Future:

A new Entry Plaza will serve as a gathering space for visitors before they pass through the entrance gate. A series of sculptural elements will introduce the Zoo’s organizing water theme in a fun, engaging manner. Interpretive graphics will relate Buffalo’s water story (i.e. Niagara Falls and hydroelectric power, the Erie Canal and transportation) while touching on global water usage.  A gift shop and cafe just off the Plaza will be accessible to visitors entering and exiting the Zoo, as well as recreational users of Delaware Park. Finally, a new administration building adjacent to the Plaza will offer a wide range of visitor amenities: rest rooms, pay phones, vending machines, an automatic teller machine, membership and visitor services, first aid, lost and found, and security.

The Sea Lion and River Otter exhibits will be the first animals visible from the Entry Plaza. These large, charismatic, aquatic mammals will serve as ambassadors for the Zoo’s “water” theme. Exciting underwater viewing opportunities will be available in both habitats, enabling visitors to observe the sea lions and river otters at play. Tiered seating will be incorporated into the sea lion design to accommodate daily feeding demonstrations, while the river otter exhibit will focus on the reintroduction of this beloved native species into Western New York.

The Asian River and Highlands Zone will feature a large naturalistic “river” linking exhibits of elephants, gibbons, crested porcupines, and Indian rhinoceros. An additional component will be a rocky hilltop with alpine species such as Japanese macaque, red panda, markhor, and snow leopard. Melting “snow” will trickle down the sides of the replicated highland and merge with the river.  Exhibit pathways will meander through dense plantings, giving visitors the sense of being immersed in their surroundings. A new restaurant adjacent to Asian River and Highlands will offer casual dining and direct viewing into the animal enclosures.

The fully enclosed South American Rainforest exhibit will provide the new Zoo with a signature four-season attraction.  After entering the building, a construction elevator within a giant tree will lift visitors through dense foliage to the highest point in the forest canopy.  At the top of the canopy, visitors will find themselves on an observation platform with a breathtaking view of a two-story waterfall and dozens of colorful free-flight birds.  They will then descend through the trees via a series of ramps and overlooks. Along the way, they will encounter a remarkable collection of species that live at different levels within the rainforest including squirrel monkeys and white-faced sakis, piranhas, roseate spoonbill, scarlet ibis, toucans, boat-billed herons, stamandua and vampire bats. The forest floor will feature larger species such as capybara, ocelot, giant anteaters, armadillos, giant river turtles, dwarf caiman and anaconda.

The African Watering Hole will be an immersive, walk-through enclosure simulating an open savannah. The habitat is organized around a central watering hole featuring zebras, antelope, and gazelles.  Water levels will be mechanically controlled to rise and fall seasonally, and the banks of the watering hole will incorporate hoof prints that become visible as the water recedes.  Multiple individual enclosures housing hyenas, meerkat, vultures, and rock hyrax will radiate out from the watering hole, so that from a distance the entire zone appears to be one single habitat. The existing giraffe holding facility will be refurbished to serve as off-season viewing for the giraffes and as a year-round facility for smaller African birds.

The West Plaza will be located adjacent to the Main Animal Building. This multi-use zone will offer food service, seating, picnic facilities, shade structures, and a variety of interpretive components.  Four large animal enclosures fronting the courtyard will feature popular “signature” species: gorilla, lion, tiger, and crocodile. On the other side of the Main Building, a series of naturalistic enclosures will recreate six biomes from around the world and house threatened and endangered species. At the center is Ecostation, a mock field research station with hands-on interactives, propped research equipment, and interpretive information. 

The new Wonders of Water Children’s Zoo will incorporate both children’s play areas and animal contact opportunities.  Interpretive elements will explore animals’ relationships with water. Play structures include an underwater periscope that enables visitors to “see” like a fish, a water hose game that simulates an elephant’s ability to cool off with water from its trunk, and an interactive tank that invites visitors to race objects shaped like different animals through the water to test which body form moves most effectively. As a whole, this zone will be lightly themed around the concept of an island.  Visitors will have to cross a bridge to “Goat island” to gain access to the goats, sheep, and other domestic animals in the petting zoo.

The Arctic Edge will be a walk-through habitat focusing on frozen water.  The major attraction will be an enclosure housing several polar bears. Underwater viewing will enable visitors to get an up-close look at the bears’ swimming styles and playful antics. Other enclosures feature Arctic wolves, a herd of reindeer, and the majestic snowy owl.

Interpretation throughout the Zoo will celebrate the vast array of species and emphasizes their – and our – interdependence, from the tiniest insect to the biggest mammal.  Together, the new exhibits at the Buffalo Zoo will enhance appreciation for animals, their environments, and their behaviors.  Visitors will go home amazed at the Zoo’s variety of experiences: animal viewing, interpretive exhibits, hands-on activities, play opportunities, and live demonstrations (not to mention new amenities like cafes and snack stands, gift stores, etc.).  And, they’ll remember that all living plants, animals, and human cultures share the same world of water..