd of Grant’s zebras that, while lacking any grass, have several shady trees that does well resembling and having the dry climate touch of the Dark Continent. The last area here is a pair of small reticulated giraffe exhibits that can also be viewed through a trio of African huts – one of which guests can feed the gentle giants from.
Seal & Sea Lions – Located in the very center of the establishment is a decent pinniped pool for California sea lions, harbor seals, and gray seals. After passing a construction site on the left and a pretty waterfall area on the right, one enters a cave with underwater viewing. Unlike other exhibits for the species, where there are huge windows to see the animals glide through the water, here there are a series of small square windows that provide crystal clear views below the surface. Going up a ramp, a view into the rocky above water area is seen. It’s nothing fantastic, but still nice. Across the path is a cool-looking fishing shack that adds a nice immersive touch. According to the map, prairie dogs are featured in this section as well, but I didn’t see the exhibit. Whether I completely missed it or it was located in the area of construction in front of the pinnipeds, I don’t know.
Asia – There are only two species exhibited here. First is a dusty Bactrian camel pen that is viewed through chain-link. That, however, is completely overshadowed by the area behind it. A herd of Asian elephants lives in a series of sandy exhibits that supposedly add up to 5.5 acres (correct if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure that’s what I heard on here). At the time of my visit, keepers were preparing to rotate the different groups of pachyderms into new areas for the afternoon. A bull later came out of the night quarters (not open to the general public), a younger male was waiting in a side paddock to be let out, and a herd of four females (including a nearly two-year-old calf) was found in the largest enclosure far from the public boardwalk. The two front paddocks are mainly sand with two huge pools in one of them. The much larger enclosure with the females is mostly sand substrate as well, but has some large shady trees that are fenced off, along with more opportunities for enrichment to keep the large mammals busy. This on the whole is one of the better Asian elephant complexes in the nation primarily because of the size of the area and stable herd.
Cat Walk – On the catwalk, on the catwalk, yeah, I see naturalistic exhibits on the catwalk…I wish (Sorry – couldn’t resist the song reference
). Despite a pretty nice collection of carnivores (and a few other species as well), the majority of the exhibits here are quite disappointing. Up first is a grotto for a single Bengal tiger; the central area with natural substrate and small trees is surrounded by poorly designed concrete and a waterfall with a stream that flows into a pretty shallow pool. This is followed by a dreadful dark cage (featuring very little space, a green carpet-like surface all over the place, and only one perching log) for a single bald eagle that has to be seen to be believed. The only reason I could see this depressing site existing is if the bird was a non-releasable animal that was severely injured or ill, and thus quite limited in opportunities. Carrying on, the path now goes under a shaded canopy structure that looks into a series of cages. While some of them have vegetation and a few pieces of scenery such as climbing logs and mock rock, the majority of the cages are way too small for their occupants. Species include: cougar (part of their exhibit goes over the visitor path, which to be fair is actually a pretty clever idea), jaguar (two exhibits), ocelot, snow leopard (two exhibits), bobcat, rock hyrax, tayra (a new addition whose cage is actually well-sized and nicely designed), binturong, and fossa (a new addition). After leaving the cage trail behind, a grotto for a pair of elderly African lions is seen; it is very similar in design to the tiger grotto. Across from the king of the jungle are two sandy tree-filled habitats for red kangaroos and emus. These are the only two exhibits on the Cat Walk that I feel are above average for their residents. Aside from a few bright moments, this is by far the lowest point of Rio Grande Zoo.
Inukshuk Bay – An Arctic fox exhibit starts this complex off; unfortunately it is empty for renovations. One will then find themselves in a cool cave featuring two windows into the polar bear exhibit: one has underwater viewing into a large pool, the other is on land. After emerging from the cave, there is a viewing plaza that looks out over the majority of the polar bears’ area. It’s an interesting design with the main big pool overlooking a narrow land area that allows for scaling up and down the cliffs to the pool. A slide-like waterfall flows from the main pool to a smaller pool at the bottom of the canyon-like exhibit. The only downside here is the land area is almost all mock rock that’s got to get scorching hot for the great white bears. With its creative set-up that gives polar bears a solid challenge to navigate, this area was actually pretty decent and better than I expected, just nothing spectacular.
Raptor Roost – A series of tall aviaries for a variety of birds of prey species. These are larger than most I’ve seen for their kind at other zoos, allowing for great height and opportunities for flight. They are nicely furnished as well, with tall grass, a few cave areas for privacy, and tall trees and rock areas to perch. Species include: Andean condor, bald eagle (way better than the prison over at the Cat Walk!
), golden eagle, crested caracara, and ferruginous hawk (another first).
Reptile Area – This complex is divided into two different buildings. After walking past a lush area for Aldabra tortoises, visitors come across the first building. It’s a warehouse-like building featuring two crocodilian exhibits: one for a huge saltwater crocodile, and the other for African slender-snouted crocodile (didn’t see). Both are quite small with not very deep pools (from what I could tell from up above), though at least the land area was filled with woodchips. From what I heard on here, the story is that the Zoo first got the saltwater crocs almost a decade ago and housed them here until a new exhibit for them was built in the Outback area. Unfortunately, the Zoo apparently hasn’t made any progress in that project and the crocs have always been held here since.
Anyway, the second building starts out with an okay outdoor habitat for American alligators; something unique that stood out here was the mural on the wall, which looked a lot like the swamps of Florida. The main building is then entered on either side of the exhibit and wraps around behind the gators. Terrariums are set within lime-green walls for a collection that surprisingly has a big collection of venomous species. Apart from a few large terrariums throughout the building, the majority of the animals have tiny environments to live in. Notable species here include: Komodo dragon, Chinese alligator (two exhibits – one next to the Komodos that was empty, another on the other side of the building), king cobra, black mamba, an enormous alligator snapping turtle, gila monster, tentacled snake, quince monitor (another first), rhinoceros viper, green anaconda, and some rattlesnake species. Something else worth noting is that most of the signage is set up on tablets that sit in front of the terrariums and cycle through various pieces of species info – that’s an interesting idea. Overall, this is one of the weaker reptile houses I’ve walked through. It’s not awful, and there are a few good moments here, but just compared to some other sections of the Zoo and other zones I’ve seen for the cold-blooded critters elsewhere, I thought it was below-average.
Tropical America – Similar to the Reptile Area, this is another complex that I wouldn’t consider awful, but fairly weak compared to others of its kind. This area begins with a grassy exhibit that currently sits unoccupied (didn’t capybaras used to live here?), following by a small rainforest building that unfortunately has much more mock rock than lush vegetation. A long golden lion tamarin enclosure is first seen; this is followed by a medium-sized toucan aviary; a piranha tank; a mixed species exhibit for sunbittern, and two tortoise species; among a few other exhibits. The finale here is a tiny, poor enclosure for spider monkeys that lacks many climbing opportunities and is mainly artificial rock. An overall disappointment.
Other Exhibits – After walking through a glass pyramid that serves as the entrance, visitors come across a pretty flamingo pond with an island filled with bamboo, and behind this exhibit is a grassy yard for birds such as scarlet ibis and geese. Next to one of the doors to Night Watch (see below) is a cave-like black and white ruffed lemur exhibit with some vegetation. Down the path from the polar bears is a great habitat for Mexican gray wolves; while the viewing could be better (it’s only seen from two open-air windows on one side of the habitat), the wolves have a very large area to roam with plenty of tall trees, logs, and tall grass. Across from Raptor Roost is circle of average quality mesh exhibits with the following species: howler monkey, ground hornbill, a corn crib cage for Wolf’s guenon, currasows, and a few other bird species. Finally, between the two reptile buildings is a densely vegetated habitat for a bird species that I thought was a roadrunner (there was no signage).
Note – Two exhibits were closed due to renovation or waiting for new arrivals: Night Watch (a small nocturnal house by the indoor gorilla room) and the Parrot Aviary (located by the Reptile Area). Also, I ended up missing an aviary called “Birds of the Americas;” though I did see the aviary from a distance a few times.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY (ZOO): Without a second thought, seeing the Tasmanian devils for the first time in my life stood above all else. A saw a pair of devils living together; one dozed the day away in the small shelter. The second devil on the other hand was quite active, scaling its mini-mountain, darting between the patches of grass and logs, and occasionally stop and sniff its surroundings. Considering that only one other Zoo in the nation (San Diego) has them (and more are apparently on their way to LA, St. Louis, and Fort Wayne), it was a real treat to observe the unique mammals.
Overall: As stated before, Rio Grande Zoo sort of reminded me of my visit to Buffalo Zoo a few years back. There are not many individual standout exhibits at this New Mexico attraction; but the beautiful setting, a well-rounded animal collection, a fantastic circular layout with little backtracking, and better-than-expected quality exhibits made this Zoo a winner for me. Rio Grande has three great complexes (Adventure Africa, Outback, and Raptor Roost), and only one truly awful complex in the form of the Cat Walk. The rest of the Zoo (like the above average Inukshuk Bay, hit-and-miss Ape Walk, and below-average Tropical America) is somewhere in the middle. On the whole, I really enjoyed my visit, and might even visit again if I’m in the area.
A year ago the Zoo unveiled a Master Plan that appears to be themed around certain river ecosystems around the world. The biggest drive at the moment for Rio Grande is an effort to raise funds for a new penguin complex. I believe it’s supposed to hold Antarctic species such as king and Gentoo.
I probably would rank Rio Grande Zoo at #11 – between Phoenix Zoo (#10) and Knoxville Zoo (#12). I say this Albuquerque establishment is definitely worth checking out.
Two other notes: first I'll hopefully get the aquarium review up in the next day or two. Second, I checked out the Alameda Park Zoo today - it's a cute zoo in a nice location. I'm not sure if I'd visit again, but I'm glad I saw it.
