Expedition Madagascar
Expedition Madagascar
Expedition Madagascar
Construction began: May 2008
Opened: May 7, 2010
Architect: John Armknecht of ASD Stanley J. How Architects
Contractors: Kiewit Construction
Expedition Madagascar
The new Madagascar exhibit will be located along the middle lagoon between Hubbard Gorilla Valley and the Garden of the Senses. A 300 foot long building is nestled in the hillside featuring some of Madagascar's most unusual animals. The main building is over 17,000 square feet which includes holding areas for the lemurs.
The fifteen indoor exhibits house a wide array of species including fish, reptiles, small mammals and of course, lemurs. The final indoor exhibit, before exiting the building, will be a greenhouse that highlights another linkage between Omaha's Zoo and Madagascar.
Upon exiting the building, visitors will see four outdoor exhibits. The first is a 1,050 square foot fossa exhibit. Across from the fossa, will be a walkway that will wind its way for nearly 250 feet. The second exhibit will be 1,750 square foot island and will contain a group of ring-tailed lemurs living among man-made Baobab trees. The third display will be a 1,600 square foot net-covered exhibit features Coquerel's sifaka leaping among the vertical branches at eye level. Continuing on the walkway visitors will pass through a double door entry and walk amongst a troop of ruffed lemurs. The walk through exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. This 6,700 square foot netted exhibit will feature man-made trees linked by vines allowing visitors to photograph these animals without a net or glass obstruction. The walk through exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Expedition Madagascar walk-through lemur exhibit will operate Friday through Sunday only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Diversity Hot-Spot
The building of Madagascar gives the visitors of Omaha's Zoo a chance to learn more about an area of the world that is considered one of the top hotspots for biodiversity because it is home to the largest number of endemic, native only to this country, plant and animal species. The Texas-sized island has a large number of critically endangered species due to habitat loss and hunting. Throughout the building, each exhibit will be linked to ongoing projects in Madagascar. There will also be education information on the conservation efforts Omaha’s Zoo Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP) has been active in Madagascar since 1998. Expedition Madagascar is Omaha Zoo's way to better acquaint visitors with one of the premier conservation partnerships in the world.