San Diego Zoo New "Africa Rocks" complex at San Diego Zoo
- Thread starter DavidBrown
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I asked a friend who is a keeper and African Penguins will be part of the new complex.
From what I have seen so far, they are replacing their entire cat area with an exhibit that will not have one single cat. Needless to say, my interest in San Diego Zoo has dropped to just about zero. My membership expired several months ago and I cannot imagine that I will ever renew it. 
(Of course all they have to do to regain my loyalty is sneak in one african golden cat exhibit and all will be forgiven
).
(Of course all they have to do to regain my loyalty is sneak in one african golden cat exhibit and all will be forgiven
).Well,they're not replacing EVERY cat. There's still Snow and Amur Leopards getting their new exhibit closer to Panda Trek,but as a cat fan,I'm also a little unhappy with the other species being replaced. Do we know for sure there won't be any more cat exhibits though? I can't remember if we ever got a full species list for the exhibit. On the donation page it says it will offer up-close views of more than 50 different African animal species from the smallest of the insects to the largest of the carnivores. There may be hope for some sort of big cat exhibitFrom what I have seen so far, they are replacing their entire cat area with an exhibit that will not have one single cat. Needless to say, my interest in San Diego Zoo has dropped to just about zero. My membership expired several months ago and I cannot imagine that I will ever renew it.
(Of course all they have to do to regain my loyalty is sneak in one african golden cat exhibit and all will be forgiven
From what I have seen so far, they are replacing their entire cat area with an exhibit that will not have one single cat. Needless to say, my interest in San Diego Zoo has dropped to just about zero. My membership expired several months ago and I cannot imagine that I will ever renew it.
(Of course all they have to do to regain my loyalty is sneak in one african golden cat exhibit and all will be forgiven
Has there ever been an African golden cat in an American zoo, or anywhere for that matter?
In 2012 it was reported that the only known African Golden Cat in captivity lived in a small private sanctuary in Libreville, Gabon. I haven't heard more recent news of it.
The species was held at Port Lympne, UK, from 1982 until Feb. 1995.
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
Sadly, mainstream zoos in the English speaking world seem increasingly driven by their marketing departments. Charismatic megafauna, housed in big glossy exhibits seem to be the order of the day, with the obscure and the unusual left to dwindle away. It's a great pity.
Steve Robinson (on Zoochat) saw a pair in a private collection in South Africa in 2010
From what I have seen so far, they are replacing their entire cat area with an exhibit that will not have one single cat. Needless to say, my interest in San Diego Zoo has dropped to just about zero. My membership expired several months ago and I cannot imagine that I will ever renew it.
(Of course all they have to do to regain my loyalty is sneak in one african golden cat exhibit and all will be forgiven
By my count there are only two cat species that haven't been announced to be getting new exhibits elsewhere, the Siberian lynx and the pumas. Is that really any big loss?
What about black jaguar and all the small cats on the other side of the canyon?
But I forgot about the two getting new exhibits in Panda Canyon, so I guess that partly makes up for it.
And you are right, we do not have a complete species list, so it is possible there will be a serval or caracal exhibit. I doubt there will be a big cat, though, since the only one that would be practical given the theme is lions and I am sure they would have mentioned a major animal like that if it was in the plans.
But I forgot about the two getting new exhibits in Panda Canyon, so I guess that partly makes up for it.
And you are right, we do not have a complete species list, so it is possible there will be a serval or caracal exhibit. I doubt there will be a big cat, though, since the only one that would be practical given the theme is lions and I am sure they would have mentioned a major animal like that if it was in the plans.
So that leaves Orson, who is getting up there in years, so I can't imagine him being shipped off anywhere, and possibly a caracal (the other exhibits held fossa, bat-eared fox, ratel, and bush hyrax none of which are cats large or small).
Is that a warthog? I thought it looked like a female baboon.
in the online picture its harder to tell, but i always get the monthly edition and it really appears to be a warthog, i see what you're saying though
i wouldnt be surprised if they made a new exhibit for some of the hoofed animals by the polar bears maybe moving the gerenuks down to the new africa rocks
i wouldnt be surprised if they made a new exhibit for some of the hoofed animals by the polar bears maybe moving the gerenuks down to the new africa rocks
I'm excited to see the new ratel exhibit theyre building for Cookie, i saw her when i last visited the zoo in july and she was probably my favorite animal that day she was active and just fun to watch, i talked to a keeper and they said that she is too young right now but they are already looking for potential suitors for her so that could be fun to see how that plays out
From the article (as already quoted):
Africa Rocks also will include fresh, new habitats for the zoo’s big cats, including snow leopard, lion and jaguar, as well as its hyenas and African wild dogs.
That is good news to me, except that I have a hard time understanding how jaguar and snow leopard fit the africa rocks theme. I think this is a misunderstanding. We have already learned that the snow leopards and amur leopards will be part of Panda Canyon. A jaguar in Africa Rocks would be highly doubtful. Lions are a big question mark. I hope it is true, but if it is I am surprised that is not a major part of the announcement.
It is probably too early for the final species lineup to be known, so I think all of us (and perhaps me more than anyone) are guilty of wild speculation.
Africa Rocks also will include fresh, new habitats for the zoo’s big cats, including snow leopard, lion and jaguar, as well as its hyenas and African wild dogs.
That is good news to me, except that I have a hard time understanding how jaguar and snow leopard fit the africa rocks theme. I think this is a misunderstanding. We have already learned that the snow leopards and amur leopards will be part of Panda Canyon. A jaguar in Africa Rocks would be highly doubtful. Lions are a big question mark. I hope it is true, but if it is I am surprised that is not a major part of the announcement.
It is probably too early for the final species lineup to be known, so I think all of us (and perhaps me more than anyone) are guilty of wild speculation.
The quote above seems off. There are already new lion and jaguar exhibits at the zoo. Surely those are what they are referring to, even though they are in Elephant Odyssey rather than the new exhibit area?
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sandiegomaster
Well-Known Member
They have taken three exhibits off exhibit in Africa rocks and put up signs on each one. One of the signs said "showcasing more than five different habitats and over a hundred exotic species.
It says coming in 2017, I guess they have delayed it for a year.
It says coming in 2017, I guess they have delayed it for a year.
it definitely seems like Madagascar is going to be a huge part of the exhibit. in the link below they describe how the new Africa Rocks will showcase more than 7 species of lemur
"New naturalistic habitats will provide enriching new homes for more than seven species of lemurs,"
on the list of animals they only list the aye-aye and red-ruffed lemur i'll be interested to see what other species they exhibit
link:Africa Rocks at the San Diego Zoo
"New naturalistic habitats will provide enriching new homes for more than seven species of lemurs,"
on the list of animals they only list the aye-aye and red-ruffed lemur i'll be interested to see what other species they exhibit
link:Africa Rocks at the San Diego Zoo