Las Vegas Zoo (Closed) Zoo Closes As Staff Quit

Vegas's zoo problem is that the city itself doesn't seem interested in a zoo and a real zoo would require some kind of governmental support probably - this is a conversation that has come up here in other threads. Some of the casinos have animal attractions, but other than the AZA-accredited "Shark Reef" many of the animal attractions are replaceable when the casino management decides that they want to use the space for something else. The lion exhibit at the MGM and the former white tiger exhibit at the Mirage are now gone. The dolphins and the Sigfried and Roy zoo thing at the Mirage are rumored to be on the chopping block in the future.

Unless a mayor of Vegas or someone of equal stature in power decides that they Vegas needs a real zoo, it's never going to happen. People have been talking about it for several decades now, so it quite likely never will happen. If Vegans want to visit a real zoo they have to go to LA, San Diego, or Phoenix.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Tucson has two good zoos, Phoenix has two good zoos, Palm Desert has one good zoo. I guarantee the middle of the desert is a fine place for a zoo.
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elefante said:
There are plenty of animals that would do well in a zoo in the middle of the desert. Tucson, Phoenix, and Palm Springs all have zoos. You wouldn't want to keep forest animals like bears or jungle animals like tigers and gorillas, but giraffes and ostriches would do just fine as well as Saharan antelope like addax and Middle Eastern antelope like Arabian Oryx.
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I am not saying it can't be done, just that perhaps it shouldn't be done. I have two main reasons for this opinion.

1. I believe it is irresponsible to build a facility with large water needs in an area that is desperately short of water. This applies to all types of facilities, not just zoos.

2. I believe that it is irresponsible to house animals in a climate that is uncomfortable or unhealthy for them. This can be remedied for some species by building large indoor enclosures, but that is expensive. So a new zoo would have two options: limit itself to animals suited for the desert or spend a lot of money. I just don't see a new zoo in Vegas doing either of those.
 
TheOnlineZoo said:
I am not saying it can't be done, just that perhaps it shouldn't be done. I have two main reasons for this opinion.

1. I believe it is irresponsible to build a facility with large water needs in an area that is desperately short of water. This applies to all types of facilities, not just zoos.

2. I believe that it is irresponsible to house animals in a climate that is uncomfortable or unhealthy for them. This can be remedied for some species by building large indoor enclosures, but that is expensive. So a new zoo would have two options: limit itself to animals suited for the desert or spend a lot of money. I just don't see a new zoo in Vegas doing either of those.
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If you are careful about what you have in your collection, there is no reason to not have a zoo in the desert. The Phoenix Zoo only houses warm-climate animals that can handle the heat. As far as I know, they've never had a heat related death. When the temps are really high, they're given the option of staying inside.

On a related note...the female lion Maniac Girl has been moved to the Lion Habitat Ranch in Henderson, which is open to the public. I'm glad to hear that because she'll be around other lions, which she hasn't been since her brother died. She'll also get much-needed nutrition since she's more than 100 pounds underweight.

I'm glad the zoo has closed, too. I was only there once and that was enough. The chickens and pigeons were everywhere. The keeper I spoke with was very nice and knowledgeable about the animals in her care. I'm sure it wasn't easy to work someplace that had an owner who didn't care.
 
The article about Terry also says if they cant fly him he will have to be transported by land with the Barbary Apes which could traumatize him more. So it looks like the Barbary Apes are headed to Save the Chimps too or at least some other place along the way to Florida.
 
The macaques are going to Primate Rescue Center, Inc. in Kentucky.

Terry is on his way to Save the Chimps by road, last reported to be in Arizona. StC have loads of experience of this, they moved hundreds of chimps from the New Mexico lab to Florida. They have another recently arrived male they hope to introduce Terry to with eventual integration to a bigger group.
 
OrangePerson said:
The macaques are going to Primate Rescue Center, Inc. in Kentucky.

Terry is on his way to Save the Chimps by road, last reported to be in Arizona. StC have loads of experience of this, they moved hundreds of chimps from the New Mexico lab to Florida. They have another recently arrived male they hope to introduce Terry to with eventual integration to a bigger group.
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Thanks for the update. That is very good news.
 
azcheetah2 said:
He's going to a private home to become someone's pet? I don't know that that's much better. At least he'll get better care, but as a pet? That upsets me.
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It could be kind of like a private collector thing. Just because it's going to be someone's "pet" doesn't mean it won't get excellent care.

~Thylo:cool:
 
The place he is going to, I recognize the woman's name from the newsletter of the Feline Conservation Federation. So I am sure they are very well qualified. I do not think it is going to be a pet per se, just housed in a private facility that is closed to the public.
 
Thanks, guys. The article mentioned her becoming a pet and I was reacting to that. I know there's private facilities out there that are fully qualified and are closed to the public so hopefully this is one of them. :)
 
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