Zoo New England ideas

[15399]

As initially promised, I will post an idea master plan for the Stone Zoo with the goal of creating a year-round family-oriented zoo characterized by floor to ceiling viewing areas and opportunities for up-close viewing. Full disclosure: I have not been to this zoo, only seen its map. *puts on helmet*

Treasures of the Sierra Madre
This will be expanded into the current Caribbean Coast and Animal Discovery Center exhibits. The Mexican wolves will be moved from Himalayan Highlands to here. A pair of Baird's tapirs will live in an exhibit at the entrance to the zoo to welcome guests to the zoo and the exhibit. On the site of the Discovery Center is an exhibit for peninsular pronghorns. Jaguars, pumas, Seba's short-tailed bats, gila monsters, and coati will remain here. Small exhibits for bark scorpion, Arizona blond tarantula, Mexican red-knee tarantula, common vampire bats, Bolson's tortoises, beaded lizard, and ocelots will exist. There will also be a community aviary with thick-billed parrots, burrowing owls, and greater roadrunners. Chacoan peccaries will remain as a proxy for collared peccaries.

Himalayan Highlands
Markhor, domestic yak, black-necked crane, and snow leopards will remain. The Mexican wolves will be replaced by a bachelor group of white-lipped deer. This species is definitely in need of more holders. Red pandas, Himalayan monal, and sarus cranes will be introduced to the collection. Himalayan Highlands will absorb the nearby Farm exhibit. It will become an Indian farm-themed exhibit for Indian runner ducks, zebu, gaddi sheep, Indian runner ducks, Aseel chickens, and Giriraja chickens.

Lemur Land
The whole Windows to the Wild and Treetops & Riverbeds section be a fully-domed Madagascar exhibit. You start at an area for small animals: lesser tenrecs, tomato frog, and Dumeril's boa. Next is an exhibit with a Nile crocodile. Next is a rainforest area with Coquerel's sifakas and foosas. Last is a spiny forest exhibit with a mix of ringtailed lemurs, collared lemurs, and radiated tortoises.

Yukon Creek and the crane exhibits will remain the same.

You have some really good ideas here, but also a few I strongly disagree with, starting with eliminating Caribbean Coast. This area is perhaps my favorite part of the zoo and is absolutely gorgeous. It also contains two rare fascinating animals, with Bush Dogs and Jamaican Iguanas. I want to say the peninsular pronghorn is one of the animals that hasn't done well out of its native range of SW United States, but if I'm wrong on that it would make a good addition. I agree with adding red pandas and am shocked the zoo doesn't already have them. I love white-lipped deer, but unfortunately they wouldn't be able to legally enter the state of Massachusetts. In a pipe dream, they'd be an amazing addition and something I'd love to see at literally any and all New England Zoos, but they simply wouldn't be possible. I've never thought of putting Madagascar animals in Windows to the Wild, but it's a really good idea. Not sure I'd make the same choices of animals, but all your choices are respectable. In the past I've always advocated for a Neotropical Rainforest in that area but I think you may have a better idea . The Yukon Creek is another thing I disagree with. This is one of the zoo's weaker areas and could use an upgrade. Specifically, the black bear exhibit is too small to keep bears longterm in my opinion and should either be expanded or used for a smaller species. Other than that, it seems like a good masterplan with no glaring problems. I'll post my own ideas soon.

 

[iluvwhales]

You have some really good ideas here, but also a few I strongly disagree with, starting with eliminating Caribbean Coast. This area is perhaps my favorite part of the zoo and is absolutely gorgeous. It also contains two rare fascinating animals, with Bush Dogs and Jamaican Iguanas. I want to say the peninsular pronghorn is one of the animals that hasn't done well out of its native range of SW United States, but if I'm wrong on that it would make a good addition. I agree with adding red pandas and am shocked the zoo doesn't already have them. I love white-lipped deer, but unfortunately they wouldn't be able to legally enter the state of Massachusetts. In a pipe dream, they'd be an amazing addition and something I'd love to see at literally any and all New England Zoos, but they simply wouldn't be possible. I've never thought of putting Madagascar animals in Windows to the Wild, but it's a really good idea. Not sure I'd make the same choices of animals, but all your choices are respectable. In the past I've always advocated for a Neotropical Rainforest in that area but I think you may have a better idea . The Yukon Creek is another thing I disagree with. This is one of the zoo's weaker areas and could use an upgrade. Specifically, the black bear exhibit is too small to keep bears longterm in my opinion and should either be expanded or used for a smaller species. Other than that, it seems like a good masterplan with no glaring problems. I'll post my own ideas soon.

Thanks for the feedback! Would I be correct to assume the deer legal issue has to do with chronic wasting disease? I'm under the impression that these laws regarding interstate deer/cattle/antelope transportation are a big reason a lot of ungulate species are not numerous and being phased out. (e.g. guar, red-fronted gazelle, white-lipped deer) If peninsular pronghorn is not viable, then generic pronghorn would suffice as a proxy. I didn't know about Yukon Creek's weaknesses, so I'll post an idea for that in a couple of days.

 

[15399]

Thanks for the feedback! Would I be correct to assume the deer legal issue has to do with chronic wasting disease? I'm under the impression that these laws regarding interstate deer/cattle/antelope transportation are a big reason a lot of ungulate species are not numerous and being phased out. (e.g. guar, red-fronted gazelle, white-lipped deer) If peninsular pronghorn is not viable, then generic pronghorn would suffice as a proxy. I didn't know about Yukon Creek's weaknesses, so I'll post an idea for that in a couple of days.

Yes, it is a chronic wasting disease related law. No cervids can cross state lines into Massachusetts, except for pudu and muntjac. I doubt that's affecting gaur, red-fronted Gazelle, etc. as those populations have other challenges completely unrelated to CWD. But that's a topic for another thread.

 

[iluvwhales]

Yes, it is a chronic wasting disease related law. No cervids can cross state lines into Massachusetts, except for pudu and muntjac. I doubt that's affecting gaur, red-fronted Gazelle, etc. as those populations have other challenges completely unrelated to CWD. But that's a topic for another thread.

Thank you for the info. It's a real shame that this is happening. I hope something can be done about this without compromising the health of Massachusetts' wildlife and livestock.

Stay tuned for an updated Stone Zoo master plan!

 

[iluvwhales]

Updated Stone Zoo master plan. From my original idea, The Sierra Madre will be the same, and a breeding pair of Chinese goral mixed with red pandas will replace white-lipped deer.

Island Vibes
The whole Windows to the Wild and Treetops & Riverbeds section be a fully-enclosed exhibit featuring wildlife from a variety of Island Habitats. It has the following sections:

Herp Hall
Featuring a wide variety of herptiles endemic to certain islands. Tenants include Cuban crocodiles, Jamaican iguanas, Puerto Rican crested toads, Fijian crested iguanas, Aldabra tortoises (feed for a fee at certain times of day), Aruba rattlesnakes, lesser Antilles iguanas, Cayman blue iguanas, tomato frog, golden mantellas, and Dumeril’s boa.

Madagascar
A representation of a Malagasy spiny forest home to a mix of ringtail lemurs, collared lemurs, and radiated tortoises. There is also a dedicated exhibit for foosa.

Guam
A mixed aviary for Guam kingfishers and Guam rails. There is also an exhibit for brown tree snakes, the species threatening these birds with extinction.

Philippines
Dedicated exhibits for 1.2 Visayan warty hogs, Philippine crocodiles, Palawan binturong, and Luzon cloud rats.

Australia
A representation of Australia's dry regions with a free-flight aviary for cockatiels, rainbow lorikeets, blue-faced honeyeaters, and budgerigars. Also dedicated exhibits for bearded dragon, fierce snake, and kookaburra.

Urban Predators
This exhibit about carnivorous animals that can be found in America's urban or suburban areas replaces Yukon Creek. The marquee attraction is an expanded exhibit for black bear. Also living here are coyote, red fox, bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, peregrine falcon, and racoon. Exhibits are designed to represent human areas such as yards or parks to symbolize human encroachment onto animal habitats as well as the (perceived) threats the animals pose (to people, pets, and property). Of course, the animals will have plenty of facilities for hiding and expressing species-appropriate behaviors.

 

[15399]

Here's what I'd want for the Stone Zoo:

1. Caribbean Coast- I really love this area and would keep it unchanged, except for adding West Indian Whistling Ducks to the Aviary. If possible, I'd add Crested Quail Doves as well, but aren't sure how well they'd work in the Aviary.

2. Treasures of the Sierra Madre- This is another strong area, and isn't really in need of many changes. The peccary and jaguar exhibits could stay as is, and the cougar exhibit only needs some mild adjustments with climbing opportunities. I would keep greater roadrunners and peregrine falcon as well, build a new coati habitat, and add a few more small exhibits for Burrowing Owls and Black-tailed Prarie Dogs.

3. Windows to the Wild- this is the zoo's weakest area and ideally should be completely torn down in favor of a new exhibit. One exhibit idea I'm a huge fan of and really want in New England is a Desert Dome. This is what I would choose to replace the Windows to the Wild with, featuring many animals from the world's deserts, including Klipspringer, Aardvark, Slender-tailed Meerkats, Nine-banded Armadillo, Swift Fox, Tammar Wallaby, White-fronted Bee-eaters, and more! There would also be a number of reptiles in this exhibit, including a gallery dedicated to venemous snakes (with a focus on various rattlesnake species).

4. Treetops and Riverbeds- This is another exhibit I'm not a big fan of. I do think it's important for the zoo to have some primates since they are a popular animal, though, so would build a large primate habitat in this area for the zoo's Northern White-cheeked Gibbons. This habitat would be built with multiple levels of viewing and tons of good climbing opportunities for the gibbons. It would be renamed "Gibbon Landing".

5. The Animal Discovery Center and former bird show stage would be torn down to make room for a new complex. I need to go check a map to see how big it is, but will update you later on my ideas.

6. The Himalayan Highlands is another area that only needs modest improvements. I would split the markhor habitat in half, exhibiting Transcapian Urial in the newly created second exhibit. Otherwise, the markhor, snow leopard, and Crane would all continue to be exhibited. A new habitat would be built for Red Pandas.

7. The Mexican Grey Wolf habitat would stay the same, as the zoo does good work with this amazing species. I would look into adding more Habitats near this one, though, as there should be plenty of areas to expand near it.

8. Yukon Creek/Crane Habitats both need a lot of improvements, and would be demolished in favor of a new North American Complex. I believe the zoo is in need of a new star animal, and this complex would feature Grizzly Bears to fill this niche. It would also feature Habitats for Whooping Crane, North American River Otter, American Beaver, Canada Lynx, Bald Eagle, and some native waterfowl.