Photos and Updates

September 22, 2011:

Grass Grows, Rhino-Tapir Building Nears Completion

As the summer heat fades, Toyota Elephant Passage construction heats up to a feverish pace.

Actual grass has been seeded and has begun to sprout. Buildings are reaching the completion stages and it will not be long before animals can check out their new surroundings for the impending opening in late spring 2012.

Crews are testing all of the gates and door systems on the rhino-tapir building (above), which will house our two Malayan tapirs, Benny and Rinny, and a new species, a greater one-horned rhino.

At the Clayton F. Freiheit Elephant Building (bottom left), the new home for Mimi and Dolly and a few bull (male) elephants, the heated flooring systems have been installed in the exterior and interior. The elephant building can house from eight to 12 elephants and will be one of the world's best elephant breeding facilities. New substrate and resinous flooring also have been completed inside the elephant building.

Final touches have been added to Peter and Ella's Crossing, the animal transfer bridge (below right) that will allow elephants, tapirs and rhinos to move from one habitat to another. The bridge will look like it has been in place more than 100 years when theming work is done.

Crews have begun installing exterior siding on the Asian Café (above left), which weeks ago only had the framing complete. The café and bathrooms are scheduled to be open during Zoo Lights in December. Three animal shade structures also have been completed around pool D, which surround the McGrath Family Amphitheater where the Toyota Elephant Passage animal shows will occur.

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