new exhibits for 2012

jusko88

jusko88

Well-Known Member
What's up everyone on zoochat? first off i just like to say i joined zoochat in december 2011 and love it. anyways me and my gf have just started getting into zoos this past year. ive been to philadelphia zoo,smithsonian national zoo,columbus zoo twice,cincinnati zoo,akron zoo,cleveland zoo twice,detroit zoo, erie zoo, ogelbay good zoo, the wilds and my hometown zoos Pittsburgh PPG & Aquarium and the National Aviary. I figured i would ask people around the u.s. what are the major highlights in 2012 for u.s. zoos? like what major exhibits are opening this year? any new animals additions? anything etc....?

Thks,

mateo
 
As previously mentioned Toyota Elephant passage in Denver opens some time late spring and we are hoping to possibly incude it in a summer trip.The exhibit includes Asian Elephants,Greater one horned Rhinos,Malayan Tapirs,Clouded Leopards,Fishing Cats,Flying Fox,Sarus Crane,Asian small clawed Otters and Gibbons.

Phase 3 of A step into Africa opens at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester NY again some time late spring African Elephants Olive Baboons and African Lions.

Tembo Trail opens May 18 at the Toledo Zoo for its African Elephants.

Expedition Tanzania at the Reid Park Zoo for African Elephants opening March 28.

LAIR opens tomorrow in LA.

St Louis Zoo Sea Lion Sound is supposed to open sometime summer 2012.

National Zoos Sea Lion exhibit is supposed to open some time 2012.

Team Tapir
 
Akron & Erie

These are several zoos you have mentioned. But since this is likely to become a list, I thought I would add these to the list:

Akron Zoo:
Journey to the Reef - Opens May 26th

Erie Zoo:
prehensile-tailed porcupines
Laurel and Libby, two black bears on loan from the Akron Zoo while Grizzly Ridge is built
 
Here are two more regional ones I just thought of:

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden:
Cat Canyon - Opens Early Summer

Indianapolis Zoo:
Flights of Fancy: A Brilliance of Birds
 
However minor, Columbus will be opening a new Stingray Touch Pool in their fabulous Animal Encounters Village.
 
The two biggest might well be the $50 million "Toyota Elephant Passage" at Denver Zoo and the $25 million "Rocky Shores" at Utah's Hogle Zoo. Both developments are the largest in the history of those zoos, and it will be interesting to see if Hogle can increase its 1-million annual visitor base and Denver its 2-million visitor base in the future.
 
My vaca week is when Toyota Elephant Passage opens. Im crossing my fingers and hoping i can travel there for the opening it looks amazing. @snowleopard: as a whole is the denver zoo well worth going too?
 
In California:

Los Angeles Zoo: Rainforest of the Americas starring giant otters, harpy eagles, tapirs, red uakaris, and caimans.

Sacramento Zoo: renovated small mammal house into African animals exhibit featuring aardvarks, Wolf's guenons, and banded mongoose.

San Diego Zoo: Outback exhibit starring koalas, perhaps costarring Tasmanian devils

Don't know what else. Fresno will hopefully begin construction on its new Africa complex, as will Oakland on its California Trails, but those are 2014-2015 openings. SDWAP may finally get started on new tiger exhibit.
 
Although not technically in the USA, the Toronto Zoo is opening a renovated Eurasia exhibit with giant pandas!
 
Beardsley Zoo: Amur Leopard Exhibit should open from late December or until spring 2013.
Phase 1 of South American Adventure, Pampas Plains, should open in spring or summer 2013 and will feature a new viewing area for Maned Wolves, perhaps a new exhibit for the Chacoan Peccaries, a new exhibit for the Greater Rheas, and brand-new Giant Anteaters. Tapirs and Capybara might also be included.
 
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I am hopeful Phoenix Zoo will open sumatran tiger sometime in 2013, but since construction has not begun I have a feeling it may not be until 2014. (The last of their capital campaign projects which are all way behind schedule).

When I was last at Out Of Africa they were building a reptile exhibit, so I expect that should be completed sometime in 2013.

Also I would think the new aquatics building at Gladys Porter Zoo should open, since construction started a while ago.

Is Phase 2 of Houston African Forest opening in 2013?

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is building a new reptile house that will hopefully open in 2013.
 
Southwick's Zoo should be opening a new Capybara exhibit in 2013.
In summer 2013, the National Aquarium in Baltimore will be opening Blacktip Reef. National Aquarium | Coming Soon: Blacktip Reef
Cincinnati Zoo will be opening new African Lion and Cheetah habitats for Phase III of their African exhibit. http://cincinnatizoo.org/animals-exhibits/exhibits/africa/
Staten Island Zoo should open their new Amur Leopard exhibit and carousel by late summer 2013. http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/staten_island_zoo_breaks_groun.html
Phase 1 of Woodland Park's Asian Tropical Forest will open in 2013, with Asian Small-Clawed Otters and a children's play area. http://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=2281, http://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=2282
Will Cheyenne Mountain Zoo be opening Phase 1 of Encounter Africa in 2013? http://www.cmzoo.org/exhibitsAttractions/encounterAfrica/
 
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Sea World Orlando - Antarctica Empire of the Penguin
Kansas City Zoo - Penguins
National Science Center of Greensboro - Sciquarium
Smithsonian National Zoo - completion of Elephant Trails
Wonders of Wildlife, Springfield MO - reopening
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Draper UT - grand opening
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, Gulf Shores AL - grand opening
Ocean Expo Aquarium & Learning Center, D'Iberville MS - grand opening
 
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