As reported in this thread Oakland Zoo - $70 Million California Trails - 2015 Completion? the new California Trail expansion opens to the public on the revised date of July 12, 2018. Since my visit had been set for late June to coincide with the original opening date, a staff member from zoo marketing agreed to give me a tour (thanks Daniel) and said I could post photos.
The new expansion is set on the top of a hill above the existing zoo and is reached via a custom-built Swiss gondola.
The upper station includes a restaurant, which sadly I did not have time to use as I had to leave early to go to the airport. The expansion is a large loop that begins and ends at the station/restaurant. Going counterclockswise, as we did, the first exhibit is a children's education center and classroom that also has large glass panels for viewing the grizzly bear exhibit, home to four orphaned bears (two litters of two).
Outside across the way is an overlook with an impressive view of the entire Bay Area and the large bison yard below. (The downward viewing is a bit awkward IMO).
Walking on we encounter the first of two black bear exhibits, also home to four orphaned bears (a mother and three adolescent cubs).
It has a couple mature oak trees and an artificial pond (mostly drained currently) right near the front glass.
Next is the second and nicer exhibit, though at the time of my tour the front overhang fence was not yet in place so the bears did not have access. The second exhibit has quite a few mature oak trees giving it a very natural feel.
Mountain lions consist of three unrelated adolescent orphans and also have mature oak trees (three or four). They were laying in a hammock at the base of a tree, but seeing them up in one of the trees would be a treat. To prevent escape the entire exhibit is covered with a huge mesh and looks at first glance like a giant aviary. Next is the outdoor glass viewing for grizzly bears which has a pool with underwater viewing, but again this pool was drained today.
We now enter a raised boardwalk for what looks like another huge mesh aviary but is in fact one of the best jaguar exhibits I have seen. Regulars know I am a cat fanatic so this is saying quite a bit. It contains two or three very large and dense oak trees and seeing a cat in here would be a thrill.
Sadly the one jaguar they have now (from Los Angeles Zoo) just arrived and is still getting used to the area so he was sitting on the platform by the holding area and we were told not to stop in the area. The zoo is hoping to bring in a second jaguar from Guatemala as a breeding partner. Eventually a large lower slope behind the boardwalk will be a second exhibit.
The inside building where the jaguar was seated has displays on California condors, which are in a large aviary of similar design next to the jaguar. Two condors are on display and there was also a wild raven that surprisingly was able to squeeze through the mesh.
The zoo may add a red-tailed hawk from their education program.
This is followed by three very dense yards for gray wolves. We did not see them which is not surprising.
I like giving animals places to hide but I have a hunch the lack of visibility will be a source of complaint by the general public. Finally is a large aviary for bald eagles, a group of four (I think) that were due to arrive today and not yet on display.
There is a lot for me to like here. All of the exhibits use the existing terrain and trees giving it both a natural and a consistent feel. The focus on native wildlife is important and I think something all zoos should commit part of their grounds to. The view from the top and the fun gondola ride adds to the feeling that this is something special. Considering how lackluster the older part of the zoo is (based on my very hurried run through), this is a huge accomplishment for Oakland.
I only have one complaint and it is this: the animal representation is lopsided. There is a focus on large mammalian carnivores, with one mega-herbivore and two large raptors/vultures. Where are the small mammals? Where are the songbirds? Where are the reptiles of any kind? Where are the ocean or marsh exhibits representing an important part of California? I am a fan of cats first and other carnivores second, so this exhibit certainly appeals to me. But I am also enough of a conservationist to know that the zoo has an obligation to represent biological diversity. My hope is that small exhibits will be added in the future to augment this otherwise stellar expansion.
The new expansion is set on the top of a hill above the existing zoo and is reached via a custom-built Swiss gondola.
Walking on we encounter the first of two black bear exhibits, also home to four orphaned bears (a mother and three adolescent cubs).
Mountain lions consist of three unrelated adolescent orphans and also have mature oak trees (three or four). They were laying in a hammock at the base of a tree, but seeing them up in one of the trees would be a treat. To prevent escape the entire exhibit is covered with a huge mesh and looks at first glance like a giant aviary. Next is the outdoor glass viewing for grizzly bears which has a pool with underwater viewing, but again this pool was drained today.
We now enter a raised boardwalk for what looks like another huge mesh aviary but is in fact one of the best jaguar exhibits I have seen. Regulars know I am a cat fanatic so this is saying quite a bit. It contains two or three very large and dense oak trees and seeing a cat in here would be a thrill.
The inside building where the jaguar was seated has displays on California condors, which are in a large aviary of similar design next to the jaguar. Two condors are on display and there was also a wild raven that surprisingly was able to squeeze through the mesh.
This is followed by three very dense yards for gray wolves. We did not see them which is not surprising.
There is a lot for me to like here. All of the exhibits use the existing terrain and trees giving it both a natural and a consistent feel. The focus on native wildlife is important and I think something all zoos should commit part of their grounds to. The view from the top and the fun gondola ride adds to the feeling that this is something special. Considering how lackluster the older part of the zoo is (based on my very hurried run through), this is a huge accomplishment for Oakland.
I only have one complaint and it is this: the animal representation is lopsided. There is a focus on large mammalian carnivores, with one mega-herbivore and two large raptors/vultures. Where are the small mammals? Where are the songbirds? Where are the reptiles of any kind? Where are the ocean or marsh exhibits representing an important part of California? I am a fan of cats first and other carnivores second, so this exhibit certainly appeals to me. But I am also enough of a conservationist to know that the zoo has an obligation to represent biological diversity. My hope is that small exhibits will be added in the future to augment this otherwise stellar expansion.
. They did have plans for a wetland aviary with beavers and waterfowl. Tule elk were also supposed to be in this plan. What species should have been added to show what California has to offer in your opinion?
Oakland has a top-notch Children's Zoo that is a 3-acre zone and it opened in 2005. Within this area is a small yet excellent Reptile & Amphibian Discovery Room with around 25 species, a well-designed House of Bugs, a Wildlife Theater, North American River Otters, Aldabra Tortoises, American Alligators, various lemurs, many domestic animals and easily the largest Malayan Fruit Bat exhibit of any zoo in the nation.
