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Just from pictures, this exhibit looks terribly disapointing (Looks wise)
 
Zoogoer2000 said:
Just from pictures, this exhibit looks terribly disapointing (Looks wise)
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That's a little extreme, don't you think? I wouldn't say terribly dissapointing, but compared to Russia's Grizzly Coast, Northern Trail, and Oklahoma Trails it is lacking. The grizzly bear habitat is very spacious (just under an acre), but all it is is a large expanse of manicured grass, with a stream running through it. The underwater viewing is indeed cool though. It definitely could have been better. Memphis isn't too notable with its exhibitry, although many of the enclosures are indeed above avergae. I am really interested in seeing the plans for the Zambezi River Hippo Camp. Underwater hippo exhibits are almost always amazing.
 
You think i'm being a bit extreme? I can remember several times when you've been extreme/biased (Not saying im un-biased, Im very much biased with Toronto Zoo)

I like the large area the animals are alotted, but nothing about it says "national park" or "forest (Maybe golf course in a national forest :p)

The pool does look very good though, and the underwater viewing is very good (I think the theme was well thought, it was just somewhat hit and miss)
 
Memphis Zoo now allows lids and straws to be sold with concession drinks as "guests" were complaining. What's next?

It is not a good zoo by any means. In the early 90's the zoo's expansion was helmed/handed over to the former CEO of a big department store chain who knew absolutely nothing about animals. His ideal was the Disney marketing model. He certainly got what he was looking for: big ugly fake Design Consortium exhibits, small areas for the animals, lots of room for fundraisers/parties/the Memphis social scene.

Memphis Zoo is now a theme park with animals.
 
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ColumbusZoo001 said:
the Memphis panda exhibit is one of the worst exhibits in North America. Especially for such a rare, popular captive animal.
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Amen to that! And the rental fee has impoverished the zoo, taking money away from the other animals. And what about that million dollar, elaborately carved pagoda style ticket booth? Now that's a smart allocation of funds. I went recently and saw cobwebs and peeling red paint in the China exhibit! They don't even have the money to maintain it. And yet that panda rental fee still has to be paid. Insane.

And whatever happened to that anoa breeding program that the Memphis Zoo was so totally committed to back in the 90's? Not glamorous enough for the new department store brigade/Disney-style pod people. Poof. Gone.

The straws and lids! They know that they pose a hazard and yet they are allowing it anyway. When I protested, I was told that "guests" are now better educated, that "guests" now know better than to toss a straw into the sea lion pool. Brilliant logic: putting the burden of responsibility on the general public!

The Memphis Zoo is a goner.
 
Zoogoer2000 said:
nothing about it says "national park" or "forest (Maybe golf course in a national forest :p)
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The focal point of Teton Trek is the huuuge Great Lodge. Think clubhouse on a golf course in a national forest..:)

That the Great Lodge is the focal point for Teton Trek sums up Memphis Zoo in a nutshell. More space for the social set to party!!

A pathetic, plastic experience these days.
 
kifaru said:
It is not a good zoo by any means. His ideal was the Disney marketing model. Memphis Zoo is now a theme park with animals.
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I respectfully disagree! This is a GREAT zoo, perhaps one of the Top 10 zoos in America! If they're following the Disney marketing model (which I'm not sure I agree on), then that is GOOD! Make one visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom and you'll be convinced!

While the panda exhibit is not the best of the 4 panda exhibits in the USA, it is nonetheless attractive, offers sufficient room for the bears, and gives visitors incredibly close-up views of the pandas! The surrounding exhibit area, CHINA, is one of the top overall exhibit in America! It is the closest thing to a cultural exhibit (with animals) that could easily fit in WDW's Epcot Center -- it's that good!

As for straws and lids, oh shudder! I was just in Europe and more than one of the zoos over there sold drinks with straws and lids. They AREN'T an automatic death sentence for the animals, after all.

Wow, some of you folks here on ZooChat sure are overly critical!
 
ANyhuis said:
This is a GREAT zoo, perhaps one of the Top 10 zoos in America! If they're following the Disney marketing model (which I'm not sure I agree on), then that is GOOD! Make one visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom and you'll be convinced!
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Well I, respectfully, think it sucks. And I live just down the street and have been going there all of my life, watching as it has gone right down the tubes. Oh to live down the street from the St. Louis Zoo....
 
The zoo will be hosting the 2011 AZAD Convention, August 30 - Sept 4.

(AZAD stands for Association of Zoo and Aquarium Docents). Unfortunately I cannot go, as I am focusing all of my travels on my Zoos Of The Southwest project and will be flying out September 3rd for a week in central Texas. But the zoo should host several hundred docents from all over the country.
 
Does anyone know if funding is in place for Zambezi River Hippo Camp? Here is a 3-page set of early drawings showing the river hippo, Nile crocodile, flamingo, monkey and okapi exhibits:

http://circledw.com/MemZooHippo.pdf
 
Yes, Gina a 28 year old elephant is due to deliver her first calf in 2012. Asali a 26 year old (second pregnancy) is scheduled to be inseminated on her next cycle (this year) and would be due in late 2013.

I am curious as to why the zoo decided to breed Gina, who is four years ahead of recommended first time breeding age..
 
The zoo will be bringing in four Dromedary Camels for camel rides. The rides will be available daily from March 5th to October 31st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at a price of five dollars.

Official press release:
http://memphiszoo.org/Default.aspx?p=63833&naid=9563

The zoo will be hosting a temporary animatronic dinosaur exhibit that will run from March 10th through July 8th. These animatronic dinosaurs exhibits have become very common in zoos over the last several years.

More information:
http://memphiszoo.org/dinosaurs
 
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