Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

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eomaha
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Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Post by eomaha »

Gorilla Valley Open.

It quickly became apparent that there is still alot of work to be done (and they're creating a new area for the Orangs as well) ... with the outside areas still being worked on as people were filing through.  It is nonetheless... very impressive... I didn't realize it would house some additional non-private species as well.  Lee Simmons is a genius.
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Post by StreetsOfOmaha »

Great photos, Jeff! I'll have to get down there and see it. Maybe I'll wait until it's all done, to get the full effect.
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Post by Coyote »

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Post by sokkerdewd »

I visited yesterday...though people can walk through the entire exhibit, it looks like it's only about 30% finished. The animals aren't even outside yet. You may want to wait a bit...
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Post by eomaha »

I've got a better idea... buy a zoo pass... you can go as many times as you like!
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Getting closer to having Pandas in Omaha

Post by Coyote »

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u ... id=1116251

With Pandas only in Memphis, DC, Atlanta and San Diego this would make the HDZoo an even greater tourist designation. With our Congressional delegation behind achieving this and Walter Scott's help, it is looking better that in a few years Omaha will host Pandas.
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Post by DTO Luv »

I don't see what the big draw of Pandas is but if it will be a draw for the zoo, I'm all for it. :D
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Post by eomaha »

They're ultra rare... and even more rare in captivity...

And how can you resist them...

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Post by DTO Luv »

The zoo should do like that show "Animal Face-Off" on the Discovery Channel were they pit animals in a digital |expletive|-fight. :wink:
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'Panda Procurement' a lengthy process

Post by eomaha »

From the World Herald...

Johanns returns without pandas

Henry Doorly Zoo

LINCOLN - A whirlwind weekend trip to China netted Gov. Mike Johanns and his wife, Stephanie, a glimpse of the Great Wall - but it did not procure a pair of pandas for Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.

"The whole issue of securing pandas for a zoo is a very lengthy, step-by-step, sort of process," Johanns said Wednesday, shortly after his return (the Memphis Zoo acquired two pandas after nearly eight years of trying).

"Over the weekend, we took another important step. Is it the step that results in pandas arriving next week? No. That's not the way the Chinese work, and that's not the way they work with pandas."

Bringing pandas to the Omaha zoo would be a boon to Nebraska, the governor said, saying he will continue to press Nebraska's case if he returns to China during his remaining two years in office.

He said he didn't know if it might take two years or more to bring the endangered animals to Nebraska. "I don't think anybody knows or anybody is predicting," he said.

The governor was accompanied by Zoo Director Lee Simmons and his wife, Marie; Zoo Foundation President Walter Scott and his wife, Suzanne; and David L. Towne of Seattle, chairman of the Giant Panda Foundation. They left for China on Saturday and returned to Lincoln late Tuesday.

The trip was paid for by the Zoo Foundation, although Stephanie Johanns' expenses will be paid by the Johanns' campaign fund as required by state law. Johanns and his staff said they did not know the cost of the trip.

Although the Simmonses and Scotts were to stay in China until this weekend, Johanns returned early because of other obligations, including the National Governors' Association meeting beginning Friday in Seattle.

Johanns said his presence was a crucial "seal of approval" for Chinese officials. "There was only one reason I was there. It wasn't because I'm Mike Johanns. It's because I'm Governor Johanns."

Johanns previously visited China on a trade mission in mid-June.

With a 15-hour flight to China and 15 hours back, Johanns spent more time traveling than he did on the ground in China. He said he was able to do a little sightseeing - the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace - but "those were quick trips. It was 'there's the Great Wall' and on to the next stop."

Johanns actually already has his personal Chinese panda. Other members of Nebraska's trade delegation presented him with a toy panda when he celebrated his birthday in China on June 18.
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Swing in the Orangs!

Post by Brad »

Swing in the Orangs!
from http://www.omahazoo.com
Construction has begun on the new exhibit scheduled to open at the Omaha Zoo in 2005 - Orangutan Forest. Orangutan Forest will include outdoor areas and a renovated indoor area. Watch the construction progress by taking a ride on the new elevator! During the construction of the new Orangutan Forest, check out the Omaha Zoo's orangutans in Hubbard Gorilla Valley.
Has anyone gone to the website http://www.omahazoo.com or the zoo and seen the size of the fake tree they are building for this. It must be five stories tall.
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Post by eomaha »

Interesting... maybe I'll take the boys down there tomorrow. Thank for sharing that.

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Zoo Holiday Lights

Post by DTO Luv »

Sunday night was the last night the Zoo was doing the lights and at $1 to get in it was a good photo opp. Some of the light ones are a bit fuzzy so sorry. It's like my second time using a digital camera. Enjoy!
Last edited by DTO Luv on Mon Jan 03, 2005 10:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Coyote »

Cool photos DTO - keep it coming!
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Post by Zephyr »

Great photos, DTO - thanks for sharing them! I have not been to the zoo in a couple of years.
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Post by Ingersoll1978 »

A tripod will help a lot with the fuzziness. Good pictures though. :)
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Post by projectman »

Cool photos.
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Post by DTO Luv »

Ingersoll1978 wrote:A tripod will help a lot with the fuzziness. Good pictures though. :)
Yeah I know. I was lucky enough to ge the camera so I wasn't going to push it asking for a bunch of other things. Thanks.
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Post by StreetsOfOmaha »

Those last two photos are scary as heck! Ahhhh!
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Post by DTO Luv »

The one with the crocs looks like a big pile of reptilian rats.
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Post by Brad »

Isn't the dome cool when its dark out and the lower lights are on. its like you are in a space ship.
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Post by DTO Luv »

Yeah I kept thinking tthat. Since the surroundings were a desert on the inside you couldn't help but feel like you were lost near Roswell or Area 51. I really like the picture from the inside.
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Henry Doorly scientists discover two new Lemur species

Post by eomaha »

Guess this was news a couple of days ago, but forgot to share it here. People think so highly of the zoo as a tourist attraction... and neglect to realize it is among the world's most respected zoological research institutions as well.
Henry Doorly Zoo wrote: Two New Species of Lemur Discovered by Scientists at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo

Officials at the zoo today announced the coming publication in the December 2005 issue (volume 26, no. 6) of the International Journal of Primatology of two new species of Sportive Lemurs described by Dr. Edward Louis head of the Genetics Department of the Grewcock Center for Conservation and Research Center at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (HDZ).

The two new species are located in very different forest types- in the rain forest of the east coast and in the dry forest of the west coast. The east coast species, Seal's Sportive Lemur or Lepilemur seali, is named in honor of Ulysses S. Seal III, former chairman of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) of the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The west coast species, Mitsinjo Sportive Lemur or Lepilemur mitsinjonensis, is named after the region.

Dr. Louis, Project Coordinator of HDZ's Madagascar Biodiversity and Biogeography Project has been leading an extensive collaboration in conservation genetics with Madagascan wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and the University of Antananarivo since 1998. Dr. Louis and his team have taken genetic (DNA) samples from over 1,800 lemurs that were captured and then released back into the wild.

Madagascar is considered one of the most diverse and ecologically important regions in the world. Lemurs are only found in Madagascar and are considered extremely endangered due to the pressures of human encroachment and loss of habitat. Madagascar has lost approximately 11 million hectares (27 million acres) of its forest cover in the last 20 years. However, President Marc Ravalomanana has pledged to increase the amount of protected forest area over the next five years from approximately 1.5 million hectares to 5 million hectares.

Dr. Lee G. Simmons, Director of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo said "The discovery of any new species is noteworthy, the discovery of two new primate species is extraordinarily significant to science and conservation. We are very proud of Dr. Louis and his team's accomplishments."
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Henry Doorly contributes orang to Des Moines' 'Ape Trust'

Post by eomaha »

OmahaChannel.com wrote: Omaha Ape Moves To Des Moines
Knobi Arrives From Omaha Zoo

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Great Ape Trust of Iowa welcomed its newest addition Tuesday.

Knobi, a 25-year-old orangutan, arrived from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb. Knobi is being quarantined to make sure she has a peaceful transition to her new home.

Knobi will join Azy, another orangutan that already lives at the center. Azy's sister Indah died in November from a terminal medical condition. Azy and Indah came to the Great Ape Trust from the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington, D.C.

Azy and Knobi will help scientists at Great Ape Trust learn more about how apes communicate.
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Omaha Zoo on Discovery Channel

Post by Brad »

I was just watching Ultimate Zoos on the Discovery Channel and they had Omaha's Zoo!!! Cox Channel 37!!!
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Post by Brad »

According to the guide, Ultimate Zoos will ba on again at 2 am and noon.
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Post by eomaha »

Cool... of course I'll be up at 2am. :)

What all did they say about it?
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Post by Coyote »

Bummer. Here it is 1:30 and my DirectTv says at 2:00 on Discovery there is paid programming and at noon today there will be Biker Build-Off (Russell Mitchell v the Detroit Brothers)
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Post by Coyote »

Well - I just saw the segment on Animal Planet.
They did an excellent presentation of Dr. Lee Simmons vision.
He grew up in Arizona and was the impetus behind this display at the HD Zoo.
Sure there was the Largest indoor desert in the 'most unexpected place' theme
but for the most part it talked about the success of this vision
and all the work that was put into making it happen:
10,000 tons of concrete, 300 tons of red sand
3 deserts - making sure all animals found a home.
A well done documentary.
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Post by Brad »

I am very sorry

Its on cox 67 Animal Plannet, Today Saturday at 12 noon.
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Post by eomaha »

I saw the noontime broadcast... very nice.

The lead in had a nice scene where they showed the dome and rose up over it to show the skyline off in the background.
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Orangutan Forest news

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Zoo grasps orangutans' lofty needs
Omaha World Herald wrote:A portion of Orangutan Forest, complete with three waterfalls and a troop of langur monkeys, opens to the public at 9:30 a.m. Friday.
Omaha World Herald wrote:The rest of Orangutan Forest, including a naturalistic indoor environment, opens in August.
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Post by almighty_tuna »

Oh how exciting! We're going to the zoo on Wednesday to get our yearly membership and make the first visit of the year. Can't wait to see the new Orangutan area.
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Post by Brad »

This will be great. For years and years I have been going to the zoo an the orangutans have been sitting in concrete boxes with some little fake trees. Now they will be in their natural habitat swinging from trees that are over 5 stories tall!
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Post by Big E »

Natural habitat? Lots of concrete trees with glass elevators in Sumatra? ;)
Stable genius.
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Post by Brad »

Natural habitat? Lots of concrete trees with glass elevators in Sumatra?


Did you ever see their old exibit? besides I think they would like glass elevators in Sumatra, it would give them something to watch. :wink:
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Post by Coyote »

Zoo grateful Hubbards' cupboard not yet bare
Omaha World Herald wrote:At the opening ceremony for the new Orangutan Forest, zoo director Dr. Lee Simmons said the Hubbard family will help double the space allotted for research on conservation and genetics.
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Post by Finn »

Again, one big project after another. Amazing!
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Post by Brad »

Anyone going to make it down there this weekend for pictures?
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Post by eomaha »

http://www.eomaha.com/gallery/zoo/orangutan

Indoor portion of the exhibit still has a long ways to go.
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