It's a tragedy that Great Ape Forest never materialized. I remember seeing the layout of it. It would've been in the wooded area near the African Savannah and Gorilla World. The Zoo has no intentions of bringing Chimpanzees or Orangutans back to the zoo. As of now, the Zoo DOES have plans for a new Gorilla exhibit, most likely in the form of an expansion/renovation on the current one, rather than an entirely new one. The exact plans should solidify within the next year, when they complete their new masterplan.
One of the problems with the Zoo, is its problematic keeper-hiring practices. Qualifications for a keeper position are minimal. It includes 1+ year experience working at an AZA accredited Zoo/wildlife facility and a HS Diploma. A degree in Zoology or related field is preferred, but not a requirement.
Most of the current keepers who're under the age of 45, are locals who grew up in the zoo. They started volunteering on the Nature Trail program when they were 11 or 12. They became ARC volunteers where they had animal care experience with small reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey and mammals no larger than a porcupine. They became summer interns. They went off to college (in most cases). They did a year-long internship at the ARC or a job in the education department (to get their foot in the door). They applied for an (intentionally) poorly advertised, "as needed" keeper position. And then, by their late 20's/early 30's they were offered a job as a full-time keeper, in many cases- over people from outside the Zoo community who had more appropriate experience in the care and management of animals from another facility. And most likely they were white or Asian women who did whatever they were told, sucked up to their superiors and were good at hiding their mistakes.
In other words, the Zoo (somewhat understandably) wants people who they know and like, who aren't independent thinkers and who are loyal to the Zoo. The vast majority of keepers have the same opinion as the status quo on the Zoos priorities and animal welfare (such as the neccessity of keeping Elephants at the zoo). Their long relationship with the Zoo and the staff means they'll be less likely to admit to any mistakes, and the Zoo will be more likely to cover it up.
In the last 10 or so years, the zoo's had a number of freak accidents/problems-that-should've-been-reported, including:
1. Housing three male Giant Eland in tiny quarantine quarters together, resulting the deaths of two of them do to aggression.
2. The death of an overheated snake on the Zoos' Nature Trail program.
3. Tatiana weighed 292 lbs when she came to the Zoo in 2006 (a normal weight for a 3 year old female, and 242lbs when she attacked. A healthy minimum weight for an almost 5 year old Siberian Tigress is probably 320lbs.
4. Tatiana's companion Tony rarely finished his meals and never a sturdy weight. That problem should've been addressed.
5. One of the zoos old Capybara bit his brother on the spine in their nighttime quarters, thereby killing him.
6. the current Capybaras' sister died of cancer young, at the age of 5.
7. A young Rhea died of a dislocated hock joint, only several months after its arrival at zoo.
8. The Zoo's old African elephant Maybelle was very aggressive, and often pushed her compaion Lulu into the moat surrounding their exhibit. She should've been sent away
9. Elly the female black Rhino currently has dry/cracked skin, (probably because she has no mud to role in).
10. The Giraffes are barely fed while on exhibit, so they have an incentive to come in at the end of the day, to eat. this is why they lick the salt off the walls of the barn all day and why the trees in the exhibit have mesh around them (to prevent them from ripping off the bark).
I hate to make assumptions, but I think most of these incidents have at least something to do with the Keepers and poor/lack of communication among keepers/curators, keepers not being proactive/innovative in fixing problems, a general lack of knowledge about the species in their care etc
The Minimum requirements for keeper positions should be a 4-year degree in Zoology, physical anthropology/primatology (for primate keepers) and/or a veterinary science degree (specializing in exotic animals) and experience working with the variety of animals they'd work with at the Zoo. That being said, I do have strong faith in the Primate and Marsupial departments.
