Again? Seriously, I wish they would get better PR and fundraising coordinator to raise the funds.
Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo news 2017
- Thread starter pachyderm pro
- Start date
Agree agree agree agree agree!
Kiama, the elderly female tree kangaroo, remains at the zoo for now as well. I do not know if she is being sent somewhere else, or when that would happen.
I wonder what will happen to the murals that were painted in the Australia building? Those I consider to be some of Paul Barker's finest works.
The zoo and the animals appear to be okay, they are just slower at rolling out renovations. As for PR that is a totally different story.
The PR at the zoo is pretty bad. I've tried talking to the PR person a couple of times about their app and how the map is outdated (2014) on the app, and about the the new expansion they are constructing. We live where in a time that social media can be a relatively low cost advertising tool and they don't seem to be using it in a way that is beneficial to them. They could be posting things like what the new exhibit is going to look like and the progress they are making on facebook, instagram, twitter, or YouTube. Even checking in on the animals that they removed to make way for the expansion.
One can go back to even 2008 ish and find articles about the hippo river expansion that they have now put into phase II or later phase. Although when asked about what happened to the river expansion, it was ignored, not even mention that they included it into the new African Adventure expansion.
Even now the zoo is celebrating over 125 years and other then some of the merchandise and a birth cake in the front, there's not much excitement around it. To me that's sad, normally these types of things bring in higher attendance, more excitement, and great times to lay the groundwork for another 125 years plus.
Thoughts?
Just a random thought I had recently: the Dall sheep exhibit. There is no future plans for it and there is just one elderly sheep remaining, but with the future elephant exhibit and the bongos and duiker being moved there eventually, I wonder how a species like Kirk's dik dik or kilspringers or another mountainous African species would do in that exhibit. If it was renovated to look more natural and have some natural substrate, I feel like it could be an interesting addition in the future African exhibit.
Interesting idea, I guess I never thought would become of that old mountain. It may be a bit large, but it would be a great way to give the meerkats an outdoor exhibit and get the them out of the small mammal building.
Also I just remembered, we haven't even seen the full plan yet. With he exhibit opening is supposedly less than a year (Though the funding issue
could contract that), you wonder why the zoo is being so secretive. All we seen is the image below that shows the elephant yard.
Closer view of Elephant exhibit design | ZooChat
could contract that), you wonder why the zoo is being so secretive. All we seen is the image below that shows the elephant yard.
Closer view of Elephant exhibit design | ZooChat
The zoo seems to keep things under wraps a lot and not sure why. I just watched some of the county board meetings relating to the zoo, and honestly it seems like the real answer is funding. With the milwaukee county not supporting it as it should be, they are trying to figure out ways to support itself and still maintain the AZA accreditation standing.
This appears to be hard to achieve both because loss revenue from the parking spots, the lawsuit to try help pay for the west parking lot/otter exhibit, and outsourcing the food and merchandise to save some money, all in attempt to make the zoo more finically sound.
That all being said, it seems that the zoo has been keeping things tight lip due to problems obtaining the money, and the county trying to control the zoo with little understand on how to run one.
It feels more like if they don't give away too many details about the project(s) then if something needs to be cut the public and those above, won't really notice because the details were never shown.
Why cannot County administration just understand that a zoo with plans and no sound funding and no assistance with getting it secured is a public educational cum zoo facility in decline. They do no seem to understand the economics involved in managing a public facility there (and actually obstruct the zoo from getting funding from other sources while it is tied to the County that does not seem to give it - as it should - some priority).
Update on the duiker and gazelles settling in. Gazelles are doing fine, but the duiker didn't get along with the spurred tortoises. So, the tortoises were relocated to the Australia area.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/life/...d-have-issues-some-their-neighbors/413013001/
On a side note, it's nice to hear an animal update like this from Milwaukee for once!
http://www.jsonline.com/story/life/...d-have-issues-some-their-neighbors/413013001/
On a side note, it's nice to hear an animal update like this from Milwaukee for once!
Finally back from my 5 hour trip to the zoo, and I am wiped! Luckily I got lots of info and animals were very active. First, the highlights!
I did indeed see the yellow-backed duiker! she was comfortably positioned in the right corner of the exhibit with the bongos close by.
The nocturnal animals were up and about! 2 potto's, a bush baby and a springhaas were jumping all over the exhibit, a real treat to watch.
Now on to the news!
Rheas are back! 3 just came in and are in the South American yard.
The barid's tapirs are still at the zoo as well, after an absence on my last few visits.
The kinkajou habitat is going on some sort of renovation according to a sign in the exhibit.
Gorillas are off exhibit as the male, Hodari, is having anxiety issues.
Red panda exhibit renovations are almost done. Netting just has to be lined across the top. climbing structures and new vantage points have been added.
West Entrance is progressing nicely.
New badger is not on exhibit yet. The habitat is still over run by vegetation and signage is not up as well.
Nothing changed in the Australia building or dall sheep mountain.
Adventure Africa Update(s):
So the funding issue has delayed the official ground breaking until late July to August. This also likely means the exhibit has been delayed a month or two but that's not certain. However, I was surprised that there were a few updates I could report on.
The 3 large empty logs that stand in the future elephant habitat are now filled with vegetation. See the gallery to understand what I'm talking about.
The newly arrived thomson's gazelle will indeed be moving to Adventure Africa with the impala and damara zebra. I can only assume that the ground hornbills and vultures are moving as well.
Lastly, there are a few unannounced species for the exhibit. A rumor among keepers is that a new crane species will be joining the ungulates.
Additionally, I will be uploading a short tour of the zoo on my youtube channel later today or tomorrow. I will link it when its uploaded.
I did indeed see the yellow-backed duiker! she was comfortably positioned in the right corner of the exhibit with the bongos close by.
The nocturnal animals were up and about! 2 potto's, a bush baby and a springhaas were jumping all over the exhibit, a real treat to watch.
Now on to the news!
Rheas are back! 3 just came in and are in the South American yard.
The barid's tapirs are still at the zoo as well, after an absence on my last few visits.
The kinkajou habitat is going on some sort of renovation according to a sign in the exhibit.
Gorillas are off exhibit as the male, Hodari, is having anxiety issues.
Red panda exhibit renovations are almost done. Netting just has to be lined across the top. climbing structures and new vantage points have been added.
West Entrance is progressing nicely.
New badger is not on exhibit yet. The habitat is still over run by vegetation and signage is not up as well.
Nothing changed in the Australia building or dall sheep mountain.
Adventure Africa Update(s):
So the funding issue has delayed the official ground breaking until late July to August. This also likely means the exhibit has been delayed a month or two but that's not certain. However, I was surprised that there were a few updates I could report on.
The 3 large empty logs that stand in the future elephant habitat are now filled with vegetation. See the gallery to understand what I'm talking about.
The newly arrived thomson's gazelle will indeed be moving to Adventure Africa with the impala and damara zebra. I can only assume that the ground hornbills and vultures are moving as well.
Lastly, there are a few unannounced species for the exhibit. A rumor among keepers is that a new crane species will be joining the ungulates.
Additionally, I will be uploading a short tour of the zoo on my youtube channel later today or tomorrow. I will link it when its uploaded.
Also, I cant believe I forgot to report this, but the master plan calls for the eventual return of moose !
!
where can u find the master plan?Also, I cant believe I forgot to report this, but the master plan calls for the eventual return of moose
Perhaps I should have clarified. The master plan isn't up, a keeper gave me this info. He said the first half of the master plan will be for Africa (elephants, hippos, rhinos and antelope) and the second phase will be mainly north America (otter, moose, wolves, pinnipeds and bears).
They mentioned in a study done last year that the zoo will be working on an area focusing around Alaska, where I am assuming the moose, wolves, and others will be heading.
Thank you so much for the clarification on this!Also, I cant believe I forgot to report this, but the master plan calls for the eventual return of moose
keep the updates coming when u have any