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ABQ BioPark Zoo ABQ BioPark Zoo (aka Rio Grande Zoo / Albuquerque Zoo)

Discussion in 'United States' started by okapikpr, 20 Jun 2009.

  1. Tim Brown

    Tim Brown Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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  2. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    This is a good move. The Tropical America building stank horribly. As soon as you entered you were hit with a foul odor and I have actually seen guests walk in the door, take one whiff, and turn around and walk out. Also rainforest monkeys in cement cages (even made to look like cliffs) is not very tropical.
     
  3. Tim Brown

    Tim Brown Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    And the bandstand is of course a triumphal monument to zoological achievement!Its not too difficult to stop a building smelling you know..and virtually any cage can be easily improved at comparatively little cost.
     
  4. snowleopard

    snowleopard Well-Known Member 15+ year member Premium Member

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    My impression of the Tropical House was that it actually wasn't too bad, with 4-5 primate species and a variety of other animals native to the Americas. Also, the facility had a fairly "jungle-like" appearance and here is a photo from my 2011 visit:

    http://www.zoochat.com/941/tropical-america-202275/

    Having said that, penguins are zoo superstars and traditionally bring in the crowds in such vast numbers that many zoos in the USA have been "renting" penguins for the summer in temporary exhibits.
     
  5. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Anyone have any idea where the younger white rhino female L(o)u L(o)u ended up?

    It seems the zoo only has the older female and the White Oak's born bull rhino Chopper?
     
  6. Milwaukee Man

    Milwaukee Man Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  7. Milwaukee Man

    Milwaukee Man Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  8. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    The most important part of the above news link is that it says they added 1400 square feet to the exhibit. This is a most welcome and needed addition indeed.
     
  9. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Here is an older article from last October announcing the death of the previous lions. In addition to mentioning the lion expansion (into an adjacent yard), it also says they will build a new jaguar exhibit across from the lions before acquiring new lions. I assume this would be the kangaroo yard (formerly cheetah yard). Does anyone know if this actually happened?
    Tigers and bears but no lions (oh my) | Albuquerque Journal
     
  10. Zooplantman

    Zooplantman Well-Known Member

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  11. Milwaukee Man

    Milwaukee Man Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  12. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    I was hoping for a more substantial renovation of the exhibit. But the article says all they will do is add more dirt and a platform and paint a mural on the back wall.
     
  13. WLV30SAS

    WLV30SAS Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    So progress has begun with this, the new expanded yard (Former Emu exhibit) is under construction for the lions, and the kangaroos are also off exhibit for the other project. The Emus have now been relocated to Australia and are in the old Ankole exhibit which has also been remodeled.
     
  14. WLV30SAS

    WLV30SAS Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Lots of little projects

    The Rio Grande Zoo has a lot of little projects going on upon my last visit 7/16/16.

    Many of the monkeys have been rotated into different exhibits with the spider monkeys being moved to monkey exhibit near the raptors exhibits, those monkeys (Species slipping my mind) moved to the Howler Monkey exhibit, and Howler monkeys being relocated tot he tropical America Building.

    Under the new leadership of the reptile house, a slow shift from snakes to lizards is being seen with an increase of monitors and the new iguanas.

    Australia portion now has new Frog-mouths in one of the old kookaburra exhibits as well as royal parrots? in the other. Kookaburras are located in the lorikeet exhibit. The Emus have now been relocated to this area as well in the old ankole cattle exhibit and the kangaroos may be on the way with their yard in predators closed for construction.

    Siamang exhibit closed for rewiring after two escapes within 14 month span.

    Bobwhite quail added to the Birds of the Americas exhibit.

    African Slender snouted Crocodile now on exhibit next to Salt Water croc.
     
  15. WLV30SAS

    WLV30SAS Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  16. Milwaukee Man

    Milwaukee Man Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    vogelcommando Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  18. Milwaukee Man

    Milwaukee Man Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  20. WLV30SAS

    WLV30SAS Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    They were kept behind the scenes, and the docents would bring them out for walks in the public.