Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Zoo Leaders Resign Over Questionable Financial Decisions

With their resignation, I have a feeling that they've been doing even more than what has been made public so far. Such a shame :( At least Jerry Borin is stepping in to help while they search for people capable of running such a famous place.
 
I really hope that whomever the new leaders of the zoo are can create better Exhibit concepts than the Animal Ambassador Village. I went to Columbus Zoo once a handful of years ago and was very impressed with every inch of it (although I ran out of time to see Asia Quest or the Reptile House). Hopefully the future projects are more akin to Heart of Africa/Polar Fronteir and less of an Adventure Cove scenario.
 
Neil chace said:
I really hope that whomever the new leaders of the zoo are can create better Exhibit concepts than the Animal Ambassador Village. I went to Columbus Zoo once a handful of years ago and was very impressed with every inch of it (although I ran out of time to see Asia Quest or the Reptile House). Hopefully the future projects are more akin to Heart of Africa/Polar Fronteir and less of an Adventure Cove scenario.
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Why? Adventure Cove is really nice. The village is strange, but I get what they were going for in trying to relate to people, and it's better in person.
 
TinoPup said:
Why? Adventure Cove is really nice. The village is strange, but I get what they were going for in trying to relate to people, and it's better in person.
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The sea lion and stingray areas look fine, although nothing special. I have no complaints about either. However, the Ambassador Village is just a hodgepodge of different animals with no clear connection in Exhibits that seem barely adequate at best and have a poor aesthetic. There are some obvious additions that the zoo could build that would be incredible additions: South American Rainforest, a Deserts exhibit, an Antarctic Penguin habitat, etc. but not this ambassador animal village.
 
TinoPup said:
Why? Adventure Cove is really nice. The village is strange, but I get what they were going for in trying to relate to people, and it's better in person.
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I'm always surprised to see defense for the Adventure Cove. This, up there with the International Orangutan Center, are the two worst modern era exhibits I've ever seen - for the same reasons others have stated. Though I'll add that I'm not even a fan of the sea lion exhibit. Columbus has always been known to go beyond presenting the average design, but when it came to the Cove, it looks like there was no effort.
 
Moebelle said:
I'm always surprised to see defense for the Adventure Cove. This, up there with the International Orangutan Center, are the two worst modern era exhibits I've ever seen - for the same reasons others have stated. Though I'll add that I'm not even a fan of the sea lion exhibit. Columbus has always been known to go beyond presenting the average design, but when it came to the Cove, it looks like there was no effort.
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I'm failing to see what is so horrible about it, compared to any other sea/sea lion exhibit.
 
Neil chace said:
The sea lion and stingray areas look fine, although nothing special. I have no complaints about either. However, the Ambassador Village is just a hodgepodge of different animals with no clear connection in Exhibits that seem barely adequate at best and have a poor aesthetic. There are some obvious additions that the zoo could build that would be incredible additions: South American Rainforest, a Deserts exhibit, an Antarctic Penguin habitat, etc. but not this ambassador animal village.
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Ambassador Village is just that - Ambassadors. No zoo has a group of ambassadors with a "clear connection" to each other, they're whatever animals work best for working with the public. They may not be traditional looking, but they are far from "barely adequate". The animals have plenty of stimulation, likely more than an animal in a typical exhibit, even, because the items can be whatever. Animals rotate with who is outside and they're worked with throughout the day.
 
TinoPup said:
Ambassador Village is just that - Ambassadors. No zoo has a group of ambassadors with a "clear connection" to each other, they're whatever animals work best for working with the public. They may not be traditional looking, but they are far from "barely adequate". The animals have plenty of stimulation, likely more than an animal in a typical exhibit, even, because the items can be whatever. Animals rotate with who is outside and they're worked with throughout the day.
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First off, not all the animals are Ambassador animals. The AZA does not allow zoos tonuse any primate as an ambassador animal, meaning at least the lemurs are not Ambassador animals. Here are two Exhibits that clearly have a lot of problems-

The red river hog habitat is way too small and lacks a soakable water source. The lemur habitat lacks an adequate climbing structure- whether naturalistic or not, I don't care but there needs to be a climbing structure for them to showcase natural behaviors. Also, this is not an adequate social grouping for lemurs- there should be at least two lemurs of the same species for their to be a healthy social grouping.

Aug. 2020 - New! Animal Encounters Village - Rotational Exhibit - ZooChat

Aug. 2020 - New! Animal Encounters Village - Rotational Exhibit - ZooChat
 
Neil chace said:
First off, not all the animals are Ambassador animals. The AZA does not allow zoos tonuse any primate as an ambassador animal, meaning at least the lemurs are not Ambassador animals. Here are two Exhibits that clearly have a lot of problems-

The red river hog habitat is way too small and lacks a soakable water source. The lemur habitat lacks an adequate climbing structure- whether naturalistic or not, I don't care but there needs to be a climbing structure for them to showcase natural behaviors. Also, this is not an adequate social grouping for lemurs- there should be at least two lemurs of the same species for their to be a healthy social grouping.

Aug. 2020 - New! Animal Encounters Village - Rotational Exhibit - ZooChat

Aug. 2020 - New! Animal Encounters Village - Rotational Exhibit - ZooChat
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I LOATHE (in my personal opinion) how Columbus fails on so many levels with the lemur rotational exhibit especially. So many of the Columbus Zoo's exhibits appear artificial/have artificial props, or human ruins, no attempts at naturalism. Particularly when the exotic pet trade is such a problem and the Columbus Zoo literally exhibits a non-human primate in a backyard habitat... What kind of message is that sending to the public verses for example Bronx Zoo's Madagascar!
 
Neil chace said:
First off, not all the animals are Ambassador animals. The AZA does not allow zoos tonuse any primate as an ambassador animal, meaning at least the lemurs are not Ambassador animals. Here are two Exhibits that clearly have a lot of problems-

The red river hog habitat is way too small and lacks a soakable water source. The lemur habitat lacks an adequate climbing structure- whether naturalistic or not, I don't care but there needs to be a climbing structure for them to showcase natural behaviors. Also, this is not an adequate social grouping for lemurs- there should be at least two lemurs of the same species for their to be a healthy social grouping.

Aug. 2020 - New! Animal Encounters Village - Rotational Exhibit - ZooChat

Aug. 2020 - New! Animal Encounters Village - Rotational Exhibit - ZooChat
Click to expand...

They can still be used for shows and demonstrations.
That exhibit no longer held rrh on my visit just a couple of months after these photos. It holds porcupines, which I shared a photo of in the media folder. I agree about the lemurs needing more climbing, but they do have some climbing areas. There were also more lemurs on my visit. I stopped by this area three times... one one they were climbing around, the other two they were cuddled up in a hammock.
 
Three former Columbus Zoo And Aquarium executives were named Monday in a 90-count indictment, including multiple felony counts of theft, bribery and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity extending over 10 years.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said that Thomas E. Stalf, former CEO; Peter A. Fingerhut, former marketing director and Gregory A. Bell, former CFO "extorted, conspired, bribed and stole," while colluding with each other before The Dispatch uncovered wrongdoing by the executives 2021. The trio is responsible for more than $2.2 million in lost funds.

The misspent funds represent about 16,000 annual zoo memberships.​

Yost: 'The Bank hired the robbers to do security' on ex-zoo executives indicted Monday

Wow... that's a lot of money that could have been used for maintenance, renovations and conservation wasted. Absolutely shameful.
 
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