Columbus Zoo & Aquarium » Columbus Zoo

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
23-05-2008

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There is a terrific wikipedia entry for this Ohio zoo, which is expanding at a rapid rate. There is already almost 800 animal species, and a possible expansion to 580 acres is in the works. This includes the newly opened waterpark Zoombezi Bay and a large golf course. The zoo debuted the "Asia Quest" set of exhibits in 2006, there is the largest elephant barn in North America, it is one of only 3 zoos outside of Florida to keep manatees, and one of only 6 North American zoos with bonobos.

The large "Polar Frontier" set of exhibits is due in 2009, an enormous, 70-acre "African Savanna" is due in 2012, a South American jungle exhibit is planned, and there will be even more rides added to this expanding zoo. To quote from the 2008 book "America's Best Zoos": "After this last continent is added, the Columbus Zoo may have the most complete collection of any zoo in America, with an excellent range of animals from every major continent, and representatives of every major type of animal."

The zoo also manages "The Wilds", a 10,000 acre nature preserve east of Columbus.

The Wilds: Advancing Conservation through Science, Education & Personal Experience

23-05-2008

Columbus is a rather large zoo that is finally taking advantage of all the land it acquired over the last 15 years after renovating the entire existing zoo. I first visited in 1995 before the major changes began. (It was also where I saw my first okapi in 1996, Karatasi...who was also White Oak's first okapi calf!) When they are done, it will have the most complete zoogeographic layout of any zoo in America (I dont think any zoo has done this feat!? - maybe Toronto)

The North America area is rather complete in terms of species. You can find very other Americans zoo who have Nearctic collections that rival Columbus (Toronto, ZooAmerica, North Carolina). The new arctic exhibit is supposed to be near this area.

The Asia area originally consisted of the Pachyderm House (now completely renovated for Asian Elephants and Black Rhinos...later Indians) and the Herbivore/Carnivore Complex that was modeled after Milwaukee County Zoo's similar complex. This complex now consists of the zoo's asian collection...amur tiger, sun bear, red panda, markhor, bats, langur, reticulated python, cranes, pheasants, and muntjac.

The Shores region consists of the reptile house (with a great collection...on of the best), humboldt penguins, discovery reef, and manatee coast. Columbus is one of 4 facilites outside florida with manatees (Cincinnati, Dallas World Aq, and Sea World San Diego). Their manatee facility is much larger than their rival Cincinnati's, however Cincinnati's exhibit contains more species and showcases the diversity of florida's native and nonnative wildlife. The original aquarium building, though small it was quite humble and contained a nice amphibian gallery...which were rare up until this year, was torn down last year to make way for more open green space that the zoo has eaten up over the last ten years.

The African Forest area has a wonderful gorilla house and outdoor bonobo exhibit. This area also contains colobus, drill, leopards, duiker, and okapi. Their female okapi (one of my females from White Oak, Miliki) is currently pregnant. There is also a nice small walk-through aviary with a good variety of Congo avian species.

The Southeast Asia area had just been finished upon my last visit in 2004 - the vegetation had not quite grown up yet. The original plans for this area looked really cool, however like most plans they were changed. The original plans placed most of the exhibits on an island surround by a canal that contained the boat ride and also had a large walk-through aviary (something Columbus lacks...they have several small/medium walk-through aviaries). Now the boat ride is located in the center of the exhibit, winds around the gibbon island/lake and waterfowl lake and under the much higher pathways...this makes the viewing of the animals very difficult except for the gibbons. Also most of the exhibits are on a higher elevation than the boat ride, also adding to the difficulty for viewing exhibits. Species include Orangutan, Small clawed Otter, Komodo Dragon, White-cheeked Gibbon, Siaman.

The Australia area contains the usual American sytle exhibits of Walk-through Kangaroo exhbit and Lorikeet Aviary. The area also has an indoor/outdoor koala exhibit...very rare for American zoos, most are strictly indoor exhibits. The area also has much unused space that was not utilized to accompany future species (ie Platypus). The big-ticket exhibit for this area is the Roadhouse building. The Roadhouse contains a nocturnal gallery with Kiwi, Clouded Leopard, Tree Kangaroo, Palm Civet, and Tree Shrews. And an indoor free-flight aviary with various Indo-Australian birds.

The Columbus Zoo has rather nice exhibits that would often be found in a Southeastern US zoo, not a midwest/northern zoo. With addition of the boat ride in the Southeast Asia region and talk of more such rides in the Africa Savanna and Neotropical areas, there might be some concern of a "commercialization" that has aflicted zoos like the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida. Hopefully the zoo with be able to refocus this aspect to the newly renovated water/theme park next door, rather than the zoo. The zoo acquired the waterpark a few years ago and contracted the management of the facility to the Six Flags company until last year.

Of course, none of this development would have ever been possible had Jack Hanna never became director. His charisma brought the zoo to national/international? attention through his david letterman/news shows appearances and his own tv show. You could say he was the marlin perkins or steve irwin of the 1990s in America. At this time the zoo was ushered into the big leagues and has been a big player in the zoo world.

Also a note about the Wilds...this facility is its own entity and not managed by Columbus. When the Wilds first opened it was supposed to have been the conservation center for and supported by Ohio's Zoos (Toledo, Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, and Cincinnati). However, the Wilds never really saw much of this support over the years. A few years back it risked closing down (the AZA would have lost it largest facility of 10,000+ acres) and Columbus stepped in and offered administrative support to market the facility and help fundraising. Through Columbus's efforts the facility is now back on its feet.

23-05-2008

Some historical facts:

Home to the world's first captive lowland gorilla birth - Colo in 1956
Nearly lost its AZA accreditation over the short-term loan of Giant Pandas in 1992.
Just stole the Georgia Aquarium's director to become the zoo's director.

23-05-2008

@okapikpr: thanks for the comprehensive review!

Ohio is an amazing State for zoos: Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Toledo and the Wilds. I have to drive 5 hours (roundtrip) to visit the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, but if someone were to live in Columbus they would be 2 hours away from a number of impressive zoos. There is an awful lot of captive wildlife in that State...

23-05-2008

That's the thing about Ohio, no matter where you are in the state you are no more than 2 hours from the nearest zoo!

23-05-2008

[quote=okapikpr;53285]

Of course, none of this development would have ever been possible had Jack Hanna never became director. His charisma brought the zoo to national/international? attention through his david letterman/news shows appearances and his own tv show. You could say he was the marlin perkins or steve irwin of the 1990s in America. At this time the zoo was ushered into the big leagues and has been a big player in the zoo world.

Yes Jack Hanna was known here, a few years ago he appeared on the TV here every Sunday taking about his zoo (cant remember the name of it now), He has appeared also here on the David Letterman show which is shown quite late at night (11.30 pm), his animal show was interesting

23-05-2008

Colo, the female gorilla born in 1956 is still alive living at Columbus with extended family including great-great-grandchildren

24-05-2008

Ohio DOES have a number of amazing collections right next door to each other! I took a week and-a-bit long road trip last fall and hit up most of the zoos. I was definitely impressed with Columbus; my previous visit was in 1998(ish), while the African forest was just starting construction. I was not that thrilled then by anything besides the North American loop (which seems to be the only thing that didn't change in the intervening decade and is still amazing!).

However, last year was quite a change. The renovations of the predator/prey exhibits ("Asia Quest") were quite well done, although a bit "sterile" for the markhor and Pallas cats. The indoor sun bear exhibit was most creative - it is a multi-story inside of a timber mill, with lots of ladders and platforms. Public viewing is at the top level, with views down to the bottom. Granted, there were no bears in it while I was there, but it was a very unique twist on indoor exhibitry with some dramatic lighting in the lower levels.

The African forest was well done, too - nothing overly spectacular in my opinion (the mixed species aspect of the bonobo and red river hog exhibit seems to be being discouraged ... ), but the layout and exhibits were good for both the inhabitants and visitors.

Australia has already been mentioned ... and I would agree that the Roadhouse is the jewel - the kiwi exhibit was especially nice; large with natural substrate and a pair of active kiwi. The other exhibits were a bit "traditional" (sterile ... concrete with branches for furniture), but the collection was interesting, including one of two quolls in North America, feathertail gliders, and a banded palm civet. I also quite enjoyed the aviary at the exit; there was a large amount of bird space and relatively little public space, but it felt intimate and full of discovery.

"The Islands" (South-East Asia) was a disappointment. A lot of visitor space (road + waterway boat ride) and only a few small exhibits. The gibbon/siamang exhibits were interesting, and I enjoyed seeing the Komodo dragons outside (with great viewing to - I presume - a heated rock), but the otter display felt lacking, and the orang exhibit was uninspired in my eyes.

24-05-2008

@Ungulate: thanks for posting your review. I was reading yesterday how the Columbus Zoo added a new exhibit per year between 1997 and 2006, and so it's no wonder there were so many changes in your 9 years between visits. I am especially interested to see the sun bear exhibit this summer, as they are a notoriously difficult species to keep in captivity. Three world-class zoos (Taronga Zoo in Sydney, San Diego Zoo, Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo) all have had pacing sun bears when I've visited. Back and forth, back and forth, etc and it's a pitiful sight to see. Perhaps Columbus will solve such stereotypical behaviour with their new fairly new exhibit.

17-07-2008

Columbus is excellent. I wish my home zoo (Cincy) had the resources and land that they do. The North American Exhibit is awesome. I especially enjoy the moose exhibit complete with a large pond for swimming. The timber wolf enclosure is so big that it's tough to find them. I was there in late may and got to take in the new Asia Quest. It's cool. The indoor enclosure for the sun bears is VERY interesting, as it's a replica of the inside of a palm oil manufacturing facility. It sounds odd, but has a good amount of room and tons of things to climb around on. They also have a very interesting Khomain's water monitor on display there, which is an all black variant that I've not seen anywhere else. All in all a really neat new additon. I must admit it's tough to say a zoo is great without the token African savannah centerpiece, but Columbus pulls it off. I can't wait to see how they do on the new one in the master plan.

17-07-2008

It's great to read all of the various opinions on the Columbus Zoo, and I know at least one member of ZooBeat who finds that there aren't any outstanding exhibits whatsoever. However, others here find the zoo to be quite special, and so I'll have to post a comprehensive review in a few weeks when I visit for the first time.

25-08-2008

There are now 200 photos from this zoo in the gallery, including some of the world-class sun bear and bonobo exhibits, plus a few showing the unusual style of the gorilla enclosure. (It always reminds me of Howletts in England)

All the okapi photos are for ZooBeat member okapikpr!!

25-08-2008

Thanks snowleopard! I have close ties with the keepers and animals at Columbus. Also the gorilla enclosure at Columbus was inspired by Howletts own design.

01-09-2008

I am just looking for some information about the bonobo group at the Columbus Zoo, the enclosures (area, altitude) and the group structure.
I have heard that Milwaukee Zoo sent 3 bonobos to Columbus Zoo in August (Ana Neema and her children Bila Isis and Gilda), but was not able to find any information, how the group changed during 2007 and 2008...

Can you help me??

Thanks a lot...
Bjoern

Columbus Zoo Welcomes Baby Bonobo
09-09-2008

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium welcomed a baby bonobo in the early morning of August 27, 2008. The baby is a girl and was named "Geri" in honor of Jerry Borin, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's former director.

Geri and mother, Unga, are both doing well. This is the second offspring for Unga. Her first is Gander who was born at the Columbus Zoo in 2003.

The only place bonobos are found in the wild is the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bonobos and humans share 98.4% of the same DNA. After birth males remain in their birth group throughout their lives, while females leave when they reach sexual maturity. At this time, it is believed that bonobos can live up to 60 years in captivity.

Currently there are ten institutions that house bonobos in North America. Of the 85 bonobos that exist in North American Zoos 15 bonobos reside at the Columbus Zoo. Ten bonobo births have occurred at the Zoo placing Columbus in the top three Zoo's for bonobo births

The Zoo has experienced a mini baby boom over the last couple of months. In addition to the baby bonobo, the Zoo has also recently welcomed a baby langur, colobus monkey and two markhor.

(taken from the zoo's email newsletter)