Pandas at the Calgary Zoo

[DizzyEdge]

Re: Dinosaur Park

I don't recall, is there anything Dino related at the Glenbow?

maybe they can have a really really really old heritage section at Heritage Park.

[Yahoo]

They could definitely modernize dino park. Half the attraction is the landscaping. They talked about adding sound and more interactive displays with motion, but that obviously never happened. Even bringing in a few actual fossils would help.

And they sure don't market it very well, I'm sure many tourists randomly walking around don't even see the entrance.

Perhaps if they housed a few animals in there that have essentially survived since the age of dino's. (Even some bird displays could have a place there).

Dino's have been a part of the zoo since the 1930's so it would be a shame to lose it, particularly in a province so rich in fossils. There is still plenty of undeveloped land nearby. (on another topic I think areas like the hippo exhibit give very little room to an animal that walks around a lot at night).

[polishavenger]

Originally Posted by Yahoo

They could definitely modernize dino park. Half the attraction is the landscaping. They talked about adding sound and more interactive displays with motion, but that obviously never happened. Even bringing in a few actual fossils would help.

And they sure don't market it very well, I'm sure many tourists randomly walking around don't even see the entrance.

Perhaps if they housed a few animals in there that have essentially survived since the age of dino's. (Even some bird displays could have a place there).

Dino's have been a part of the zoo since the 1930's so it would be a shame to lose it, particularly in a province so rich in fossils. There is still plenty of undeveloped land nearby. (on another topic I think areas like the hippo exhibit give very little room to an animal that walks around a lot at night).

Seeing as how we have Drumheller nearby, it seems the zoo would do better concentrating on what it does best rather than competing/overlapping with a world renowned museum.

In the end, if the zoo needed room to expand its live exhibits, I wouldnt be upset if they sacrified the dino park.

[suburb]

Originally Posted by polishavenger

Seeing as how we have Drumheller nearby, it seems the zoo would do better concentrating on what it does best rather than competing/overlapping with a world renowned museum.

In the end, if the zoo needed room to expand its live exhibits, I wouldnt be upset if they sacrified the dino park.

Agree. I think Drumheller should talk to the science centre and get a *small* display there instead. Our attractions need to better leverage off each other and not always compete. Zoo should get out of the dino business.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by suburb

Agree. I think Drumheller should talk to the science centre and get a *small* display there instead. Our attractions need to better leverage off each other and not always compete. Zoo should get out of the dino business.

yeah this is what I was thinking, basically a "Royal Tyrell Calgary campus" idea, to get people visiting Calgary (and hell, Edmonton as well) interested in heading to Drumheller. Where it should be? ,

[suburb]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

yeah this is what I was thinking, basically a "Royal Tyrell Calgary campus" idea, to get people visiting Calgary (and hell, Edmonton as well) interested in heading to Drumheller. Where it should be? ,

Edmonton already has one of those. The legislature.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by suburb

Edmonton already has one of those. The legislature.

Zing!

[Bigtime]

"Opened up the crate and the damn thing's dead. Upchucked its bamboo."



I can't wait for the penguins, and now knowing we will get some panda action again makes it even better. I too have fond memories of the Alpha Panda ice cream (in a box!) and the panda-mania that swept this city with their last visit.

It is kind of weird to think that Littletime will be about 9 years old when they get here, and Littletime 2.0 will be 6. That makes me feel old!

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I agree, the Dinosaur park is a waste of valuable space.


Jurasic Park by D-2-C, on Flickr

Those people on the C-Train - they're learning for free! Get 'em!

(Virtual cookie to whomever catches the reference)

[Bigtime]

I want to say it's a Simpsons quote. Virtual cookie for whoever can get the quote on my post above.

Edit: Upon further thinking, delving into the depths of my mind to search for Simpsons trivia was it a school trip to Springfield's version of Gettysburg during the civil war?

[suburb]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I can't wait for the penguins, and now knowing we will get some panda action again makes it even better.

Regarding penguins, I went to see them with my little tart today (no viewing for general public yet, however, they have advanced viewing for 'engage' and 'inspire' members). It was fantastic! You get *really* up close to the penguins - much more so than at the Montreal Biodome. They are also quite curious, so they check everyone out, swimming down to greet little kids sometimes. They splashed people with single flippers (like you'd see in a whale show) also. I was really very impressed with the experience. Looks like they are planning to keep all 46 birds inside for quite a while. Will be neat once they are comfortable letting them to the outside part. BTW - the little glass pathways under your feet that they swim through to get from one side of the walking path to the other did not have lights working, so we could see them go in one side and get out the other, but was tough to see under the feet. I think they've gone with LED lights, which might explain things.

[polishavenger]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I want to say it's a Simpsons quote. Virtual cookie for whoever can get the quote on my post above.

Edit: Upon further thinking, delving into the depths of my mind to search for Simpsons trivia was it a school trip to Springfield's version of Gettysburg during the civil war?

Thats correct. Otto is syphoning gas from a richer schools bus, and the reenactment soldiers attack the kids. I believe poor Utter is lost in the escape, too much chocolate.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by polishavenger

Thats correct. Otto is syphoning gas from a richer schools bus, and the reenactment soldiers attack the kids. I believe poor Utter is lost in the escape, too much chocolate.

And the "rich" school was acting pretty uppity, every since their principal swept this years Princie awards.

Bigtime, you other quote is from Nixon's head in Futurama I believe, discussing old stories with Zap Branagan.
/nerd.

[Innersoul1]

So we have to wait until 2018...boooourns

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Bigtime, you other quote is from Nixon's head in Futurama I believe, discussing old stories with Zap Branagan.
/nerd.

You got it, well played sir!

Originally Posted by suburb

Regarding penguins, I went to see them with my little tart today (no viewing for general public yet, however, they have advanced viewing for 'engage' and 'inspire' members). It was fantastic! You get *really* up close to the penguins - much more so than at the Montreal Biodome. They are also quite curious, so they check everyone out, swimming down to greet little kids sometimes. They splashed people with single flippers (like you'd see in a whale show) also. I was really very impressed with the experience. Looks like they are planning to keep all 46 birds inside for quite a while. Will be neat once they are comfortable letting them to the outside part. BTW - the little glass pathways under your feet that they swim through to get from one side of the walking path to the other did not have lights working, so we could see them go in one side and get out the other, but was tough to see under the feet. I think they've gone with LED lights, which might explain things.

Time to put on my "smug face", can you get this close?


Penguin Buddy by BigtimeAa, on Flickr



I can't wait though, very excited to show my daughter the penguins. I know she'll love it!

[Innersoul1]

This is the BEST I can do!


Pengu by djinnersoul, on

Feeding my daughter to the penguins at the Seattle Zoo.

[suburb]

In Calgary's manifestation, the water level is much higher so you can get a very good vantage of them swimming while you stand and the glass ends only ~8" above the water level so some people were getting splashed by them too. Calgary is only indoors right now. All four types of Penguins, including the King (up to 3' high) are mixed in the enclosure. Oh - and I don't think the Calgary zoo would have the types we have in such warm temperatures as what appears in that Seattle pic.

Here are some of my pics from yesterday (bad quality as I forgot my camera thus had to do with my phone) ...

See how the enclosure and its lighting creates the antarctic atmosphere:




Glass only a few inches about water level - so expect splashes if you are up close:


See where other people are viewing from on the far right:

[MichaelS]

Looks like a great enclosure. Thanks for sharing the pictures suburb.

[Bigtime]

Yes, yes, yes! Looks awesome!

[Innersoul1]

Actually Suburb. Those pictures look almost exactly the the enclosure in Seattle.

Agreed Great enclosure!