Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati Zoo History

In addition to the ibex, that iteration of what is currently Lemur Island also hosted, for one summer in the 80's, a temporary "exhibit" showing koala and a wombat (this during the period when koalas were absent from non-California zoos and wombats were far more rare). I use quotation marks around the word exhibit because no effort was made to house these species - the wombat was released on the mock rock of the ibex exhibit, and a lone "tree" was erected in the center for the koala. Not a great first sighting of koala for me.

 

Sol Stephan

 

What an odd question

 

I'm unfamiliar with Sol Stephan. Can you edify on his contributions to the Zoo?

 

He was the founding Director of the zoo,
He was one of the most respected zoo men in North America of his time. He was to the Cincinnati Zoo what Hornaday was to the N.Y. Zoological Society

The Man Who Made the Zoo

 

Things happen.....

 

Yes they did have Bharati (also known as blue sheep) they had a few, not a large herd that where display on current lemur island outside monitor lizard exhibit. I remember seeing them very delightful to see that species. Yes they had walrus es too!

 

Maruska! They had at one time a Black Caiman too! Mugger crocodiles. Snider smooth fronted caiman breed in old bird building, America alligators, and I also believe one large Nile crocodile too. Also they exhibited a Marbled Cat, and golden cat too!

 

The only odd questions are really ones never asked. Many of zoo's have dark secrets covered up because of course not good pr. Anyone remember when the Bronx Zoo kept a dwarf African man on exhibit? Yes it did happen, and there was a book written about it. Brookfield Zoo caging ziggy indoors for years!

 

When did Maruska leave, is he still alive?

 

zoophoria

Read this interview with Ed here:
zoophoria

 

There's an interesting article about a "Zoo Plantman" on that site, as well. Pretty cool.

 

Other than the incident we don’t speak about in May 2016, I’m not aware of any “bad things” the zoo has done.

 

A 143 year old zoo will have many things in its history of which it is not proud today. Is any of it relevant except to illuminate how zoo ethics have changed and continue to evolve? This part of the thread feels to me more prurient than illuminating.

 

I didn’t mean anything by it lol. I just answered his question with the only event that people would consider “bad” that I knew of.

 

When was this?

 

The indication of sea lions being mixed with the monkeys, the hoofed area was yet to be referred to as Wildlife Canyon, and the African Veldt ins't labelled, 'Rhino Reserve', my guess would be mid 80's.

 

Yes. I can't remember the year but I was there so mid-80s

 

When was the last time that Cincy Zoo had walrus?

 

I believe the history book I have states they transferred their last one in 2002.