Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo News 2019

Yes - it probably might be just “plains zebra” to keep things simple for the general public.

As for Adventure Africa, one part of me is wondering if the zoo will transition over to Grant’s zebra eventually once the current two pass away. Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t Damaras and Chapman’s pretty rare in the U.S.?
 
Milwaukee Man said:
Yes - it probably might be just “plains zebra” to keep things simple for the general public.

As for Adventure Africa, one part of me is wondering if the zoo will transition over to Grant’s zebra eventually once the current two pass away. Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t Damaras and Chapman’s pretty rare in the U.S.?
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That’s what I was thinking, keeping it simple, yet as I walked around the zoo they would always have the simple name “in bold” and the more specific name “smaller” underneath. An example of this would be the Amur tigers, Siberian. That’s why I was wondering if there was a change in classification or if I was missing something.
 
Milwaukee Man said:
Yes - it probably might be just “plains zebra” to keep things simple for the general public.

As for Adventure Africa, one part of me is wondering if the zoo will transition over to Grant’s zebra eventually once the current two pass away. Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t Damaras and Chapman’s pretty rare in the U.S.?
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I think if they tranisitioned it would be to Grevy's.

I want to see them get into Somali Wild Ass.
 
birdsandbats said:
I think if they tranisitioned it would be to Grevy's.

I want to see them get into Somali Wild Ass.
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Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I had thought that the Plains Zebra population in AZA zoos was only managed on the species, not the subspecies level, which I would think would result in "pure" subspecies individuals being fairly rare unless they were very recently descended from founders. This situation would likely mean that signing all plains zebras as just "plains zebra" is likely the most accurate a zoo can actually be. For whatever reason, in similar situations (where a population in fact mostly consists of generic [i.e. mixed subspecies] members of a species), AZA zoos seem to take a wide variety of approaches to signing and describing the individuals in their collections. For example, plains zebras are usually described at the species level, while generic giraffes are fairly frequently (and almost invariably inaccurately) described as reticulated giraffes. I'd be very interested in an explanation for these sorts of discrepancies at many prominent zoos, if anyone has one.
 
@birdsandbats Grevy’s would make sense from a conservation point as they’re endangered. Somali wild ass would be awesome!

@Okapi Lover The only thing I can think of is maybe genetic testing and the hybrids are more reticulated than the other species - I could be wrong though. Funny enough, I believe Ziggy, one of Milwaukee’s female giraffes, is actually labeled as a hybrid on her info sign.
 
Okapi Lover said:
Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I had thought that the Plains Zebra population in AZA zoos was only managed on the species, not the subspecies level, which I would think would result in "pure" subspecies individuals being fairly rare unless they were very recently descended from founders. This situation would likely mean that signing all plains zebras as just "plains zebra" is likely the most accurate a zoo can actually be. For whatever reason, in similar situations (where a population in fact mostly consists of generic [i.e. mixed subspecies] members of a species), AZA zoos seem to take a wide variety of approaches to signing and describing the individuals in their collections. For example, plains zebras are usually described at the species level, while generic giraffes are fairly frequently (and almost invariably inaccurately) described as reticulated giraffes. I'd be very interested in an explanation for these sorts of discrepancies at many prominent zoos, if anyone has one.
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Not sure exactly how the AZA manages them, but all Plains Zebra I have seen have been listed to sub-specific level.
 
@birdsandbats I’m not sure if they would transition to the Grevy Zebra since they are exhibited at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Also, saw the new exhibit signs today to make sure that they didn’t have the subspecies listed below and they didn’t. :-/

@savetherhino I was just at the zoo today and at the watering hole exhibit they only have signs posted for the Darama Zebra.

@Milwaukee Man I went looking today for Ziggys informational sign and saw that all the giraffes are labeled reticulated. However I want to say that I thought they had at one time acknowledge that she was a hybrid. Not sure if they removed that recently.

Who knew signs and zebra species were such a hot topic.
 
MKE Zoo guy said:
@birdsandbats I’m not sure if they would transition to the Grevy Zebra since they are exhibited at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Also, saw the new exhibit signs today to make sure that they didn’t have the subspecies listed below and they didn’t. :-/
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Lincoln Park also has plain zebras at the opposite end of the zoo. Just because another facility close by has a certain subspecies, usually won't discourage other nearby facilities from acquiring them.
 
EsserWarrior said:
What is the progress on the outdoor primate exhibits? Also, what are the futures plans for their primate areas?
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They are still putting the outer fence around the colobus outdoor exhibit. Hopefully they will get it finished soon. They have a plaque waiting for the information poster to be placed in.

As for the overall primate renovation I would say is still 5 to 10 years away. Projects that are currently before the primates renovation would be finishing off Africa, then the main entrance area, followed by the Alaskan Coast, and then it could be either turning the small mammals building into the “Wild Woods” or “Escape to the Islands” and then maybe the primates renovation. Overall most things could change or be shifted around due to needs and finances. What I will say for sure will be done by 2025 is Africa and the East Entrance, everything else is up in the air.
 
I was told today that we the new zebra's that are coming to the zoo will be going to the new Africa exhibit however, the other ones will be staying where they are. Also it looks like Marlee the giraffe is pregnant again and will be due in late summer this year. On top of that it looks like the duiker has moved over to the new exhibit, their sign has been removed from their old exhibit.
 
MKE Zoo guy said:
I was told today that we the new zebra's that are coming to the zoo will be going to the new Africa exhibit however, the other ones will be staying where they are. Also it looks like Marlee the giraffe is pregnant again and will be due in late summer this year. On top of that it looks like the duiker has moved over to the new exhibit, their sign has been removed from their old exhibit.
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Strange about the Zebras. Are the young giraffes leaving?
 
Where did all this snow come from?! :eek: Aside from that surprise, I had a fairly enjoyable visit. A couple observations:

*ARC: The new emerald tree monitors seem to be doing well in their new exhibit. With the active black tree monitors and king cobra terrarium nearby, I feel that corner of the building will be pretty popular. There is a new Conservation Outpost kiosk with a focus on Grenada. I watched a brief clip about the search for Grenada frogs in their native habitat. The former basilisk/turtle exhibit is still darkened and empty. Lastly, maybe it's just because I haven't been in the building for a while, but did the Chinese alligator habitat get renovated? I don't remember there being as much water in there as I saw, along with maybe some updated rock work.
*There were only two camels out. Didn't we originally have more than that - like three or four?
*A pair of otters was out and about in the blizzard. They were great to watch as they darted in and out of the water, chasing and wrestling each other along the way.
*The male tiger Kashtan has really grown since I last saw him.
*I got to see the newly renovated gift shop in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place - looks nice!

@MKE Zoo guy You may be thinking of Ziggy's son Kazi? Pity about the zebras - it would've been nice to see them enjoy a new space and animals.
 
Milwaukee Man said:
Where did all this snow come from?! :eek: Aside from that surprise, I had a fairly enjoyable visit. A couple observations:

*ARC: The new emerald tree monitors seem to be doing well in their new exhibit. With the active black tree monitors and king cobra terrarium nearby, I feel that corner of the building will be pretty popular. There is a new Conservation Outpost kiosk with a focus on Grenada. I watched a brief clip about the search for Grenada frogs in their native habitat. The former basilisk/turtle exhibit is still darkened and empty. Lastly, maybe it's just because I haven't been in the building for a while, but did the Chinese alligator habitat get renovated? I don't remember there being as much water in there as I saw, along with maybe some updated rock work.
*There were only two camels out. Didn't we originally have more than that - like three or four?
*A pair of otters was out and about in the blizzard. They were great to watch as they darted in and out of the water, chasing and wrestling each other along the way.
*The male tiger Kashtan has really grown since I last saw him.
*I got to see the newly renovated gift shop in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place - looks nice!

@MKE Zoo guy You may be thinking of Ziggy's son Kazi? Pity about the zebras - it would've been nice to see them enjoy a new space and animals.
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3 camels last I knew. Male Stan, Femles AJ and her mom Sanshi (if I spelled it correctly)
 
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