Working on the list of zoo updates for 2023, it strikes me that, in most cases, there are two kinds of updates in progress. There are the zoos that are planning on building big new complexes with lots of new species and new habitats - and these are in the minority. What I'm seeing a lot of is efforts to renovate, refresh, and expand existing habitats. These projects are often considered less exciting by the public, as they don't bring in new species. They are, however, the most important from animal welfare purposes.
When it first opened, Brookfield Zoo's Tropic World was one of the premier zoo exhibits in the world. In its cavernous interior, you could find not only a host of primates from around the world, but also tapirs, anteaters, even pygmy hippos wandering the "forest" floor (that forest, of course, being concrete). Sure, the animals were inside all year but hey, it's Chicago - and having a warm place where visitors could go year-round to see animals was considered of paramount importance. Today, many species have been phased out of the building - the tapirs and hippos have exhibits elsewhere in the zoo that allow them to be outside for the warmer months. Keeping apes inside year round is no longer considered best practices. And so, with that in mind, the zoo is tacking on outdoor habitats to allow the gorillas and orangutans (and other primates) to go outside.
It's a major, expensive project, the net result of which will be two exhibits for gorillas and two for orangutans, one of each of which will probably be empty at any given point, depending on the weather. On mid-days, in fall and spring, visitors may have a hard time figuring out where the animals will be - but it will be much better for the welfare of the animals, giving them more space, more choice, and more variety.
Sometimes, improving the lots of animals you have means clearing other animals out to make space. Potawatomi Zoo had a mediocre chimp exhibit and an even worse lion exhibit - neither keeping with the direction that the up-and-coming zoo wanted to go in. So, chimps were phased out. The mediocre exhibit underwent some major modifications, and is now a pretty good lion exhibit. The lion exhibit has a bear now, but only until the new habitat for that species opened which, based on the standards of exhibits Potawatomi has opened in recent years, will probably be very good.
There's a tendency among people to want and value the new - new possessions, new experiences, and, in zoos, new animals. As someone working at a zoo where it seems we never get new species, I totally get that. Before tacking on new construction projects for brand new animals, however, I think it's always best to look at the animals that you do have and ask if they're all receiving housing that meets the standards of care that you want to adhere to.
If not, they should be bumped up to the top of the list.
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