Continuing with our tour of the Memphis Zoo, we continue into the eastern end of the zoo, which is mostly comprised of three zoogeographic-themed areas.
When I was first entering the zoo field, Memphis was famous
for being one of the four US facilities to exhibit giant pandas. Unlike the other three holders, Memphis went
all-in on a China-themed exhibit complex, which featured not only the
black-and-white bears in an indoor/outdoor exhibit, but a host of other species
set among Chinese-styled architecture.
The pandas themselves are now gone, nor have I gotten the impression
that Memphis seeks to obtain new ones (not surprising, considering all of the drama that ensued), but the other species remain in what is,
even without their flagship species, one of the most interesting exhibit areas
in the zoo.
Visitors won’t see giant pandas in Memphis, but they will see red pandas, as well as two species of monkey (including one of the few US exhibits of Sulawesi black macaques), extinct-in-the-wild Pere David’s deer, and a beautiful Chinese waterfowl pond, among other exhibits. The former giant panda exhibit is now occupied by clouded leopards. Signage tells the story not only of the pandas, but the host of other species that call sprawling country home, including other species not present at Memphis.
Pandas may have been the big draw, but for many years the species which Memphis has been most famous for in the zoo community has been the Nile hippo (fittingly, a species closely associated with ancient Egypt, considering the zoo’s namesake). Between my first visit to Memphis and my most recent, the giant aquatic mammals have gotten a major exhibit upgrade in Zambezi River Hippo Camp, where they can be observed both above and below the water, sometimes swimming inches away. Like most hippo exhibits, I’d always stand for their being a larger, grassier land area, but it’s still one of the best exhibits of this species I’ve seen. Right next to the hippos is a similar exhibit for their predatory counterpart, the Nile crocodile. Also nearby are exhibits for okapi, mandrill, and lesser flamingo.
The remainder of Africa is represented by a series of older, somewhat dull paddocks for various hoofstock. Visitors can encounter a mixed yard of antelope, along with red river hogs, giraffes, and white rhinos. African elephants are in a tired old yard, though I understand that this area of the zoo is slated for a major refresh in the nearish future.
North America is represented by two side-by-side complexes, each themed around bears. Northwest Passage features polar bears and California sea lions in exhibits with underwater viewing, including a seating area, in an area decorated with totem poles. It’s a pretty enough exhibit area, but the mismatch irks me slightly. Polar bears are too far north for totem poles OR, for the most part, California sea lions (but, as these are the most common zoo pinniped, they often get matched with the bears). Bald eagles and ravens are also found here, and fit a little better thematically.
The newest addition is Teton Trek. Visitors approach a massive wooden lodge/event space (complete with fireplace and rocking chairs), and then take a looping walk past habitats of gray wolves, North American porcupines, elk, and a lagoon of waterfowl and sandhill cranes. All of this circles the massive, spacious grizzly bear habitat, with the bears visible for several vantage points – at their pool, through thick windows, or from an elevated walkway. There are several cool enrichment features for the bears incorporated into the exhibit. One that I found particularly interesting was a deep fissure in the rockwork of the exhibit, which allows the bears to sniff visitors – without being able to reach them, no matter how hard your kid tries to jam their tiny arm towards the bears. For non-animal features, the geyser at the entrance will also likely be a hit.
I’m to this day still unsure why Memphis Zoo doesn’t crack the tier of top-zoo for more visitors. It’s an impressive collection with great diversity and several unique species. Some of the exhibits are in need of a refresh, but those plans are in place. The zoo also found itself intensely trolled online while it had the pandas (one of the bears had a skin condition which led to a lot of rumors and online harassment), along with a longstanding feud about parking with the neighboring community, which may also have unfairly damaged its reputation. Still, I found Memphis to be an excellent zoo, dramatically improved from my last visit, and I look forward to watching it continue to develop.
No comments:
Post a Comment