Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati Zoo News 2020

I wonder whether the pandemic will cause new exhibits to include even more pedestrian space

 

That was what I was thinking too. A huge waste of space that could otherwise have been used for the penguin exhibit itself. Well, if they had dared have public access to the exhibit and the penguins right of way on the walkways that would have made it that much more interesting. I think the land area is absolutely tiny ..., amazed to see this in an US zoo with acres of space..s.

 

Based on the video, the formation of the design, and the size of the birds on that design - it appears they left the size of the land area the same, which I would call far from tiny. Especially for penguins. Their original exhibit was smaller than the size of their current/future land area. As for the path size over exhibit size, my guess for that choice was to keep a smooth guest flow. The left side is the pasagge towards Wolf Woods from the main pathway. The middle view was part of the sea lion pool, and the other viewings were already existing. It'll be approximately 2600 sq ft, for reference, that's roughly the size of Woodland Park's.

Sep. 2016 - Sea Lion Falls - ZooChat

 

Based on my post-covid zoo visits no more pathways are needed to accommodate visitors, but where more visitor space might be needed is viewpoints into exhibits. That is where the bottleneck currently is. These sheltered huts for example are far from optimal and especially in larger habitats much more viewing opportunities would be necessary, especially with active animals or popular animals.

 

@Moebelle, my comments concern both the total exhibit space given over to animals as well as the percentage of visitor experience/pathways room to roam. I have seen new penguin exhibits where the percentages are far more favourable towards animal inhabitants as well as being a better overall visitor experience and amenities display and design.

 

Dragons!, Reptile House, and Manatee Springs are now open, World of the Insect on June 29, and the train on July 1st.

 

Any news on Wings of the World, and the other indoor exhibits?

 

No other exhibits were listed on the email

 

Updates in the Reptile House:
- Chinese alligator fencing replaced with something much simpler (thin metal fence)
- Lace Monitor replaced with Timber Rattlesnake/Black Rat Snake/Northern Copperhead
- Green Tree Python replaced with Titicaca Water Frog
- Western Diambondbacks replaced by Chuckwallas and Gila Monsters
- A Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko is also back in the collection

 

There is a very high chance I will be in the area soon. I have never visited Cincinnati before and I was wondering if it would be worth a visit right now? What areas of the zoo are closed?

Also, does anyone know how do these reservations work? The zoo's website isn't very clear.

 

Yes it is definitely still worth it. Only Wings of the World, World of the Insect, Elephant House, Wolf Woods, and the Jungle Trails Buildings are closed. Other than that, it's as if the zoo was back to normal.

Go to the website's ticket section through Google, click General Admission Tickets. Click Select Date and Time in the Adult Section (I assume). Should be clear from there.

Cincinnati Zoo Web Store :: Ticket Selection

 

Didn't you say above that World of the Insect is open now?

What am I missing by not getting to see all those areas?

 

A lot of the good small animal collection. I'd wait for those areas to reopen, a lot of good small mammals (not as much as before, but the point stands).

 

Hmm, maybe I'll wait to visit some other time then. Thanks!

 

Whoops, you're right. It was closed when I visited and I forgot about its opening date.

You're missing tropical birds, penguins, wolves, otters, aye-ayes, lorises, pottos, and more small animals. I forgot to mention Night Hunters.

 

Yeah, I really don't to miss all that. I haven't seen an Aye-Aye yet (for example) and I wouldn't want to miss that.

 

Or feathertail glider(s)!

 

I haven't seen them in several years, at least it feels that way.

 

I've seen them before (at Columbus) but there they were extremely active and probably my favorite animal I saw at the zoo that day. I wouldn't want to miss them here, either.

 

Unless something has changed since January, they've been off exhibit for awhile.