I think that nearly everyone can agree that the Islands region of the Columbus Zoo is its most lackluster, with nothing within it being quite what it could have been, not in the slightest, the poorly executed boat ride. While I definitely believe that the dinosaurs detract even further from this region of the zoo (although that does not mean that I despise these dinosaur displays, as so many people do. I definitely see their value and am usually indifferent to them, as long as they do not disrupt animal areas, which this display does), I absolutely welcome their return in place of that god-awful animatronic pirate display; it was truly a hot mess. I sincerely hope that, eventually, the zoo will be able to revisit and revise this region of the zoo, improving both its animal and visitor spaces, making these ploys to get people to actually ride the boat ride no longer necessary.
28-year-old female "Kulinda", to be specific. She was humanely euthanized this morning after a continued decline in health after being diagnosed with iron storage disease a little over a year ago.
Does the zoo have another rhino? Also based on my visit last week I'm pretty sure the sun bears are gone. Can you confirm this?
From what I know the sun bears are rotating with a sloth bear. Then again, they are a phase out species so I'm not 100% sure.
Rosie, the other female rhino should still be there. I haven't seen the sunbears in a very long time but yes they've said they are on a rotation with the slothbear.
Just now saw this thread and did not know Colo died. How sad. I grew up in Columbus during the 50's and felt like she was one of my playmates. I begged mom & dad to take me to go see her all the time. I remember seeing her in the nursery they built just for her, and what a huge deal her birth was. I also had the pleasure of her father, Baron, throwing poo at me in the old ape house (thank goodness for the glass they put up). Colo blazed the way for all the gorillas we now see in zoos. I for one shall truely miss her. Just curious, did they bury her at the zoo? Or what did they do with her body?
I just visited the Columbus zoo today, I think it is overall a great zoo (though I didn't get to see the islands) but my only complaint is the small enclosure for the arctic foxes. I was disappointing by the fact many animals weren't outside, but it's winter. One of the nicest zoos I've been to, though
This is my favorite zoo I have been to so far, but you honestly have to go spring/summer to see it all. I've gone a couple times in winter or early spring and been disappointed with sections of the zoo being closed off. As you mentioned the Islands, and the new African section only being open during the summer. But because you didn't mention that area being closed off, maybe that has changed.
After visiting as a photographer for a few years now, it's not worth visiting to me unless Heart of Africa is open, the lorikeets are out, and if the birds in the Congo Forest are out. I still do visit though at this time of year for the tigers, bears, and the migratory bird aviary. Overall, it isn't ideal to visit at this time of the year but it's still the second best zoo I've been to.
On my last visit last month, the entire Africa section was actually open but not a single animal was out. Which was quite infuriating becayse the temperature was unusually warm that dayand my local zoo displays these types of animals in even lower temperatures. The zoo however, does cut off access to the otters and the orangutans.
The zoo set a new single-day attendance record yesterday with their traditional Presidents Day free admission... Nearly 64,000 guests came through the gates. The previous single-day record stood at 37,000. Warm weather, free admission help Columbus Zoo shatter attendance record
The lions are often out on exhibit in warmer weather; the main savanna exhibit, though, is closed even if access is available to view it. The Zoo uses the winter months to allow the grass ad other vegetation a chance to reestablish itself after the summer months.
Two Luzon bleeding-hearts hatched on Christmas Eve and are now on exhibit in the Roadhouse aviary. Videos of the polar bear cubs' first time exploring outside:
Two dama gazelles were born in February. The female was born on Feb. 4 to mother Layla, and the male was born on Feb. 6 to mother Gwen. Both calves’ father is Zultan.
