What are some zoos that have improved WITHOUT expanding?

[Hipporex]

Yeah but we're talking about good new exhibits

Just kidding, both Elephant Odyssey and Africa Rocks are ok. I suppose they are somewhat of an improvement over what was there before enclosure-wise, though I doubt you'll find anybody who'd argue that the collection hasn't suffered as a result.

~Thylo

I know right? When I visited towards the end of last year, although I really did enjoy Africa Rocks, I was a tad disappointed that I had missed the chance to see a diverse ungulate and carnivoran collection that previously sat there.

 

[TinoPup]

I don't think there's a better example for this than Philadelphia. It is impossible for them to expand land-wise, they are surrounded by busy roads deep in the city and there's nowhere they could do a pass or tunnel to, like places like Dallas have done. Despite that major restriction, they've done a fantastic job remodeling (most) of the zoo over the last 15 or so years. A large part of that has been done by expanding up and creating the Zoo360 trails, which give animals much more room to roam, explore, and use their natural instincts, while giving visitors great views and the opportunity to see them using those instincts. They completely scrapped and redid the big cat area, and the old elephant and rhino barn was turned into one of the best children's zoos I've seen.

Old rhino/elephant exhibit:

Children's Zoo:

More before and after photos here

 

[ThylacineAlive]

I don't think there's a better example for this than Philadelphia. It is impossible for them to expand land-wise, they are surrounded by busy roads deep in the city and there's nowhere they could do a pass or tunnel to, like places like Dallas have done. Despite that major restriction, they've done a fantastic job remodeling (most) of the zoo over the last 15 or so years. A large part of that has been done by expanding up and creating the Zoo360 trails, which give animals much more room to roam, explore, and use their natural instincts, while giving visitors great views and the opportunity to see them using those instincts. They completely scrapped and redid the big cat area, and the old elephant and rhino barn was turned into one of the best children's zoos I've seen.

Old rhino/elephant exhibit:

Children's Zoo:

More before and after photos here

As much as I love the Zoo360 trails, I would never argue that Philly's been improving over the years. The collection diminished severely between my first visit in 2014 and second in 2017, and several older areas of the zoo have more or less been neglected with lot of enclosures sitting completely empty now. While phasing out elephants was probably for the best, I think you'd be hard pressed to find many people here who would agree that stylish children's zoo is better than some sort of wild animal exhibit.

~Thylo

 

[TinoPup]

It's an inner city zoo, to most of the people that visit, those ARE wild animals and are just as exciting as the others. More so for many, because they get to touch and feed most of them, along with all of the training demos and educational classes they do in the building. As much as we like zoos to cater to us, we aren't the main ones visiting them.
Frankly, given your first visit was only 4-5 years ago, I don't think you can be subjective with this. Redoing each area takes several years, and given the size of the zoo, they can only do one section at once without half the place being closed. The zoo is extremely different from what it was 15-20 years ago. Those enclosures are likely emptying so that they can redo them, which is what they did with the big cats. When you have nowhere to temporarily move the animals, they need to leave before you can do anything with where they live. Now that the restaurant is open, they'll be moving on to the next phase.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

It's an inner city zoo, to most of the people that visit, those ARE wild animals and are just as exciting as the others. More so for many, because they get to touch and feed most of them, along with all of the training demos and educational classes they do in the building. As much as we like zoos to cater to us, we aren't the main ones visiting them.
Frankly, given your first visit was only 4-5 years ago, I don't think you can be subjective with this. Redoing each area takes several years, and given the size of the zoo, they can only do one section at once without half the place being closed. The zoo is extremely different from what it was 15-20 years ago. Those enclosures are likely emptying so that they can redo them, which is what they did with the big cats. When you have nowhere to temporarily move the animals, they need to leave before you can do anything with where they live. Now that the restaurant is open, they'll be moving on to the next phase.

I agree that we are not the main ones visiting, but this thread is from the zoo nerd's perspective. I highly doubt your average visitor would choose a goat over an elephant regardless.

I'm sure the zoo is very different now than it was a couple decades ago, but to be quite frank, the zoo has actively chosen to phase out most of its small mammal collection and has no plans to refill the enclosures and houses they're working on emptying. Now that the restaurant is open, I'm sure in a couple years we'll hear about how they will work on the African exhibit or bears next. That's great, but that doesn't detract from my point.

~Thylo

 

[TinoPup]

Given the small area the elephants had, I don't think as many would agree with that as you'd expect. Point blank, the zoo has certainly improved from what it was, and without expanding. They also greatly improved the overall visitor experience, their animal husbandry, and their contributions to conservation.

A couple years? The next phase is expanding the african plains.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Frankly, given your first visit was only 4-5 years ago, I don't think you can be subjective with this.

As an unconcerned outsider, I'm curious.... how long does someone have to have been visiting a collection before you think they are allowed an opinion on the matter?

 

[Hvedekorn]

For the purpose of this thread, it doesn't matter if you've been visited the zoo through five weeks or five years - as long as there has been some noticeable changes to the zoo since your first visit.

 

[Echobeast]

Denver Zoo has been completely locked into its space for years and all new exhibits have been renovations of previously occupied areas of the zoo. Toyota Elephant Passage comes to mind as it replaced old hoof stock yards that contained bison and musk ox from what I remember (I do miss the musk ox greatly) but the exhibit complex is world class and immersive. The new tiger exhibit (while not amazing is still a vast improvement over the grotto and the Felines building) replaced an uninspiring wolf exhibit. The master plan looks impressive. All old exhibits are stated to be replaced or renovated and I think it can become a top 5 zoo in the country once completed.