2.0 Sichuan Takin now on exhibit in Marco Polo Trek. Sichuan Takin exhibit opened at Roger Williams Park Zoo | Roger Williams Zoo
Gulo gulo: is the Roger Williams Park Zoo one of your local zoos? It seems like a cool zoo with an interesting collection. I have read of their work with American burying beetle conservation - do they have any of them on exhibit? How do you feel about their decision to cancel their polar bear exhibit plans? Update: I looked through the gallery and it looks like they do have some of their burying beetles on exhibit (as of 2009 at least): http://www.zoochat.com/1161/american-burying-bettle-exhibit-2009-a-214856/
David, they do have some of the beetles on display but not in a natural exhibit. I went to see the takin yesterday. They still looked very nervous especially since the zoo was packed with school group kids.
DavidBrown, yes, RWPZ is one of my local zoos. It is only an hour away from where I am based. The Zoo, is really the best in New England, at least, in my opinion. Wish they'd bring back cheetahs, though, they placed Wild Dog's in their former exhibit (seems to be a Zoo trend). What it lacks in most Zoo-Goers eyes, it makes up in other places. There's no Orang, Gorilla, Chimp, but there are Gibbon. No big cats besides, snow leopard, which is why I think a tiger exhibit would be good, if that is one of the ways they will go, without doing polar bears now. The Polar Bear Exhibit being cancelled, is fine if it is solely based on lack of financial support. In the few years since the exhibit was drawn out on paper, many other zoos have opened up exhibits and complexes. The bear exhibit was only 20,000 sq. ft., which to some, may be too small. It would be a vast improvement over their former exhibit (which is now renovated for Bald Eagle) though. Then you think about the lack of polar bears available, and most zoos only exhibiting one bear until others are available, if that will ever happen. I think it is a good decision, add more exhibits and animals, rather than sinking 15 million plus dollars. Which is what it would have cost a few years ago, now, probably more. I would rather more exhibits, even if they are small species, if it helps educate the public, rather than having one polar bear on exhibit, where due to lack of funding, something would get cut. They are a charismatic species and there are no polar bear exhibits in new england now or on the horizon, so myself and others will have to get their fix by going to Central Park or even the Bronx, which is fine. I'd rather see the Zoo grow, than stay fixated on that exhibit, so I am all for it being cancelled, others, not so much. Mostly non-regular visitors and some members have been griping about it being cancelled, but do they open their wallets, nope, they just whine and complain on the zoos facebook page. Good for them. I am excited for what is to come, new takin exhibit, addition of red river hogs, king vulture, new Children's Zoo (which opens on Monday, I have kids so they are thrilled). It will be a top-notch addition to the Zoo. There will be local animals added in the next phase of the Children's Zoo exhibit. Should be great to get a local message to the visitors. Not sure if this has ever been posted or if anyone has seen it, but here is the layout of the cancelled polar bear exhibit, as well as showing other exhibits in that area of the Zoo. http://www.ursainternational.org/w-RWPZ-siteplan.jpg
Phantom Gaur: thanks for the info on the burying beetle exhibit. Hopefully the takin will adapt to their new home and not freak out too much. Gulo gulo: thanks very much for the info on the zoo and polar bear exhibit. It sounds like there are some good things happening at the zoo, polar bears or no. When they cancelled the polar bear exhibit, did they cancel plans for the rest of the exhibits in this site plan also (red wolf, seals, bison)?
I believe they scrapped the plans to renovate all of the North American area but I'm not sure. New plans have talked about adding the Takin(already there),King Vultures(should be there soon),Red River Hogs(finishing work on their exhibit),Tigers,Moose,and more monkeys but no mention has been made of the N.A. redesign which makes me think they're dropping that.
DavidBrown, the bison, red wolf exhibit already exist, seals are at the Zoo, but over near the giraffe and elephants. I am not sure on the other exhibits in the cancelled plans. The cancelled polar bear exhibit was to take over the existing pronghorn exhibit, not sure if that will become something else now.
Somewhat old news, but the King Vultures are in Tropical America now, and the Giant Anteater baby Inara is doing fine. She and her mom prefer to stay indoors but there is viewing of their indoor quarters so you can get a glimpse of her at times.
Gulo gulo or Phantom Gaur, any word on the Red River Hogs? Summer's going to be over soon, and the hogs aren't on display yet... Does anyone know what monkeys are going o be exhibited?
When I was last there on July 4th, I did not see the RRH in their exhibit. I did ask a keeper if and when they would be on exhibit and she did not know because the Zoo did not have them yet. Not sure what you mean by monkeys, BZF.
I'll try to find out an ETA for the Red River Hogs. I think their next focus is going to be the tigers and possibly moose, and then monkeys in the near future. I'll see if I can get any rumors about what monkeys? But I really believe tigers will be next since they probably believe tigers will bring in the crowds and that means $$$$.
Gulo gulo- I visited the zoo the day after you! By monkeys, I meant what species of monkeys they were talking about in the plans that they would include. Phantom Gaur- Do you think they'll be Amur Tigers and they'll be in Marco Polo Trek? Sumatrans in Australasia? Or just a completely brand new zone for tigers?
Okay, they're probably Amurs then considering they'll be placed on the MP Trail, and that they tolerate the cold well.
Plan for the RRH's is to be on exhibit by the end of the month. I'll probably go next week to see if they are out and try to find out anything I can about the monkeys.
Okay thanks Phantom Gaur. I'll probably go back to this zoo next year after another new animal is put on display.
I was there yesterday and did not see them physically on exhibit. just the sign that said they were coming.
According to the zoo's animal info pages, if you go to the RRH page and click on the "At the Zoo", it says they are on exhibit, across from the elephants. There is no other mention of them whatsoever, so I have my doubts. In other news, giraffe feeding times have been moved to weekends.
