Now that the elephants are gone and our precious new bundle of giraffe joy has arrived, I'm wondering what the future holds for our long necked friends.
We all know the girls will be moving into the elephants old digs but what will that look like. Before we start seeing the design plans shortly why not speculate? What would you like to see done with the exhibit? And what do you think will be done?
Personally I would like big money to be spent here and have the giraffes and hippos redone at the same time but I know that wont happen. But in my fantasy world I would expand the exhibits. I would take over all the area between the zoomobile passes and rip out the pretend farm. I would keep the hippo exhibit where it is but where the path wraps around to the over look for the elephants I would install a bridge (an idiot proof rock cave with glass windows on the sides so you can still see the hippos). The hippos would be able to swim underneath the bridge into a second exhibit. This would allow the zoo to keep the current three and have breeders. The males could be kept seperate from each other one exhibit and the females (Perky, Petal and the new female plus offspring) could stay together as a herd. In the second exhibit there would be an underwater viewing zone. This exhibit would house the new barn disguised as rock features. The barn may or may not have indoor viewing for winter. I'd like as much glass as possible in there to let the hippos see outside even in the winter.
The giraffe exhibit will take over a tone of that same space too. I just want more room for our long legged friends to roam. I know the zoo wont do this. At least not at this point. I'd like the slope to the lower part of the exhibit to be made much gentler. I think keeping the barrier is probably best because it could get slippery in the winter. Obiviously it should all be grassed. I think it would be nice to have taller grasses than their current exhibit. While I get the purpose of the shade structures I would like them to try to make them look more like trees. I know that wont happen either.
Biggest thing I want to see with the new exhibit is for it to be a mixed species exhibit. I want the giraffes to mix with the zebras (possibly a second species of zebra but Im cool with just the grevy's), Kudus, sable antelope, ostrich, marabou Storks (if they get along with everything else), grey crowned cranes and ground hornbills and the surplus male warthogs (dont want to risk piglets getting stepped on). That's a realistic mix without adding species and I would be happy with any combo of them. It doesnt have to be all of them. I think if I were to go the super simple route the zoo could easily do would be the zebras, ostrich, marabous and suprlus warthogs. Plus added bonus there would be free space in those animals old exhibits for new species. I could finally get the African Wild Dogs I have always wanted!
I'd like to see the zoo add some species to this mix or substitute them for what we already have so there are no empty exhibits. I'd like to see thompsons or slender horned gazelle, wildebeests, gerenuk, maybe some flamingos around the watering hole. And if we arent moving anything I would like to see a second species of zebra (I dont care what) and the North African Ostriches which are being pushed by the AZA, be added.
Inside the elephant house I would like a nice indoor winter exhibit for the giraffes. Since I want the ostriches and zebras with them they can be exhibited together over the winter. Any other species could be held in a renovated hippo barn or a new one. I know the zoo will do little to adapt the building other than build a viewing area but it would be nice to bust out some of the roof and add even more light for them. I'd also like them to make the exhibit area look natural. Go with fake rock, pretend trees or real ones, a grass floor or at least nice wood chip or sand. But as usual the zoo will cheap out so at least hire a better painter to paint a fake savannah behind them than the twit who painted the panda dens.
Another nice touch I think would be on the back all in the vistor area get a huge tv and stream video from other zoos elephant web cams. We might not have ellies any more but we can see them. Partner with another zoo and we can watch their ellies. I like watching San Diego Safari Park's elephants from time to time. It would enable us to still have that connection to elephants without holding them. Wouldnt even have to cost much. Get a TV company to donate the giant screen and call it say the Panasonic Elephant Cam or whatever. Free is free. They could even pay for the privilege. I have no hope in this but I think it would be a nice touch.
Reality is I think the zoo will pretty much leave things as they are. The yard will be grassed. An indoor viewing with crummy paintings will be built. But I highly doubt there will be any mix of species or additons made. With at space they could do something great but will cheap out. But the giraffes will at least have a ton more space and better indoor housing which will allow us to get a young breeding herd. I'll take what I can get.
If only the zoo would embrace corperate sponsorship. Some company out there would love to pay for an amazing african savannah exhibit with real rocks, trees, mixed species, cutting edge design, ect just to have their name on the exhibit. Let them foot the bill for all building for a 10 year contract on the name of the exhibit. So simple. But the city will never allow it. Its a crying shame.
We all know the girls will be moving into the elephants old digs but what will that look like. Before we start seeing the design plans shortly why not speculate? What would you like to see done with the exhibit? And what do you think will be done?
Personally I would like big money to be spent here and have the giraffes and hippos redone at the same time but I know that wont happen. But in my fantasy world I would expand the exhibits. I would take over all the area between the zoomobile passes and rip out the pretend farm. I would keep the hippo exhibit where it is but where the path wraps around to the over look for the elephants I would install a bridge (an idiot proof rock cave with glass windows on the sides so you can still see the hippos). The hippos would be able to swim underneath the bridge into a second exhibit. This would allow the zoo to keep the current three and have breeders. The males could be kept seperate from each other one exhibit and the females (Perky, Petal and the new female plus offspring) could stay together as a herd. In the second exhibit there would be an underwater viewing zone. This exhibit would house the new barn disguised as rock features. The barn may or may not have indoor viewing for winter. I'd like as much glass as possible in there to let the hippos see outside even in the winter.
The giraffe exhibit will take over a tone of that same space too. I just want more room for our long legged friends to roam. I know the zoo wont do this. At least not at this point. I'd like the slope to the lower part of the exhibit to be made much gentler. I think keeping the barrier is probably best because it could get slippery in the winter. Obiviously it should all be grassed. I think it would be nice to have taller grasses than their current exhibit. While I get the purpose of the shade structures I would like them to try to make them look more like trees. I know that wont happen either.
Biggest thing I want to see with the new exhibit is for it to be a mixed species exhibit. I want the giraffes to mix with the zebras (possibly a second species of zebra but Im cool with just the grevy's), Kudus, sable antelope, ostrich, marabou Storks (if they get along with everything else), grey crowned cranes and ground hornbills and the surplus male warthogs (dont want to risk piglets getting stepped on). That's a realistic mix without adding species and I would be happy with any combo of them. It doesnt have to be all of them. I think if I were to go the super simple route the zoo could easily do would be the zebras, ostrich, marabous and suprlus warthogs. Plus added bonus there would be free space in those animals old exhibits for new species. I could finally get the African Wild Dogs I have always wanted!
I'd like to see the zoo add some species to this mix or substitute them for what we already have so there are no empty exhibits. I'd like to see thompsons or slender horned gazelle, wildebeests, gerenuk, maybe some flamingos around the watering hole. And if we arent moving anything I would like to see a second species of zebra (I dont care what) and the North African Ostriches which are being pushed by the AZA, be added.
Inside the elephant house I would like a nice indoor winter exhibit for the giraffes. Since I want the ostriches and zebras with them they can be exhibited together over the winter. Any other species could be held in a renovated hippo barn or a new one. I know the zoo will do little to adapt the building other than build a viewing area but it would be nice to bust out some of the roof and add even more light for them. I'd also like them to make the exhibit area look natural. Go with fake rock, pretend trees or real ones, a grass floor or at least nice wood chip or sand. But as usual the zoo will cheap out so at least hire a better painter to paint a fake savannah behind them than the twit who painted the panda dens.
Another nice touch I think would be on the back all in the vistor area get a huge tv and stream video from other zoos elephant web cams. We might not have ellies any more but we can see them. Partner with another zoo and we can watch their ellies. I like watching San Diego Safari Park's elephants from time to time. It would enable us to still have that connection to elephants without holding them. Wouldnt even have to cost much. Get a TV company to donate the giant screen and call it say the Panasonic Elephant Cam or whatever. Free is free. They could even pay for the privilege. I have no hope in this but I think it would be a nice touch.
Reality is I think the zoo will pretty much leave things as they are. The yard will be grassed. An indoor viewing with crummy paintings will be built. But I highly doubt there will be any mix of species or additons made. With at space they could do something great but will cheap out. But the giraffes will at least have a ton more space and better indoor housing which will allow us to get a young breeding herd. I'll take what I can get.
If only the zoo would embrace corperate sponsorship. Some company out there would love to pay for an amazing african savannah exhibit with real rocks, trees, mixed species, cutting edge design, ect just to have their name on the exhibit. Let them foot the bill for all building for a 10 year contract on the name of the exhibit. So simple. But the city will never allow it. Its a crying shame.
