Calgary Zoo expansion plans

[octothorp]

Calgary zoo expansion plans are back on.

http://www.calgaryzoo.ab.ca/images/s...ws-release.pdf

Some highlights:
The Pandas will be taking over the space currently occupied by the elephants, who will be leaving within a year. (On CBC they talked about that space possibly being slated for orangutans at the end of the Pandas' stay).
A new home for Japanese snow monkeys and takins (himalyan antelopes) and a new tiger habitat, occupying the current prehistoric park. Also there's going to be a significant new lemur enclosure.

Also, polar bears are back in the plans, as well as seals. The polar-bears are obviously going to be controversial, given how badly they were managed last time the zoo had them. So I expect that this time around we'll see something on the scale of the Toronto zoo's large polar bear enclosure.

With all of these plans, no funding has yet been secured. The previously-planned arctic shores exhibit was axed due to lack of funding, and several elements of that exhibit are rolled into this.

I'm going to try to get down to the zoo today and check out the plans in person.

[JiriHrdina]

Big fan of the plans to use the Prehistoric park for snow monkeys and other animals from Asia. And the lemur exhibit sounds cool.

Bringing back seals and Polar Bears is also well overdue

But why does everyone get excited about Pandas? They are boring as hell. No different than any other bear except different colors. Wow.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Big fan of the plans to use the Prehistoric park for snow monkeys and other animals from Asia. And the lemur exhibit sounds cool.

Bringing back seals and Polar Bears is also well overdue

But why does everyone get excited about Pandas? They are boring as hell. No different than any other bear except different colors. Wow.

I was going to respond that pandas are not actually bears, but I see that they have now been confirmed to be bears. So, I'll go along with you!

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Big fan of the plans to use the Prehistoric park for snow monkeys and other animals from Asia. And the lemur exhibit sounds cool.

Bringing back seals and Polar Bears is also well overdue

But why does everyone get excited about Pandas? They are boring as hell. No different than any other bear except different colors. Wow.

Yeah, I'm with you 100%. I'm more excited about the idea that we might get orangutans after the pandas leave.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

I was going to respond that pandas are not actually bears, but I see that they have now been confirmed to be bears. So, I'll go along with you!

There was a debate that Pandas were more closely related to racoons, but now they have gone back to being bear relatives.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

But why does everyone get excited about Pandas? They are boring as hell. No different than any other bear except different colors. Wow.

They are rare, and as herbivores they are much less threatening than other bears.

[polak]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

But why does everyone get excited about Pandas? They are boring as hell. No different than any other bear except different colors. Wow.

F*** those Zebras too.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

.....

But why does everyone get excited about Pandas? They are boring as hell. No different than any other bear except different colors. Wow.

I would've agreed with you until I spent time at a Panda research base in China. They are simply one of the most interesting animals I've ever observed in terms of expression in their faces and eyes. It's tough to explain, but they gave me the impression of knowing exactly what was going on all around them. No other bear I've ever seen is anything like a Panda.

[You Need a Thneed]

I want blue whales!

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by SebC

They are rare, and as herbivores they are much less threatening than other bears.

Non-threatening=boring

[polak]

Cheetas are still the coolest animal I've ever seen in person. Got to see one run at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I would've agreed with you until I spent time at a Panda research base in China. They are simply one of the most interesting animals I've ever observed in terms of expression in their faces and eyes. It's tough to explain, but they gave me the impression of knowing exactly what was going on all around them. No other bear I've ever seen is anything like a Panda.

Agreed. I was there recently, and they are just very interesting to observe. The combination of being incredibly cute, bumbling almost, and having some human-like tendencies (eg sitting, laying down, eating, etc) makes them very compelling to watch. I don't doubt that they will be incredibly popular when they arrive here.

[Northendzone]

i hope the plans also include keeping the animals alive and locking the doors to the exhibits.

[The Goon]

I'm a little bummed they didn't follow my suggestion of a zone where you could wrestle different animals.

[Huntingwhale]

I want some Ligers

[Puppet Guy]

this zoo needs a chupacabra.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Big fan of the plans to use the Prehistoric park for snow monkeys and other animals from Asia. And the lemur exhibit sounds cool.

Bringing back seals and Polar Bears is also well overdue

But why does everyone get excited about Pandas? They are boring as hell. No different than any other bear except different colors. Wow.

Have you ever tasted Panda?

Delicious

[octothorp]

Based on this rendering, here's some things I notice: new tiger enclosure is massive. Snow monkeys and snow leopards also get big upgrades in space. Looks like the Red River Hogs (which the zoo has been really successful in breeding) get a place of their own, with meerkats moving into their former space. Arctic foxes weren't mentioned in the press release but they're on the map, and they're an awesome animal to watch. The bear enclosures are huge, too. Glad to see the owl aviary will still be there, it's one of the best parts of the zoo. But are the musk oxes going to be phased out? Too bad, I liked them. I had also really hoped that beavers would be in the new Canadian Wilds section, but no mention of them. (though there's an unassigned small north american mammal space. Fingers crossed...) The tropical house looks larger than any other existing building in the zoo. I imagine a lot of the animals currently in the South America building will be moved there. Also, great that they're opening up the swinging bridge again: having two bridges will greatly improve walkability of the zoo. Dinny's green is in a very different place than where he currently stands. Will he be relocated?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I want blue whales!

I want a giant water tank where Sperm whales and Giant squids duke it out.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I would've agreed with you until I spent time at a Panda research base in China. They are simply one of the most interesting animals I've ever observed in terms of expression in their faces and eyes. It's tough to explain, but they gave me the impression of knowing exactly what was going on all around them. No other bear I've ever seen is anything like a Panda.

Where did you go for that? And was it after the earthquake a few years ago.
My wife really wants to go to China to see the pandas so I am starting to look into the trip.