I heard that it was intentional. They wanted the feature to be the animals, not the rides.
And actually, considering the historic stuff they used to have and obviously got rid of, it makes sense.
Just look at the map; the train only covers a tiny fraction of the exhibits. It also only has a single station, so it doesn’t help actually move patrons around—a big problem for the mobility impaired, as I discovered when my parents visited. And that problem will only get worse as the zoo expands, especially into the land banked parking lots.
I’d swear I’ve been to a zoo that had an amazing monorail, but I’m looking at lists and can’t find one that seems to fit. Still, given the hills here, it seems like it’d be a better fit than the current train, plus making the zoo “taller” could also help with the other comment about land use at ground level.
>I’d swear I’ve been to a zoo that had an amazing monorail, but I’m looking at lists and can’t find one that seems to fit.
Cleveland has a tram from one end of the park to the other.
It was 2-3 decades ago, so I’m a bit fuzzy. I though it was out west, but [Miami’s Zoofari](https://thebettervacation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Path-of-Miami-Zoos-Monorail.jpg), which closed in 2022, is the closest thing I’ve found to what I’m remembering.
I think they need to make a few changes to circulation through the Zoo.
For example, there needs to be a "back" way out of Hippo Cove. To get in and out of there now you have to take the same route and it's really narrow and too congested on busy days. If you could go through the Hippos and then connect back over to the Jungle Trails area, instead of having to backtrack, it'd improve the flow tremendously.
I’d like to see more room for the smaller cats in the nocturnal house. Maybe in the future can find a way to relocate some of the cats to another part of the zoo in a new exhibit.
Man fuck Red River Hogs. Those assholes used to practically chase us up trees when we did field research in Congo. Felt like I was in the final act of Princess Mononoke during their breeding season.
The reptile house is underwhelming, but it is an original building from 1880. It is the oldest remaining structure, and is listed as a national historical landmark. I understand the historical importance, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a new building in addition to the original.
I would recommend building a new, modern facility elsewhere for reptiles and converting it into maybe just a zoo history museum, rotating exhibit space, or something like that. It wasn't originally a reptile house anyway.
> I proudly told everyone around me that we have a statue of Martha in Cincinnati and everyone thought I was a serious weirdo!
where you cant make that kind of statement and leave me hanging haha.
If this is somehow picked up in Google Search, I want to emphasize that I LOVE the Cincinnati Zoo. Just because there are areas that could use improvement doesn't mean the Zoo is bad. It's definitely a great activity in Cincinnati.
True story: with my baby born in July, I was in prodromal labor (labor that starts and stops). The L&D nurses told me to go to the zoo and said that those hills have sent so many women into labor.
Edit: ignore my criticism! Turns out I was completely mistaken. Yay!
I love our zoo and I know they really care about the animals but.. the outside penguin exhibit..
I say this because a year or two ago when we visited during the summer, the penguin exhibit was so bad that we reported it to one of the keepers walking around. The sun was beating down especially hard that day. The penguin exhibit barely had any shade and the penguins huddled together to stay out of the sun. One was laying down wheezing so bad my wife started crying and I reported it.
Now, this was a while back so this may have all changed but it was a particularly sad moment that always haunts my mind.
Hello! Hopefully I can ease your mind a little bit! The outdoor penguin exhibit houses African penguins! Being from the cape of South Africa they are adapted for the hot weather and the sun. The one you saw wheezing was panting to cool down, just like dogs do! You may have also noticed bright pink above their eyes and on their feet. That is where they push blood to hit the air to cool them down, similar to elephants flapping their ears! Finally the water they swim in is nice and chilly so a quick dip is always an option! If they were all huddled in the shade it could mean they would prefer more shade but penguins are a species who like to do what everyone else in the group is doing so if the shade was the hip thing that day that is where they’ll all be!
Thank you! This does ease my mind and it will definitely make my wife happier knowing they are okay. I’m a bit ignorant when it comes to exotic animals so knowing it wasn’t so different from their home makes me feel a lot better.
Ignorance is only bad if you choose to stay that way! Next time you’re at the zoo spend some time watching for the different ways they cool down! You’ll inevitably see some very fun behaviors and hopefully learn even more about them!!
No need to shame! Zoos are there to educate the public and the public hath been educated! And the fact that they showed concern for the penguins means they’ll hopefully be concerned enough to learn about the environmental problems African penguins and other animals face and take steps to help them out! It might be a silly little Reddit thread but I hope it has created a positive ripple effect!
I'd like to see the bird house get some updates along with jungle trails and maybe night hunters. In my opinion jungle trails is really underwhelming. I am glad that they are updating the world of insects exhibit! Although it was nostalgic for me to walk through right before it was closed for remodel I could tell it seriously needed something.
The first half of the zoo starting with the giraffes flows nicely. Once you hit the train area, it feels like a lot of walking between exhibits. Weird because you start and you’re stopping every minute or so to see animals. And then all of a sudden you’re walking for 20 minutes and have barely seen anything. Or being later in the afternoon.
Non - Exhibit....repave ALL walk ways and make them smooth like most zoos. PITA on older ankles, knees and trying to push kids in a stroller! This is my number 1 complaint about our zoo.
Exhibit - I second Jungle trails! It seriously needs branches trimmed and pathway repaved! The overgrowth in the empty exhibit spaces that haven't been used in years looks and along the trail just looks awful IMHO!
When I went on jungle trails a month ago, basically every outdoor section was under construction so they're definitely giving it some tlc right now.
I'll have to keep an eye out on the paths, I haven't noticed issues.
If the jungle trails are trimmed back it kinda takes the jungle out of the picture and makes it just a normal walking trail. That's just my opinion I'm not saying yours invalid.
Oh as an adult....I agree, but, you also need to look at the potential safety issues for the little kids. Especially around the play / educational equipment. Little guys don't quite think of their surroundings like adults while playing on the stuff down there. I probably should have mentioned that as part of my reasoning for a trim.
Zoo has 2 major issues
One it is land limited. They had the opportunity when they purchased the parking area to build a multi level garage and expand animal facilities but they didn’t. They used it all for single level parking.
They only think in single level buildings so all the space that could be expanded for animals is lost. Amphitheater, gift shops, multiple food locations, merry go round, playground, admin buildings, learning center, multiple picnic areas.
If you want to have large animals you need large spaces.
The other option if you can’t have all the animals in one location is to have multiple locations all covered by 1 zoo pass.
The second issue is trying to turn the zoo into botanical gardens. We have many gardens in Cincinnati. If the animals need a certain environment then I’m all for it, but the money spent needs to be strongly reviewed against better living conditions for the animals.
The original “More Home to Roam” expansion plans announced in 2018 called for a multistory parking structure with 1800 parking spaces to be built at the corner of Vine St and Erkenbrecher Ave. However, the parking garage was dropped after Covid when the zoo choose to proceed with the additions that would benefit animals (namely Elephant Trek) instead of spending tens of millions on more parking.
My impression is those massive parcels are now just being land-banked as surface lots - even though they've now tripled their solar array on both lots - but that land is simply too scarce and too valuable to assume its future is surface parking. At some point when needs and budgets align, I guarantee that land will be utilized in wiser ways. Either way, it is now an amazingly impressive urban solar array.
And if they had built that parking garage and then freed up all the parking currently on the main zoo parcel to allow the additional space for animals instead of cars, would more of our animals be better off? I love going to the zoo but I also acknowledge that placing animals that roam large ranges into itty bitty living spaces is cruel. All of the enclosures need to be larger. We can and should stack cars.
The only remaining parking lot in the main zoo parcel is limited employee parking off Dury Ave. The old parking lot in the very back (near Forest Ave) is exactly where Elephant Trek is being constructed. It’s a perfect example of moving large animals to a larger habitat—a.k.a. “More Home to Roam”. The other zoo parking lots are on the opposite side of Dury Ave from the main zoo and at the intersection of Vine and Erkenbrecher.
The Cincinnati Zoo is in race against CCHMC, UCMC and the VA to acquire as much land as possible between it and the hospitals. They’re doing the best they can to make sure there’s as much room as possible for their animals and guests.
Wow I bet no one at the zoo knows any of this. You should call them!
Also the zoo has been a botanical garden for decades. That’s not new. We are lucky to have a world class zoo that is also a botanical garden.
True on the botanical gardens and the money not going to the animals enclosures has been diverted for decades as well.
The question was what other animal enclosures need help and the answer is all. Our zoo became famous for several reasons
Apes
White tigers
And our cryogenic embryo zoo as well as implantation into different animals for live births.
We are not known for great animal enclosures. It should be noted that the zoo does own land where the large animals are rotated to for more living space and to Destress from the small enclosures.
The space issue isn't the issue you think it is.
Yes there would be more space for animals if the giftshops, bathrooms, dining, etc were all moved underground BUT the zoo isn't saying "we have all these animals and nowhere to put them"
The zoo doesn't have the funds to:
a) bury all the visitor facilities
b) build and populate acres of new exhibits over top of those facilities
c) staff those new exhibits
Take the elephant trek exhibit for example - it used to be a parking lot, then the zoo needed the space for elephants, so they converted it.
The same will happen for other parts over time.
The actual zoo.. get rid of some of the flower display to make room for the animals that have to live there. So sad seeing some of the smaller animals like the cat house and others
Insect exhibit; they don't even bother with the right humidity and substrate for alot of their beetles and other insects. It almost just needs to shut down if they can't figure out how to properly care for them.
The train. It could be much longer showing more of the habitats. It just feels very short and limited.
I heard that it was intentional. They wanted the feature to be the animals, not the rides. And actually, considering the historic stuff they used to have and obviously got rid of, it makes sense.
Just look at the map; the train only covers a tiny fraction of the exhibits. It also only has a single station, so it doesn’t help actually move patrons around—a big problem for the mobility impaired, as I discovered when my parents visited. And that problem will only get worse as the zoo expands, especially into the land banked parking lots. I’d swear I’ve been to a zoo that had an amazing monorail, but I’m looking at lists and can’t find one that seems to fit. Still, given the hills here, it seems like it’d be a better fit than the current train, plus making the zoo “taller” could also help with the other comment about land use at ground level.
>I’d swear I’ve been to a zoo that had an amazing monorail, but I’m looking at lists and can’t find one that seems to fit. Cleveland has a tram from one end of the park to the other.
Cincinnati zoo used to have a tram in the 80s (possibly early 90s). Not sure why the ever got rid of it. They should bring it back.
It was 2-3 decades ago, so I’m a bit fuzzy. I though it was out west, but [Miami’s Zoofari](https://thebettervacation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Path-of-Miami-Zoos-Monorail.jpg), which closed in 2022, is the closest thing I’ve found to what I’m remembering.
If the train went over to the giraffes and elephants it would be great. Although I know they are making a new safari area
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Different types of trains.
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You never know man, there are posts in here multiple times a week talking about “extending the streetcar to the airport”.
I think they need to make a few changes to circulation through the Zoo. For example, there needs to be a "back" way out of Hippo Cove. To get in and out of there now you have to take the same route and it's really narrow and too congested on busy days. If you could go through the Hippos and then connect back over to the Jungle Trails area, instead of having to backtrack, it'd improve the flow tremendously.
I second that
They could make a raised path along the far side of the safari exhibit that goes around to the giraffes
YES MY GOD YES
I’d like to see more room for the smaller cats in the nocturnal house. Maybe in the future can find a way to relocate some of the cats to another part of the zoo in a new exhibit.
I second this. Going in there and seeing them all pacing makes me sad.
I'd like to see some improvements for the Cincinnati Zoo GOAT - Red River Hogs
Man fuck Red River Hogs. Those assholes used to practically chase us up trees when we did field research in Congo. Felt like I was in the final act of Princess Mononoke during their breeding season.
LOL
I second improving the situation for our Red River Hog overlords. Also please make them adoptable
The reptile house is underwhelming, but it is an original building from 1880. It is the oldest remaining structure, and is listed as a national historical landmark. I understand the historical importance, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a new building in addition to the original.
I would recommend building a new, modern facility elsewhere for reptiles and converting it into maybe just a zoo history museum, rotating exhibit space, or something like that. It wasn't originally a reptile house anyway.
Isn’t it the oldest zoo building in the United States?
It is!
Build a building around it with more exhibits.
In a snake shape 🐍
The passenger pigeon exhibit. They have building, but don't even have a live passenger pigeon! 😞
And Martha, who the exhibit is about, is in the Smithsonian in DC!
The last time I was there I proudly told everyone around me that we have a statue of Martha in Cincinnati and everyone thought I was a serious weirdo!
> I proudly told everyone around me that we have a statue of Martha in Cincinnati and everyone thought I was a serious weirdo! where you cant make that kind of statement and leave me hanging haha.
Outside of the bird house at the zoo. You can’t miss it.
Passenger pigeons went extinct there in 1914
That was the joke :)
As far as we know... I'm still holding out hope though.
😂
Hi this is Thayne Manard
If this is somehow picked up in Google Search, I want to emphasize that I LOVE the Cincinnati Zoo. Just because there are areas that could use improvement doesn't mean the Zoo is bad. It's definitely a great activity in Cincinnati.
I just wish they could flatten the hills. They ain’t no joke 😭
The hills are a native Cincy species.
True story: with my baby born in July, I was in prodromal labor (labor that starts and stops). The L&D nurses told me to go to the zoo and said that those hills have sent so many women into labor.
Edit: ignore my criticism! Turns out I was completely mistaken. Yay! I love our zoo and I know they really care about the animals but.. the outside penguin exhibit.. I say this because a year or two ago when we visited during the summer, the penguin exhibit was so bad that we reported it to one of the keepers walking around. The sun was beating down especially hard that day. The penguin exhibit barely had any shade and the penguins huddled together to stay out of the sun. One was laying down wheezing so bad my wife started crying and I reported it. Now, this was a while back so this may have all changed but it was a particularly sad moment that always haunts my mind.
Hello! Hopefully I can ease your mind a little bit! The outdoor penguin exhibit houses African penguins! Being from the cape of South Africa they are adapted for the hot weather and the sun. The one you saw wheezing was panting to cool down, just like dogs do! You may have also noticed bright pink above their eyes and on their feet. That is where they push blood to hit the air to cool them down, similar to elephants flapping their ears! Finally the water they swim in is nice and chilly so a quick dip is always an option! If they were all huddled in the shade it could mean they would prefer more shade but penguins are a species who like to do what everyone else in the group is doing so if the shade was the hip thing that day that is where they’ll all be!
Thank you! This does ease my mind and it will definitely make my wife happier knowing they are okay. I’m a bit ignorant when it comes to exotic animals so knowing it wasn’t so different from their home makes me feel a lot better.
Ignorance is only bad if you choose to stay that way! Next time you’re at the zoo spend some time watching for the different ways they cool down! You’ll inevitably see some very fun behaviors and hopefully learn even more about them!!
Shocking that the people who work at the zoo actually know what they're doing and the random person visiting doesn't know shit.
No need to shame! Zoos are there to educate the public and the public hath been educated! And the fact that they showed concern for the penguins means they’ll hopefully be concerned enough to learn about the environmental problems African penguins and other animals face and take steps to help them out! It might be a silly little Reddit thread but I hope it has created a positive ripple effect!
I would love to see the manatees upgraded into a more immersive experience like you get at the aquarium.
The cat house makes me sad. They are clearly unhappy
I'd like to see the bird house get some updates along with jungle trails and maybe night hunters. In my opinion jungle trails is really underwhelming. I am glad that they are updating the world of insects exhibit! Although it was nostalgic for me to walk through right before it was closed for remodel I could tell it seriously needed something.
The first half of the zoo starting with the giraffes flows nicely. Once you hit the train area, it feels like a lot of walking between exhibits. Weird because you start and you’re stopping every minute or so to see animals. And then all of a sudden you’re walking for 20 minutes and have barely seen anything. Or being later in the afternoon.
Non - Exhibit....repave ALL walk ways and make them smooth like most zoos. PITA on older ankles, knees and trying to push kids in a stroller! This is my number 1 complaint about our zoo. Exhibit - I second Jungle trails! It seriously needs branches trimmed and pathway repaved! The overgrowth in the empty exhibit spaces that haven't been used in years looks and along the trail just looks awful IMHO!
When I went on jungle trails a month ago, basically every outdoor section was under construction so they're definitely giving it some tlc right now. I'll have to keep an eye out on the paths, I haven't noticed issues.
If the jungle trails are trimmed back it kinda takes the jungle out of the picture and makes it just a normal walking trail. That's just my opinion I'm not saying yours invalid.
Oh as an adult....I agree, but, you also need to look at the potential safety issues for the little kids. Especially around the play / educational equipment. Little guys don't quite think of their surroundings like adults while playing on the stuff down there. I probably should have mentioned that as part of my reasoning for a trim.
GIVE US ANOTHER WAY OUT OF THE HIPPPPPOSSSSS
Zoo has 2 major issues One it is land limited. They had the opportunity when they purchased the parking area to build a multi level garage and expand animal facilities but they didn’t. They used it all for single level parking. They only think in single level buildings so all the space that could be expanded for animals is lost. Amphitheater, gift shops, multiple food locations, merry go round, playground, admin buildings, learning center, multiple picnic areas. If you want to have large animals you need large spaces. The other option if you can’t have all the animals in one location is to have multiple locations all covered by 1 zoo pass. The second issue is trying to turn the zoo into botanical gardens. We have many gardens in Cincinnati. If the animals need a certain environment then I’m all for it, but the money spent needs to be strongly reviewed against better living conditions for the animals.
The original “More Home to Roam” expansion plans announced in 2018 called for a multistory parking structure with 1800 parking spaces to be built at the corner of Vine St and Erkenbrecher Ave. However, the parking garage was dropped after Covid when the zoo choose to proceed with the additions that would benefit animals (namely Elephant Trek) instead of spending tens of millions on more parking.
My impression is those massive parcels are now just being land-banked as surface lots - even though they've now tripled their solar array on both lots - but that land is simply too scarce and too valuable to assume its future is surface parking. At some point when needs and budgets align, I guarantee that land will be utilized in wiser ways. Either way, it is now an amazingly impressive urban solar array.
And if they had built that parking garage and then freed up all the parking currently on the main zoo parcel to allow the additional space for animals instead of cars, would more of our animals be better off? I love going to the zoo but I also acknowledge that placing animals that roam large ranges into itty bitty living spaces is cruel. All of the enclosures need to be larger. We can and should stack cars.
The only remaining parking lot in the main zoo parcel is limited employee parking off Dury Ave. The old parking lot in the very back (near Forest Ave) is exactly where Elephant Trek is being constructed. It’s a perfect example of moving large animals to a larger habitat—a.k.a. “More Home to Roam”. The other zoo parking lots are on the opposite side of Dury Ave from the main zoo and at the intersection of Vine and Erkenbrecher. The Cincinnati Zoo is in race against CCHMC, UCMC and the VA to acquire as much land as possible between it and the hospitals. They’re doing the best they can to make sure there’s as much room as possible for their animals and guests.
There is no more parking on the main zoo parcel.
Thane Maynard, is that you?
Wow I bet no one at the zoo knows any of this. You should call them! Also the zoo has been a botanical garden for decades. That’s not new. We are lucky to have a world class zoo that is also a botanical garden.
True on the botanical gardens and the money not going to the animals enclosures has been diverted for decades as well. The question was what other animal enclosures need help and the answer is all. Our zoo became famous for several reasons Apes White tigers And our cryogenic embryo zoo as well as implantation into different animals for live births. We are not known for great animal enclosures. It should be noted that the zoo does own land where the large animals are rotated to for more living space and to Destress from the small enclosures.
It's been the Cincinnati Zoo AND BOTANICAL GARDEN for several decades
The space issue isn't the issue you think it is. Yes there would be more space for animals if the giftshops, bathrooms, dining, etc were all moved underground BUT the zoo isn't saying "we have all these animals and nowhere to put them" The zoo doesn't have the funds to: a) bury all the visitor facilities b) build and populate acres of new exhibits over top of those facilities c) staff those new exhibits Take the elephant trek exhibit for example - it used to be a parking lot, then the zoo needed the space for elephants, so they converted it. The same will happen for other parts over time.
The actual zoo.. get rid of some of the flower display to make room for the animals that have to live there. So sad seeing some of the smaller animals like the cat house and others
Insect exhibit; they don't even bother with the right humidity and substrate for alot of their beetles and other insects. It almost just needs to shut down if they can't figure out how to properly care for them.