Cleveland currently doesn't house any venomous snakes. They made a big effort to remove those species so they didn't have to maintain a stock of antivenom, which is apparently a huge cost.
Penguins returning to the zoo African black-footed penguins will be on exhibit in April. At Penguin Shores, a seasonal traveling penguin exhibit by Animal Interaction Design Group will run through mid-September. The exhibit will be located in Northern Trek near the grizzly bears. This will be the first time since 2002 that penguins will be on exhibit.
2014 Zoo babies Babies born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo through Nov. 21, 2014: Bennet’s wallaby, Black howler monkey (2), Black-cheeked lovebird, Bontebok, Bornean orangutan, Crowned lemur, Eastern plains gartersnake (15), Francois’ langur monkey (2), Giant Anteater, Goeldi’s monkey (2), Golden lion tamarin (2), Greater Malayan chevrotain, Helmeted guineafowl (4), Mandarin duck (6), Masai giraffe (2), Moholi bushbaby (3), Northern tree shrew (5), Parma wallaby, Prehensile-tailed porcupine, Puerto Rican crested toads (approximately 3,800), Rainbow lorikeet (5), Red kangaroo (4), Ruddy quail dove, Slender-tailed meerkat (2), Taveta golden weaver (3), Wallaroo, Western grey kangaroo (3), White-fronted marmoset, White-headed buffalo weaver. 2014 was a great year for babies at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (slideshow) | cleveland.com
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces traveling penguin exhibit for 2015 | Press Room | Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
I remember there were plans for a permanent black - footed penguin exhibit across from African Elephant Crossing, but i suppose those fell thru. Definitely a step in the right direction though.
New Home for Schreckengost sculptures The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has finalized its plans for its $150 million renovation. Surprisingly, the Schreckengost Mammoth and Mastodon sculptures - formerly attached to the CMZ's Pachyderm Building - are featured on the museum's West facade. Guess they've found a new home at last. Here's the publicity release: https://www.cmnh.org/announcements/Centennial-Phase-1
The plans for the renovation of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History look fantastic however the Shreckengost Mastodon sculptures are iconic pieces of the zoo's history and belong at the zoo.It should be noted that the Cleveland Museum of Natural History operated the zoo from 1940-1975 until the Cleveland Metroparks system took over control of the zoo.Cleveland continues to fail to embrace its history unlike its neighbor Toledo which seems to relish it every opportunity they get. Team Tapir223
There is a special announcement from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo tomorrow morning on Fox 8 News at 8am. There is a photo of the lions on the link. All three of CMZ’s lions are not pedigreed and not allowed to breed, so it is not lion cubs. https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandM....241506.54618365001/10155288258645002/?type=1
It was nothing animal related. They are partnering with Fox 8 in a contest to pick who will be the first couple to be married at Stillwater Place, the zoo's new event center. http://www.facebook.com/ClevelandMe....241506.54618365001/10155297938640002/?type=1
An article about the Zoo's upcoming temporary penguin exhibit: Penguin Shores. Penguins descend on the Cleveland Zoo in special exhibit - Local - Ohio
Penguin Shores exhibit at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to open April 3 | Press Room | Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Of course, because the CMZ needs another carnival attraction. Carousel, new events center, 4D theater. I guess new animal enclosures or exhibit renovations just aren't worth the effort anymore.
CMZ is currently working on a renovation of their tiger exhibit and has plans to improve several others according to this article from last year. My thought is that these non-exhibit attractions are used to generate more attendance/revenue/ect. to help propel these projects forward. Metroparks Zoo's 10-year plan aims to improve animals' homes | cleveland.com
You are absolutely correct Drew. Add in ziplines, treetop adventure playgrounds, giraffe feeding platforms, stingray petting pools, camel rides, face-painting stations and a myriad of other options that zoos have to bring in crowds and generate extra revenue. Then the exhibit modifications can take place.
Links for the tiger renovations plans and the new giraffe deck images are located next to the appropriate Cleveland Metroparks board meeting at the link below. Board Meeting Archives | Cleveland Metroparks
The tiger renovation plans shown are no longer accurate. They were done as part of a conceptual exhibit study in Sept. 2013. The current design is much different but has not been released yet by the zoo.
Penguin Shores is a dump! I did like the way they changed Grin n' Bear Eats into a penguin seaport, with the "last call" for the boat being heard over the loudspeakers. I saw a line, which I thought was people waiting to go in to a building, but it was a 6x6 outdoor exhibit- a box for 6 penguins, not big enough for 1. They weren't swimming, just standing on a rock. They have a big penguin gift shop (a tent), outside the exhibit, bigger than the actual exhibit!
