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Kifaru Bwana said:
What is the plan here?
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The only function the pavilion had this past decade was as the baboon holding building. It was becoming a dangerous situation due to deterioration of the concrete and the roof, as well as extensive water damage. I was under the belief that the pavilion was staying until the new holding building was complete, but apparently that was not the case. I imagine in that case that the baboons are in off display space, pending the new holding buildings completion.

Once demolition is complete, their are no major plans for this site for the near future. The pathways will be reconnected allowing access to the pathway along the grasslands exhibit, but the site will likely remain vacant. The next major project after this is then the asia complex, which still is slated to break ground early next year as far as I know.
 
Visited the zoo today. It was 93 with greater than 70% humidity, so not exactly optimal weather, but thats summer here. Just a few observations:
  • Sea lions and seals off exhibit for minor maintenance to the pool
  • The renovated grizzly exhibit looks great. Tommo was enjoying a nap under the waterfall while I was their.
  • Saw my first ocelot in like a year. Was sleeping in the back, but better than nothing.
  • The new female giraffe was on display. Looks very small compared to the other giraffes, I imagine it’ll be a few years before the zoo has a calf.
  • All 6 elephants were on display. C’sar, Rafiki, and Nehkanda were in the south yard. Artie, Batir, and Tonga in the north yard.
  • Relatively few antelope were out today. I imagine thats a combination of construction (which impedes most views of the paddock) and the heat.
  • The African Pavilion is fully gone and the site has been leveled. The baboon building is fully framed. It is pretty large compared to the adjacent gorilla building. The buildings exterior will be themed like “Ethiopian ruins” and will offer views into a dayroom. This suprised me a bit as the baboons are generally outside year-round, but I guess it’ll allow for better management of the group and maybe even an expansion of it.
 
Visited today, for the last time in a while sadly :oops: Here are some updates.
  • The sea Lion exhibit is currently closed for construction.
  • The Aviary has finally opened with a limited capacity. It seemed sparser, probably as the birds were not used to the visitors. An unsigned worm-eating warbler has been added to the aviary, as often happens with native rescues.
  • The rhinos are finally back in the big exhibit, as construction has quieted down. Construction is still ongoing for the baboon night house. It is a massive building that will allow species to be seen year round and allow the large troop to become even larger.
  • Desert and Streamside were still closed today.
 
Any idea of when the baboon construction will be finished? With the Ethiopian ruins theme, it will be one of the few exhibits at the zoo to have former human habitation as a backdrop. The only other example I can think of is the old Southwestern style house ruins in the Desert nocturnal area.
 
Breckenridge said:
Any idea of when the baboon construction will be finished? With the Ethiopian ruins theme, it will be one of the few exhibits at the zoo to have former human habitation as a backdrop. The only other example I can think of is the old Southwestern style house ruins in the Desert nocturnal area.
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I believe they are aiming for Spring 2021, the building is fully constructed. Now they need to add theming and outfit it. It will be strange but considering the size of the building, some theming is needed for the facade. As you stated the zoo does not have other examples like this, although the Asia and Australia expansions will continue this trend in some way.
 
Zoo TV Series Debuts Saturday Night:

ASHEBORO CHATTER: New NC Zoo series debuts on TV Saturday night

A new, eight -part series on the North Carolina Zoo makes its debut on the Nat Geo network Saturday night at 10 p.m.

The one-hour episodes of the Nat Geo WILD series, SECRETS OF THE ZOO: NORTH CAROLINA, will take viewers behind the scenes at the world's largest zoo, with 2,600 acres, large natural habitats and more than 1,800 animals in its care.

In the first episode, zoo keepers prepare for a chimp's birth while vets investigate a bear's mysterious illness.
 
nczoofan said:
  • Lastly a new male elephant will be coming to the zoo for breeding :eek:
First of all I doubt the zoo can hold 3 adult bulls given its current setup. Which leaves the question of which bull elephant will leave? Almost certainly it will not be C’Sar as he has been at the zoo for decades, is partially blind, and likely would not survive transit. So that means Artie is likely going.
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Any updates on this?
 
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