New Exhibits for 2009

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okapikpr

Well-Known Member
I made an earlier thread about this and since the year is beginning to close, I would make an update of this list.

http://www.zoochat.com/22/planned-exhibits-2009-a-16536/

Aquarium of the Bay - Bay Lab
Blank Park Zoo - Phase I Expansion
Brookfield Zoo - Great Bear Wilderness
Buffalo Zoo - Heritage Farm Children’s Zoo
Cameron Park Zoo - Mysteries of the Asian Forest
Central Florida Zoo - Sumatran Swamp Forest: Tigers
Central Park Zoo - Snow Leopard Exhibit
Cincinnati Zoo - Vanishing Giants expansion/renovation
Columbus Zoo - Polar Frontier
Denver Zoo - Asian Tropics
El Paso Zoo - African exhibits??
Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo - African Journey (African Veldt renovation)
Fort Worth Zoo - Museum of Living Art
Glen Oak Zoo - Africa!
Happy Hollow Zoo - Grand Re-opening (complete renovation/exp.)
Henry Doorly Zoo - Hubbard Madagascar exhibit
Houston Zoo - African Forest Phase I: Chimps/Giraffe
Jacksonville Zoo - Komodo Dragon exhibit
Kansas City Zoo - Tropics Buildling
Los Angeles Zoo - Pachyderm Forest
Memphis Zoo - Teton Trek
Naples Zoo - Black Bear Hammock
New England Aquarium - Marine Mammal Center (Pinnipeds)
Oklahoma City Zoo - Children’s Zoo expansion
Oregon Zoo - Predators of the Serengeti & Red Ape Reserve
Philadelphia Zoo - 150th Anniversary & Avian Center (Bird House ren.)
Phoenix Zoo - Komodo Island
Point Defiance Zoo - Cats of the Canopy
Safari Wild - Grand Opening (may not occur due to recent controversy)
San Antonio Zoo - Africa LIVE Phase II
San Diego Zoo - Elephant Odyssey
Sedgwick County Zoo - Tiger Trek
Tautphaus Park Zoo - Asian Adventure: Sloth Bears
Texas State Aquarium - Conservation Cove Phase III
Toledo Zoo - Nature’s Neighborhood &
African Pachyderm renovation Phase I
Toronto Zoo - Tundra Trek
Tracy Aviary - Wetland Immersion Experience
Vancouver Aquarium - Marine Mammal exhibits expansion
Virginia Aquarium - The Restless Planet
Wonders of Wildlife - Grand Reopening (expansion)
Woodland Park Zoo - Humboldt Penguin exhibit & West Entry Project

Please contribute and post any information to correct or add to the list. Even though 2008 might have had a record number of new exhibits. 2009 has more heavily anticipated major exhibits (in bold)
 
Great list okapikpr! It's interesting that Brookfield, Columbus and Toronto will all have brand new exhibits for polar bears, a species that is notoriously difficult to keep in captivity. Woodland Park Zoo has nixed the $6 million west entry until 2010, but their penguin habitat opens May 1st, 2009. Also, after visiting the Fort Worth Zoo last summer I'm particularly intrigued to hear about their enormous 900 reptile species in the MOLA.
 
Delays?

Should be a very exciting year, but with the current economic crisis and rising costs for services, I am curious to see which projects get pushed back. For one, I think Denver's Asian Tropics won't open until late 2010, maybe even 2011. You can also add LA's Golden Monkey exhibit to 2009, as it has been documented on Zoo Chat that they have yet to even receive the pair. With the uproar of celebrities and activists over Pachyderm Forest, plus the size of the project, that might be pushed back as well. If I had to guess, I'd say San Antonio opens in 2010, since Phase I was delayed several times. Originally, Louisville's new polar bear exhibit was supposed to open next year but won't until 2010. Even with a few projects delayed, should still be a stellar year for new exhibits, and sure to bring lots of discussion on Zoo Chat.
 
I thought so too Budorcas, Im also not so sure about El Paso, Kansas City, or Houston. All of these projects have been stalled in the past.
 
mstickmanp said:
For the LA zoo, both the pachyderm forest and golden monkey have been pushed back. The zoo's website now says that pachyderm forest will open in 2010: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. I'm not sure when the golden monkeys will arrive, but I do know that we renewed the permit a while back. The website still shows the zoo opening this fall: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update! It appears that the new Herp/Insect House is still scheduled for a 2010 opening. However, Rainforest of the Americas has also been postponed until 2011.
 
I learned today of a new exhibit slated for 2010 that has been postponed due to the economy. The "request for proposals" had gone out to exhibit designers a week ago and then today was canceled.

Important to note (while I can't post which zoo this was) the project would have depended on private donations. There are several project (elsewhere) in the pipeline funded by already or newly approved bond initiatives which look more promising. At least today.
 
ColumbusZoo001 said:
What is the Cincy renovation? Or was that the addition of the bull paddock for Sabu?
Click to expand...

The renovation does involve the addition for Sabu and I believe an expansion of the current elephant herd enclosure at the cost of both the giraffe and okapi exhibits. However, the giraffes have a new exhibit built last year on a former parking lot next to the new Education Center.
 
I was just at the Oklahoma City Zoo and I'm pretty sure the signs on their construction walls said the new Children's Zoo won't be opening until 2010.
 
Here's another couple for the list

Zoo Boise - De Brazza's Monkey Exhibit & Boat Ride / Warthog Exhibit
 
The Toronto Zoo's Tundra Trek will open this year as construction will probably only take a few more months. Once this is completed animals can more in and construction crews will move over to Eurasia and start building the Giant Panda Complex.
 
Quartz92 said:
The Toronto Zoo's Tundra Trek will open this year as construction will probably only take a few more months. Once this is completed animals can more in and construction crews will move over to Eurasia and start building the Giant Panda Complex.
Click to expand...

Giant Panda Complex? I hadn't heard that Toronto was getting pandas! Is there any idea on the timing?
 
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