Join our zoo community

Houston Zoo African Forest Phase III

Discussion in 'United States' started by BossMayhem250, 4 Apr 2015.

  1. BossMayhem250

    BossMayhem250 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    3 Apr 2015
    Posts:
    77
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    What are they adding in Phase III Are hippos coming and is it gonna be like the San Antonio Zoo's Africa Live! or the St. Louis Zoo's River's Edge. If not then i wonder how the zoo will go about it and where are they gonna fit it in cause if its by the gorillas(Phase II opens on May 22nd) If so that's a lengthy walk to see hippos and crocodiles. If any knows about Phase III reply

    ~BossMayhem250:D
     
  2. mstickmanp

    mstickmanp Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    9 Jun 2008
    Posts:
    2,092
    Location:
    California, USA
    I'm assuming you are talking about the Houston Zoo?
     
  3. BossMayhem250

    BossMayhem250 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    3 Apr 2015
    Posts:
    77
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    I am heading down there on Memorial Day Weekend So I'm pretty excited, I'll post some pics top
     
  4. BossMayhem250

    BossMayhem250 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    3 Apr 2015
    Posts:
    77
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    Yes I am, I like this zoo and have been there twice
     
  5. Trowaman

    Trowaman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    12 Feb 2010
    Posts:
    191
    Location:
    Austin, TX, United States
    It is hippos and crocs, but that's all we know. The one concept image shown did include a glass viewing wall for hippos.

    Once gorillas open, hippos and penguins are the only major animal attractions Houston will be missing. Should be a big deal.

    Economy is better so money should be easier to gather than it was was for gorillas, but this will be a more expensive habitat due to the water filtration. I expect this is 4 years out (phase 2 from 1 took 4.5 years)
     
  6. BossMayhem250

    BossMayhem250 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    3 Apr 2015
    Posts:
    77
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    Could u link the image
     
  7. jbnbsn99

    jbnbsn99 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    3 Feb 2009
    Posts:
    3,006
    Location:
    Texas
    I think phase 3 will be Bongos. Phase 4 would be the aquatics.
     
  8. Trowaman

    Trowaman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    12 Feb 2010
    Posts:
    191
    Location:
    Austin, TX, United States
    No image. Was a picture on the back page of the large book given to members when phase 1 opened. Bongos were supposed to be part of phase 2 (gorillas) where it would be gorillas on the left and bongos on the right. Finances kept the bongo paddock from being built, I assume. Zoo has a large bongo supply and may be built sooner or later but it wouldn't be a phase 3. More like 2.5 IF it is ever built. Remember, the rhino paddock was supposed to have Impala with the kudu and rhino. Never happened.

    Zoo needs to do something about the giraffe yard. No grass remains. All mud, been stomped down from so many animals in a smaller yard than what existed previously
     
  9. jbnbsn99

    jbnbsn99 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    3 Feb 2009
    Posts:
    3,006
    Location:
    Texas
    Not impala, but Thomson's Gazelle, at least according to the opening weekend signs. I talked to the keepers briefly, and they were as shocked as anyone at the mention of the gazelles being included. The sign was news to them.

    I think the bongo exhibit was always meant to be a later phase.
     
  10. Trowaman

    Trowaman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    12 Feb 2010
    Posts:
    191
    Location:
    Austin, TX, United States
    The weird thing is the gorilla walk through 3-D render video has the bongo signs up along with gorillas and red river hog as though all 3 were going to be delivered as one package.

    Makes sense to delay from a layout perspective as I'm not sure how one could get to the chimp house with the gorilla yard and bongo yard both blocking the pathway.
     
  11. reduakari

    reduakari Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    17 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    1,044
    Location:
    berkeley california USA
    Bongos were initially included in this phase (see the plan view early on the fly-through video labelled "The Bai"), but were cut from the project for cost purposes. They will be part of Phase 3, in whatever form that takes, but which will not have much resemblance to the overall plan shown on the Phase 1 diagrams. Not sure how you think the gorilla or planned bongo exhibits block the path to the chimp viewing area, which has remained open throughout the construction of gorilla? The area slated for bongos has served as a construction staging area, and does not block the pathway between the hoofed animal row and African Forest.
     
    StoppableSan likes this.
  12. Trowaman

    Trowaman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    12 Feb 2010
    Posts:
    191
    Location:
    Austin, TX, United States
    I figured new bongo exhibit would go where the current pathway lies today. Like on top of the drums and native camp and gardens and stuff.

    So, what else is planned? Or what is the roadmap to date?
     
  13. reduakari

    reduakari Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    17 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    1,044
    Location:
    berkeley california USA
    From early ideas I've seen, bongos will essentially be directly behind the open end of the gorilla exhibit, with cross views from one to the other. Then the entire perimeter of the Zoo from the elephant exhibits to the gorilla/chimp area will be "African Forest Phase 3" with hippos, crocs, okapis, bongos, duikers, small primates and an aviary, plus various public buildings for shade, comfort and special events. Oddly, one plan shows a new wild dog exhibit included as well (I guess they are just as much "African Forest" as are the rhinos, kudus and giraffes from Phase 1!). If developed to the same level of quality as the gorilla/RR hog exhibit, it should be spectacular.
     
    9030, Kifaru Bwana and StoppableSan like this.
  14. Trowaman

    Trowaman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    12 Feb 2010
    Posts:
    191
    Location:
    Austin, TX, United States
    I'm very good with a new Wild Dog and Cheetah exhibit. Current habitats for both feel amazingly temporary.
     
    9030 likes this.
  15. BossMayhem250

    BossMayhem250 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    3 Apr 2015
    Posts:
    77
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    If you look at the designs

    it is still possible the designs say future bongo exhibit so they may be waiting on it.
     
  16. BossMayhem250

    BossMayhem250 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    3 Apr 2015
    Posts:
    77
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
  17. Pacarana

    Pacarana Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    26 Aug 2011
    Posts:
    198
    Location:
    US
    This is a bit off topic but does anyone know if American zoos keep both subspecies of bongo? The Online Zoo has both species listed… I was always under the assumption that isaaci was the only subspecies in large quantity in European and American zoos.
     
  18. Jake From State Farm

    Jake From State Farm Member

    Joined:
    21 Apr 2019
    Posts:
    18
    Location:
    Houston
    There are currently no plans to go through with phase three of the African Forest. The zoo will be focusing on its new master plan which will be finished by 2022 for the zoo's centennial. The first phase of this master plan, the Katherine McGovern Texas Wetlands exhibit will open May 24th 2019.
     
    StoppableSan and Kifaru Bwana like this.
  19. 9030

    9030 Active Member

    Joined:
    6 Feb 2014
    Posts:
    37
    I found this. Of course it could change or whatever. I just looked up "Houston Zoo mater plan" than went to google image. I know its blurry lol
    [​IMG]
     
    StoppableSan likes this.
  20. 9030

    9030 Active Member

    Joined:
    6 Feb 2014
    Posts:
    37
    Than on another map on the Houston Zoo website it had a "Asian Island" area. Also had "Madagascar" near the front of zoo but just to the left of the entrance.
     
    StoppableSan likes this.