The Maryland Zoo has been engaged in a 20 month and counting renovation of the far end of its African Journey section. The remake is upgrading and expanding the habitats of it's African Lions, Reticulated Giraffe and African Elephants. The hope is that they will be positioned to acquire more African Elephants and increase its current herd from 4 to 6 or 7. The move also opens up more room for the zoo's 4 Giraffe. In 2018 the herd went from 4 animals to 6 with the birth of two calves. Then tragedy struck with the death of one of the calves who failed to thrive, followed by the mother of the other calf who died from a sudden digestive ailment. The larger and more appropriate habitat would provide room for the herd to grow again.
The African Lions at the Maryland Zoo have long been presented in an obscure habitat that gave visitors poorer sightlines. The new habitat increases their space, and upgrades its amenities (larger pond, heated rocks for lounging, wider grassy space) and gives guest a state of the art viewing area. As fate would have it, it was opened to the public this past Saturday, the day of my visit.
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