Yes I'm aware - poorly written on my part. The last gonolek on exhibit in the US is the yellow-headed at CPZ.
I was surprised by this exhibit earlier this month: I can’t imagine that the galagos show themselves very often, and the on-show part of the exhibit is pretty small and “glass-fronted-box-ish”. Not quite as egregious as the nearby Banded Mongooses, or White-faced Sakis, but still not great...
Your assumption is pretty much correct. On my many circuits going back there hoping to see them, they were unfortunately absent (perhaps in those angled baskets, perhaps in their off-show area). Further, if anything the exhibit seems brighter than when the cloud rats were around so that drastically reduces the chance of the nocturnal animals being active. Of course, however, I went when the camp groups were in full swing so I really hope it was just the noise.
Went to the Zoo last week and unfortunately, according to a keeper, Veronica the brown bear has passed away. The sign with both bears outside the enclosure has been updated to just have Betty. Wasn't able to learn more, and haven't seen any press release or anything online about her passing.
If brown bears were meant to be a short-term solution to Gus' (polar bear) passing, what could be a better long-term solution? (Please be more polar bears, please be more polar bears...)
Almost no chance of polar bear. The society probably feels the exhibit is too small and rocky for such a wide ranging species. As well the species’ population is lagging in zoos and bears are few and far between. Personally I would net over the exhibit and convert it for a new species. Andean bear would work with plenty of climbing features added.
The exhibit is likely un-nettable. Since New York gets a lot of snow, the expanse of the exhibit probably makes a mesh top impossible, as it would collapse in the snow, especially since the exhibit wasn't designed with it in mind. I know my local zoo has been having issues with this planning a replacement for two current exhibits, since any mesh top would collapse in the snow. Central Park almost certainly would have the same problem.
OOH, I just realized you could split the habitat in two and have river otters in the area with the underwater viewing and black bears in the more land-based area. Something like Riverbanks' grizzly bear/otter habitats?
I wouldn’t say un-nettable as much as requiring more funds to do so. I don’t for a second think there will be a major renovation at the zoo. I mean the exhibit is fine for many species with minor alterations and there really is no reason to build new exhibits at Central Park given its popularity with tourists. But I do think WCS would throw a million or so at a renovation for a species they work with. Netting the exhibit would greatly expand the usable space and allow the upper viewing areas to be less dated (looking down on animals). I know it would require some posts to hold it up but definitely doable. I mean there are several other netted exhibits at the zoo that hold up fine come winter. I just personally believe if it stays as a space for simply a terrestrial species it will stay as kind of a fishbowl for the species it houses.
