Duck and Cover - A lion has escaped.

Lions relaxing in the Sun at the Bronx Zoo

Imagine this scenario. It’s a beautiful Tuesday afternoon and you have decided to skive of work and take some time to visit your local zoo.  You purchase some cotton candy and start on a leisurely stroll whilst enjoying the tranquil environment. As you take a bite of your candy you look up to see a four foot high, 550 pound African lion standing on the path in front of you. So what’s next?

OK, thankfully this is an extremely rare scenario but animals do escape their enclosures and zoos need to be prepared for that scary event. As I have written in previous posts, escape-proof enclosures aren’t necessarily escape-proof when you consider the human factor into the equation. So what do good zoos have in place to protect the public in the unlikely event that an animal does escape?

All zoos must have an emergency evacuation or containment procedure in place for the safety of patrons – so here is the procedure.  Firstly they need to identify the emergency by issuing an emergency code across the zoos internal radio communication system. The list of codes goes something like this:

Code Red - Dangerous animal escape. Lion, tigers, gorillas, bears, male giraffe;

Code Blue - Hazardous animal escape. Smaller wild cats, camel, female giraffe;                               

Code Yellow -Non-threatening animal escape. Koala, lemur, turtle, python. 

 

Snow Leopard at Central Park Zoo

So for the purpose of this scenario the zoo has now issued a Code Red Alert and all staff have been informed that there is a lion on the loose. Evacuation and containment measures are immediately put in place with visitors being evacuated into safe shelters that are located across the zoo.  Generally these safe shelters are located on the zoo map. Staff, by using the zoo's loud speaker system, will direct visitors to the safest and most convenient shelters away from the escapee.

Whilst the evacuation is underway, an emergency response team is dispatched to hunt down the escaped animal and neutralise the risk. The emergency response team usually consists of a team of zoo employees armed with both tranquilizer guns and conventional guns. Which weapon is used will be determined on the immediate risk to human life at the time of locating the escapee. This team is generally not at full time stand-by team ready to be called out to hunt down an escaped animal at a moment’s notice, but more like a set of employees that have been trained in the use of firearms. Think of them like the nominated fire warden at your place of employment, but with guns! 

None of the above probably means a hell of a lot to you because in our scenario you are being measured up for lunch by a 500 pound lion. You’re probably trying to remember what it is that you are supposed to do when confronted with a lion. Are you meant to stare into its eyes, not stare, roll up into a little ball and play dead, run, or just make yourself look big?  (For the record the best way to handle a lion is to intimidate it. Grab branches or a jacket and wave it around. Do not run and do not roll up into a little ball to play dead.) So let’s say that in this scenario you just happened to read this post and managed to scare the lion off by using the art of intimidation (you may have lost your cotton candy though!). The zoo keepers come around the corner and tranquilize the lion so now the problem is neutralized, you’re a hero and the lion is asleep. The head zoo keeper will now make an announcement to all staff that the situation is under control by issuing an all clear code allowing all visitors to leave their secure shelters -  and you get to do the talk show circuit.

A tiger a the Bronx Zoo

Although it is rare for visitors to be attacked by zoo animals unless they jump into the enclosure, it’s more common for zoo keepers to be attacked. The most recent example of this in May 2013 was at the South Lakes Animal Park in England where a 24 year old zoo keeper was killed by a tiger in its enclosure. There are lots of examples of zoo keepers being either killed or injured caring for their animals. Thank goodness good zoos put just as much time into the safety of their employees as they do the public.
© May 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

Central Park Zoo - New York City

 

Location –  830 Fifth Avenue – Central Park, New York City

Entry Price – Total Experience tickets (recommended) - Adults - $18.00US Children (3-12) -$13.00US  Senior (65+) - $15.00US 

Opening Hours – Summer hours, Mar – Nov, Monday to Friday 10.00 am - 5.00 pm
Weekends & Holidays 10.00 am – 5.30 pm. Winter hours, Nov - March 10.00 am – 4.30 pm daily.

Central Park Zoo web page  

Tiger and Cubs Sculpture

Layout  

This is a very small compact zoo located on the edge of Central Park in Manhattan.  The zoo has three main sections, the front entrance plaza, main zoo and children’s zoo. A 4-D theatre is located on the entrance plaza between the main zoo and children zoo. Also located on the entry plaza is a gift shop (The Zootique) and art gallery. The zoo has one cafe located to the left at entry.

All exhibits are located on the outer edge of the zoo in a semi circle format and include Polar Circle, Temperate Territory, Snow Leopard enclosure and Rainforest Exhibit. The centre of the zoo is dominated by a large Sea Lion pool.

Extra Activities  

A short 4-D movies can be seen in the theatre if you purchase a Total Experience Ticket. There are two movies to choose from at any time and usually conservation themed.  Also included with the Total Experience Ticket is the Children’s Zoo. Penguin and Sea Lion feeding times are scheduled and worth attending.

Sea Lion Pool with skyline of Manhattan in background

Breeding Programmes
This zoo is one of five zoos and aquariums in New York City managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Visit their website via this link to see the awesome work that they are doing to protect animals in so many regions around the world. It’s nice to know your entry ticket is helping out with this work.

Stu’s Favourite Bit 

The Snow Leopards enclosure was narrowly my favorite bit. I say narrowly because watching the Sea Lions play and scale the rocks to pose for photos was pretty special.   

The Snow Leopards’ enclosure was very impressive, complete with rocky outcrops, waterfalls and dense foliage that when combined with the two lookouts made for great viewing opportunities. The leopards themselves were very energetic and on one occasion a stray squirrel got a little to close and the leopard pounced. Probably not a great image if the squirrel was captured- but hey!  

Go HERE to see a selection of animals found at this zoo at Stu @ the zoo TV 

Snow Leopard

Stu’s review and tips   

So what do you get for your $18.00?  Answer, a small zoo with only a hand full of animals on offer.  Oh yeah and a rare opportunity to see some amazing animals up close in spectacular enclosures.

Don’t be fooled by the size of this zoo! As you walk around, each exhibit draws you in and forces you to linger, to observe, and notice the unique characteristics of each animal and their authentic surroundings. Most of the animals are from cold weather temperate climates including snow leopards, snow monkeys, polar bears (Sadly Gus the polar bear passed away in August 2013, he was 27), red pandas and gentoo penguins but there is so much more.

There is a great indoor tropical rainforest exhibit where you walk up into the tree tops observing colourful birds including the victoria crowned pigeon, bats, snakes, lemurs and tamarins. It can be a little overwhelming to the senses and nice and toasty on a cold March day.
  

One of the Tropical Parrots in the Tropical Zone

The sea lion pool in the centre garden area is a huge draw card. Seriously you could easily sit and watch these guys play for hours. You can also see the sea lions pool from the entry plaza at no charge and I can imagine many a New Yorker just popping in for a laugh, over lunch.

Sea Lion Pool

The 4-D movies are ok. One is a take from the movie Ice Age and the other is a short informative BBC documentary on polar bears and penguins.  The Children Zoo is a great idea, especially for kids that live in the big city and rarely get the opportunity to see sheep, pigs, goats etc.

Inside The Tropical Zone

Heading towards the Children Zoo

 
There is no parking at the zoo, but who in their right mind would drive in New York City anyway with the great public transport to the area by either subway or Metro bus.

I’m not sure if it was that it snowed the day before we visited leaving pockets of snow throughout or if it was the architecture, but I left this zoo feeling a little nostalgic, almost pining for a simpler time. This is an authentic old style city zoo minus the small enclosures and I loved it. 

Must See Animals  
Snow Leopard 
Victorian Crowned Pigeon 
Sea Lions 
Penguin
Polar Bear  




© April 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au