Madagascar, the MAD Vanity Project as I've called it for the eight years since it caused the removal of six species of Primates from Our Zoo. Then it went on to have a fence around it for as many years. It went through many design changes that started with the site banner below.
I don't remember reading the text portion, regarding the species set for the "center", as I later thought of Mongoose through my own research if endemic Mammals. Additionally, before his arrival, it was even rumored that an enclosure for the Pygmy Hippo would be built there, even though the species is not from Madagascar. It seemed additionally odd considering it was almost four years after that banner, and therefore begged the question, What happened to the actual Animals that were listed to have supposed to go there?
This project has been a scramble of ideas and execution since day one. The chaos and waste of funds is outrageous. The Zoo needs a new point person for overseeing Projects.
First, absolutely no more obscene amounts of funds should be spent on this crazy project. It needs to come together, and start looking cohesive in ways that can be done affordably and soon-ish. Madagascar needs help, because left as, it definitely looks unfinished, and therefore failed. My opinion is in no way reflective of the Fossa and Radiated Tortoises, both I enjoy, and am glad we have them. I have no hate for their enclosures. Overall my opinion is based on what I think this space could have been as a whole and for these species. How it turned out, is not what I expected for $7+ Million. The Fossa could have got that same enclosure for probably the tax on $7Mil, and the Tortoises could have continued to live at the ARC or joined the one living with the Sifaka. More was probably spent on the Rent-A-Fence that went around the space for six years, than on anything else. The Million Dollar Tree, no one needed. Ever.
Below is the complete layout. Unfortunately, Google Maps has not been update since before any construction was done.
A BBQ Pit
B Lemur Aviaries
C Radiated Tortoises
D Unused Space
E Fossa
F Former Aye Aye
G Unused Indoor Space
H Former Tamarins
I Sifaka
Approaching the area from Mandrills. There is no Madagascar signage from either side.
Overhead view of the BBQ Pit, moving towards top right is Radiated Tortoises, and the Unused Space D.
Above is the Unused Space D, which is pretty sizeable, and could house a small Mammal, or Bird species. It extends past utility box, to a decent sized area that could serve as a night quarters for whoever they might house in this space. That said, the other day I noticed a good deal of Bamboo plants holding there. I also heard of another area that is slated for a concentration of Bamboo. Hopefully this space is not going to be used to grow food for an Animal we don't, and may never have. Red Panda food, yes. Prospective Panda food, no.
Frankly, until this week, I didn't know what could be done with A, that BBQ Pit that they built there. Supposedly built for Staff to bring Tortoises out for the public to interact with. It has thankfully gone unused for that. Horrible idea!
That said, until the last couple days, my only thought was if they could salvage the masonry work, I'd knock it down it and use the stones out in front of the Zoo, to line the front of the chain link perimeter fence, after removing that wooden fence and the broken down pillars. Sorry, but that's what I think every time I see that crazy waste of money that has nothing to do with a Madagascar exhibit area. And, apologies for bringing that broken down fence into this.
All that BBQ Pit has provided is place for people to sit and have their lunch. It's ridiculous and an eyesore. It's been sitting there unused for what seems like over a year. It needs to be used for something, for now, maybe have one of the Interpretive Ambassadors, giving talks a few times a day about What's Happening Today At Our Zoo. I have another idea I'm going to sort out and possibly pitch, and that could also have a "talk" component in conjunction with it.
Basically, it needs to be active with something Zoo related and a sandwich board stating the activities. It just needs to make sense. Not be a blob of bricks for people to flail about in.
So, this week I had an idea that finally made sense. This area could be repurposed to house a Mammal or Bird species. Considering there is already a base (the Pit), adding stones to close the perimeter openings, filling the center in up to covering the seating area, and adding a containment barrier of netting above it, creating either a heightened enclosure for a mammal, or appropriate height for a Bird species. Adding a wood fencing barrier similar to Tortoises, to mainly keep people back from netting but would also visually tie-in with Tortoises. Only drawback is, if housing a Mammal, the night quarters would have to extend out, adjacent to the enclosure and that would look odd no matter where it was placed. Housing a Bird species if any, would seemingly work better since night quarters are small and usually incorporated into the enclosure.
After staring at the Pit, and thinking about the above idea, I went over and took another photo of the Unused Space D.
I've looked at it before but don't think I comprehended the size. It seems almost the same topical size as the Pit, if not slightly bigger. It can be built to also create a heightened space and most important has that extra space behind it that would seemingly be a better space for a night quarter. Imagining a Mammal enclosure here, is visually more pleasing than in the Pit space. As well, envisioning the flow for another Mammal species closer to the Fossa, and Tortoises, in what feels more like the front of the Madagascar area, seems more logical.
Three years ago, I noted in a post the suggestion that the Zoo try to get a Mongoose or Fanaloka. The Nashville Zoo had a birth of the later, a species I learned about when that birth happened the year prior. In reading about the Fanaloka, and Mongoose, both endemic to Madagascar, I learned more. The Fanaloka is nocturnal, so building an enclosure would probably require extra expenses. Even if they reopened the nocturnal area that previously housed Aye-Aye, I don't think its big enough. The Madagascar Ring-Tailed Vontsira, also called Mongoose, despite not being related to the Mongoose Family, is seemingly the best choice. It's arboreal, making it perfect for a vertical enclosure. Thing is, could be tough getting either, as both are rare, with reportedly only one Zoo holding each species.
All of it obviously depends on their plans and as funding permits, even for small scale builds. Hoping to one day see a Vontsira here, rounding out a trio of Animals in this area. It would make a huge difference to the aesthetics of this project.
The photos above show two views of the Lemur Aviaries. Top is from front side, taken from Lemur Boardwalk, the bottom is from backside, now viewable from Madagascar, between Tortoises and the BBQ Pit.
The reason I'm including this enclosure of an existing exhibit, is because the Zoo wrote in one of their email Newsletters months ago, maybe even last year, that we were getting a breeding pair of Blue-Eyed Black Lemurs. They also recently announced the arrival of a male and female of that same species. I have not confirmed if the same pair or not. In the original Newsletter mention, it noted that the breeding pair would be off-exhibit. Basically, the public would never see them or their off-spring. Myself and Members were not happy that babies would not be visible.
Not knowing if this breeding pair would be housed within the exhibit night quarters, with the other Lemurs in this area, or off exhibit at FCC, I looked at this view. I thought, if they were housed in this area, maybe they could have them and offspring on limited view from the Madagascar side. With the more recent notation that the new arrivals would be living in one of these aviaries, hopefully it's this one that is closest to Tortoises, and that there will be signage to call attention to the area, which would make it inclusive to the Madagascar side.
This photo shows the now empty former Tamarin housing. There are three enclosures, though I can't remember ever seeing the middle one viewable, but may have been in use as a route to night quarters. While not part of the MAD teardown, both species of Tamarin (Pied and Emperor), and their Patas Monkey neighbors were transferred out. Since then there have been Animals taken from other areas and randomly put here, even though in my opinion inappropriate housing, with the exception of the last Squirrel Monkey, a super senior who seemed to thrive there, until he was transferred to a Squirrel Monkey Sanctuary.
I'd like to see this area back to housing at least one Tamarin Species, maybe using the whole run, if they are connected. They were fun to watch and popular. I have not heard there is any issue with the enclosures, so again, not sure why they left to begin with, and not sure why they have not been acquired again. Leaving this empty does not seem like the logical thing to do, especially with how Madagascar turned out, populating this area can only help the optics.
The above photo, shows the old Aye-Aye enclosure entrance. About where the partition is, is where the lower part of the Fossa enclosure starts. You can see the door is still there. As well one of the stabilization beams, is still painted with related species, including the Aye-Aye.
The three Aye-Aye were transferred out some time before Madagascar became a project. I don't remember ever hearing there was an issue with the enclosure. That said, considering the Aye-Aye are endemic to Madagascar, it's curious to me that this was never reopened (even if it needed repair work), and a featured part of this project. I loved seeing the Aye-Ayes. Housing this Nocturnal species provided for a cool and different exhibit. I think it would be an asset to the area.
When the Fossa enclosure was built, as I understand, it was going to house both Fossa (the male lives off exhibit at FCC). While I have seen the male, and would have liked to know him, thankfully, that didn't happen. The enclosure size in my opinion, is barely enough for one. Splitting it in half, as they would be housed separately, would be too small. That said, night quarters were allegedly built in the building, with an access point visible from the lower part of the enclosure. I've asked if the Aye-Aye exhibit is still intact, and it seemingly is. If that is accurate, there should be a plan to reopen this exhibit, whether as a nocturnal enclosure, or not. With Aye-Aye, or another species, like Tenrec (which I thought we already had?), not only to possibly bring back fan favorite Aye-Aye, but to have another actual Mammal from Madagascar in the Madagascar area.
This is the outside of the Unused Indoor space. This space was previously used as a gift shop, but has been vacant since way before Madagascar.
Looking inside, you can see it is a decent sized space, that has not been kept-up. I took this recently, and curiously the Living Wall panel seems to still be alive, as opposed to few years ago, it had been neglected and looked brown and dry.
I remembered hearing there was a roof issue. I took this last week, and the roof indeed looks in bad shape. Unfortunate, because I have what I think is a great idea for this space.
Over ten years ago I had one of my best ideas. I researched it and no other Zoo was doing it. I've held on to that original idea ever since. I told a couple people, and they agreed it's a good one. I still hope to share it one day, but I still haven't let go of the need to be involved in seeing it to fruition. That would have never happened while Tanya Peterson was still Director.
I've continued to hold it close, even though I shared it once, but in hindsight I don't remember or understand why I would have. I pitched it to the former Deputy Director, suggesting this space. He was interested, but I procrastinated in writing it out for him, and when I followed-up, he said this space was now going to be used for Malagasy (Madagascar) Exhibit. Some things work out as they should. It would have been a horrible experience for me to have had this happen while Peterson was still at the helm, and therefore without me helping see the vision through. Additionally, I thought of a better space, and will continue to hold on to it, unless a satisfying opportunity presents itself. That said, this space, has sat vacant for eight+ years.
I shared the above, because the idea I have for this space, was born out if my original idea that I mentioned. I think this is another original, and what I like most about it, is that it would create an interestingly positioned hub, that I think would pull the area together, and detract a bit from the lingering failure of other aspects of this project. I'm going to check on the roof, and see if this space is usable. Maybe I'll share this one, because the Madagascar area needs help desperately.
I think adding another Mammal in the Unused Space, using the Pit for Zoo Happenings and other talks, and if my above idea for the Unused Indoor Space could come to fruition, it could finally pull together a fulfilled and cohesive feeling to this MAD area.
Previous/Related Posts:
*That Part Two! - What I Think Our Zoo Needs aka What I'd Like To See
*Continuation Of... - What I Think Our Zoo Needs aka What I'd Like To See
Post showing stone work idea mentioned that could be done at that Perimeter Fence...
*Lordy Be, Can It Be? Do We Finally Have Management Who Cares About Our Zoo?
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/09/lordy-be-can-it-be-do-we-finally-have.html
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