This post is the continuation of the previous post.
The blogger started typing slow, and not sure if that would affected reading scroll, so I decided to continue in a separate post. Plus these posts are so long, having a break between is probably a good thing for anyone who's reading all my ramblings about things that probably won't ever get done.
Above is where I left off in the previous post.
Below is where I'm continuing.
The area showing N is the former Otter Pool, currently occupied by Western Pond Turtles. The space O shows adjacent area with seemingly usable space.
I would like to see the return of Otters. Sadly we lost the last Otter friend due to old age. They are a popular species that people still ask about.
I've always thought this could be a larger enclosure. There is space adjacent that seems usable. I've always hated that drop to a lower pool. I especially hate it for the Turtles that currently live there, even though I was assured it's not dangerous. I'd like to see a larger pool, improved night quarters and a good size landscaped land space.
I love seeing the Turtles and want them to remain on exhibit. I cover thoughts on another location, in the event something changes at old Otters. That idea is at the end of the post.
The area shown for P and Q, is an in use enclosure and an unused space. The enclosure labeled P is the current home for the Francois Langurs and Q is a small grass area adjacent to the backside of Langurs going north (across the path from Mandrills).
Expanded view of grass area, Mandrills across path in upper right corner.
I have long hated the Langur enclosure, which is a series of cages. It's archaic and there is nothing natural, only caging, cement floor, and no natural perching structures. They have items for enrichment, so they are not lacking, but there is a definite Need for a better home, because this current set-up is bleak.
My thought is a redesign and combined use of the P/Q space. This photo is a closer look at the space. It looks like it could fit two Monkey enclosures (Aviary style?) (in yellow) along the path, facing the Mandrills, or with one across corner, while still keeping existing tree intact. New night quarters (in blue) built behind in the space of the cages, knocking down the current night quarters, which would expand the space of Q. If it could fit two enclosures, that would provide for another species of Monkey, which would benefit the collection as Monkeys are probably the most asked for Animal.
The space R shows the former Eagle/Previous Patas Monkeys. This space has been vacant for near four years, with the exception of a briefly housing the Grey Fox. Its massively overgrown and needs an occupant. Many years ago I fantasized about a small group of Foxes freed from Fur Farms, being rescued by the Zoo. In more recent times, after seeing our Grey Fox here, I thought this would be a good space. Now, I'm not sure a public setting is a good thing for Animals that have come from that kind of situation.
I was told years ago it can not house Monkeys open air like this anymore (?), and I do not see the Zoo spending money to net this space to again house Monkeys.
That said, after seeing the massive (for their size) enclosure for the Radiated Tortoises at Madagascar, I immediately thought about new locations for the Aldabra Tortoises and subsequently the Galapagos Tortoises, after I witnessed a seemingly tight squeeze out the door from their current night quarters next to Pudu. While I had been thinking of the Farm location space V, for the Aldabras, I thought of here for the Galapagos, or vice versa. So, as I've more recently thought of a seemingly perfect place for the Galapagos, this leaves the thought of this space possibly for the Aldabras? I'd love to see the Aldabras in R, the former Eagle/previous Patas Monkey enclosure. It's huge, has great barriers, and would seemingly take little work (filling in perimeter ditches?), unless there is a night quarter issue (I know nothing about inside holding area here). I also don't know if the plants are ok for them, or if it would need a huge landscaping redo.
Whatever the Zoo decides, I hope they decide it soon, because this is an unused seemingly ready enclosure. If they don't go with moving the Tortoises here, I hope they can find another Species to occupy this enclosure, it's been empty too long, and it's a seemingly good enclosure.
The above space S/T is the site of Triple Grotto. Should be familiar to regular readers as I've posted overhead mock-ups of what to do with this site many times. The space labeled S currently houses Orangutans in North and Middle Grottos, and T is vacant South Grotto and adjacent large never used space.
No mock-up this time. Just noting (again) this is a focal point of the Zoo. When the Orangutans vacate it to move to the former Chimpanzees home, this huge site will be an eyesore, so the Zoo needs to start fundraising for it's redesign. That said, someone recently said something in conversation about this scenario that admittedly never crossed my mind. I only zeroed in on Orangutans "moving". The person assumed, the Orangutans would also have access to Triple Grotto. Whether this is something that is in the plan, until there is a definite plan for Triple Grotto construction, it should be. This would solve the eyesore of a fence around the site, and it would allow for actual use of the skytrails as intended, even if not permanently.
In my opinion, the redesign of this site should have a large landscaped open air enclosure and new night quarter building, for the return if Chimpanzees. A dayroom is optional, but a covered area in the yard area would give place for Chimps to escape inclement weather and still be on view. I would like to see at least one, but there's probably room for two, Aviary style enclosures for Siamangs, and/or Gibbons in the southern area. The later can be added afterward, as funds become available, and shouldn't be an issue to Chimps as new night quarter or dayroom wall could be a division that would dilute construction noise enough? In my opinion a priority should be the return of Chimpanzees to Our Zoo.
The U space shows the current Aldabra Tortoise enclosure. If the Zoo is planning on keeping them for life, Ida and Earl need a bigger home. They aren't called Giant Tortoises for nothing. This pair came to the Zoo what seemed like a bit larger than a paper plate, about the size of the Radiated Tortoises. They have grown significantly, and will double in size over the next ten years. These Friends are going to need a bigger home. I've thought this for awhile, as I've watched them grow. Their night quarters don't have much space, and in winter they spend a lot of time in there. At some point, like the current Galapagos, the door is going to be a tight squeeze.
After seeing the massive (for their size) enclosure for the Radiated Tortoises at Madagascar, I immediately thought about new locations for the Aldabras. I wrote about one option for the Aldabras in the paragraphs covering location space R, which if appropriate would be my first choice. It's not only ready made, but safer from public access.
The other thought is the space labeled V. This space was a Duck Pond that was sadly filled in. It became a fatal danger to Waterfowl that became victims of night predators. That seemingly could have been fixed by building them night quarters? I had fantasized that with night quarters and barrier it could be a pond for rescued Domestic Ducks that get abandoned in our parks. Nothing has really come of this space. It was tagged as a garden that would grow usable vegetation, but that seems to have failed, as it just looks like weeds now. If the R location isn't appropriate, with decent barriers and a night house, maybe this could be a location for the Tortoises? If so, my only issue would be making it a double barrier or something so public could not have close reach access to them. People at the Farm always trying to touch them, and they would be unattended in this location.
The W shows the space adjacent to the Sand Corral at the Farm. It's located behind a fence, outside of public view. I used to spend a lot of time at the Farm, and the Alpacas often spent their mornings in this back Grass Corral (Pasture), which is visible from the fencing that borders the parking lot (view in the above photo), and the fence by the women's restroom.
It wasn't until Slider the Cow arrived near ten years ago, that this set-up really bothered me. Why did that change? He was left out there, sometimes all day, and at least half of all the other days, and he was alone. After he finished eating and grazing, he stood staring at the fence, knowing the other Animals were on the other side. How do I know this? At the time I was visiting about three times a week. I would go to the parking lot fence and talk to him, as too often that would be the only time I could see him. Slider was one of my besties, and this broke my heart. He needed to at least see Friends. Slider needed a "Howdy Window". I asked the Asst Curator if he could remove part of the fencing and make a full panel open so he could see out into the other area and not feel like he was alone. The idea was immediately ok'd, but it took a year of reminding, for it to finally happen. Slider was so happy! His Donkey Friends came by as soon as they saw it, so it was enriching from both sides.
The Asst Curator liked it, and he expressed plans to expand it. Not long after I suggested taking out the whole fence line, so the whole Corral was openly visible to the public, and to enclose it with fencing from the parking lot side, so the employee work area was not in view. Unfortunately, that expansion project never happened. I bring it up again now, as the majority of the time the Mini-Horses are not viewable. They are either in back in the Grass Corral, or stuck in their night area. I'd like to see the back Corral become front facing, making it inclusive to the area, and visible to the public.
Another thought I forgot to include at the start of this now very long post, is about the Western Pond Turtles. In text about space N/O, I talked about the return if Otters, but what about the current Turtle occupants? This is my thought. Turtles are a big lifetime favorite of mine. I had a beloved one my whole childhood to young adult. So I love seeing them, and want them to stay on exhibit. I also think it's important since they are a part of Our Zoo's hands-on Conservation efforts.
This space above is the location currently called Amphibian Alley. When it was repurposed from the former Komodo Terrarium, it was called California Conservation Corridor I think. Once again renaming it by dropping California, this area can showcase and highlight the Conservation efforts, and do so by including the Western Pond Turtles (again)? I think they were once on exhibit there in a small spaces no pool.
Now that they have been enjoying the large pool in former Otters, they should always have a good sized pool. There is a sizable area outside the Alley, partially shown in the first photo, and expanded to show the whole space. This is seemingly an ideal location for an enclosure. Obviously a new build, that has the space to include a good size pool, and land space.
Apologies for the length of these two posts. Some of you know my mind has been in Fix Our Zoo mode for near fifteen years, when I fantasized about giving Wishbone the Andean Bear a soft surface enclosure, and building Our Chimpanzees a new home.
That said, I've now decided to do a third in the series that covers Madagascar.
I realize some of my thoughts/ideas will be of no interest to many, but at least I got them out of my mind, and maybe something will be an option for the Zoo to explore. It's happened before.
That all said, Our Zoo has no money. Since I am currently not a Multi-Millionaire, most of these ideas may not ever materialize. In reality, it will be some time before we see any new builds. I hope Our Zoo will soon start to see a turnaround and at the very least focus on filling empty enclosures. A Zoo can't expect to attract repeat Visitors, and Our Zoo needs Visitor money.
Thank you to whoever read both parts of this long post. Much appreciate it.
Previous/Related Post:
*That Part Two! - What I Think Our Zoo Needs aka What I'd Like To See
Next/Related Post: Coming Soon!
*MADagascar Disaster Needs Help - What I Think It Needs aka What I'd Like To See
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