
03-05-2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by okapikpr
I dont know about the masterplan now. Buffalo appeared to be a zoo that would follow their plan, but with fundraising getting tougher, it appears that the zoo may skimp on some projects and scale down others.
The Buffalo News: Home: Buffalo Zoo's new exhibits are taking shape
The article mentioned that the successful Indian Rhinoceros pairing may have to leave the zoo to make way for an african savanna with a safari train ride...oh boy! (sarcasm) And the zoo hopes to build a children's zoo with a working canal and locks system...how does this apply to the science of zoo biology and animal conservation? From what i read in the article the future elephant exhibit appears to have been scrapped in favor for the africa savanna and children's zoo (and a much needed new bear exhibit). So right now the zoo is wasting $1 million dollars renovating a poor and out dated elephant house as a fix to meet AZA standards. These standards also highly suggest that zoo's exceed the minimum standards because they are only going to increase and get tougher in the future. This zoo had great potential.
The Buffalo zoo should focus its rebuilding efforts on what's needed: the asian area and elephant exhibit (if they are to continue to hold them....they might be better off staying in Columbus); arctic exhibit and brown/polar bear exhibits; and a children's zoo that would reflect the zoo's mission, not the local history museum's.
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Crafty decision making or sheer management squeek?
In the article it mentions quote: "To make way ..., will be eliminated.". A clinical approach to species conservation and cynical collection planning exercise?
Similarly curious this elephant episode. I support your criticism of the elephant exhibit. First invest to bring it in line with minimum AZA standards in the face of budget cuts. Secondly, send out its reproductively well suited and aged females to Columbus and not have them breed with the proven bull. Now it seems long term they do not even plan to have Asian elephants! A US$ 1,0 -1,5 mio. waste of public money. I wish they would let the Asians at Columbus now long term and concentrate on the Indian rhino in that area (if not the EEP is happy to take them)!
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