Everything you need to know about the Omaha zoo's $73 million project (1 of world's best)

[Omaha Steve]

REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD
Lead keeper Arden Brewer, left, and intern Stacy Selko use mulberry branches to coax a giraffe down a fenced path as they train the animals for their upcoming walk into their new home, now under construction.


http://www.omaha.com/living/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-omaha-zoo-s/article_3a0666e8-44be-5b25-a352-4cf96ecd7818.html

POSTED: SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015 12:30 AM
By Chris Peters / World-Herald staff writer

The largest construction project in the history of the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is opening one piece at a time.
The first two structures of the 28-acre, $73 million African Grasslands project — the African Lodge and adjacent train station — opened May 22, and more are on the way.

Between now and next spring, the zoo will open new exhibits spanning its entire south end, stretching to the zoo’s farthest east point at Pachyderm Hill. Most of the African Grasslands will open by fall, including a pygmy goat petting area, a giraffe feeding station and buildings for giraffes and elephants, though elephants themselves will come later.

The end goal is to create an area that actually feels like Africa.

Barriers between humans and animals have been designed to minimize obstructed views, while backdrops and buildings will be camouflaged. When you look out from a railing, you will see something similar to what you might see in Africa — species intermingling on a convincing savanna — except with a safer, closer view.

FULL story and photo gallery at link.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/05/travel/tripadvisor-best-zoos/

And the world's best zoo is ...
By Chuck Thompson, CNN
updated 4:24 AM EDT, Wed August 13, 2014


Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo claims TripAdvisor's top spot among zoos. It also claims to have the world's largest indoor desert, recreating Australian, African and North American landscapes beneath its 13-story-tall glass dome.

Naming 275 zoos and aquariums in total, the awards call the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, the world's best.

The San Diego Zoo in California comes in second place.

Monterey, California's Monterey Bay Aquarium tops the list of world aquariums.

"The U.S. leads the tally of world lists of zoos and aquariums, with nine of the top 25 zoos (and) 10 of the top 25 world aquariums," said the U.S.-based website in a statement accompanying the announcement of the awards.

FULL story at link.

[shenmue]

1. Cool

I love zoos.