Zoo Review Updates 2021, Part II

Continuing the 2021 updates for zoos and aquariums...

Kansas City Zoo has a new major aquarium under construction.  Sea otters are the planned stars for the new facility.

Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed lions back to an expanded new habitat at their old Lion House, renamed the Pepper Family Wildlife Center.  The tigers were phased out to make more room for the lions, but snow leopards, Canada lynx, and red pandas are also featured in this building.

Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is offering visitors a walk down memory lane with the reopening of its historic Main Valley, taking visitors through a section of the zoo that's been closed for over 15 years.  The Zoo lost another piece of history this year, however, when the decision was made to phase out polar bears, a flagship species of the zoo four nearly a century.  Polar Bear Watch is now renamed Northern Passage, home to grizzly bears and bald eagles with more potential species joining in the future.

Mill Mountain Zoo in Roanoke, Virginia, opened a new habitat for American black bears.

Potawatomi Zoo has, after years of planning, welcomed a herd of four Masai giraffe to a new exhibit.

Construction continues on the new bird house, Experience Migration, at the National Zoo.  Birds have started to trickle in, and the facility is slated to open next year.

North Carolina Zoo is finally moving forward with its long-awaited Asian expansion, with $75 Million approved for the next two years to add tigers, gibbons, Komodo dragons, and other species.

The Aquarium and Reptile Complex at the Riverbanks Zoo is temporarily closed so that it may undergo a massive renovation.  Some species have been transferred to other zoos and will not return.

Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona has had its masterplan on pause, as disagreements unfolded with the local community about the expansion of the zoo into the rest of the park.  Thankfully, it looks like a compromise has been reached that, while delaying the project and adding to the expense, will have the advantage of community support.

The San Diego Zoo has opened a newly refurbished Children's Zoo, along with new habitats for Komodo dragons and hummingbirds.

The South Carolina Aquarium has announced a plan expansion with new education facilities.

Zoo New England has opened a new outdoor gorilla exhibit attached to its Tropical Rainforest  building to give its apes more space and opportunities to explore.

ZooTampa has some renovations going on its primate area for an as-yet unspecified species at the old chimpanzee exhibit.  New habitats are also under construction for panther and American black bear in the Florida section.