Zoo musings (Zoo Atlanta edition)

The years have been kind to Zoo Atlanta and its inhabitants, but that was not always the case. 

In the 1980s, it had a reputation as bad zoo with concrete cages, even with its famed gorilla, Willy B. The Cyclorama, a panoramic painting depicting the Battle of Atlanta, held as much cache as the zoo. We went a few times when we lived there and the reptile building had some pretty rare snakes, but I had better memories of our trip to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, S.C. 

Fast forward three decades, and the reputation is much-improved. Zoo Atlanta has burnished its image since the 1990s, when embarrassment spurred action, and turned into a top Atlanta attraction. The Cyclorama has relocated to the Atlanta History Center. Zoo Atlanta provided a good escape when visiting my parents. 

We could take pictures and quietly watch the animals from comfortable distances that didn't disturb them. Exhibits also had multiple viewpoints in case an animal wasn’t feeling social, as many zoo inhabitants often will. As I always mention, zoos are not natural, but in another generation or two, might be the only places to see some of these great creatures. 

On this 60-degree February day, the animals were relatively active. The elephants have an expansive enclosure, with bundles of hay strung from trellises, a source of enrichment for the intelligent pachyderms. A few ostriches strutted by, and a colony of warthogs huddled behind an outcropping in their habitat, only flashing their tusks here and there.

They have a statue of Willy B., who has become the symbol of Zoo Atlanta. But it’s easy to miss that when looking at the living gorillas at Zoo Atlanta, which number close to two dozen. 

As in the wild, different groups of gorillas associate depending on age. The youngest one zoomed and chased other young gorillas before he jumped into a swing and did his own thing. Several of the older gorillas – some older than me – grazed peacefully in each other’s company. 

I remembered a single orangutan during those 1980s visits. Zoo Atlanta has grown its orangutan population as well, with more than 10 roaming and climbing an expansive exhibit. Along with its expansive primate exhibits, no one can skip the giant pandas, which has hosted the animals since 1999. 

While the smaller red pandas are a common zoo inhabitant, only Zoo Atlanta, Memphis, San Diego and the National Zoo have giant pandas. The pandas are not technically permanent residents, but on load from China, the only country where they are found in the wild. Panda loans run 15 years, and any cubs born at foreign zoos fall under those agreements. The pandas at Zoo Atlanta didn’t seem to mind - they mostly sat around and ate bamboo, as giant pandas tend to do. 

The big cats moved from spot to spot, ensuring blurry photos all morning. A Komodo dragon stuck to its warmer, indoor space. Its sleepy demeanor masked the explosiveness the giant lizards rely on in the wild. 

We took a last spin past the elephants and spotted the zoo’s lion pride napping in a nook right in front of the viewing blind. It was worth the fight through Atlanta’s voluminous traffic to head there on a balmy Friday morning.