From the Akron Zoo on the this year's changes: We are still finalizing many of the details and hope to announce shortly. As for our sika deer, he is now in retirement in a new off-exhibit area.
This reminds of what the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo did with their hippo, Blackie, before he passed away.
The Sika deer is living in the renovated back area of the Wild Prairie barn. You can see him through the holes in the fence in Zoo Gardens.
Wild Prairie: The playground area has been woodchipped. It is not open yet. Legends of the Wild: A new pool has been installed in the musk deer exhibit. It is still being worked on. Curious Creatures: The new lizard exhibit appears to be occupied, but it is covered. The two smaller exhibits have been installed, but no occupants yet. I am guessing maybe insects. I am not sure. Spotted jellies are now on exhibit in the former flashlight fish exhibit. The mata mata turtle is not on exhibit.
Here is your first look. I found this by chance. Wild Asia & Pride of Africa « Hasenstab - Hasenstab Architects is located in Northeast Ohio, specializing in healthcare, simulation, laboratory, research, higher education, k-12, and office design.
Drawings shown include the center of Pride of Africa with glimpses of lion and gazelle exhibits, Wild Asia’s entrance, the old primate exhibit renovated into a red panda exhibit, the new train station, and a large tiger exhibit with what appears to be a theater-style viewing at one of the exhibits. Both of exhibits total 6.25 acres. Pride is 3.6 acres. Wild Asia must be 2.65 acres.
Those exhibits look super nice but I assume the stork in pride of Africa is gonna be the white stork but when you look at all the species in tiger valley every animal is getting a new exhibit but the sun bear. Is she getting a new exhibit to?
Scruffy probably will get Muffin’s retirement apartment in Grizzly Ridge. Muffin, the zoo’s previous sun bear, lived in retirement for half a decade because of glaucoma and being a skin cancer. Scruffy will be 33 years old this year and does not come out often. It would be perfect for her.
Awesome!! Glad she can retire in peace. Now one more question the barn owl are they staying in there spot or moving I’d hate to see them go
Not sure. They would fit in about every area of the zoo. I expect they stay because they are part of the Zoo Gardens technically. I am trying to get some clarification on how these exhibits are going to be placed. The tiger exhibit is a perfect example. It’s huge. Tiger Valley is a bit landlocked. When I hear anything, I will post.
Hasenstab has took down the Wild Asia and Pride of Africa page off their new website. It may have been posted accidentally since the exhibits have not been officially announced. I will keep an I out for when it comes back. If you saw the drawings, consider yourself lucky.
There is now letters above the main doors at Komodo Kingdom that says “Komodo Kingdom Education Center & Cafe”. There is also a border around the bottom of the Cafe windows that mentions types of food available. The old Komodo Kingdom ground sign is gone. Musk deer exhibit looks closer to opening. Curious Creatures has some new residents. Spotted turtles have replaced the Mata Mata turtle. There was a species of cichlid in there too. I never saw the Mata Mata turtle move. I do not know if he or she ever moved on the exhibit much. The new fenced off path in front the Wild Prairie barn is having pavers installed. The neighboring play area is now open. The bald eagle exhibit had six eagles in it instead of five. The new eagle is an adult.
My sister saw a commercial early this morning announcing Curious Creatures new species. They are not specific in the commercial, so I do not have exact species for the three new exhibits. Just general species. Tree monitor. Walking stick. Flower beetle. She only saw this in passing, so one could be wrong. At least we have a general idea now.
