Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo news 2017

Just got back from another visit and it finally looks like things are happening on the new elephant exhibit. Fencing is being placed around the new exhibit with a green block out curtain being installed over it. The Australian exhibit is still open but the kangaroos have already left, it appears it's only a matter of time before the exhibit is closed fully. Finally some good news for Adventure Africa.
 
MKE Zoo guy said:
Just got back from another visit and it finally looks like things are happening on the new elephant exhibit. Fencing is being placed around the new exhibit with a green block out curtain being installed over it. The Australian exhibit is still open but the kangaroos have already left, it appears it's only a matter of time before the exhibit is closed fully. Finally some good news for Adventure Africa.
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Zoochatters Rejoice! By fencing, do you mean the wired fencing that will contain the elephants? Also, did you happen to take any photos?
 
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pachyderm pro said:
Zoochatters Rejoice! By fencing, do you mean the wired fencing that will contain the elephants? Also, did you happen to take any photos?
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Construction fencing was being bolted down and as for pictures I didn't get any of them installing the fence.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Zoochatters Rejoice! By fencing, do you mean the wired fencing that will contain the elephants? Also, did you happen to take any photos?
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Just got back from another adventure and this time I took so pics of the changes to the new Elephant area. Although there isn't much other then the fences being bolted in and a green mesh to obstruct the view, the zoo has been approved for funding this project officially. It's only a matter of time before they announce it, maybe August 11th for World Elephant Day?

I uploaded the pictures to flickr.
https://flic.kr/s/aHskZqNyYj
 
MKE Zoo guy said:
Just got back from another adventure and this time I took so pics of the changes to the new Elephant area. Although there isn't much other then the fences being bolted in and a green mesh to obstruct the view, the zoo has been approved for funding this project officially. It's only a matter of time before they announce it, maybe August 11th for World Elephant Day?

I uploaded the pictures to flickr.
https://flic.kr/s/aHskZqNyYj
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World Elephant Day is August 12.
 
According to the zoo's website, World Elephant Day will be celebrated on August 11. Either way, it would make a lot of sense to announce it that day. Fingers crossed!
 
Sadly, World Elephant day has come and gone and no news regarding Adventure Africa was revealed (Unless the zoo low-key dropped something that isn't being reported).

However, some good news on the pachyderm front, malayin tapir, Maggie, now has access to her full outdoor yard.
 
Since we didn't get any official news about the new elephant exhibit (which is the worst kept news story), do you think we will be getting a male elephant as our new third elephant? The AZA requires that any new elephant exhibit must have the ability to house bull elephants, so do you think we will get one, or another female elephant?
 
MKE Zoo guy said:
Since we didn't get any official news about the new elephant exhibit (which is the worst kept news story), do you think we will be getting a male elephant as our new third elephant? The AZA requires that any new elephant exhibit must have the ability to house bull elephants, so do you think we will get one, or another female elephant?
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If I had to bet, I would say we would get either a bull and an additional female, or just 2 more females.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Where was that stated?
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In one of the County meetings, that the Milwaukee zoo will be a holding zoo and not a breeding one. In order for Milwaukee to become a breeding zoo the exhibit needs to be at least 5 acres and hold a minimum of 5 elephants according to the zoo director.
 
MKE Zoo guy said:
Since we didn't get any official news about the new elephant exhibit (which is the worst kept news story), do you think we will be getting a male elephant as our new third elephant? The AZA requires that any new elephant exhibit must have the ability to house bull elephants, so do you think we will get one, or another female elephant?
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My bet is on getting a male first. I've heard both Britney and Ruth are too old or small to safely give birth, but Im not sure how true that is. Either way, I think Milwaukee will get a bull first, and then add a younger female later.
On the point of being a breeding/holding zoo, I feel like the new exhibit is going to be 5 acres though? I'm not sure, but I don't remember seeing it being officially stated anywhere. Either way, breeding or holding, I'll be happy to see that nice big space for the elephants.
 
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Wild wolverine said:
My bet is on getting a male first. I've heard both Britney and Ruth are too old or small to safely give birth, but Im not sure how true that is. Either way, I think Milwaukee will get a bull first, and then add a younger female later.
On the point of being a breeding/holding zoo, I feel like the new exhibit is going to be 5 acres though? I'm not sure, but I don't remember seeing it being officially stated anywhere. Either way, breeding or holding, I'll be happy to see that nice big space for the elephants.
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I think the whole new space will be 5 acres but then they are splitting the exhibit up, a large part is going to be for the elephants and then the other part is going to be for gazel and some smaller African animals that can live with the elephants. The smaller animals can share with the elephants but the elephants can't go into the other enclosure.

Either way you're right, I am looking forward to the elephants getting a bigger home both inside and outside!
 
I wasn't going to bring this up because of how silly it sounds, but under closer inspection, I fear it may be true. I had a conversation with a keeper some weeks back regarding Adventure Africa. I asked him about if he new what would happen to dall sheep mountain. However, he said that nothing will happen to it and it will remain. Even though the lone specimen is old, but apparently the zoo wants to bring in more sheep. I originally thought this was something to shrug off and it was to crazy to be true, or so I thought.

If you look on the zoos current map, the area where Adventure Africa is being built, there are thick black lines covering the former moose, wolf, bear and Australia exhibits. Yet, a crucial detail many zoochatters left out is that the dall sheep exhibit does not. This could mean that this 1960s era mock rock mess could still remain! It makes no sense to keep it there! Just imagine going through a modern savannah habitat, and then coming across an exhibit that's over half a decade old. It makes too little sense to keep it around and I hope its just a misunderstanding and is replaced by a new habitat for an African species.
 
@Wild wolverine: There's definitely been talks of getting a bull for the exhibit. Call it wishful thinking, but part of me was curious if Tonka, the bull in Knoxville, would come to Milwaukee. There's been plans to move him to another facility for a while now.

@pachyderm pro: It is kind of strange that the Dall sheep mountain would remain I agree. I've heard a couple possibilities, but a kopje habitat with hyrax, klipspringers, and perhaps even meerkats would make the most sense if given the right renovation job.
 
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