The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Maryland / Baltimore Zoo
- Thread starter chizlit
- Start date
@chizlit: the Maryland Zoo is definitely a zoo, even though they have had serious financial troubles during the past few years. The reason that there is not a photo gallery section or forum section for the zoo is because no one here at ZooChat has ever uploaded any photos from the zoo or even reviewed it in detail. There are some major zoos that slip through the cracks simply because not many people at ZooChat ever visit them. We have almost different 600 zoos in the photo gallery, but it wasn't until very recently that St. Louis and Philadelphia had photos uploaded.
OK, thanks for the replies.
I was just curious as the zoo was featured on a tv show called 'Ace of Cakes' where this cake making company made a cake in the shape of an elephant for the zoo's charity function in I think 2007 (so quite recent), and it made me look for details on the zoo only to find nothing here.
I did check out their website which looks quite good.
If Philly and St Louis didn't get a gallery until recently then there's still hope for Baltimore... Maybe if the credit crunch ever ends I can fly over the Atlantic and snap some pix myself!
I was just curious as the zoo was featured on a tv show called 'Ace of Cakes' where this cake making company made a cake in the shape of an elephant for the zoo's charity function in I think 2007 (so quite recent), and it made me look for details on the zoo only to find nothing here.
I did check out their website which looks quite good.
If Philly and St Louis didn't get a gallery until recently then there's still hope for Baltimore... Maybe if the credit crunch ever ends I can fly over the Atlantic and snap some pix myself!
mweb08
Well-Known Member
The zoo needs more animals/exhibits, but most of what it has is at least pretty good. They have a very good polar bear exhibit from what I recall along with a good savannah exhibit with above average leopard and lion enclosures. Also have a solid chimp exhibit and a good children's zoo/local wildlife section. But not much else.
Zebraduiker
Well-Known Member
@Chizlit. There is hope to see pics of Baltimore Zoo here at Zoochat, I will visit Baltimore Zoo and the Aquarium mid june. I will also visit the Franklin Park zoo Boston, I think, there are no pics of that zoo here also.
Zebraduiker
Well-Known Member
Sounds great.......Thats the main resaon to me to visit that place...
Zebraduiker
Well-Known Member
I've been to the Zoo yesterday, any questions ? I've amde a lot of pictures, after my return to my home, I will post some of them.
I've spend today 9 hours at the Aquarium, its a really an great aquarium, one of the best in the states. Tommorow I will see the National Zoo washington.
I've spend today 9 hours at the Aquarium, its a really an great aquarium, one of the best in the states. Tommorow I will see the National Zoo washington.
Maryland Zoo Review:
The Maryland zoo, formerly the Baltimore Zoo, is located in Druid Hill park, in Baltimore, MD.
The zoo is divided into 3 areas: African Journey, Polar Bear Watch and Maryland Wilderness. A good portion of the zoo is closed off because the exhibits were not adequate and too expensive to redo. This section housed tigers, snow leopards, hornbill, gibbons, spectacled owls and more.
There are also old hoofstock exhibits along plaza pathway that housed various antelope and deer species and a reptile house was also at the zoo until a few years back.
Polar Bear Watch is the smallest section of the zoo. The polar bear exhibit is the center piece of this section with a few other smaller enclosures included. The polar bear exhibit is divided into 2 enclosures and are separated by a tundra buggy (which you can go into and view the 2 enclosures on either side) with a shift door between the wheels. The first enclosure has a tall underwater viewing window with a path that leads up to eye level viewing. The second enclosure is eye level viewing with a stream running through both enclosures. Both enclosures are relatively small but the bears are provided with lots of enrichment and most the times I have visited they were playing with toys in the water. Ravens, snowy owls and arctic foxes have average exhibits but add to the immersion of the exhibit.
Maryland Wilderness is the second smallest section in the zoo and is also where the zoos farmyard/childrens zoo is located. The wilderness part includes a local marsh bird aviary (with black vulture, hooded meragansers and more), a small bog, a stream exhibit with a red fox and river otter enclosure (the largest animals in this section besides the domestics. The fox exhibit is small and has more water than land. The otter exhibit is nice with a small tunnel that kids can climb into and see the otters swim overhead), a cave exhibit (has bats, snakes and a skunk), a tree slide with local herps in it and a meadow exhibit with eastern box turtles and american toads. After the wilderness part is a barnyard with the typical domestic animals.
The largest section is African Journey. The first exhibit you come to is 2 mix species enclosures on your left. The first houses lappet faced vultures
and demoiselle crane. Its a decent exhibit, nothing special. The second is a large, hilly yard with sitatunga, white stork and crowned crane. It is a very nice exhibit with different terrain, many hiding spots and a large pool for the residents. Across from them are the flamingos in a average exhibit. As you round the corner on the right is a small african crested porcupine exhibit and across from the porcupine is a decent sized yard with african tortoises (spur-thigh and leopards were there the last time I visited). To the right of the tortoise yard is the leopard enclosure. It houses two african (actual african) leopards in a steel mesh enclosure that has a large (real) tree and rockwork in the back of the exhibit for the cats to climb. It is simple but one of the best leopard exhibits I have seen. From here you continue onto part of the path that jets out and loops around to the left. The first exhibit you encounter is the african aviary in the middle of the loop. It was not complete the last time I visited but is large and houses hammerkop, abdmins stork and more. On the outside of the loop are 2 mix species. The one on the right houses southern white rhino, plains zebras and ostrich. It is a large exhibit but nothing special. The pond is shared with the second mix specie exhibit which houses lesser kudu, addra gazelle, saddlebill stork and guinea fowl. The enclosure is large and grassy which can make spotting some of the animals difficult but it is a very good exhibit. After the loop and to the right of the leopards is one of two cheetah yards. The first yard is large and has plenty of shade but is average. The second is built on the side of a small hill but is much smaller and the last few times I have been there has not been one in there. It is well planted with a decent number of hiding places though. Across from the cheetahs are two outdoor yards. One houses warthogs that have plenty of digging area and enrichment. The second small enclosure currently houses a small bird species (I think a species of guinea fowl) but only a year or two ago housed an aardwolf (I don't know what happened to the aardwolf and if anybody dose please let me know). After the two small exhibits I always walk down to the african penguin habitat. Their exhibit is old and basically has a large pile of rocks in the middle but is one of the largest breeding colonies in the country. The exhibit itself is massive and they share their exhibit with white breasted cormorant. Just beyond the penguin enclosure is the camle ride area which at one time had wattled cranes. After the camels is the african elephant exhibit. It consists of two small yards with pools and an old barn. It has two viewing areas: an observation deck to look out over the elephants and an eye-level view. When I visited last the tuskless male (Tuffy) had access to the left yard and mother and calf (Felix and Samson) had access to the right yard. Two other females (Dolly and Anna) were in a back area yard. The right yard (with Felix and Samson) has lots of enrichment and keepers were doing exercises with the two elephants. Other than that it is a small, dusty yard. The one on the left (with Tuffy) has a small amount of grass in the yard but is mostly dirt and has no real shelter. However, the Maryland zoo is planning an expansion that will increase the current elephant exhibit to 4 acres that will also include a walking trail (similar to the one being built at Nationals elephant trail), more yards and a new elephant barn. After the elephants I back track a little bit to the giraffe exhibit that currently houses reticulated giraffes. It is a decent yard but the giraffe house is old and could use updating (It does have pictures of most of the giraffe subspecies, which I thought was cool). The giraffes share the house with two okapi, that have a small but well covered yard. Following the path along the okapi yard you will run into the red ruff lemur exhibit. It is a tall exhibit but is a balen cage and is average at best. One of the last exhibits is the chimpanzee forest. This indoor exhibit has four different enclosures with largest being for the chimps. All the exhibits have large viewing windows for visitors to look through. The first enclosure has eastern colobus and rock hyrax. It is a tall exhibit with skylights and plenty of climbing props for the monkeys but not much for the hyrax. The second enclosure is for the chimps which is large with plenty of enrichment and climbing structures. It is not naturalistic but very practical (think Columbus's gorilla habitat). The third enclosure houses three coquerels sifakas. The enclosure is identical to the colobus/hyrax exhibit. It is very cool to see three of these awesome creatures. The last enclosure houses the zoo's breeding pair of african slender-snouted with african mud turtles and chiclids. The exhibit is very nice with underwater viewing. When I was there last the dry land viewing window was boarded up to help the female feel more secure for laying eggs. I also remember free flying trumpeter hornbills in the viewing area but I did not see them the last time I was there. Just outside is the outdoor chimp habitat which is large, with plenty of climbing props and is well planted. Like the indoor exhibit its built for practicality not naturalism. According to ISIS they currently have nine chimps. The last exhibit is the african lion exhibit. It is located between the cheetah exhibit and the entrance to the chimp forest. It is an average exhibit for the lions but has terrible viewing for the visitors. The windows are very scratched (you can only view them through a few windows because the exhibit walls are 20 foot wooden? pillers) and if the lions lay down you can not see them (and what do lions do for 20 hours a day?).
Overall the zoo is average. It has a few good exhibits and a few eye soars. The collection its self is above average but limited to mostly african species. If the zoo can get the money (as with most zoos) it has the potential to be a excellent zoo and match up nicely with the National Aquarium (which is just a few minutes away) as a great one-two zoological punch in Baltimore.
The Maryland zoo, formerly the Baltimore Zoo, is located in Druid Hill park, in Baltimore, MD.
The zoo is divided into 3 areas: African Journey, Polar Bear Watch and Maryland Wilderness. A good portion of the zoo is closed off because the exhibits were not adequate and too expensive to redo. This section housed tigers, snow leopards, hornbill, gibbons, spectacled owls and more.
There are also old hoofstock exhibits along plaza pathway that housed various antelope and deer species and a reptile house was also at the zoo until a few years back.
Polar Bear Watch is the smallest section of the zoo. The polar bear exhibit is the center piece of this section with a few other smaller enclosures included. The polar bear exhibit is divided into 2 enclosures and are separated by a tundra buggy (which you can go into and view the 2 enclosures on either side) with a shift door between the wheels. The first enclosure has a tall underwater viewing window with a path that leads up to eye level viewing. The second enclosure is eye level viewing with a stream running through both enclosures. Both enclosures are relatively small but the bears are provided with lots of enrichment and most the times I have visited they were playing with toys in the water. Ravens, snowy owls and arctic foxes have average exhibits but add to the immersion of the exhibit.
Maryland Wilderness is the second smallest section in the zoo and is also where the zoos farmyard/childrens zoo is located. The wilderness part includes a local marsh bird aviary (with black vulture, hooded meragansers and more), a small bog, a stream exhibit with a red fox and river otter enclosure (the largest animals in this section besides the domestics. The fox exhibit is small and has more water than land. The otter exhibit is nice with a small tunnel that kids can climb into and see the otters swim overhead), a cave exhibit (has bats, snakes and a skunk), a tree slide with local herps in it and a meadow exhibit with eastern box turtles and american toads. After the wilderness part is a barnyard with the typical domestic animals.
The largest section is African Journey. The first exhibit you come to is 2 mix species enclosures on your left. The first houses lappet faced vultures
and demoiselle crane. Its a decent exhibit, nothing special. The second is a large, hilly yard with sitatunga, white stork and crowned crane. It is a very nice exhibit with different terrain, many hiding spots and a large pool for the residents. Across from them are the flamingos in a average exhibit. As you round the corner on the right is a small african crested porcupine exhibit and across from the porcupine is a decent sized yard with african tortoises (spur-thigh and leopards were there the last time I visited). To the right of the tortoise yard is the leopard enclosure. It houses two african (actual african) leopards in a steel mesh enclosure that has a large (real) tree and rockwork in the back of the exhibit for the cats to climb. It is simple but one of the best leopard exhibits I have seen. From here you continue onto part of the path that jets out and loops around to the left. The first exhibit you encounter is the african aviary in the middle of the loop. It was not complete the last time I visited but is large and houses hammerkop, abdmins stork and more. On the outside of the loop are 2 mix species. The one on the right houses southern white rhino, plains zebras and ostrich. It is a large exhibit but nothing special. The pond is shared with the second mix specie exhibit which houses lesser kudu, addra gazelle, saddlebill stork and guinea fowl. The enclosure is large and grassy which can make spotting some of the animals difficult but it is a very good exhibit. After the loop and to the right of the leopards is one of two cheetah yards. The first yard is large and has plenty of shade but is average. The second is built on the side of a small hill but is much smaller and the last few times I have been there has not been one in there. It is well planted with a decent number of hiding places though. Across from the cheetahs are two outdoor yards. One houses warthogs that have plenty of digging area and enrichment. The second small enclosure currently houses a small bird species (I think a species of guinea fowl) but only a year or two ago housed an aardwolf (I don't know what happened to the aardwolf and if anybody dose please let me know). After the two small exhibits I always walk down to the african penguin habitat. Their exhibit is old and basically has a large pile of rocks in the middle but is one of the largest breeding colonies in the country. The exhibit itself is massive and they share their exhibit with white breasted cormorant. Just beyond the penguin enclosure is the camle ride area which at one time had wattled cranes. After the camels is the african elephant exhibit. It consists of two small yards with pools and an old barn. It has two viewing areas: an observation deck to look out over the elephants and an eye-level view. When I visited last the tuskless male (Tuffy) had access to the left yard and mother and calf (Felix and Samson) had access to the right yard. Two other females (Dolly and Anna) were in a back area yard. The right yard (with Felix and Samson) has lots of enrichment and keepers were doing exercises with the two elephants. Other than that it is a small, dusty yard. The one on the left (with Tuffy) has a small amount of grass in the yard but is mostly dirt and has no real shelter. However, the Maryland zoo is planning an expansion that will increase the current elephant exhibit to 4 acres that will also include a walking trail (similar to the one being built at Nationals elephant trail), more yards and a new elephant barn. After the elephants I back track a little bit to the giraffe exhibit that currently houses reticulated giraffes. It is a decent yard but the giraffe house is old and could use updating (It does have pictures of most of the giraffe subspecies, which I thought was cool). The giraffes share the house with two okapi, that have a small but well covered yard. Following the path along the okapi yard you will run into the red ruff lemur exhibit. It is a tall exhibit but is a balen cage and is average at best. One of the last exhibits is the chimpanzee forest. This indoor exhibit has four different enclosures with largest being for the chimps. All the exhibits have large viewing windows for visitors to look through. The first enclosure has eastern colobus and rock hyrax. It is a tall exhibit with skylights and plenty of climbing props for the monkeys but not much for the hyrax. The second enclosure is for the chimps which is large with plenty of enrichment and climbing structures. It is not naturalistic but very practical (think Columbus's gorilla habitat). The third enclosure houses three coquerels sifakas. The enclosure is identical to the colobus/hyrax exhibit. It is very cool to see three of these awesome creatures. The last enclosure houses the zoo's breeding pair of african slender-snouted with african mud turtles and chiclids. The exhibit is very nice with underwater viewing. When I was there last the dry land viewing window was boarded up to help the female feel more secure for laying eggs. I also remember free flying trumpeter hornbills in the viewing area but I did not see them the last time I was there. Just outside is the outdoor chimp habitat which is large, with plenty of climbing props and is well planted. Like the indoor exhibit its built for practicality not naturalism. According to ISIS they currently have nine chimps. The last exhibit is the african lion exhibit. It is located between the cheetah exhibit and the entrance to the chimp forest. It is an average exhibit for the lions but has terrible viewing for the visitors. The windows are very scratched (you can only view them through a few windows because the exhibit walls are 20 foot wooden? pillers) and if the lions lay down you can not see them (and what do lions do for 20 hours a day?).
Overall the zoo is average. It has a few good exhibits and a few eye soars. The collection its self is above average but limited to mostly african species. If the zoo can get the money (as with most zoos) it has the potential to be a excellent zoo and match up nicely with the National Aquarium (which is just a few minutes away) as a great one-two zoological punch in Baltimore.