“Mom, can we…?” – “Go And Get Your Jacket, Dear!”
Can you tell me what the number one way of spending a fun day with your parents was for you when you were a kid? I can guess that you probably loved going to the beach or water park. But, up there at the top of the list, there was probably a trip to the zoo hiding somewhere. You can’t tell me that going to the zoo as a kid wasn’t the best day ever for you. Well, it was the same for millions of other kids around the world. And since history has a way of repeating itself, your kids (if you’re blessed with any) also love it when you take them to the local zoo.
Attribution Some Rights Reserved By Pat (Cletch) Williams
Although, you see, that’s the thing about zoos – you can check out your local one, but after a few trips there, it can become somewhat boring to see the same animals in the same cages over and over again. So, you can either stop going to the zoo, which to be honest – wouldn’t be fair to your kids, or you can simply check out some other “urban” kingdom of animals. So, let’s build on that: you can simply go to the nearest zoo (outside of your local one), or you can plan a family trip to a big zoo and make it a family day out. Something like a picnic, only with animals, you know?
Anyway, you probably already know that you have a number of zoos to choose from, but we would like to recommend a particular one. This is a very old zoo, which means that it has a lot of history and tradition, not to mention its size and other interesting features. It’s called the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and it is located in Ohio (pretty obvious conclusion, right?). So, let’s dig in.
Attribution Some Rights Reserved By Erik Drost
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo – Simple, But Extremely Interesting
Encompassing 183 acres (74 hectares), the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has been around since 1882. If you were to take a look at some of the most popular year-round attractions in the northeast part of Ohio, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo would be right at the top. What’s more, in 2007 the Zoo stated that in excess of 1.2 million visitors went through it. Compared to the previous year (2006), that meant that there was a 2% rise in attendance. Only the Cleveland Indians were more popular than the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo that year – they managed to attract just over 2.2 million people.
There are several major areas in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. They are called: Waterfowl Lake, The RainForest, The Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building, Northern Trek, African Savanna and Australian Adventure. Each of these represents a specific bio-thematic area that features animals that are native to different parts of the world. Each of them is also themed particularly for the region of the world that they represent. Although, it needs to be said that the areas that were built more recently are more thematic than the ones that were built earlier.
Attribution Some Rights Reserved By Erik Drost
Let’s Get The Party Started
Waterfowl Lake is an area of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo that features marshy shallows in which Trumpeter swans and Chilean flamingos reside. The eastern shore of the lake is home to towering outdoor flight cages used by predatory birds that include Steller’s Sea Eagle and the Andean condor. Ever wondered what a Victorian ice cream parlor looks like? Well, it’s your lucky day – Wade Hall just happens to serve as one. Wade Hall is officially one of the oldest zoo facilities in the entire United States.
Next in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building. Initially called the Primate and Cat Building, this facility was first opened in 1975. One of the largest North-American collections of primate species is what you’ll have a chance to see here. This collection includes several lemur species, aye-ayes, New World monkeys and Western Lowland gorillas. An interesting story lies behind the aquatic collection of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The Cleveland Aquarium permanently closed its invertebrates and exotic fish collection and donated it to the Zoo in 1985. The Zoo renovated and adapted a part of its Primate & Cat Building for the purposes of the then new Aquatics section. Today, this section encompasses an array of 35 different freshwater and saltwater exhibits, which include living corals, electric eels, octopus, piranhas, sharks etc.
Attribution Some Rights Reserved By Erik Drost
The Northern Trek area houses animals who are indigenous to cold climates. Among them are Bactrian camels (who remain active in the outdoors throughout the year), the Persian onager (an endangered species), grizzly bears, reindeer, Siberian tiger etc. You’ll also be able to see the California sea lion/harbor seal and polar bear exhibits here.
The Australian Adventure area of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo was designed to look like the Australian outback. It features animals like wallabies, kangaroos, walaroos, as well as goats, Merino sheep and other types of farm animals. The Kookaburra Station offers displays of sheep shearing to visitors. Separate areas within the Australian Adventure section include Wallaby Walkabout, Reinberger Homestead and Gum Leaf Hideout.
Attribution Some Rights Reserved By Erik Drost
African Savanna showcases colobus monkeys, black rhinos, many African birds, gazelles, zebras, giraffes, African lions etc. The Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine is a part of the focus on conservation by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The African Elephant Crossing, African Savanna and Monkey Island are all fun and breathtaking exhibits that you can enjoy in this area of the Zoo.
Finally, The RainForest is by far one of the Zoo’s most popular areas. Officially one of the largest indoor tropical environments on the entire planet, this exhibit is located within a two-story building that features over 2 acres (8,100 m2) of floor space. More than 600 different animals and over 10,000 plants from the Americas’, Africa’s and Asia’s tropical regions are located here. In fact, when The RainForest was first opened in 1992, it also signified the return of the permanent reptile collection in the Zoo, as the initial one was lost after the 1959 flood. Just some of the animals you’ll be able to observe here include the fishing cat, small-clawed otters, Bornean orangutans, Batagur turtles, green vine snakes, a reticulated python, black and green poison arrow frogs, two-toed sloths, scarlet ibis, giant anteaters, Egyptian fruit bats and many, many others.
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