Given the big commitment in St. Louis to desert fauna, I suspect (and hope) Red Rocks is very much a stalwart of the zoo animal collection and exhibits.
Saint Louis Zoo Saint Louis Zoo News 2020
- Thread starter Milwaukee Man
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I agree, I think what I should have said was that red rocks will not stay in its current form forever. I hope that if they renovate it, not too much will have to be removed or changed.
I'd be curious to know if it has any historical protections, given that it is a (I believe somewhat well-known?) WPA project from the 1930's. I think the animal houses on Historic Hill have some historical protection.
Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park
The Saint Louis Zoo unveiled the name of their North Campus property in Spanish Lake on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. The zoo chose the name Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park for the 425-acre property they acquired in 2018. They also unveiled the new Kent Family Conservation and Animal Science Center, made possible by the Kent Family Foundation.
Zoo President and CEO Jeffery Bonner spoke about his hopes for the property which included getting up close to animals in a safari-like environment.
Watch now: Zoo unveils name for North Campus property
The Saint Louis Zoo unveiled the name of their North Campus property in Spanish Lake on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. The zoo chose the name Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park for the 425-acre property they acquired in 2018. They also unveiled the new Kent Family Conservation and Animal Science Center, made possible by the Kent Family Foundation.
Zoo President and CEO Jeffery Bonner spoke about his hopes for the property which included getting up close to animals in a safari-like environment.
Watch now: Zoo unveils name for North Campus property
Couldn't care for the name, but nonetheless still very excited.
The name does sound very road side zoo-ey, not reflecting that Stlzoo is anything but. In my opinion, 'Stlzoo safari park' or 'Stlzoo wildlife park' would've done just fine, but what do I know? I am not a marketing analyst
What will the conservation and animal science center be?
What is the purpose of this new facility? Is it similar to the Wilds for the Columbus Zoo and SDZSP for the San Diego Zoo.
Based on the article, it appears to be a safari park like setting to get closer to animals. So in a way, similar to SDZSP and the Wilds as you mentioned. It certainly would be a good amount of space for various ungulate species and larger predator exhibits at the very least.
I believe they also talked about a large amphibian facility, as the zoo's herpetarium is at maximum occupancy. I think It was also mentioned somewhere that the focus was going to be on hoofstock, with predators staying at the zoo.
The plan is to focus on hoofstock, amphibians, and birds. The amphibians will likely be housed in one of the existing buildings that will be retrofit. Carnivores were mentioned initially (likely cheetah) but haven't seen them mentioned recently. Below I have linked a presentation the zoo gave in 2018 about the site.
First renderings of the new Zoo expansion are out and are awesome! | ksdk.com
Perhaps we should move discussion about the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park to a different thread?
imaginarius
Well-Known Member
I’ve heard from someone I know who works at the zoo that they want to conserve the park’s existing natural wildlife as much as possible, integrating other exotic species into the biomes already there. So zebras, giraffes, elephants, rhinoceroses, and the like would do fine, but carnivores have the potential to eat things that already call the park home. And they don’t want to eradicate any non-invasive species currently present; biodiversity studies have already discovered over 100 bird species, 5 bat species, and hundreds of turtles, snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders, and invertebrates. I don’t know what they’ll do about the coyotes and foxes.
The Wilds has a similar philosophy and is home to several endangered species. I saw a Grasshopper Sparrow when I was there, which is quite a rare sight.
imaginarius
Well-Known Member
As far as I know, there are really only two other parks like this in the United States -- San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and Columbus Zoo's The Wilds. I've spent a day at the former, and it was amazing, but when I visited Columbus and its zoo a few years back I was very dismayed to learn that the safari park was over 70 miles away. Unfortunately I couldn't make it out, given my trip's time constraints. Hopefully someday!
The Omaha Zoo also has a second campus. The public component is all native North American species. They also have their gaur herd out there (or did?) and some other exotic species off-exhibit.
Still had gaur as of last year out there. They also have a cheetah breeding compound and are currently building a breeding complex for Amur tiger.
There are more - in addition to Omaha's facility, off the top of my head I know Smithsonian has an off-show breeding facility for several animals and the Audubon zoo society in New Orleans also has a separate breeding facility.
Pittsburgh also has an off-site breeding facility as well.
imaginarius
Well-Known Member
Oh, I certainly don't doubt that. Any smart zoo with the resources for it would have long-ago established off-site breeding facilities, if only to ensure their own populations. I know of several. But that's still very different than a full-scale, multi-million-dollar safari park open to the public like the ones in San Diego and Columbus. If it's going to take the Saint Louis Zoo people 8 years to prepare the opening (they bought the land parcel in 2018), then I'm expecting something impressive. Fingers crossed.