Day Two: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
It had been six and a half years since I'd been here, far too long of a wait! Since my previous visit, Heart of Africa had opened (though was unfortunately mostly closed until May today) and parts of North America have been renovated. I did pick a good day to visit, as today was when several animals went outside for the first time since being taken off-exhibit for the winter. Similar to Cincinnati, I'll go in order that I visited when reviewing this zoo. Columbus has a unique atmosphere, somewhat like a theme park. The wide, open spaces and easy-listening music in some central plazas help give off this feeling, and of course both Jungle Jack's Landing and Zoombezi Bay are adjacent, so rides are seen on the horizon. I enjoy this atmosphere. Furthermore, exhibits are heavily themed, which unlike some members of this site I do not mind. However, the themeing has to be consistent and relatively high-quality for it to be worth it, in my mind, for the zoo. Columbus succeeds in this.
Congo Expedition:
One of few zoo exhibits based solely on the Congo. It was fairly comprehensive, though limited to mammals and birds. The exhibit is entered through a boardwalk, and the first animals seen are an active group of black-and-white colobus monkey. The exhibit is nice, with many shade and climbing options and a good-sized troop. Next is an aviary that only regained its inhabitants today, a flock of six African gray parrots. Ordinarily a Lady Ross' Turaco shares with them. The following aviary was empty for the season, but three various windows allowed me to see into the indoor holding areas for the birds. I saw a good number of species, but unfortunately did not see African golden oriole, a rarity which I had been hoping for. After additional viewing points for both aviaries and the colobus monkeys, a mid-sized exhibit for another rarity is reached: African leopard! Very few subsist in American zoos any longer, but Columbus has an elderly female and just acquired two seven month old cubs (unfortunately not on exhibit today).
Next is indoor viewing for leopard (where the cubs would have been) and mandrill, both a bit small but probably true to most if not all indoor exhibits. There are decent climbing opportunities in both. The following exhibit is famous, for multiple reasons. It is where the late Colo the gorilla lived until her passing, the first gorilla to be born in captivity. This cage is unique and Howletts style. The gorillas have climbing opportunities and terrestrial space, while most American zoos fail to give few if any climbing apparatuses. Following a path around the exhibit, indoor holding for gorillas is reached, the "Congo Research Station." Afterwards, the magnificent bonobo exhibit is reached. Tall climbing posts and a good area to roam on the ground characterize this exhibit, and it is fun to see the apes interact in it. Farther on is a decent red river hog exhibit, and finally another row of bonobo exhibits, with (somewhat strangely), playground installments such as slides and a variation of monkey bars. Despite the oddity and lack of immersion in an otherwise immersive complex, the bonobos love the exhibit and were very active. The outdoor exhibit for mandrills is reached next, and is spacious but could use more climbing opportunities. It was previously home to drills, which I would have preferred to see. Three yards for okapi are spacious but should be shaded more. The latter is shared with the rare black duiker, though I unfortunately did not see it. One more view of the tauntingly empty aviary completes the experience.
Australia and the Islands:
I am fairly certain this exhibit reopened just today, as much of it (the Asian Islands portion) is blotted out on the map. The Islands are a few exhibits. First, a strange house/island combo that rotates between white-handed gibbons and siamangs (one in each part). The island is fine, but the house is always shaded and it is hard to see into. Komodo dragons have an indoor and an outdoor portion, but today the individual was indoors. Nothing stood out about this exhibit. A "waterfowl lake" is in truth home to only two species, black swans and painted storks (not yet out for the season), but several visiting wild species could be found. Asian small-clawed otters run through a decently sized exhibit. The final exhibit is strange and terraced, home to orangutans (temporarily closed).
The Australian portion of this complex is much more fulfilling. The best part is Bob and Evelyn's Roadhouse. When first entering, it appears to be just that, a roadhouse. Food appears to be stocked but on closer inspection is a prop. Three exhibits line the wall, for small reptiles and invertebrates. The exhibit soon transforms into a nocturnal house for primarily Australian animals. The first exhibit is home to a pair of tawny frogmouths, and normally has kiwi but today they were not signed or seen. Across the way is a good-sized exhibit for southern hairy-nosed wombat, which was active enough. Two small terrariums for geckos flank the path, and another exhibit for tawny frogmouth is found, this time sharing with brush-tailed bettong. On the previous side of the path is binturong, in an adequate exhibit. A tree kangaroo exhibit is not as nice as it could be. A large (when compared to others for the species) exhibit is home to pygmy slow lorises, including an adorable baby. One final nocturnal exhibit is for feathertail glider. The final room is an aviary, home to 65 birds of about 20 species. Some, like Goldie's lorikeet, hooded pitta, and straw-necked ibis are uncommon, though some common species like golden pheasant, roul roul partridge, and pied imperial pigeon are more common. It is a good conclusion to a good building.
The following exhibit is a bit down the way, and is an indoor/outdoor exhibit combination for koala and (unseen) brush-tailed bettong. Both are rather generic, and the koalas were of course sleeping. A walkthrough for kangaroos (all red except one eastern grey) is also generic, but certainly acceptable.
Shores and Aquarium:
This complex has three parts. The best is without a doubt Manatee Coast, which is the best manatee exhibit I've ever seen. Themeing, habitat, and species exhibited are superb at emulating the Florida coast, and I saw several species which I saw in the wild earlier this year. The long, swerving path offers many vantages of the six (!) manatees exhibited there and the many fish. What I appreciate is that this exhibit has a much vaster species list than that of Cincinnati, including saltwater fish (particularly cownose and southern stingrays), a hawksbill sea turtle, and many waterfowl species.
Discovery Reef is the name of the aquarium building, which is too small to warrant the zoo's name of "Columbus Zoo and Aquarium." It focuses primarily on reef fish, and one large tank exhibits most of the building's species.
The Reptile Building is the last main part of Shores. It is divided into sections based on biome- desert, rainforest, etc. and is generally high quality with some rare species. My favorite to see was Macklot's python:
Outside, three exhibits remain in the complex. Humboldt penguins border the Reptile Building with cramped space. American alligators are in a decently sized exhibit that is still closed for the winter. A final, average exhibit has American flamingos and Hawaiian goose. A decent complex, highlighted by Manatee Coast.
Asia Quest:
My favorite exhibit in the zoo, Asia Quest begins with a dubiously themed archway that quickly transitions to high-quality exhibits. On the left are two red-crowned cranes and two tufted deer, in a gently sloped exhibit with a waterfall. On the right, a deer I've been wanting to see for years: a Siberian musk deer! The exhibit is sized adequately for one lone deer.
The last exhibit outdoors before entering a building is for silvery langur. It is high quality, though no langur exhibit will ever compete with that of the Los Angeles Zoo (which was of course intended for something else). A building is entered, and a unique presentation for tigers is encountered. There are busts of each subspecies, and those extinct are broken. It is an effective statement. After meandering through other thematic elements, indoor and outdoor exhibits for sloth bear are viewed. If I recall correctly, they were designed for giant panda, but for a long time held sun bear. I wish it still held sun bear, which it is more suited to than sloth. The exhibit is fantastic nonetheless. Two reptile exhibits are next: water monitor and Burmese python. Further on is a bat exhibit, with Malayan flying fox and lesser golden-mantled flying fox. The latter was very hard to find, but in fact very close to the visitor viewing area. Unfortunately, they were quite hard to photograph. Other inhabitants of the exhibit supposedly are chukar, bamboo mountain partridge, and magpie goose, but the only non-bats I saw were nicobar pigeon and roul roul.
Two indoor exhibits for silvery langur complete the building. Outside is an exhibit for Asian elephants, and visitors may visit their indoor holding as well. Towards the front of the complex is an additional elephant exhibit, as well as one for black rhinoceros. They aren't special, but not bad either, though like most exhibits the elephant exhibits could stand to be larger. Next is an exhibit for red panda, which was perched in a somewhat precarious position in a tree. An exhibit advertised as a "pheasant aviary" was next, but the only species of pheasant was a golden pheasant. Other birds were black-throated laughingthrush, azure-winged magpie, Derbyan parakeet, magpie goose, and northern shoveler, as well as a Reeves' muntjac. Another building has viewing for a Turkmenian markhor exhibit, netted over and bare, like any wild goat exhibit. Pallas' cat have secluded exhibit, yet still managed to vanish within. The last exhibits in the complex are for Amur tiger, and I saw one in the larger and first exhibit, while the older exhibit was closed. Asia Quest is fantastic, the quality of all the exhibits is superb.
North America:
This exhibit for American wildlife is on a sloping hillside, steep at some points. First is a large Mexican grey wolf exhibit, though I only saw one individual. A pond is home to a pair of trumpeter swan, while the sprawling hillside across the path is for pronghorn and American bison. A nearby barn takes care of the generic farm-themed kids section, and pony rides are offered near a black-tailed prairie dog exhibit at the top of the hill. A large exhibit is home to Alaskan moose, and a smaller exhibit to another isolated individual. The best bobcat exhibit I've ever seen is extremely large for two cats. An adjoining black bear exhibit has two playful individuals, but has tree collars on every tree which degrades the quality, aesthetically and otherwise. Reindeer are in a boring exhibit in the center of the path. Northern river otters have an exhibit that is large enough but could use more water. A large cougar exhibit is across the path, but lacks climbing opportunities for the large American cats. A rarely exhibited species, wolverines, have a small exhibit that is enclosed and rock-based. The aviary of this section is centered on migratory songbirds, and exhibits many species, as well as some waterfowl and wading birds. Final exhibits of this portion of the zoo include one for North American beaver, and a few wetland exhibits.
Polar Frontier is an offshoot of North American, with just three exhibits, but superbly themed buildings and educational areas add to the experience. An absolutely massive exhibit, featuring multiple types of terrain and a large pool is for polar bears. It will certainly be great when the most recent cubs go on exhibit. A similarly massive and superior quality exhibit is for Alaskan brown bears. A much, much smaller exhibit adjacent to a building has arctic fox. This entire area is of fantastic quality and the two bear exhibits are the best of their kind that I've seen.
Heart of Africa:
Though only lions were supposed to be visible today, I saw animals in three exhibits. First, a dromedary camel exhibit (too small) was empty. Eight lions live together in their exhibit, with a simulated plane crash in which people can enter the plane and be near the animals. This looks out on a massive but empty savanna. The water hole exhibit is visible from where the path is blocked off, and today had a pair of warthog. It is mostly a grassy area, with a small water feature and a Jeep. Additionally, the cheetah exhibit was in view but I couldn't see enough to leave a fair description. I could not see the vervet monkey exhibit, unfortunately. The area was themed well.
The Columbus Zoo is among the best in the country, certainly within the top 10, if not the top 5. I will hopefully visit again this summer and see the African golden oriole, as well as the leopard cubs. Missing this zoo when nearby would be a grave mistake.
*It seems I forgot to mention Wolf Woods at Cincinnati, but like most of the zoo nothing stands out.
I look forward to reading about the rest of your trip!
