Do any body know what zoo here in America has the best Malagasy collection? At the Los Angeles zoo we exhibit Sclater's Blue-eyed Lemurs, Coquerel's Sifakas, Ring-tailed Lemurs, Fossas, Madagascar Radiated Tortoises, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, and we will be exhibit Madagascar Ploughshare Tortoises (Geochelone yniphora) in the new Reptile House along with other Malagasy reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Zoos that contain animals from Madagascar is one thing, but showcasing them in superb exhibits is an objective that the Bronx Zoo exceeds at splendidly. It's all well and good having the animals in a particular collection, but it is how they are exhibited that should be the key component to this question. The Bronx's new "Madagascar!" house isn't huge but the renovated lion house is still amazing...
The following facilites have actual Madagascar Exhibits Bronx Zoo Roger Williams Park Zoo Bermuda Aquarium Henry Doorly Zoo (2009 opening) Micke Grove Zoo San Francisco Zoo Does anyone know of any zoo's with a Madagascar exhibit in their masterplan? I can only think of Charles Paddock Zoo, Miami Metrozoo, Nashville Zoo...
Do you know what species Henry Doorly Zoo will include in it's Madagascar exhibit? and Is it also going to be the biggest Madagascar exhibit in the states? They always seem to be doing the biggest exhibits in the states.
Omaha.com Entertainment Section Cost: $7.5 million # of Lemurs: 60 It also mentions orchids and Foosa Lee Simmons is an old school director from the class of Ed Maruska and the like. This new exhibit will be full of Malagasy flora and fauna that could only be matched in quantity with a field guide of the island. Im sure it will also showcase (probably in graphics) the work of one of the zoo's researchers who described new species of lemur and few years back.
Omaha Zoo Omaha has been doing a significant amount of research in Madagascar. In fact, their scientists have discovered nearly 20 species (or sub-species, they are still figuring it out) of new lemurs. Their new exhibit, which is currently under construction will have a lot of information about their extremely productive projects. The exhibit will be quite large, taking up an open space south of Gorilla Valley and Simmons Aviary. The land portion is built on a hillside, and will include fossa and lemurs. The path will also lead onto 2 islands where on at least one visitors will be able to share the space with lemurs without barrier. This kind of exhibit has been done at a few zoos in Europe - including Berlin and is very popular. The plan is to include sifakas, ringtails, ruffed, and bamboo lemurs. I am not sure which of these species will be on the barrier-free island. Despite the success in Europe, I'm a little concerned about the visitor and lemur interaction. Should be another landmark exhibit for Omaha though.
The Bronx Zoo Spiny Forest exhibit is technically a "walk-through" as the lemurs could easily cross from their habitat onto the open-fronted public walkway. No doubt the lemurs choose not to mix it up with the scarier Bronx primates! Philly has not allowed the public into their "walk-through" area for years--staffing costs were too high.
So are these the only species of lemurs they will exhibit? If these are the only species then it's going to be weird, since they are talking about having 60 lemurs.
When I visited Omaha this summer I was a little shocked at the large expanse of land that has been set aside for their Madagascar habitats, as normally lemurs don't truly take up much in the way of space. Between the expansion of the elephant yards, rhino yards, lemur exhibits and Arctic complex this zoo will continue to solidify its spot in the upper echelon of North America's zoos. My one major beef is that with $100 million in exhibits opening over the next decade, why the hell don't they do something about the awful big cat house? That building is enormous, but most definitely a relic from a bygone era.
Lemur species This is just what I am sure they'll have. Plus, there are several species of bamboo lemurs, and both red and white ruffed lemurs. My guess is that they'll have 5-8 species. They already have both ring tailed and ruffed in Lied Jungle and fossa in Kingdoms of the Night.
The Bermuda aquarium has opened a new Madagascan exhibit. Photos: Madagascar Exhibit Opens : Bernews.com
