Well I guess that the zoo has to make money some way even if it gets government funding. While I’m 100% opposed to Children’s zoos costing extra, in St. Louis’s case the zoo is free so I find it hard to complain about a $4 fee.
Not sure if anyone is having this problemThe website for the San Diego Zoos new children zoo no longer works under the Fund exhibits page on the San Diego Zooor the San Diego Zoo Safari Parks website.
The Children's Zoo will be closing Feb. 4th, 2019. I will be sad to see the hummingbird enclosure gone. I can't wait to see what the new Children's Zoo will bring us.
Yes, indeed....a hidden gem.......I wonder how easy it will be to view hummingbirds in a new high profile exhibit....with kids everywhere. So glad I visited in 2018 and got to spend some quality time in the old house before it goes.
Anybody else thinks that this new project does not measure up to expectations? I understand the obsession with avoiding lawsuits and all, but having no exhibit to actually touch and pet animals is disappointing. As is a stream with artificial fish, whatever these will be. And does one really need to go to San Diego zoo to see a cutoff beehive? I had seen one in my local nature centre, put casually into the wall of a bird hide. I hoped for something matching Chinese zoos - a chance to get close with large and rare wild animals - only done with respect to animal welfare. A child in China can feed a brown bear, touch a red panda or make a selfie sitting on a walrus. The effect on making children fascinated with wildlife is obvious. A zoo like San Diego could do similar things without compromising welfare of animals or safety of people.
I would have to weigh in that actually touching a few critters be they goats, or guinea pigs or such is one of the two primary reasons for a childrens zoo. Kinda disappointing though I'm sure I will somehow manage.
'The effect on making children fascinated with wildlife is obvious' - having visited a lot of Chinese zoos I'm not sure this is true at all. Indeed, a lot of the increased interaction opportunities at Chinese zoos are a result of a lack of awareness or consideration of animal welfare issues; if anything I think this problem is reinforced not reduced by zoos here.
The station is actually outside of the children's zoo, but a large area around the children's zoo is also being redeveloped. I would be surprised if they shut it down, as it is a major way to move people across the zoo.
I will also be extremely sad to see the Hummingbird exhibit gone, it was the one exhibit I missed when I went to the zoo and from what I heard it was one of the hidden gems of the zoo.
They have not announced anything about specific opening dates beyond projected years. I would not expect any specific announcements until construction is in the end stages and they know that it is ready to go. Sometimes even when things are announced they get delayed. Africa Rocks was delayed for many months beyond the initially announced opening.
