The Denver Zoo » Denver Zoo

02-05-2008

Not only could it create vertical space for the bears, but provide places for keepers to hide food/enrichment items. I know as a zookeeper, it can be hard to continously find new and clever spaces to hide food items. Every zoo needs to continously renovate enclosures of stimulous-needy species to keep them active. For some species, the exhibit becomes worn out and need renovation within 6 months to a year. At a zoo I used to work at, all props in bird/primate enclosures were replaced at least every 2-3 years and the reptile units were always renovated every 6 months.

02-05-2008

Thats true, most polar bears have nothing to do. They get even little food enrichment, because food is used to shut them in the evening. They manipulate toys more than most animals, but are seriously interested only in activities with food in it.

I hope it will work. I would ask if subordinate bears can use the toy. If not - give several enrichment devices in several places. Many polar bears are stressed by dominant bears.

Of course, ideal polar bear exhibit would let them hunt large animal every few days. To replicate, throw in animal rights activist each week.

02-05-2008

awesome...because them and the "bunny-hugging" public are the only things (and possible animal health issues) keeping zoos from feeding live food/carcasses. Though some feed carcasses when the zoo is closed.

02-05-2008

Shipwreck added for zoo polar bears - The Denver Post

This article has a picture of the "shipwreck". Not quite what I imagined, so my vertical space comment is rather...umm, yeah...it doesnt quite apply to the situation. Well, anything is better than nothing.

07-05-2008

Denver Zoo polar bear dies - The Denver Post

So much for this bear enjoying the brand-new "shipwreck" structure.

23-05-2008

It is intriguing that even though Colorado's Denver Zoo has an extremely cold climate in winters, they still maintain a magnificent primate collection. The book "America's Best Zoos" ranks this zoo as #2 in the nation for primates, as there are 29 different species of monkeys, apes and lemurs in the "Primate Panorama" set of exhibits.

The same book ranks the Denver Zoo in the top ten American zoos in 8 out of the 20 selected categories that they offer. (Best zoos for birds, bears, primates, hoofed animals, etc). This zoo will be ranked even higher once "Asian Tropics" opens.

23-05-2008

It looks good and the terrain its on adds to its spice (if I remember), will this zoo be part of your travels..?

24-05-2008

@NZ Jeremy: I visited the Denver Zoo in 2006, but on this summer's road trip I will not be going back there. I would love to visit in a year or two, after the 10-acre, rotating exhibits of "Asian Tropics" opens to the public. It's just that the city of Denver in Colorado is similarly located to the city of Omaha in Nebraska, as both the Denver Zoo and the Henry Doorly Zoo are inland and awkward to visit. Most tourists go up and down the west coast of the U.S. and don't drive across the middle of the country, so I'm not sure when (if ever) I'll be back at the Denver Zoo.

05-02-2009

Can someone who has been to Denver Zoo tell me what the gorilla exhibit is like? I have heard it is one of the largest, and I was wondering if it is something more innovative like Seattle, San Diego, and of course Bronx or is it more of the field type?

05-02-2009

A big field surrounded by an ugly concrete wall. There are a few large cottonwood trees (hotwired) so there is some shade. But the best aspect is size--it is over an acre, but flat as a pancake and not very interesting. Not even close to Bronx, Seattle, Busch, Disney, San Diego, Lincoln Park or Riverbanks....

18-04-2009

The Denver Zoo's 10-acre Asian Tropics has been looming on the horizon for a number of years now, and this exciting set of exhibits should eventually open in a few years:

Asian Tropics Exhibit

However, it is interesting that the overall project is a massive 10 acres but the 5 outdoor yards for rotating elephants, Indian rhinos and Malayan tapirs only total 2.6 acres:

Denver Zoo Asian Tropics Exhibit - Featured*Project » JE Dunn Construction Company

18-04-2009

Since they have not even broken ground (or raised all the $$ needed to complete the project), I would be surprised if the complex opens anytime before spring 2013, and most likely it will be later. Constructing a project of this scale takes a minimum of two years, even in places with benign climates like San Diego.

And as to the acreage, once again it's really much more about quality than quantity. And it will never be enough for the critics--look at the reader's comments in the articles about San Diego's new elephant exhibit, who are up in arms at how "small" it will be.

18-04-2009

What is the story on Denver Zoo's black rhinos. For years now, they have maintained the current 2.1 individuals for yonkers times ... but no births, no deaths ...., some early abortions on the new female .... but other than that uurrhh pretty much no nothing!

I just seem to remember that they hold bull Mishindi (the last of the Denver line ... and pretty genetically important), cow Shy-Anne (also from a line with little rep, but with some breeding issues) and bull Akeem/George (he is considered less OK for breeding).

So, whom is ... the third bull-mystery guest .... (as listed on ISIS)?!!!

Does anyone have a clue as to what the current and future plans are for the black rhinos at Denver Zoo?

19-04-2009

Kifaru,
Your ID's for Denver's rhinos are correct (2.1 Mshindi, Akeen, and Shy-Anne). The other 1.0.1 on ISIS are data artifacts. Sorry - no idea of their future plans!

24-05-2009

Last week the Denver City Council introduced a bill to approve use of up to $26million of city bond money to complete Asia Tropics.

"The
amendment will allow the construction of the new Asian Tropics exhibit project to move
forward and to give the Foundation additional time to complete its fundraising activities
to raise its portion of the matching requirement (total portion is $55 million) by 2013."