FULL TITLE: The Oakland Zoo in Knowland Park
As the name suggests, this zoo nestles in Knowland Park in the Oakland hills. A fairly small zoo by area, it nevertheless displays a wide variety of creatures in pleasant surroundings. NOTE: My visit to this zoo was a few years ago now. If any information here is known to be out of date, please email me.
MAJOR ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS:
SUN BEAR FOREST - One of Oakland's newest attractions, this large landscaped forest area is home to Malayan Sun Bears and Sika Deer. The bear enclosure is very high tech, with both scent and sound emitters built in to stimulate activity in the bears. Also, tree stumps and the waterfall dispense food at regular intervals, providing the bears with honey and fish. This exhibit is excellent proof that not all of the best enclosures are at the big name zoos.
AFRICAN SAVANNA - Another recent development, this area consists of three main exhibits with smaller enclosures around the periphery.
MAHALI PA TEMBO - African Elephants are always both popular and dramatic and Oakland uses this to great advantage in this large, well landscaped enclosure.
AFRICAN VELDT - A good mixed exhibit this, with Reticulated Giraffe, Cape Eland, Dama (or Mhorr) Gazelle, Griffon Vulture, Lappet Faced Vulture, Egyptian Goose, Grey Crowned Crane and, bizarrely, Indian Sarus Crane. Despite a slight cock-up on the zoogeographic front, this is still probably my favourite exhibit at Oakland, if only because it is a true mixed exhibit, which I always like to see.
SIMBA PORI - African Lions have been kept in zoos since Roman times, and so for the enthusiast are often something to which little attention is paid. This is not helped by the fact that they spend large amounts of time resting, albeit in full view of the public. At Oakland, however, the lions have such a large and well designed pen that, although they can almost always be found, you could spend quite a while looking for them. Environmental enrichment for visitors!
Also in the African Savanna area are enclosures for:- Rock Hyrax, Meerkat, Spotted Hyaena, Vervet Monkey, Savanna Monitor Lizard, Hammerkop and Cattle Egret, Roan Antelope, Dromedary, and Plains Zebra.
AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK - Another mixed exhibit, this time for Emu, Red Wallaroo (not a kangaroo/wallaby hybrid but a medium-sized relative of both) and the much smaller Tammar or Dama Wallaby. Nearby are a small group of aviaries, mainly housing grass parakeets.
RAINFOREST - A loose name for the enclosures occupying the centre of the zoo. Mammals include a solitary tiger, Ocelots, Chimps, monkeys and Prevost's Squirrels. The monkeys include a large colony of the ever-popular Hamadryas Baboon and the much rarer Gelada Baboon. There are also gibbons - Lar and Siamang. Other animals include pythons, macaws and hornbills.
The planted Lar Gibbon enclosure
CHILDREN'S ZOO - In the UK, 'Children's Zoo' means a small collection of domestic animals usually dominated by pygmy goats, so it's always a surprise to see the very different approach to the concept Stateside. Here at Oakland the Children's Zoo includes Canadian River Otters, American Alligators, Bobcat and a small collection of domestics.
OTHER ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS:
Behind the paddock for the Roan Antelope can be found a larger paddock housing American Bison and an unusual subspecies of what Europeans know as Red Deer, the Tule Elk.
Close to the entrance is the large and attractive Flamingo Plaza.
There are Giant Tortoises outside the Children's Zoo.
SPECIES TO WATCH FOR:
Gelada Baboon
Tammar Wallaby
Red Wallaroo
Malayan Sun Bear
Wreathed Hornbill
FACILITIES:
There is a cafe and a small gift shop.
The Skyride cable car gives excellent views of the larger paddocks, and there are rides for children.
The Official Oakland Zoo Website
© 2000 bpgilb10221@aol.com