Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Beardsley Zoo News

I visited the zoo today and I'm very sad to report that the native reptile house has been knocked down. Only the concrete foundation and outdoor snapping turtle enclosure are left. From what I could tell this is the only major work done to the farmyard so far, and most of the animals appeared to still be in their enclosures. There is a lot of construction equipment and what appears to be brand new fencing and cages in an empty lot directly next to the farmyard, however. Some of the herps may have been moved into the research station, but it was not open today so I couldn't check for sure besides a Black Rat Snake I saw through the window. Does anyone know if this building actually opens to the public at all anymore?
In better news, the spider monkey enclosure is coming along nicely. There are a lot structural/climbing poles up, and the boardwalk/viewing area appear to be nearly completed if not already. In the rainforest building I saw a single GLT mixed with a single Goeldi's Monkey and Red-Footed Tortoise. A Hoffmann's Two-Toed Sloth is now in the Red-Rumped Agouti enclosure (former Goeldi's Monkey enclosure). There's a Boat-Billed Heron in the walk-through as well. I didn't see any of the vampire bats and only saw one Hispaniolan Slider. The Amazon Tree Boa enclosure is under renovation.
I saw a single Black-Crowned Night-Heron in Alligator Alley as well as only one otter, crane, and eagle.
The zoo has a pair of Red Wolves again.

~Thylo
 
BeardsleyZooFan said:
3 Amur Leopard cubs were born on January 25th, although only 2 survived (a male and a female.) The female lost her tail and underwent surgery after the mother, Freya, displayed hyper-grooming behavior. The female cub is melanistic.
Two rare leopard cubs born at Connecticut Beardsley Zoo
Click to expand...
They have announced the names of the two Amur leopard cubs born in January. The male has been named Orion and the female has been named Kallisto.
 
You can see the Amur Leopard cubs via a live webcam (Beardsley Leopard Cam) 8:30am to 6:00pm. Too enchanting for words! So irresistible I can hardly focus on work.
 
@Thylo- Late response, but the research station should still open to the public at some times. I don't know the exact schedule but a lot of it will be subject to summer camps and whatnot with summer coming up. Also rat snakes have always been residents of the research station as far as I recall, so it may not be the snake that lived in the reptile house.
Will probably be visiting later this week. Sad news about Kuma. :( Certainly had a unique presence as she managed to climb and have cubs just like any other ocelot despite only having 3 legs and missing her tail.
 
I decided to pop into the zoo today to check out the new exhibit and wow it really came out spectacular. A lot larger than I was expecting and the mother-adopted son pair they have really make great use of all the available space. I even saw the male using the mesh to climb over to the window looking into the former Ocelot enclosure and was peaking through it. I talked to a keeper who told me that they're planning on getting more spider monkeys in the future, as they certainly have space for them. They also want to include a more terrestrial mammal, which for now will likely be the extra male anteater they have.

The education building was open to the public today as well, so I was able to make a species list:
-Eastern Black Ratsnake
-New Caledonian Crested Gecko
-Eastern Tiger Salamander
-Mississippi Map Turtle
-Eastern Mud Turtle
-Vietnamese Walkingstick
-European Legless Lizard
-Eastern Kingsnake
-American Alligator (hatchlings)
-Hellbender
-Brook Trout
-Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
-Western Hognose Snake
-Trinidad Bat-Cave Cockroach

As for other news:
-The Bobcat is temporarily in the former Ocelot enclosure.
-What remains of the old Pronghorn yard has been fully fenced in.
-New barns have been constructed at the new entrance to the farmyard and a new design detailing the exhibit has been put up (photo to come).

~Thylo
 
snowleopard said:
I recently purchased the 2002 history book Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo: The First Eighty Years and even though it is a slim paperback (64 pages) and not particularly well-written, there are a few pieces of information that I wasn't aware of before I made my purchase.

- the Master Plan (circa 2002) called for an Arctic Tundra area (Kodiak bear, caribou), an Asian Plateau (red panda, Asiatic black bear, snow leopard) and "the most immediate plans call for a Jaguar Walk exhibit to be constructed adjacent to the New World Tropics Building, on the site of the old elephant yard. The exhibit would also showcase tapir, monkeys, birds, and reptiles." Obviously none of that ever became a reality.

- In the book there is talk of a project involving Darwin's rhea, Chacoan peccary and giant anteater and of course Pampas Plains actually saw the light of day and is a recent development.

- essentially from 1959 to 1984 the zoo had a minimum of at least one elephant.

- The Bird & Mammal Building opened in 1956, became a rainforest zone in 1969 and eventually was called the New World Tropics Building in 1992.
Click to expand...

Sorry to answer so late, but I've just read, that you mentioned the elephants at the Beardsley Zoo.
According to my information the zoo has had the following elephants:
June 13, 1955 - 0,1 Asian Elephant "Shakuntala / Lollipop" (died March 23, 1978)

1969 - 0,1 Asian Elephant "Champagne" (this cow was delivered to the Catskill Game Farm on May 24, 1977)

Oct. 13, 1978 - 0,1 African Elephant "Sheba / Kasheiba" (this Elephant was handed over to the Bowmanville Zoo on Mai 11, 1984)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A couple things I missed/forgot to mention/just found out:

-The Pickerel Frog in the research station is missing both of its back feet. I'm not quite sure how that happened.
-Golfodulcean Poison Dart Frogs are now in the rainforest building.
-LA has transferred a female Ocelot to the zoo. They list this transfer as part of an SSP recommendation, so I can only assume the zoo will be or has already received a male. Presumably the Bobcat will be removed from the rainforest once its new enclosure in the new farmyard is completed, at which point the Ocelot will go on-show.

~Thylo
 
Visited today and noticed a few new things:
-Can confirm what Thylo saw in March in regards to a single GLT/Goeldi's Monkey pairing, and only 1 individual for Bald Eagle, NARO, Boat-Billed Heron and Black-Crowned Night Heron. Saw 2 Sandhill Cranes, however.
-Amazon Tree Boa enclosure still has no animals on display. Although a sign near the boa enclosure has Axolotl listed on it. Could they be prepping for Axolotl? Just speculation.
-The Emerald Tree Boa enclosure is no longer divided into two halves for two separate snakes, and there is now just 1 snake in there.
-Didn't see any Black Howler Monkeys or Emperor Geese.
-Amur Leopard cubs were out and very playful.
-The grassy part of the otter enclosure has been fenced off, limiting the otter to the lower, rocky area with the pool. There seemed to be construction work going on with the otter holding, or the old Pronghorn holding directly across from otter holding.
- The farmyard is completely closed off for renovation.
-The Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtles have grown significantly since they first arrived.
-Finally, the new spider monkey exhibit is wonderful. The monkeys are active, and the exhibit has plenty of climbing and brachiating opportunities, with great views as well. The indoor area isn't as drab as I feared it either, and the habitat makes for a great addition to the zoo.

EDIT-
The two male alligators that have been at the zoo for the past few years have been replaced by 3 slightly smaller gators.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top