Oregon Zoo Africa Savanna Exhibit

Africa Savanna Exhibit

Overview | Animals | Exhibit Components | Exhibit Specifications | Enrichment

Overview

OPENED APRIL 29, 1989
The exhibit replicates the dry, open plains of East Africa. Familiar African animals such as giraffes, zebras, hippos and rhinos live along riverbanks and water holes. DeBrazza's monkeys and colorful African birds play in the trees. Visitors walk through a large glass-enclosed aviary, down a safari path and up onto an overlook where they can gaze out over the savanna.

Animals

Mammals	Birds	Reptiles
Black Rhinoceros	Weaver Birds	Mole Snakes
DeBrazza's Monkeys	Marabou Storks	Hingebacked Tortoise
Hippopotamuses	Cape Thick-Knee
Naked Mole-Rats	Red-crested Turaco
Reticulated Giraffes	Hammerkop
Meerkats	Buffalo Weaver
Damara Zebra

Bold-face indicates endangered species

Exhibit Components

View of the Aviary Inside the Aviary

AVIARY

The Howard Vollum Aviary is landscaped with trees, shrubs and plants similar to the vegetation found along the streams and rivers of the bush country of Africa. The aviary is as much a source of pride to the zoo's horticulturists as it is to the zoo keepers, for it is considered Portland's first plant conservatory.

RHINOS

The zoo's rhino's live on a grassy plateau overlooking the hippopotamus yard. A watering hole separates them from their visitors. A replica of a termite mound, like those found throughout the savanna, provides them with a scratching post and shade.

HIPPOPOTAMUS

Visitors can view our hippos from two spots, one of which gives a very close view! The animals can loll all day in the "river" and move to the banks at night to graze.

ZEBRAS

Animals on the African plains often congregate around watering holes, and our zebras are no different. Visitors can see them "roaming" in their large enclosure and visiting their own watering hole.

GIRAFFES AND STORKS

These two species of animals share an expansive exhibit, just as they share the dry African grasslands. Giraffes, several marabou storks and white-faced whistling duck live together in this exhibit.

TREETOPS

The zoo's Treetops building is inspired by the famous Treetops Lodge in Kenya's Abedare National Park. In Kenya, guests can stand on a large deck and watch animals moving around nearby watering holes. On Portland's deck, visitors can get face-to-face with the reticulated giraffes. Inside the Treetops building are DeBrazza's monkeys, hinge-backed tortoises, and the very popular naked mole-rat colony. Graphics tell stories of how these animals live in the wild. Also in Treetops is a second aviary in which visitors can watch weaver birds build the nests so often seen in thorny acacia trees on the African plains.

Exhibit Specifications

Size: 4+ acres
Funding: Construction funds were derived from the 1987 serial levy. All of the birds and many of the animals were purchased by the Friends of the Oregon Zoo with proceeds from the 1987 and 1988 Grand Wazoos, with assistance from Coors, K103 (KKCW) radio and Willamette Week.
Architects: Jones and Jones
Construction: Bishop Contractors

Enrichment

Learn about the things we do to enrich the lives of our animals.