Unless you count cobras, vipers and taipans as such, my zoo does not have any...
Zoos in Decline
- Thread starter pendraig_milnerae
- Start date
Bronx is actually a fascinating example when talking about zoos in decline, as for a while they were in quite the rough patch and on the surface they sound like the poster boy for zoos that have taken a major downturn. They took a huge hit in the late 2000s with their well known financial issues which forced the closure of multiple major exhibits and attractions. Almost 15 years later none of them have reopened and no other major exhibits are known to be active development. On top of that, lack of general upkeep to some areas have led to signs of wear and tear throughout the grounds. With all of this in mind, surely this sounds like a zoo that has gone dramatically downhill. However, when you look a little closer things aren't nearly as dire as they sound. There are always things that can be improved, but just about every exhibit is of high quality without any immediate need to be replaced. Even so, once the zoo got back on their feet they completed a variety of smaller scale projects which have gradually enhanced the zoo as a whole. While things could definitely better, Bronx is still an incredible zoo like it always has been and it doesn't need flashy new exhibit complexes to prove that, especially when the exhibits that already have are still first in class.
Above all else however, Bronx is one of the few major zoos that still actively look to bring in rare and interesting species, even when there are none or only a handful of holders in the US. The zoo's director and WCS vice president, Jim Breheny, even spoke out against the AZA and the SSP system, specifically disapproving of how the Indian gaur population was handled and how the changes made by population managers will lead to a loss of diversity in American collections. He actively wants to spread rare species to other American collections, somewhat recently trying to get other zoos on board with a ring-tailed vontsira program. Breheny is clearly an advocate against the homogenization of zoos and I imagine (and hope) other directors feel the same way.
Bronx and Woodland Park were both far ahead of their time with exhibit design, which means it's only natural progress will gradually slow when there really isn't much that needs to be changed. We're starting to reach a point now where some zoos simply have very little left to improve and will inevitably stagnate without the need for new major exhibits, although some exhibits will certain last longer than others. Even so, it will be interesting to see how the standards will change for certain species as the years go by.
Above all else however, Bronx is one of the few major zoos that still actively look to bring in rare and interesting species, even when there are none or only a handful of holders in the US. The zoo's director and WCS vice president, Jim Breheny, even spoke out against the AZA and the SSP system, specifically disapproving of how the Indian gaur population was handled and how the changes made by population managers will lead to a loss of diversity in American collections. He actively wants to spread rare species to other American collections, somewhat recently trying to get other zoos on board with a ring-tailed vontsira program. Breheny is clearly an advocate against the homogenization of zoos and I imagine (and hope) other directors feel the same way.
Oh I agree that Woodland Park doesn't need any major alterations. I probably should have phrased my comments a little better, but my point was that while it's still a fantastic zoo it hasn't quite kept up to the standard it set for itself. Regarding Banyan Wilds, it still looks like a very nice exhibit complex, but compared to what the zoo has produced in the past it's very underwhelming in many aspects. The sloth bear exhibits are just slightly modified grottos that date back many decades and the attention to detail to obscuring visible barriers is mediocre. It's just not something that would have been built when the zoo was in its prime. Like I mentioned earlier, the collection has also gone downhill and the herp collection in particular also took a huge hit, although that will likely be resolved in a few years.
Bronx and Woodland Park were both far ahead of their time with exhibit design, which means it's only natural progress will gradually slow when there really isn't much that needs to be changed. We're starting to reach a point now where some zoos simply have very little left to improve and will inevitably stagnate without the need for new major exhibits, although some exhibits will certain last longer than others. Even so, it will be interesting to see how the standards will change for certain species as the years go by.
You're the cool zooUnless you count cobras, vipers and taipans as such, my zoo does not have any...
Pardon my very Gen Z affirmation, but Jim Breheny is an absolute chad, going against his colleagues to school them, and while it's not a David vs Goliath situation, as Bronx is surely the Goliath, it's like a teacher schooling its students on how bad they're doing their homework despite them being alredy graduated
I very much agree. Even though I'm annoying the crap out of everyone here with my Bronx Zoo master plan, much of the zoo is great as is. Of course, I think that some things can be redone, freshened up, etc. but overall, the Bronx Zoo is still a force to be reckoned with.
For me, the Bronx is like one of those paintings that you see on those restorer channels. A masterpiece that's seen better days but just needs maximum TLC.
And yes, Jim Breheny is an absolute king.
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SusScrofa
Well-Known Member
One can say Bronx Zoo is stagnant (as most large zoological institutions within expensive cities tend to become), but it's certainly not on the decline. Collection erosion is unfortunately going to be the norm at ALL zoos with the increasing phase-outs and exceedingly restrictive import regulations. I'd say Bronx hasn't lost nearly as much as San Diego Zoo/Safari Park. Just look at the immense rarities over the last 30 years that are now gone from those two facilities. Of course even with the tremendous losses, San Diego Zoo arguably still has the best collection in the US.
Yeah stagnation is a better way of putting it. I'll also admit I'm hella jealous at other zoos.
As for the phase outs, I feel the real remedy is proper collaboration between governments, zoo authorities, and range countries. Seems impossible but I think it can be done if zoo forms are assertive enough
Even from just one visit to Zoo Tampa, something felt "off" about that zoo to me. I know my visit was in mid-January, but every other facility I visited that week (DAK, SeaWorld, Florida Aquarium, Jacksonville) was in full swing. Zoo Tampa felt very outdated in a lot of places, even in areas that were supposedly renovated in the last decade or 2. The aviary was very underwhelming, and the flume ride was just sitting there, serving no purpose other than to collect dust (despite DAK and SeaWorld running their rafting rides in cooler weather).
This one might be controversial, especially since it's looking like this is no longer the case, but I wanted to mention the North Carolina Zoo, at least in a past tense. Looking back at all my visits starting in 2006 up to 2019, the zoo seemed to be in a clear downwards trend. Since 2006, the zoo lost its two most iconic and species-rich exhibits (the African Pavilion and the Rainforest Aviary) with no replacements. Even if they had perfectly valid reasons for closing both exhibits, I can't help but sometimes wonder if the loss of these exhibits could have been prevented. There are also a few exhibits in the zoo that have been perpetually empty for years, such as the former Kangaroo-rat terrarium in the Desert Nocturnal gallery or some of the terrariums in Streamside's upper building.
There are also bits and bobs here and there throughout the zoo grounds that seem to point towards the zoo having to scale back and cut down on their operations. For example, the tram service had more stops (including near the black bear exhibit, in front of the Desert dome, and at the Prairie Popcorn snack bar), one of the gift shops in the Akiba Market has a section that is awkwardly walled-off, and there is a path that goes behind the Chimpanzee and Lemur exhibits that was closed off on all of my visits (it looked like they reopened this trail temporarily during COVID-19 to facilitate traffic flow, although current maps imply it is once again closed off).
Of course, it's looking like things are changing; the zoo has 2 brand-new exhibits, in what's shaping up to be their biggest expansion since the opening of the North American habitats in the 1990s, in the works with one (Asia) expected to break ground later this summer or fall (assuming the zoo actually stays on track this time). There's also the fact that the zoo has just recently set their all-time attendance record, with 1 million+ visitors for fiscal year 2021-2022, (which is quite impressive considering this is coming right off the heels of their aviary closing).
With some recent discussion, another well-known US that needs to come up in this discussion is the Minnesota Zoo. This is one of the only zoos in the US owned by a state and within the past couple of decades it's been clear the state is not really interested in running it. Species have been slowly leaving the collection and more and more exhibits are beginning to sit empty. The nocturnal hall in the Tropics Trail has been sitting empty for well over a decade now and has come to be knowns as the "Empty Tunnel" to many visitors who have no idea it ever even contained animals. Visitor numbers have been declining in recent decades too, especially thanks to the zoo's lack of African megafauna (and their presence at the nearby free-admission Como Park Zoo).
Overall, while still great, Minnesota Zoo is definitely in a state of decline that is depressing to say the least, especially to long-time visitors such as myself.
Overall, while still great, Minnesota Zoo is definitely in a state of decline that is depressing to say the least, especially to long-time visitors such as myself.
I've not visited Minnesota but have been planning a trip with some friends for this summer and following the news thread alone it has been noticeable; repeated references to empty spaces, uncertainty about the collection, and from the sound of it, the zoo has no new animal-related plans in sight!