Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Monsoon Asia and other major renovations coming soon

jaxbilly said:
Does anybody know the chances of Jacksonville would have of obtaining pandas for Monsoon Asia? I know the Kamodo Dragon is the main attraction but pandas would be awsome. I relize China has specifications that would have to be met.
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how would pandas fit into a "Monsoon Asia" themed exhibit??
 
I would say it is more likely they will obtain the phillippine sea eagles than giant pandas. Giant pandas are basically a money pit that zoos deal with. Sure, attendance goes up when they first arrive and will do so when cubs are put on display but that is infrequent. And the cost to basically "rent" the pandas and maintain them are hefty to say the least (i.e. Atlanta and National). Also Jax is not an ideal climate for them. Atlanta is probably the farthest south you would see them now and I think thats pushing it. As someone mentioned before it wouldn't really fit into the tropical "monsoon asia" theme. Sorry, your better off trying to get flying lemurs or golden cats than pandas.
 
they've got Buckley's chance of getting Philippine eagles (which aren't sea eagles by the way, they are critically endangered forest-dwelling eagles). Putting them on their plans sounds like they've just been randomly throwing animal names at a map
 
Sorry about that. I just thought that since "Monsoon Asia" was gonna be Asian themed the pandas would add to the zoos effort in creating an authentic "Asia".I should have known Jacksonvilles climate wasnt in the pandas best interest.But flying lemurs,golden cats and Phillipine eagles sound just as good to me.
 
I heard Jacksonville was offered them at one point while planning Monsoon Asia, but then Director Pate said no because as someone else said, they're basically a money pit. The only way they could've pulled it off is if the city offset the tab and in the current economic climate, that wouldn't fly.
 
Chlidonias said:
they've got Buckley's chance of getting Philippine eagles (which aren't sea eagles by the way, they are critically endangered forest-dwelling eagles). Putting them on their plans sounds like they've just been randomly throwing animal names at a map
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I was talking about about steller's with someone else it. It must have slipped my mind. Jax wasn't supposed to be able to get harpys and we saw what happened. Its a long shot but I don't like to say it will never happen.
 
loxodonta said:
Jax wasn't supposed to be able to get harpys and we saw what happened. Its a long shot but I don't like to say it will never happen.
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there is no relation between getting harpies and getting Philippine eagles. That's like saying "well they got hyacinth macaws so they can get kakapo". Not gonna happen.
 
I went to the zoo today and saw the Plans for Monsoon Asia:
Exhibits are:
Tigers
Asian Pigs
Asian Turtles
Horn bill
Langur/Muntjac
Siamangs
Orangutans
Sun Bears
Indian Rhinos/Brown Anthler Deer, Asian Cranes
Flying Fox(Original Plans included Mouse Deers)
 
Hadn't heard about this, but I'm positive they will not get Philippine Eagles. There are none outside of the Philippines, Harpy Eagles are somewhat rare in zoos, but you can't compare those 2.
They could get another bird of prey or make a walk-through rainforest aviary though. I'd be ok with that...
 
Were these plans on display at the zoo? If so, do you have photographs?
 
No, one the educators allow me to see the Master Plan of the Zoo and a seperate one for Asia(March 2007, and August 2007). I like the plans so far, I tried to take a pictures but they were from my camera phone though :/.

-Also, the exhibit complex will be base more on a Asian Village then a temple theme like you guys were saying.
 
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that might be a cost issue. It would be cheaper to theme an Asian village than a temple complex. (And in my opinion would look better)
 
Money is a real issue right now for the zoo since that can't find any coropate sponsors right now cause according to the plans, construction for Phase 1(or 2 I forgot what the next pahse # is) should of been done by now.
 
I have some of the sizes of the exhibits for Phase 1b:
Tiger:12000sf
Hornbills:1500sf
Babirusa:2500sf
 
If anyone is wondering, the probable price for Monsoon Asia is 30 million dollars and could explain the big delay for this project.
 
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