Fantasy Master Plan Maryland Zoo: Maryland Wilderness - Maryland Cave

The largest structure in the current Maryland Wilderness is the Maryland Cave.  It is a man-made subterranean experience with cave features and exhibits of some Reptiles, Amphibians and our Seba Short-tailed Bats.  The upgrade would maintain the current structure for the most part, but would excavate the hillside behind it to create the most extensive collection of bat species in any zoo in North America.  In doing this, the area currently allotted to the Seba Short-tailed Bats would also be more than doubled.

Guests would discover a new passage in the main room of the current cave that would lead them into a veritable cathedral hub with five additional habitats for a total of six species of Maryland Bats.  A radical and unique feature would be a large exterior Chiropterary where rotations of species could be allowed to fly free in the night about their cave habitats.  As a concept, a lot of study would have to go into its feasibility and species management.  In an exciting way, it could completely revolutionize the care of Bats in zoological institutions, making the Maryland Zoo a destination for Bat lovers everywhere.