Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News 2018

Because the job of the zoo’s PR department is to get visitors into the zoo. Many thousands will, I’m sure, want to see this lantern thing; a new onager foal is wonderful of course, but I don’t think it’s arrival will set the good people of northeast Ohio beating a path to the zoo.

Deplorable? Really? Isn’t it just reality? The lantern thing isn’t in any way interfering with onagers - and, hopefully, the money it raises will enable Cleveland to make much needed improvements....

 

Zoos are a business, and they have to do things to support the business.

 

Another Eastern black rhino calf was born on Aug 20th to mom Inge and dad Forrest.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Announces Birth of Eastern Black Rhino Calf

 

Another happy event!

 

How about that baby onager??? Why doesn't he matter???

 

What is it that you need to happen with this? Was the birth not announced?

 

Calm down about it already. It was announced on the zoo babies page on the zoo's website.

 

Cleveland Metropark Zoo Babies

 

I saw the baby onager when I visited in July, what a cutie.

 

The Colobus Monkeys are now in the old leopard exhibit next to monkey island. Monkey Island moat has been drained.

 

Monkey Island is being removed. This is what I heard several months ago.

 

I thought that Monkey Island was a nice mixed exhibit. Well, that's too bad.

 

Monkey Island has been on the chopping block for decades. It wasn't a good enclosure for anything and there was significant concern over the lack of enrichment and shelter for the animals. Its a big concrete structure in the direct sun. The only reasons it's remained were lack of ideas/funding for the space (why else dump the arboreal Colobus monkeys on a treeless island) and the historic significance (1930s WPA project.)
In the Metroparks exhibit schematic that's been floating around the thread the structure was incorporated into an expanded rhino yard. But since the plans for Asian Highlands didn't exist at the time and look nothing like that schematic . . . who knows? I'd like to see it creatively used in a new exhibit but I'm not a zoo designer.

 

I think it’s demise is connected to the new cheetah exhibit. They are going to need more land than just the Ryan’s Land area. There is to be a new building for the public on this project too. Final details has not been released yet. The major question will be is where the island’s residents will end up.

 

I meant that it was a nice mix of species, not a good quality exhibit, but a nice selection for the exhibit.

 

From Andi Kornak at CMZ:

Thank you for your inquiry about monkey island. Moving colobus to the old Amur leopard habitat was a decision based on giving the colobus opportunity to have a more complex habitat that allows them a choice to have access outdoors overnight. We are currently undergoing evaluation on how to proceed with the island since it no longer meets modern zoological standards.

 

From Travis Vineyard at CMZ:

Appreciate your inquiry into the future of Monkey Island.

We actually revitalized the former Amur leopard exhibit for the Colobus monkeys. The space affords more benefits to the Colobus than the island.

In addition to other ideas, a new cheetah exhibit has been considered for that general area. However, we are still in the process of evaluating what would be most impactful for the species we care for.

 

It is interesting to me that they have said Cheetah's will happen in 2019 and we have not heard an announcement yet. I wonder if that means there will not be extensive construction.

 

Is the exhibit going to be in Africa?

 

It is not on the Metroparks board agenda for next week’s meeting. So the wait continues. If they are waiting for Akron to announce Pride of Africa, it could be a while.