I have a feeling these small mammal habitats will include binturongs (in Asia) ocelots (in South America, although tayras and ringtails would be nice) and bat eared foxes (in Africa)
The animal collection has dropped by half (500 animals to 250 animals) and a lot of formerly lush exhibits have become barren and/or empty. The king vulture exhibit had the well foliated tree cut down and ugly metal panels installed over half the fencing for the red panda loan (the vultures are now back but the damage is permanent). The new gibbon exhibit (which is now lemur because the gibbons didn't acclimate) has ugly tubes and a jarring metal staircase - completely unnatural but built because transer tubes are the latest craze in American zoos. You can read more on the comments on these two photos from my recent visit: american alligator exhibit | ZooChat pool and waterfall GONE | ZooChat
A lot of it is in the two walk-in aviaries. The South America aviary used to have over a dozen species and the Flight Connection a couple dozen species. Now there are half a dozen species in each (or so it seemed to me). The guanaco/llama are gone and the capybaras and crested screamers were moved from their (now empty) exhibit to the guanaco yard. The former exhibit had the only underwater capybara viewing I have seen and now that's unused. The macaw island is now empty and the perch removed. The dwarf caiman and pacu (fish) no longer has caiman so only fish are present (with the land area going to waste). The warty pigs were shipped out and the crowned cranes that were mixed with zebra/ostrich were moved into that exhibit. And so on...
Ugh that does not sound good. So much empty space, yet focusing mostly on expansion rather than maximizing their existing exhibits. Like adding a 3rd large aviary, while the other 2 are underfilled. Also to waste some of those exhibits that seemed perfectly adequate in the South American section is irritating. It seems the zoo has been thinking longterm, yet not have any cohesive plan for the short term. Say if you want to replace the asian section, whats the point of leaving that space empty for years, when you can display more animals and help of SSP's in the mean time. Also it costs almost nothing to have extra species of bird in each of the aviaries? So why limit their collection, especially if they are planned to stay longterm?
Here is a short article about the zoo's 10 year masterplan: Reid Park Zoo, Arizona, announces 10-year masterplan | blooloop
Here is a recent article (zoo blog) on current changes and plans. If you don't want to click the link here is a short summary: a new viewing window and perch log have been added to otter exhibit for eye level viewing and more support staff have been added. This includes grounds/maintenance staff and (in my opinion especially crucial) a full time staff veterinarian. Up until now the zoo has always contracted out with a local veterinarian hospital. Zoo Sales Tax Dollars Hard at Work Building Bigger Spaces and Creating Smiling Faces, Reid Park Zoo And here is the page where the zoo posts construction updates: Construction Updates, Reid Park Zoo
Like many zoos in the United States, Reid Park is currently offering an annual Christmas light display. However they have just announced a new night event that will run in February and March. It's an Asian Lantern Festival (to coincide with Chinese New Year?) that will feature "over 40 colorful, customized lantern displays..." Asian Lantern Festival, Reid Park Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo had an Asian Lantern Festival this past summer when I visited; I did not see it at night but the giant inflatable lanterns were rather impressive during the day too.
I suppose it is easier to have a night event in February-March in Tucson than it is in Cleveland! @geomorph do you have any idea how the attendance was at the Cleveland lantern festival?
