Category: What’s Changing

Zoo Tram2021A Tram will give guests the opportunity for transportation from one end of the Zoo to the other. Tram stations will be in the front of the Zoo by admissions and by the giraffe feeding platform in the Animals of the Savanna area.See more of what’s changing

Razing of the 1931 Main BuildingDONEAs of November 2018, the Main Building at the south end of the Zoo has been demolished.  The building was built in 1931 and did not meet current best practices for animal care, so it was razed. Removal of the outdated structure paves the way for a second phase of Master Plan improvements, to include a new Tropics Complex featuring animals from the ecosystems of Borneo and Madagascar.FAQQuestion 1: Why is the Main Building going away?
Answer: The Main Building,  which was built in 1931, does not meet today’s standards for animal welfare or guest experience. Therefore it will be demolished in 2018 which will pave way for a new, state of the art Tropics Complex.Question 2: Where did all the animals in the Main Building go?
Answer:  Each of the animals were sent to another zoo or moved to a different area at Seneca Park Zoo.  Zoo leadership worked very closely with the AZA Species Survival Plan to find the most appropriate home for each animal.Question 3: When will the Tropics Complex be complete?
Answer:  The footprint the Main Zoo Building once occupied will graded and planted with grass, for the time being. Planning and design of the new Tropics Complex, which will take its place, as well as entry plaza improvements will begin in 2021, with construction commencing in 2022 and an anticipated opening date of 2023.See more of what’s changing

Conservation Resource Center2021At the south end of the Zoo near admissions will be a brand new Conservation Resource Center.  This building will house conservation and education programs.  Additionally, it will feature a new event space overlooking the gorilla day room which will host up to 250 people for seated events.See more of what’s changing

Guest Services Facilities2021With this transformation, operations like admissions and ZooShop will also be expanded and upgraded to meet the best-in-class standards as well as the increased demands based on attendance growth. Admissions and Member booths will be upgraded to ensure an appropriate welcome into the Zoo, and the ZooShop will be expanded to provide a wider array of merchandise as well.See more of what’s changing

Tropics ComplexOpening in 2025At the south end of the Zoo, in the area previously occupied by rhino and the main building, will be a state-of-the-art Tropics complex, featuring animals from the ecosystems of Borneo and Madagascar.  This will include naturalistic orangutan habitat enabling climbing and more “tree-top-like” movement.  The new tropics complex will also feature ring-tailed lemurs.  Other animals from these ecosystems will be incorporated as well.Bornean OrangutansOrangutans are the largest tree-living and fruit-eating animal on Earth. Orangutan in Malay means, “person of the forest.” They’re found on the Indonesian island of Borneo and in Malaysia.Ring Tailed LemursRing-tailed lemurs are found in tropical dry forest and spiny bush of southern and southwestern Madagascar. They spend about 40% of their time on the ground – the most of any lemur species.See more of what’s changing