Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park Progress on Lowry Park's bonobo exhibit?

Valentinoamor

Valentinoamor

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Any progress on the bonobo exhibit?

Ana-Neema, a twenty-eight-year-old female, is supposed to be sent there. Bila-Isia - Ana-Neema's oldest offspring - and her two younger offspring, Amelia and Wilber, are being transferred as well. Fifteen-year-old Sukari is supposed to be sent alongside the family group to breed with Bila.
 
EsserWarrior said:
Any progress on the bonobo exhibit?

Ana-Neema, a twenty-eight-year-old female, is supposed to be sent there. Bila-Isia - Ana-Neema's oldest offspring - and her two younger offspring, Amelia and Wilber, are being transferred as well. Fifteen-year-old Sukari is supposed to be sent alongside the family group to breed with Bila.
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According to a reply on Facebook from the zoo, they have canceled the bonobo habitat. They have not replied back with what may take its place.
 
tampasteve said:
According to a reply on Facebook from the zoo, they have canceled the bonobo habitat. They have not replied back with what may take its place.
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Really? Don't they already have the animals in their posetion? That seems like an incredibly bizarre choice to cancel the whole thing.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Really? Don't they already have the animals in their posetion? That seems like an incredibly bizarre choice to cancel the whole thing.
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I honestly don't know. I agree, it is very odd at this point. It would seem there must be some very good reason or something that happened.

When I went in September they had the signs up around the exhibit on the plywood screen, but I have not been able to make it back since then.

The question now is, what will take its place? It is not that large of an exhibit, and being in the Primate area is would seem it should/would be a primate of some sort.
 
tampasteve said:
According to a reply on Facebook from the zoo, they have canceled the bonobo habitat. They have not replied back with what may take its place.
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Dislike.

(To the zoo, not to you Steve :p)

I wonder if it's in any way related to the financial situation resulting from COVID-19? Not sure why it wouldn't just be delayed in that case, though.
 
tampasteve said:
According to a reply on Facebook from the zoo, they have canceled the bonobo habitat. They have not replied back with what may take its place.
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Darn that’s some really unfortunate news to hear but hey let’s just hope that this event doesn’t parallel itself twice with the Shoebills am I right.And personally I’m just fine with the zoo focusing on one great ape species that they already have (orangutans) and its probably for the better that they just stick with the orangutans for who knows how long and the now cancelled Bonobo habitat might now be some sort of a testing ground for either an expansion of a current habitat or even at the very least add a new species of primate (anyone hoping for Drills) and just modify the habitat to satisfy the animals needs.I’m not really sure but in the end it’s all just my own personal opinions. (Although personally I would like to see the entirety of Primate World be completely overhauled and redesigned so it can be part of the nearby Asian Gardens even though it might not happen at all but who knows)
 
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Austin the Sengi said:
Darn that’s some really unfortunate news to hear but hey let’s just hope that this event doesn’t parallel itself twice with the Shoebills am I right.And personally I’m just fine with the zoo focusing on one great ape species that they already have (orangutans) and its probably for the better that they just stick with the orangutans for who knows how long and the now cancelled Bonobo habitat might now be some sort of a testing ground for either an expansion of a current habitat or even at the very least add a new species of primate (anyone hoping for Drills) and just modify the habitat to satisfy the animals needs.I’m not really sure but in the end it’s all just my own personal opinions. (Although personally I would like to see the entirety of Primate World be completely overhauled and redesigned so it can be part of the nearby Asian Gardens even though it might not happen at all but who knows)
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It's kind of in an odd place, they could not really expand the enclosure without some major construction. Drills would be awesome, who knows. I am interested to see what they end up doing there though....hopefully something sooner than later. That area has not really had a redesign like most of the rest of the zoo has had over the years, it could use some work. I don't feel the current enclosure is really up to standards for chimps or bonobos, I think something a bit smaller is more appropriate.
 
tampasteve said:
It's kind of in an odd place, they could not really expand the enclosure without some major construction.
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tampasteve said:
I don't feel the current enclosure is really up to standards for chimps or bonobos, I think something a bit smaller is more appropriate.
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Having just looked at photos of the exhibit, I now understand why they decided to axe it.

Still curious about what will end up there, though; did you ever hear back from the zoo?
 
It's a shame the zoo decided against keeping Bonobos, the US really needs new holders. It is bizarre that they canceled the plans when they already had animals lined up but I imagine COVID had something to do with this. Either way, I'm really not a fan of "Primate World" and I thought it was honestly the worst part of the zoo. It really could be all knocked over and reused for something else and the zoo would be better for it (assuming they still incorporated primates into their collection otherwise).

As far as a replacement species goes, Drills aren't coming. When I visited Atlanta in 2018 a keeper told me they planned to send their remaining animals to Europe to join the breeding program over there, and if that ever happens it's really the right choice. Hopefully we can see a new enclosure for some African guenons/mangabeys, though, that'd be my choice.

~Thylo
 
Coelacanth18 said:
Having just looked at photos of the exhibit, I now understand why they decided to axe it.

Still curious about what will end up there, though; did you ever hear back from the zoo?
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I did not, and unfortunately I have not been back since then and don't have an "in" at the zoo any longer.

I am certainly curious as to what they do end up doing with that space. I know at one time there was talk of expanding the orangutan enclosure via overhead structure into what is the siamang enclosure. Maybe they are exploring something like that....but that is purely my musing.

ThylacineAlive said:
It's a shame the zoo decided against keeping Bonobos, the US really needs new holders. It is bizarre that they canceled the plans when they already had animals lined up but I imagine COVID had something to do with this. Either way, I'm really not a fan of "Primate World" and I thought it was honestly the worst part of the zoo. It really could be all knocked over and reused for something else and the zoo would be better for it (assuming they still incorporated primates into their collection otherwise).

As far as a replacement species goes, Drills aren't coming. When I visited Atlanta in 2018 a keeper told me they planned to send their remaining animals to Europe to join the breeding program over there, and if that ever happens it's really the right choice. Hopefully we can see a new enclosure for some African guenons/mangabeys, though, that'd be my choice.

~Thylo
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It is tough to say. Primate World is the last major area that has never had a real remodel. They have upgraded the orangutan habitat over the years, and swapped a few animal species, but overall it remains largely unchanged from when the zoo first opened.

There are a few species I would really love to see, but the space is a little odd. It would be tough to have any climbing/arboreal species as the main animal since the space is designed more for ground animals. Not that it could not be reconfigured, but that would end up costing quite a bit. It was really designed for chimps or chimp like species as built. I think it is a more appropriate space for a species of baboon or macaque maybe?
 
ThylacineAlive said:
It really could be all knocked over and reused for something else and the zoo would be better for it (assuming they still incorporated primates into their collection otherwise).
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The original Master Plan had the African area with lions and gorillas, among other animals that they did/do have there. Actually, over the years they have talked about a bachelor group of gorillas off and on, and I believe the orignal MP had them in Africa rather than Primate World. Funny enough, over the years the construction plans have changed dozens of times, but they are actually not super far off from the original master plan at this point. It would not surprise me if they did some sort of major reconfiguration of that area to accommodate gorillas.

There is a fair amount of space available beside the enclosure, even more if they tore down the restrooms and expanded into that space.....but that would all be a MAJOR renovation, far larger than they had been planning. I only really see that kind of work being done if they did a renovation of the entire area, which I don't think is in the planning at this time. They seem to be still focusing more on Safari Africa and finishing that area out.

ThylacineAlive said:
Well if it's true it was designed for more terrestrial primates then it was never appropriately built for chimps either ;) But as far as baboons or macaques go the AZA is only interested in Hamadryas and Japanese so Tampa's options are limited, particularly given their climate.

~Thylo
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haha fair enough, which is one of the reasons it was not the best chimp habitats. It was nice when it was made, but it has aged.

I did not know about the AZA interest now, that is limiting. It's just an odd space....
 
I stopped at the zoo this past Sunday and here is an update on that enclosure:
Nothing.

I peeked through the fence and it was the same as it has been since the chimps left. Here is a picture I took over the fence.
full
 
Can you say if it is a new species for the zoo or one being moved around? If being moved I would guess patas monkey, if new then my imagination runs wild.
pachyderm pro said:
The plan for bonobos has definitely been scrapped, but there is supposed to be another primate moving into the space very soon. It should be announced sooner than later at this point.
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PSO said:
@pachyderm pro is right. A species has already been decided and should be announced soon.
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