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Smithsonian National Zoo New giraffe exhibit? What is next after elephants and sea lions?

Discussion in 'United States' started by DavidBrown, 10 Jun 2011.

  1. DavidBrown

    DavidBrown Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    It looks like the National Zoo's elephant exhibit is near completion and a new pinniped exhibit complex is next.

    Does anyone know if there are any concrete plans to build a new giraffe habitat at the zoo at some point after elephants and sea lions are complete?

    For that matter are there any specific exhibit plans in the pipeline at all after eles and sea lions? I have looked all over for master plan details. The National Zoo website has some technical documents about their future plans, but they mostly involve preservation of buildings, fixing parking problems, etc. with no discussion of future exhibit plans.

    Any information, insight, and/or speculation would be appreciated.
     
  2. NAIB Volunteer

    NAIB Volunteer Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    As far as I know (news articles, website, staff) there are no plans for giraffes to return. The next set of projects I believe is focusing on the southern end of the zoo with a new entrance, renovation of the Great Cats exhibit, renovation of Amazonia, and an array of other small projects.
     
  3. DavidBrown

    DavidBrown Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Thanks for the information NAIB Volunteer. After I posted this message I had the thought to ask the National Zoo directly over their Facebook page and got this response: "We have not had a giraffe here since 2006 but we do hope to have giraffes here again."

    From your description of future plans, it does not appear that giraffes will be returning soon, if ever.
     
  4. Zooplantman

    Zooplantman Well-Known Member

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    A zoo's "future plans" are ever changing.
    Besides, in the short term the big question must be "What if any financial support with the National Zoo be getting from the US government?"

    Have you noticed how few big new exhibits are being planned for any zoo in the USA these days? Not the ones that are to open this year or next, but any proposed for 2013 and after? Everything--pretty much--has been scaled down if not eliminated. But that's just today. In a year or two I expect we'll be having a different conversation.
     
  5. gerenuk

    gerenuk Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    It appears that the zoo will focus its attention on African species next:

     
  6. OhSnapItsKirby

    OhSnapItsKirby Member

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    Bird House renovations are supposed to be on the to do list..
     
  7. jusko88

    jusko88 Well-Known Member

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    What's Up with the zoo getting the Bhutan Takins? Is it going to happen or not (crossing fingers)
     
  8. ThylacineAlive

    ThylacineAlive Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Unfortunetly it seems now that they most likely will optain Sichuan Takins instead of Bhutan Takins.:(
    Also, the zoo has brought in Ruppell's Griffon Vultures, Sitatunga, and Red River Hogs to the Cheetah Conservation Center. They are planning more species like ground hornbill and kudu.
    Years ago they said something about getting Red-Necked Ostrich, anyone have any more information about that?
    Also, anybody know if they plan on adding Pygmy Hippos again?

    EDIT: The new African species thing was added earlier.

    ~Thylo:cool:
     
  9. blospz

    blospz Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I believe I answered this in an other thread, but to reiterate to those who may have not seen it, the zoo's next project is a parking garage. It is supposed to go in the place of parking lot C. Then I believe the zoo will stop using the other parking lots to allow more land for animal exhibits.