Cleveland Metro Zoo: Primate, Cat and Aquatics

 "Primary, Cat & Aquatics" has to be one of the most idiosyncratic titles for a zoo zone in the country.  But you get exactly what's advertised.  Well, as long as they (the Cheetahs) are out--but they weren't.  So the actual experience for this visit would be "Primate & Aquatic"--now what you have is 1/3 of the Xindi continuum.  (Bonus Points for catching the niche reference!)

The structure sits atop The highest hill and can be accessed by taking a gas powered tram, or you can walk either the continuously curving black-topped pathway with a set gradient or the switchback "Deck Walk" that twists and turns its way down a steep and old growth forested hillside.  I went up on the tram and back down the Deck Walk.

The tram deposits you in front of a building that is home to a small aquarium section, a lot of small mammals most of which are primates, and the zoo's Western Lowland Gorilla troop.  The interior habitats are spacious, well appointed and include live plants.  Many are interconnected allowing for flexible habitation.  A handful of others also connect to huge exterior habitats given the inhabitants lots of choices in conjunction with the weather and season.  

I met a volunteer there and we had a lovely conversation.  At one point I found myself asserting that this was one of the nicest smaller primate houses I'd ever experienced.  My visit ended with a view of the wildly popular Gorilla troop and its entertaining youngest member.  Turning to leave I noticed the empty grassy habitat and only discovered later that it is home to Cheetahs who were not out at the time. 

The lobby leads you into the primate side of the structure and exits you from the little aquarium section.

NORTHERN TREE SHREW

Tupaia belangeri

Three of the many interior habitats.

WHITE-FACED SAKI (female)

Pithecia pithecia

PIED TAMARIN

Sanguinus bicolor

The surprise inhabitant in the midst of the Primates was this lovely, exotic Fossa.

FOSSA

Cryptoprocta ferox

MONGOOSE LEMUR

Eulemur mongoz

RED RUFFED LEMUR

Varecia rubra

Scenes from the Aquarium.

EASTERN HELLBENDER

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

Primates scuttle through a habit-tube to go between the interior and exterior portions of their habitats.

ALLEN'S SWAMP MONKEY

Allenopithecus nigroviridis

GOLDEN-BELLIED MANGABEY

Cercocebus chrysogaster

WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA

Gorilla gorilla gorilla

Walking away towards the upper entrance to the Deck Walk.