Kansas City Zoo Kansas City Zoo News

I agree, especially the chimp area, by far the best in the US. But the public don't like walking (or shoving strollers) for the miles it takes to get there and back. It does get very hot and uncomfortable in KC in the summer

 

Well too bad for the public. At the Miami Metrozoo, which I just visited today one has to walk probably two miles to get back to the African Elephant, Black Rhino, and some sort of monkey exhibits. None of which are anything spectacular like KC's brilliant chimp exhibit. Not to mention in Miami today it was a humid 88 degrees at the beginning of April

 

Without the public, zoos: 1. Don't have a real reason to exist, and 2. Won't survive. It's too bad that Americans are fatter and lazier than ever (especially in the midwest).

Miami's original layout and cookie-cutter exhibits are not ideal by any means, and they know it, as can be evidenced by the investment of over $60 million in the Wings of Asia and Amazon and Beyond.

And at least in Miami you can go to the beach when it's crazy hot

 

The plunge in attendance at the Kansas City Zoo is shocking, especially the fact that the numbers nosedived by more than half! I've always heard terrific things about the huge chimpanzee habitat, but the zoo is similar to Dallas in that the vast bulk of the exhibits are of African animals and there is not a wide variety from other continents. There are animals from all across the world, but the bulk of them are African, and having that section of the zoo only open seasonally is a massive disappointment.

 

At least Kansas City does not have any exhibits as outdated as Dallas Zoo's terrible elephant or giraffe paddocks.

 

Another article about the zoo's preparation for the new Tropics House.

KC Zoo readies its tropical jungle - Kansas City Star

 

Here is an article about the Kansas City Zoos' new viewing decks and indoor lion viewing area.

Now You Can Get Up Close And Personal With Kansas City Zoos Lions Zoo and Aquarium Visitor News

 

From ANyhuis: Maybe this will be a good answer for this very good zoo

I certainly hope so. With the new viewing decks and rainforest display, the Kansas City Zoo will have more opportunities to attract visitors and provide them additional relief from the summer sun.

 

Here is an article about the new "Tropics" exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo.

Kansas City Zoo Opens A New Indoor Rainforest Exhibit On Friday Zoo and Aquarium Visitor News

Expect more articles in the coming days.

 

Can you provide us with a species list for the Tropics House?

 

from okapikpr "Can you provide us with a species list for the Tropics House?"

Here is the list of known animals for the Tropics exhibit.

Mammals

Asian Short-clawed Otter
Blue Monkey
Capybara
Golden Lion Tamarin
Mona Monkey
Saki Monkey
Tamandua?
White-cheeked Gibbon

Birds

Crested Screamer
Green Aracari
Ruddy Quail Dove
Toucan - Keel-billed?

Fish

Freshwater Stingray

I believe there may be few more species of animals living in this exhibit, but I won't know for sure until the zoo release more details and after I visit the zoo which won't be for some time.

 

thanks for the list!

 

A link that shows a handful of photos of the species in the new tropical house. A building from 1909 comes back to life!

Tour of "Tropics" at the Kansas City Zoo - Photo Gallery - Kansas City Star

 

The new Tropics exhibit opens today.

New indoor Tropics exhibit at KC Zoo to open today - Kansas City Star

 

from snowleopard A link that shows a handful of photos of the species in the new tropical house. A building from 1909 comes back to life!



Though I wish they would have given more details about the exhibit, the pictures will do for now.

Did anyone notice the picture of the African spurred tortoises. It nice to know that there at least one species of reptile in this exhibit, even though this particular species is found in the deserts and savannas of Northern Africa rather the tropics.

 

Here is a video clip of the Kansas City Zoos' Tropics exhibit.

Indoor Tropics exhibit opens at KC Zoo

 

Another news article

'Primate-palooza' greets visitors to new KC zoo exhibit - Kansas City Star

 

Designs are up for the new polar bear exhibit that will be located at the zoo entrance.

http://www.kcmo.org/ads.nsf/eb0743e765fb8f8a86256cca005d9e23/4f38a1e668743e96862575ad0054777d/$FILE/Sht%20004-A003.pdf

POLAR BEAR EXHIBIT

 

2009 zoo map...

http://www.kansascityzoo.org/_FileLibrary/FileImage/2009 Map.pdf