Zoo Review Updates, 2022 - Part I

Zoo and aquarium construction projects can be time consuming and are just as prone to delays as any other major undertaking.  Not surprisingly, some of these projects are carryovers from last year, still works in progress,

ABQ BioPark Zoo has continued its work on the Asian and Australian expansions.  Asia, the first phase, will include new habitats for tigers, snow leopards, orangutans, siamangs, and Steller's sea eagles.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas will welcome the Audubon Insectarium under its roof in a joint facility.

Audubon Zoo continues to work on a new Tropical Bird House.

Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut continues to work on its Andean bear habitat

Lions will be welcomed to a new facility being constructed at Brevard Zoo.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which has a long history of working with non-releasable dolphins, will be expanding its marine mammal program with a new facility to accommodate manatees

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has started construction on Bear Hollow, which replaces its old bear grottos with new habitats for Andean bear and sloth bear

Detroit Zoo has converted its old Hippo House into The Grotto - an indoor habitat for trumpeter swans, pelicans, and aardvarks.  Plans to construct a new nature center in the surrounding area have unfortunately been dropped at this time.

Florida Aquarium in Tampa has announced a major new expansion which will further break away from its Florida theme.  Among the iconic species to be added are sea lions, puffins, and a new habitat for the African penguins already at the facility.

Kansas City Zoo is still working on its new aquarium which will feature sea otters and sharks.

For a limited time, the Minnesota Zoo will once again be home to dolphins!  The animals are being temporarily housed in the zoo's Ocean building while their habitat the Chicago's Brookfield Zoo undergoes renovations

Shortly after my visit earlier this year, Monterey Bay Aquarium unveiled a spectacular exhibit of deep sea creatures, unparalleled in any American aquarium!  The temporary cephalopod exhibit Tentacles was closed, though some species, such as the iconic giant Pacific octopus, are permanent features elsewhere in the aquarium.

An additional note - it's not a zoo that I've reviewed on this blog (because it's been over 15 years since I've visited so I don't have recent impressions), but fairly noteworthy nonetheless - Memphis Zoo will be ending its panda program, with its giant pandas returning to China in the near future.