See What's New at the Dallas Zoo
By Susan, 02/01/10
I hope Mitch had the opportunity to visit the Wilds of Africa at the Dallas Zoo. This newer part of the Zoo features naturalistic habitats for all of its inhabitats. The gorilla and chimpanzee exhibits are landscaped with plants the animals can enjoy -- whether they are exploring or snacking. I work for the Zoo and know that all exhibit areas meet or exceed recommendations by the Association for Zoos & Aquariums. Also, Claire4somethingnew should note that the Zoo has not had lions since spring 2008 and we only feature very small cats, like endangered ocelots, bobcats, and fishing cats in a space that was originally designed for lions and tigers. The Sumatran tigers have a habitat that is more than an acre and it is landscaped to look like a forest that has regrown after logging. It features a pool for swimming and heated rocks for lounging in the winter. Also, the Dallas Zoo has been nationally recognized for the quality of its bird program. We expanded the exhibit areas for birds of prey and scavengers -- raising their nesting boxes, adding water features, building new perches and increasing the height and width of exhibits. The Dallas Zoo also has accomplished many "firsts" in breeding birds and we make significant contributions to the body of scientific knowledge about birds. Finally, the Galapagos tortoises have a yard that allows them plenty of space to roam and several sources of water -- and they eat like crazy. They can cross the path to their climate-controlled holding area when weather is chilly, and where they also have plenty of food and water. Although sea turtles and some species swim for many miles, Galapagos tortoises do very well on land and within a controlled area. I hope Clair and Mitch come see the Giants of the Savanna, which opens Memorial Day weekend. This 11-acre habitat will be home to elephants and giraffes -- who will move out of a home that was state-of-the art when it was built in the 1950s. We agree it was outdated and we are very proud of the new habitat that the citizens of Dallas have created for them. It also will feature new lions (which have yet to arrive in Dallas as of late January) and cheetahs in the Predator exhibit, too. The lush landscaping will have a mix of "tasty" and "not-so-tasty" grasses so that the animals do not graze it bare. There also will be pools and "mudholes" for the elephants to enjoy and close-to-native plants for shade and browse. We're using a special soil that will withstand compacting by elephants and the other heavy residents. Giants of the Savanna will be one of the finest savanna habitats in any zoo in the world. The mixed species habitats also will feature impala, ostriches, warthogs, red river hogs, vulturine guineafowl and so much more. I sincerely hope Mitch and Claire will visit us again and take a new look at the new Dallas Zoo.