Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo 2020

[DelacoursLangur]

At this point, the fact that they are just coasting along with no sign of legitimate progress (other than the "Living Northwest Trail") is honestly disheartening. I look at the 1976 Master Plan and compare it to the zoo today, and I still think a lot can be done or implemented from that plan, albeit with modifications to fit modern zoo standards. As for hippo exhibits with no underwater viewing, Cheyenne Mountain and ABQ Biopark shows that it can be done, with the former utilizing the most sustainable methods possible. The only place I know of that one can view hippos in crystal clear water is Mzima Springs, and that is not what Woodland Park was trying to go for at all. A filtration system rooted in renewable energy can be considered a good investment rather than a burdensome cost.

100% agree! I am feeling quite a bit more positive about the direction of things after hearing about the day/night house developments however. Sure we may have our frustrations with seeming stagnation sometimes, however it is still a great zoo run by well meaning people working with the resources they are provided. If that and the new Nw Trail update go ahead those will be huge steps in the right direction.

 

[nczoofan]

What exactly is inadequate about the exhibit? To the contrary I think even by todays standards it is really one of the best in the states. It has significantly more land area than the vast majority of AZA exhibits, and it is far more accurate to hippos natural habitat than the crystal clear cichlid filled exhibit at say San Diego, as impressive of an exhibit as that it. Now the areas I don't know as much about are the behind the scenes facilities, however if they need upgrading or replacement I would consider that a worthwhile investment.

Though it has been mentioned multiple times already I will quote the zoos 2004 long range plan.

“The present hippo exhibit is difficult to service. There are no indoor pools for off- exhibit use and the water is cold. The hippos have tolerated these conditions but these facilities do not meet the high standards expected at Woodland Park Zoo.”

As well the exhibit uses 20% of the zoos water at the present. The zoo has known for decades it would need to massively renovate or replace ir. The 2004 plan proposed building a new hippo exhibit and then filling in the current exhibit for red-river hog or warthog.

https://www.zoo.org/document.doc?id=1352

 

[Echobeast]

As for hippo exhibits with no underwater viewing, Cheyenne Mountain and ABQ Biopark shows that it can be done, with the former utilizing the most sustainable methods possible.

For CMZ, the filtration system by itself cost probably $10 million and takes up almost the entirety of the basement of the hippo building. Like I said, probably not the investment they want to make at the moment.

 

[IndianRhino]

A female mountain goat kid was born on July 16th to second time parents Zeus and Atlin!

It's a girl! New mountain goat kid hits the trail!

 

[DelacoursLangur]

Though it has been mentioned multiple times already I will quote the zoos 2004 long range plan.

“The present hippo exhibit is difficult to service. There are no indoor pools for off- exhibit use and the water is cold. The hippos have tolerated these conditions but these facilities do not meet the high standards expected at Woodland Park Zoo.”

As well the exhibit uses 20% of the zoos water at the present. The zoo has known for decades it would need to massively renovate or replace ir. The 2004 plan proposed building a new hippo exhibit and then filling in the current exhibit for red-river hog or warthog.

https://www.zoo.org/document.doc?id=1352

There is no need to be rude about it, I am only giving my two cents on why I believe the zoo losing its hippos would be a huge loss. People have mentioned the water waste problem, however the lack of indoor pools and unsuitable water temperatures are new information to this thread, for which I thank you for pointing it out from the plan.

If the renovations really would be prohibitively expensive then so be it, however I think that river hogs or warthogs would be a huge downgrade in terms of a visitor attraction for the zoo. The only other species I think just might be able to fill the void would be black rhinos, or perhaps cape buffalo If they can source any.

 

[Great Argus]

If the renovations really would be prohibitively expensive then so be it, however I think that river hogs or warthogs would be a huge downgrade in terms of a visitor attraction for the zoo. The only other species I think just might be able to fill the void would be black rhinos, or perhaps cape buffalo If they can source any

I don't think that exhibit is suited to either rhinos or cape buffalo, pigs would be a downgrade in terms of visitor attraction but would fit the exhibit space well.

 

[DelacoursLangur]

I don't think that exhibit is suited to either rhinos or cape buffalo, pigs would be a downgrade in terms of visitor attraction but would fit the exhibit space well.

How so? Size wise it is around 8000 sq ft, only slightly smaller than Oregon's new exhibit which is designed for a breeding pair of black rhinos. I am far from an expert but on the surface it seems it could quite easily hold a bachelor male without too much renovation. Other species might work as well such as Somali Wild Ass, I just find the prospect of red river hogs when they already replaced the wild dogs with warthogs to be a rather depressing development.

 

[Great Argus]

How so? Size wise it is around 8000 sq ft, only slightly smaller than Oregon's new exhibit which is designed for a breeding pair of black rhinos. I am far from an expert but on the surface it seems it could quite easily hold a bachelor male without too much renovation. Other species might work as well such as Somali Wild Ass, I just find the prospect of red river hogs when they already replaced the wild dogs with warthogs to be a rather depressing development.

Yeah I guess bachelor rhino would work. For the elongate shape of the exhibit it just doesn't seem like a great option. That said I'm not an expert in rhinos so maybe it'd work.