Zoochatcom Species or List or Review or Walkthrough San Antonio

April 21, 2022 Post a Comment

geomorph Well-Known Member Premium Member

San Antonio certainly has a zoo, simply not much of an aquarium. It is located a few miles Northward of downtown. Its layout is a convoluted one, scattered with a wide variety of exhibit styles and both geographic and zoological organized areas with enough of misplaced disruptive exceptions. My review volition skip effectually the property in an attempt to describe groupings of exhibits by type, but note that many of these are my own and non official named areas. There are iii showroom complexes that tin can be described equally geographically organized, with i of them being truly immersive. There are also 2 that are zoologically organized outdoor complexes. 3 areas dominated past outdoor yards with slight zoological tendencies are also identified, besides as iv pocket-sized indoor zoologically organized exhibit houses. Finally, 1 complex can be considered a slight biome-organized 1. Ane unique attribute of this zoo is that there are no rides! More remarkable however is the fact that i entire edge of the property is contained by tall cliff faces from a erstwhile rock quarry that are used as the containment for many of the open yards. Topping the cliffs are low forests of native oaks and pecan and shrubs. The native light yellow stone is further used for most of the masonry walls and railings and moats on the grounds, equally well as natural rock outcroppings inside exhibits; in addition, simulated rockwork in some cases is often matched to expect similar existing. This extensive common material utilise helps necktie together the many disparate elements of the exhibits and facility. In add-on, an extensive organisation of waterways shaded by large trees in the lower portion of the site helps to soften all the stone and creates a setting that is sometimes more memorable than the exhibit enclosures.
Africa Live is a geographically organized showroom complex that is by far the newest, most successful, and immersive office of the zoo. It begins with an exhibit edifice that is a gimmicky stucco outside, with its archway façade featuring a tall rocky waterfall and continental shaped entry signs. Once inside, several exhibit viewing rooms are experienced with rocky walls ready with fake bone and fossil fragments and exposed roots; above this is a dark open ceiling with exposed twisting ducts that abstractly correspond big roots. Graphics are printed on canvas banners suspended between rustic timber columns. A medium wall aquarium is seen kickoff with fish from Lake Tanganyika. This faces the starting time of two big viewing rooms with three curved panels each for above-and-underwater views of the Nile hippopotamus exhibit, a nice long outdoor habitat merely viewed from the building interior. Although its dry out land area is typically small-scale, it is an above-boilerplate exhibit for its type. A separate hallway is darker and has many exhibits, beginning with a long rocky aquarium titled Aliens in the Water for introduced species. Next are 4 small wall exhibits set up in the rocks for African lungfish, emperor scorpion, African bullfrog, and behemothic African millipede. Then a long showroom with underwater viewing is seen for dwarf crocodile and mud turtle, and then a overnice cave with large trunks and a pool for African rock python. iii modest wall exhibits follow, for gaboon and rhino vipers, light-green mamba, and banded Egyptian cobra. There is also a small room backside glass for African palm civet, a rarely exhibited species, although it is cramped. The last indoor viewing is for an outdoor exhibit of Nile crocodile that features underwater viewing and a unique false mud cave with a nest and small windows into the exhibit. After exiting the building, another viewing window of the croc exhibit starts the fine large tall aviary with a rocky passage that opens up into a streamside loop. A waterfall and rocky properties forms a few of its sides and it is filled with buff-crested bustard, sacred ibis, Hottentot teal, Kenyan crested guineafowl, green turaco, taveta aureate weaver, cattle egret, rose-ringed parakeet, speckled mousebird, Madagascar partridge, hammerkop, Hadada ibis, black crake, triangular spotted pigeon, European forest pigeon, emerald starling, golden-breasted starling, Congo peafowl, Namaqua dove, Abdims stork, greenish woods hoopoe, blueish-breasted kingfisher, red and yellow barbet, amethyst starling, superb starling, blue-bellied roller, and racquet-tailed roller. 1 side of the aviary is a divide netted enclosure with a few glass viewing alcoves into a different nice exhibit filled with tall simulated tree climbing structures for Angolan colobus and Wolfs guenon. After exiting the asylum is a big okapi yard surrounded by rocks and filled with trees; unfortunately, a few also many styles of railing and fence were chosen for the front end viewing area. It has a shelter in front with what looks like a controlled contact demonstration pen besides. Then the path enters the kopje-themed area, with a small rocky exhibit behind glass that is currently empty and is supposed to receive either dwarf mongoose or meerkat. Slightly towering above this is a scenic grouping of termite mounds that grade a cave; in one case it is entered, an entire exhibit of overscaled termite statues and tunnels with excellent graphics finer illustrates a colony. There are also 2 viewing windows into the adjacent fine African wild domestic dog yard which is as well viewed from behind glass further along the path edged with bedrock forms. Their exhibit is fairly roomy, has a pond, and is contained by more boulder forms. 2 more minor rocky exhibits complete the complex, viewed behind drinking glass and enclosed with summit netting: one for Lady Ross' turaco and white-bellied bustard, and one for rock hyrax. Suddenly, the rocks end, an ugly view of the water filtration equipment in a shelter is seen, and the path rejoins an older one in forepart of the weak Asian elephant exhibit in an area that is clearly waiting for design and construction of a possible side by side phase. Perched above the kopje area is an outdoor terrace dining area for Baraza Café, and further along a walkway circles effectually the complex with a dainty view over the okapi exhibit and aviary and monkey exhibit. On this walkway is besides an upper entrance to a viewing deck within the aviary. This circuitous is well-designed, features piece of cake viewing for almost of its exhibits, and is a much-needed boost to the quality of the zoo'due south design.

Okapi Exhibit with Aviary and Angolan Colobus and Wolf's Guenon Showroom in background, in Africa Alive:

One smaller geographic complex is Africa's Rift Valley with 10 exhibits. It is reached beyond several of the African hoofstock exhibits described later so information technology might exist considered function of a larger African expanse (and Africa Alive is non far away) only it is different in way and calibration. It begins with a small netted enclosure for crowned hornbill, and and then a nice grassy and shaded open yard for cheetah. As the site rises to an upper expanse, there are pocket-sized rocky yards for crested porcupine, Kirks dik-dik, and an empty 1. There are besides three aviaries, 1 for bataleur hawkeye and two medium sized hillside walkthrough netted ones. The larger of the two is Woods Trail and contains East African crowned crane, rose-ringed parakeet, cattle egret, Abdim'southward stork, painted stork, Kenya crested guineafowl, African spur-winged plover, piddling blueish heron, sacred ibis, speckled pigeon, and Republic of madagascar partridge. African Thicket is the smaller of the 2 and has speckled pigeon, gold coast turaco, Jardines parrot, and ruby-red-bellied parrot on a nice steep hillside trail. At that place is also a pocket-sized average cage for black-footed cat. This complex is crowned by Treetop Lookout, a woodsy shelter perched above the pleasant path and trees, completing a prissy little exhibit cluster.

Amazonia is another geographically organized exhibit complex, composed of virtually 20 exhibits in a scattered area that does fiddling to emulate the Amazon. Its enclosures are a varied assortment of cages with just ii open up yards, and a few very small houses for interior exhibits. All of this is in a shaded area of oaks and pecan; it is an average pleasant area but its exhibits by and large practise non match its overnice collection. The star of the circuitous is the waterway that flows through it; along this is a roomy yard for capybara, a rocky elevated enclosure for jaguar with a viewing cave passageway, and a large walk-in aviary that surrounds a section of it. The asylum is entered to a viewing deck side by side to the jaguar; the cats can survey the aviary through mesh, a overnice agile feature for them every bit well as being well to a higher place surrounding walkways. The aviary contains giant anteater on its far bank, as well as scarlet ibis, boat-billed heron, 3 macaw species, sunday conure, light-green oropendula, purplish jay, ringed teal, white-crowned pigeon, sun bittern, and Peruvian pigeon – I imagine that the size of this aviary allows for many other species from their fantastic collection likewise. Another big aviary is a rectangular cage for Andean condor, and attached to one side is a smaller i for seriema. There are also a few average netted enclosures for ocelot, white-faced saki, black-handed spider monkey, and white-throated capuchin monkey. There are likewise about 7 smaller beneath-average cages for pied, cotton wool-top, and aureate lion tamarins (as well as one for Prevosts squirrel, whoops!). A small open up m with a pond for dwarf caiman adjoins a small interior exhibit edifice with iii small behind-glass rooms for kinkajou, short-tailed fruit bat, and Linnes 2-toed sloth with nine-banded armadillo. Finally, a separate pocket-size building has a nice exhibit with underwater viewing for anaconda.

Cat Grotto (originally opened as Cliffside Grottos in 1985) is a cavern-like passageway of small rocky exhibits with multiple viewing windows that is a overnice intimate viewing experience. This complex tin be considered one of the ii zoologically organized rocky outdoor clusters, although it is non dominated by cat species anymore. While none of the exhibits are roomy or impressive, they are rather immersive. The slightly larger ones are covered with subconscious mesh and include angling true cat, fossa, clouded leopard, and red ruffed lemur. Smaller caves are for Prevosts squirrel, elephant tree shrew, and black-footed cat. There is also a small rocky aviary for guira cuckoo and ring-tailed and silverish teals, and an open yard for macaw perches. The passageway is interrupted by the main walkway, then continues into a matching viewing cave for the jaguar showroom in Amazonia previously mentioned. Also adjacent to this is a much older average rectangular masonry-and-cage exhibit for black leopard that is non easily categorized elsewhere.

Clouded Leopard in True cat Grotto:

The other small rocky cluster of zoological outdoor exhibits was for otters; 3 small matching rocky exhibit yards with curving ramps around them and an underwater viewing shelter are centered on a waterfall-draped outcrop. It is a nice complex, but two of the exhibits were empty and unsigned when I visited (probably getting ready to receive new otters?). The other exhibit is occupied past Coscoroba swan.

Coscoroba Swan Exhibit:

One of the three areas that is dominated by open yard exhibits is an unnamed area to the left of the archway, a half-loop with a hodge-podge of exhibits, most of which take advantage of the high exposed natural rock faces crowned with vegetation that course the undulating Western edge of the zoo. The quarry-like backdrop is used as the dorsum border of the exhibits, while matching stone and false rock is synthetic to form the sides and moat fronts. This is an area of more often than not primates and bears; in that location are 3 average exhibits for spectacled, American black, and grizzly bears. Two smaller grotto-similar habitats are nearby, for black-and-white ruffed lemur and an empty i that looks like information technology is set up for a similar species. These are mostly unshaded hot pits that announced to accept originally been for canids or similar, either style they are poor. There is also a flamingo exhibit with a steel muzzle structure over it, the covering having been removed, and so it was probably once a feline or like showroom. 1 k has a pocket-size edifice congenital in front and is viewed through glass; this is the decent Komodo dragon exhibit and it has a small interior viewing expanse of their bedroom and an adjoining small glass room for reticulated python. Two other stone backdrop yards are nearby with wire coverings – one is an average large showroom for Francois langur, the other a prissy roomy showroom for white-cheeked gibbon and Reeves muntjac and Asian small-clawed otter that is the all-time in this area. A koi pond and a cluster of about five minor monkey cages circular out the unfocused option, for Wolfs guenon, golden-bellied mangabey, and black mangabey.

Another surface area of open yard exhibits is the largest and is also unnamed, dominated by a cluster of African exhibits in i area and a cluster of Australian exhibits in another so that it is non entirely random; hoofstock slightly predominate. Again, many of the yards are contained by the quarry-similar cliffs, which provide a memorable backdrop to otherwise small-to-average sized but by and large blank exhibits for Asian elephant, an African savanna (giraffe, topi(yay!), ostrich, marabou stork, white-backed vulture, crowned crane), blackness rhino, white rhino (the rhino yards appear to exist well-nigh 5 spaces with flexible configurations), okapi, addax, African panthera leo, Sumatran tiger, spotted hyena, crested porcupine, Nubian ibex, and secretary bird. In addition, the Australian cluster has a few exhibits against the cliff-like yards for Parma wallaby and yellow-footed rock wallaby and a nice medium size walkthrough aviary that includes Eastern rosella, cockatiel, chestnut teal, Australian shelduck, New Republic of guinea masked plover, mynah, emerald dove, crowned pigeon, Australian crested pigeon, pied imperial pigeon, and zebra dove. Continuing this minor geographic area is a medium size walkthrough aviary for feeding lories, a small Goodfellows tree kangaroo thousand, an Outback exhibit with bright red earth (emu, ruby-red kangaroo, and parma wallaby) and two medium yards for cassowary. They are role of a circumvolve of smaller walled yards for spekes gazelle, red river hog, Reeves muntjac, yellow-backed duiker, blue duiker, and babirusa.

Dama Gazelle Showroom:

Another area dominated by open yards is the furthest area of the zoo from the entrance, and is primarily bird exhibits (and some crocodilians and turtles) from the excellent collection. This is the largest area of birds, just there are plenty of others scattered around likewise. The zoo website lists 220 species in the drove! There is a large waterfowl lake shaded by bald cypress and disregarded by the Riverview Restaurant, and a Wetlands showroom with a boardwalk through more cypress and a large attractive pond for tomistoma. In the heart of all this are ii ugly walled yards for Malayan and Brazilian tapir; they have rotating access to a decent pool, the water from which spills across a stepping rock walkway for visitors at its edge and into a large shallow pond for fish and alligator snapping turtle. Cranes of the World features iv medium sized yards dominated past a connecting waterway for species including Manchurian and whooping crane. Then at that place is a large central oval with xv small-to-medium sized yards with masonry walls between and waterways in front; these mostly feature waterfowl similar magpie goose and black-necked swan as well as two flamingo exhibits. Several of the yards besides comprise turtles and crocodilians including American alligator, Orinoco crocodile, and a mixed exhibit of gavial and wattled crane. There is a sign here that identifies the fish that are teeming in many of the waterways, including Texas cichlid, green sunfish, guppy, channel catfish, bother, green sailfin molly, green swordtail, largemouth bass, Mexican tetra, mesquite fish, plecostomus, spotted gar, tilapia, and koi. Most of the bird yards are fairly bonny and average size, simply there are likewise v pocket-size cage rows of other birds in the expanse that are below average in size and bewitchery, totaling most 45 exhibits; one is mostly for the parrot family, while another has iv exhibits of birds of paradise. Finally, in that location is too the Bird House, a circular edifice with a free-flight vestibule centered on a planted landscape beneath a round skylight cupola; along the walls around the primal space are about 10 average smaller room exhibits backside glass with painted backdrops and natural lighting above. The species in the free-flight portion are blue tanager, amethyst starling, red bishop, cinnamon warbling-finch, mountain peacock pheasant, crested wood partridge, cherry-crested finch, sunday bittern, bluish-capped cordon-bleu, shama thrush, and Hottentot teal. Some of the glass exhibits include i for Inca tern and blackness crake and others; an Australian one for tawny frogmouth and metallic starling and others; an African savanna with paradise whydah, red bishop, orangish-cheeked waxbill, golden-breasted starling, Egyptian plover, and Taveta golden weaver; and a tropical wood flooring one featuring the very rare Guam track oddly paired with Nicobar dove and red capped cardinal! The Bird House is pleasant, merely like about of the bird area, it does not do justice to the justifiably proud drove.

Waterfowl lake:

Several other modest indoor exhibit houses are scattered around the zoo and focus on zoological organization. The Reptile Firm is a low masonry building with a rectangular hallway layout inside, with about 60 wall exhibits backside glass, well-nigh of which are small. It is a prissy collection, with a few slightly larger exhibits; these include one for immature tomistoma (the adult exhibit is far larger and located in the outdoor Wetlands exhibit), one for mutual ameiva, several python, and a desert exhibit for Texas tortoise, desert iguana, chuckwalla, and Mexican whiptail lizard. Other inhabitants of smaller exhibits that I exercise not retrieve seeing elsewhere include habu, blue mountain swift, Cuviers Republic of madagascar swift, Caatinga lancehead, Turanian viper, and broad-banded copperhead. The zoo website lists 130 species of reptiles, so probably but a fiddling over half are actually in the Reptile House. Nearby is the Aquarium, another small old building with a square layout and about 16 small wall tanks, the largest of which is one for pocket-size bonnethead shark. The exhibits are by and large standard, housed behind what must be the world'southward ugliest antique aquarium archway decorated with shells. I did non note most of the species, simply at that place was a whopping alligator snapping turtle (the unlucky one compared to the very big swimming for some other ane near the Wetlands exhibit). In that location is besides a modest wood building with a few rooms called TOADally with about 16 average minor wall exhibits for amphibians. A less permanent business firm is a quonset greenhouse for Collywobbles.

The children's zoo is dainty and is designed for those nether 5, chosen Tiny Tot Nature Spot. It is actually roomy and well-designed, scattered with play features and virtually 16 animal habitats in several vague biome-themed zones. It has a single entry through an arbor, with false lily pads for crossing on each side. The Riverbank area begins with a long open habitat for flamingo (this is exhibit #iv at this zoo!) and leads to a beach and shallow pond pond for kids; nearby is an average glass-railing yard for Aldabra tortoise. Tropical Waters is a rocky outcrop that matches much of the native rock; a waterfall spills over a ledge above an open up cave with a prissy native Texas fish tank containing longear sunfish, channel catfish, mutual bother, Florida bass, green sunfish, spotted gar, bluegill, and blackness crappie. A split up darker cave in the aforementioned facility has three more breathtaking freshwater tanks for actual tropical species: a medium one for fish (unnoted); a larger one for red pacu, tiger shovelnose catfish, ripsaw catfish, carmine tailed catfish, and leporinus; and a medium one for behemothic gourami, golden tinfoil barb, bala shark, and tinfoil barb. In that location is also an area chosen My Backyard for domestic-centered activities and a very pocket-sized befouled with three domestic pens. Discovery House is a small modernistic building with a courtyard, play room, and two showroom rooms. One of these has a terrarium and fishtank, likewise equally a fake stream in the middle for playing with line-fishing rods; the stream appears to sally from ane of the walls which is equanimous of a window with a fractional underwater view of a modest turtle pond outside. The other room has a rocky centerpiece with three small-scale terrariums and exhibits nearly life clandestine; a crawl tunnel extends out from the glass wall on one side into a nice depression rocky-walled prairie domestic dog exhibit outside, that can besides exist viewed from portholes effectually its perimeter. 3 more areas are at the back of the layout, including Maze, Campground, and Go Wild – they are more often than not garden play areas, one with an open up turtle and fish pond. Tropics is a small complex with a sloth statue to play on and 2 pocket-sized glass-walled outdoor exhibits for squirrel monkey and coati.

Tropical Waters in Tiny Tot Nature Spot:

Although information technology is devoid of many noteworthy exhibits, its unique setting and adequately complete latitude of collection punctuated by a fantastic bird drove makes the San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium a worthwhile visit. I rank it at number 30 of the fifty zoo facilities I have visited, with its pocket-size aquarium building at number 36 of 40. Africa Alive is number 47 of my tiptop 50 list of themed showroom complexes (which is still good), while none of the private exhibits brand my top lists. Adult access is $10, underpriced by a cadet or two. I take posted additional pictures in the gallery.
Your illustrated magazine article style reviews are setting the bar awfully high for everyone else!
Another excellent posting. Cheers
MARK Well-Known Member

Thanks for the Overnice review
Excellent review every bit always! You are much nicer than I was in my review.
@geomorph: could you please start a new thread (or at least post somewhere) your lists of summit zoos and aquariums. In all of your fantabulous reviews you mention the ranking that you give a specific establishment, but I cannot place information technology inside the context of an actual list. I know that a while ago you lot posted your rankings, but it is time for an update due to all of your more than recent reviews. Ranking annihilation is purely subjective, simply I thrive on lists!
geomorph Well-Known Member Premium Fellow member

snowleopard, I think I will but postal service my list here for at present because I might go see some more soon! I will include the date of my last visit, which can be very illuminating!
1. San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA 2009
2. San Diego Wild Brute Park, Escondido, CA 2009
3. Bronx Zoo, New York City, NY 2007
4. Disney's Creature Kingdom, Orlando, FL 2010 creature parts only
5. Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada 2008
6. Miami Metrozoo, Miami, FL 2009
7. Busch Gardens Africa, Tampa, FL 2008 animal parts merely
8. Columbus Zoo, Columbus, OH 2009
nine. Taronga Zoo, Sydney, NSW, Australia 2007
10. Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE 2009
11. St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO 2009
12. Los Angeles Zoo, Los Angeles, CA 1992 afar memory
13. Jacksonville Zoo, Jacksonville, FL 2009
14. Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA 2009
15. Tierpark Hellabrun, Munich, Germany 1995 distant memory
16. Denver Zoo, Denver, CO 2009
17. Cincinnati Zoo, Cincinnati, OH 2009
eighteen. National Zoo, Washington, DC 2008
xix. Dallas Zoo, Dallas, TX 2009
20. Calgary Zoo, Calgary, AB, Canada 2004
21. Tampa'due south Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL 2008
22. Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis, IN 2009
23. Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, TX 2010
24. Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City, MO 2009
25. Schonnbrunn Tiergarten, Vienna, Austria 1995 distant memory
26. Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA 2009
27. Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR 2009
28. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland, OH 2009
29. Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 2009
30. San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio, TX 2010
31. Honolulu Zoo, Honolulu, Hi 2008
32. Biodome, Montreal, QC, Canada 2008
33. Dallas Earth Aquarium, Dallas, TX 2009
34. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ 1993 distant retentivity
35. Point Defiance Zoo and Aq., Tacoma, WA 2009
36. Houston Zoo, Houston, TX 2010
37. San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco, CA 2007
38. Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ 1985 distant memory
39. Oakland Zoo, Oakland, CA 2004
40. Palm Beach Zoo, W Palm Beach, FL 2009
41. Franklin Park Zoo, Boston, MA 2009
42. Wildlife Globe, Sydney, NSW, Australia 2007
43. Discovery Cove, Orlando, FL 2010
44. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Orlando, FL 2010
45. Lion Country Safari, Irvine, CA 1980
46. St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL 2009
47. Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Cairns, QLD, Australia 2007
48. Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara, CA 1994
49. Santa Ana Zoo, Santa Ana, CA 1991
fifty. Charles Paddock Zoo, Atascadero, CA 1994
Wow, another great and informative review!
geomorph Well-Known Member Premium Member

snowfall, I will have to update that listing with 5 more soon, but I will probably do it past finding whatsoever the older thread was where everyone was posting their faves!
@ Geomorph - great list. The problem we all have making lists is that zoos we have not visited recently sometimes get underrated considering they take opened newer and amend exhibits. I am sure both Oregon and Dallas would bound college on your list if yous went back afterward this year.
The one surprise to me is that you rate Los Angeles Zoo so highly, especially since you went earlier some of the new exhibits (gorilla, etc). The old L.A. Zoo, prior to the new ape exhibits, really was one of the worst zoos in America. I do agree with your putting Santa Ana at the bottom though. I too like Florida zoos more than yous, since I would rate Lowry Park and Palm Beach much higher.
geomorph Well-Known Member Premium Member

Arizona Docent, yes my LA Zoo ranking is based on distant memory and I have fond memories in that location, so information technology is admittedly quite an bibelot on the list right at present. I definitely think I volition move Dallas and Orgeon up in the list a few notches once I see in that location new additions. I take to stand by my Palm Beach rank, to me information technology was basically a small unremarkable zoo compared to others except for the first-class Tropics of the Americas.
Thanks for the review!
Information technology seems that a lot of the birds in the Africa Live aviary were ones that used to be in the rows of bird cages well-nigh to the wetlands surface area, glad they're now in a large walk-through aviary.
What disappoints me though is that you say there are however Wolf'due south Guenons in those minor monkey cages with the mangabeys...I was hoping they would exist moved in with the colobus.
geomorph Well-Known Member Premium Member

Yes it looks like simply a pair of them fabricated the motion.
It'south my understanding that the small monkey cages will be side by side to exist replaced. Then the rhino pits (as function of Phase Iii for Africa Live!). San Antonio does not have a very large donor base among their population, and then information technology takes twice as long to raise the money for improvements and new exhibits as information technology would in other metro regions.
FYI - the cluster of 3 rocky exhibits with water (currently belongings swans and otters) are the old sea lion pool. They used to exist i big exhibit, merely were subdivided into iii spaces many years agone.
Then I promise those carnivore exhibits for hyenas, lions and tigers volition be replaced. I would say along with the monkeys and rhinos these are animals that need new homes ASAP.
I know the primary plan calls for a complete remodel of that entire area, including the antelope yards. But it will have a while for the plans to be realized, due to limited finances.
Thanks robbare,
Agreed and I nevertheless recollect information technology is a not bad and often under-rated zoo. Look forward to the pocket-size monkey housing and the rhinoceros surface area being renovated though. Whatsoever indication when this is probable to come up to fruition?

K.B.
Did somebody realize the hatching of virtually xx Malayan Gharials ( Tomistoma schlegelii) at San Antonio Zoo in 2010? This is the 3rd fourth dimension they re breeding this endangered and fascinating crocodilian!
Cheers for the good news crocman!
Thats awesome!
I get sick of people bashing zoos because they are "naturalistic" enough. If the exhibits encounter all the animals' needs, and they brood, then what is wrong with the zoo? This is a perfect example. Reviewers on here bashed San Antonio mercilessly, and nonetheless they are still breeding these great and endangered animals. Skillful for San Antonio!
That'due south the problem - many of the exhibits don't meet all the brute's needs, especially the large carnivore and elephant exhibits.