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Staten Island Zoo Amur Leopard Exhibit Planned

Discussion in 'United States' started by tigertiger, 15 Nov 2009.

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  1. tigertiger

    tigertiger Well-Known Member

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    Zoo plans Amur Leopard exhibit! Also, red panda exhibit!
     
  2. loxodonta

    loxodonta Well-Known Member

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    The zoo actually has a Amur Leopard exhibit but it may be the smallest big cat enclosure at any accredited facility. Also last time I visited they had red pandas in Balen cages.
     
  3. Zooplantman

    Zooplantman Well-Known Member

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    Here is the description of the complete project posted by the Zoo last year:

    Project Name: Staten Island Zoo Entry, Farmstead, and Leopard Exhibit
    Address: 614 Broadway, Staten Island
    Approximate Construction Budget: $5,000,000


    The Staten Island Zoo would like to create a new entrance and ticketing area, enlarge and
    reorganize its Children’s Center, and create a new Amur leopard exhibit.
    The Zoo is located on eight acres of land, three acres of which are a buffer of forested parkland.
    Built in the 1936, it is a small, menagerie style zoo. It is the first zoo in the United States to dedicate
    itself to the educational mission of disseminating the knowledge of zoology and the appreciation of
    animal life. In 1970 the Children’s Center was created behind the main exhibition building. It is
    designed as a farmyard with activities for small children, and remains one of the Zoo’s biggest
    draws.


    Recent improvements to the Zoo include the new reptile wing, which houses the Zoo’s world class
    reptile collection, the otter exhibit, which has received zoological acclaim, and the Clydesdale barn.
    The Zoo recently completed a masterplan, which provides a framework for capital improvements.
    The first project to be identified addresses drainage and site utility issues, and is currently in the
    design phase. While the scope of the Drainage and Site Utilities project focuses on the
    northwestern edge of the site, there will be some overlap with the Entry, Farmstead and Leopard
    Exhibit project, and collaboration will be necessary.


    Site analysis has shown that many people approach the Zoo from the rear of the site, where the
    Children’s Center is located. A new entry at this location will address this movement pattern, and
    provide a direct route to the Children’s Center. The new entry area will be approximately 5000
    square feet, and will include a ticketing shop, bookstore, gift shop and restrooms. The Zoo would
    like to install a new carousel adjacent to this area, which will require thoughtful sound attenuation
    measures to respect the neighboring residences.


    The current Children’s Center, which will be renamed the Farmstead, has grown informally over the
    years and suffers from the lack of overall organization. There are blind spots where staff cannot
    monitor the feeding of animals, the circulation routes are disorienting, and the larger animals do not
    have access to the exercise areas that they need. This project seeks to improve circulation and
    create a clear hierarchy of spaces, thus ameliorating these problems. The otter exhibit and the
    Clydesdale barn are to remain; the barn which houses much of the livestock will be replaced.
    The outdoor leopard exhibit will occupy approximately one third of an acre adjacent to the existing
    animal hospital. The exhibit, which will also function as a breeding facility, will be at grade, and will
    allow for appropriate viewing areas that will not impede circulation past the exhibit. The project
    scope includes holding areas for the leopards within the existing animal hospital. It is expected that
    this exhibit will comply with AZA requirements and meet current zoological industry standards.
    This project requires Art Commission approval, and shall meet the requirements of LL86, including
    LEED Silver rating. The Consultant is required to retain a landscape architect, civil engineer, animal
    exhibit designer, lighting designer, LEED specialist, and graphic designer as Subconsultants, unless
    the Consultant can demonstrate in-house capability.
     
  4. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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  5. BeardsleyZooFan

    BeardsleyZooFan Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    So that makes two Amur Leopard exhibits that will open in the Northeast soon. This looks really nice, and I might be able to visit Staten Island once it opens.
     
  6. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    And the other one is...?
     
  7. BeardsleyZooFan

    BeardsleyZooFan Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Beardsley Zoo is working on an Amur Leopard exhibit right now. They plan to open it sometime from late fall to next spring. There are also Amur Leopard exhibits in the Northeast in Franklin Park, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Erie Zoo, and there might be more.
     
  8. ThylacineAlive

    ThylacineAlive Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I wish Beardsley could make an Amur Leopard exhibit as great as SIZ's is suppose to be.
    @Arizona Docent- The exhibit is being build in a very small area of land that used to occupy an Andean Bear cage barely large enough for the poor animal. Thankfully, the bear is at Good Zoo now and the exhibit as been destroyed and a new exhibit for the leopard is being built.
     
  9. MJMcB

    MJMcB Well-Known Member

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    There is also one at Bergen County Zoo in NJ

    correction: the Turtleback zoo in NJ has one
     
  10. The Vegan

    The Vegan Well-Known Member

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    Any news about what will inhabit the old Leopard habitat? Perhaps the Servals?
     
  11. ThylacineAlive

    ThylacineAlive Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    It looks like quite a large exhibit that would be nice for Servals but I don't think it'll happen because they might be hard to see. Perhaps hyenas?

    ~Thylo:cool:
     
  12. BeardsleyZooFan

    BeardsleyZooFan Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  13. ThylacineAlive

    ThylacineAlive Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  14. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    It was supposed to open Fall 2013. It is now the end of October 2013 and as far as I can tell it is nowhere near opening. Neither the zoo website nor a Google search provide any details at all.
     
  15. Jackwow

    Jackwow Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I saw the Amur Leopards at Edinburgh Zoo the other day and according to the signage there are only 35 left in the wild?! I had no idea there were so few?! :eek:
     
  16. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Yes, the number that has been thrown around for over a decade is 30-40 in the wild. Definitely the most endangered big cat, if you go down to the subspecies level. That is why the AZA is focusing their leopard collection exclusively on amurs and why the EAZA is also making a major commitment to them.
     
  17. gerenuk

    gerenuk Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  18. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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  19. gerenuk

    gerenuk Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    It has a nice map for Amur leopards, but not the species as a whole.
     
  20. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Ok, I thought you meant just amur leopard. Panthera (a great organization) has a current range map, but the individual subspecies are not labelled. The map is small on the right side of the page, but if you click on it you get a bigger view.
    Panthera | Leopards