Minnesota Zoo Minnesota Zoo News 2020

Last year a keeper at the zoo told me that they where planning to renovate the caribou exhibit. Most of the exhibit flooded a year prior and once it dried up its was all muddy and the grass was dead I don’t know what they planned to do but I’m sure the plan was either delayed or canceled.
 
I’m going to the zoo today. I’ll report anything new if I see it. Something that could possibly be bad for Minnesota zoo is that Como will be opening a week after Minnesota. I hope attendants doesn’t go down because of this.
 
I’m going to the zoo today. I’ll report anything new if I see it. Something that could possibly be bad for Minnesota zoo is that Como will be opening a week after Minnesota. I hope attendants doesn’t go down because of this.

Is Como more popular than Minnesota?
 
Is Como more popular than Minnesota?
From what I’ve seen, people visit Como zoo because it’s free, it has an amusement park, and it has more ABC animals than Minnesota, I se the Complaint a lot that Minnesota zoo “quote doesn’t have as much species as Como quote” while in reality Minnesota has twice the species Como has. It really frustrates me when someone doesn’t like a zoo just because it doesn’t have enough ABC animals. I’m not saying I hate como, it’s a fine zoo and nothing’s wrong with it, but I don’t like how the public views it.
 
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From what I’ve seen, people visit Como zoo because it’s free, it has an amusement park, and it has more ABC animals than Minnesota, I se the Complaint a lot that Minnesota zoo quote”doesn’t have as much species as Como”quote, while in reality Minnesota has twice the species Como has. It really frustrates me when someone doesn’t like a zoo doesn’t have enough ABC animals.

Being free must have a lot to do with it. Henry Vilas is the opposite way, though. It is free, but a lot of people don't like to visit because they just don't like how small it is, most people seem to prefer Milwaukee.

I have visited Minnesota Zoo before, but even after comparing Como Park's collection to Minnesota, I'd rather visit Minnesota again than visit Como Park. If Minnesota acquired one or two of the great apes, giraffes, as well as lions, I bet they'd easily outcompete Como Park.
 
I have visited Minnesota Zoo before, but even after comparing Como Park's collection to Minnesota, I'd rather visit Minnesota again than visit Como Park. If Minnesota acquired one or two of the great apes, giraffes, as well as lions, I bet they'd easily outcompete Como Park.
I’d say that too. They got a lot of attendants when they had the AFRICA! Seasonal attraction at the zoo. And I think Milwaukee gets more than Henry villas because they have more ABCs. That’s probably why Milwaukee was diligent about keeping there elephants
 
I’d say that too. They got a lot of attendants when they had the AFRICA! Seasonal attraction at the zoo. And I think Milwaukee gets more than Henry villas because they have more ABCs. That’s probably why Milwaukee was diligent about keeping there elephants

I agree. I love Henry Vilas with a passion, but I'd much rather visit Milwaukee. It has more species in general, plus it has bonobos. If Milwaukee had the same species it has now in modern enclosures, I believe it would be one of the best in the country.
 
Being free must have a lot to do with it. Henry Vilas is the opposite way, though. It is free, but a lot of people don't like to visit because they just don't like how small it is, most people seem to prefer Milwaukee.

I have visited Minnesota Zoo before, but even after comparing Como Park's collection to Minnesota, I'd rather visit Minnesota again than visit Como Park. If Minnesota acquired one or two of the great apes, giraffes, as well as lions, I bet they'd easily outcompete Como Park.
Yes, if Minnesota held those species, they would have fewer financial problems and might even be able to beat Como in a popularity contest.

HOWEVER, I do not like the idea of those animals joining the Minnesota zoo collection. Minnesota is very unique in the fact that it specializes in cold-climate species. Obtaining species like giraffes and elephants would take away one of the things that makes Minnesota so great. Sure, Minnesota has some tropical animals, but they kept indoors year-round while all the outdoor areas of the zoo are only cold-climate species. I wouldn't be opposed to a small all indoor collection of some smaller African animals (the zoo has a few already) but I don't want to see African expansion that is big enough that it must be put outside.

On another note, I think Como Park is a bit overrated. The zoo does nothing special and has a generic cookie-cutter species list in generic cookie-cutter enclosures. They may have a few rare bird species but there is no signage and they are basically impossible to find.
 
So I’m back from the zoo and here is the new things that wave happened.

.a few Pygmy goats are at the camel ride enclosure right now
.the terrible rabbit cages at the family farm have been torn down
.rabbits have moved next to the chickens in an old chicken coop
.the new tiger lair is finally done and it looks great, I’ll post some photos later
.the red fox has moved into the old Minnesota aviary
.a Virginia opossum has moved in with the raccoon
.the cotton topped tamarins are of exhibit due to covid 19
.safety measures are put up in the primate exhibits
.new birds have been added to the South American aviary, most noticeable is the Andean cock of the rock
.the new aviary renovation is done and it look great, but the birds aren’t in it due to covid 19
.the chinchilla are now only animal ambassadors
.the renovation to the hornbill aviary is almost complete and the(maybe the cotton topped tamarins and chinchilla will takeit up, and the hornbill will go the large aviary? IDK just a theory)
.new climbing structures have been added to the small clawed otter exhibit
.the Bali mynah/bamboo partridge/star tortoise exhibit is much larger and has around 3 more species.
.and finally there is a cage by the old monorail now permanently contains a tamandua

So a lot of things have happened at the zoo while we where gone
 
So I’m back from the zoo and here is the new things that wave happened.

.a few Pygmy goats are at the camel ride enclosure right now
.the terrible rabbit cages at the family farm have been torn down
.rabbits have moved next to the chickens in an old chicken coop
.the new tiger lair is finally done and it looks great, I’ll post some photos later
.the red fox has moved into the old Minnesota aviary
.a Virginia opossum has moved in with the raccoon
.the cotton topped tamarins are of exhibit due to covid 19
.safety measures are put up in the primate exhibits
.new birds have been added to the South American aviary, most noticeable is the Andean cock of the rock
.the new aviary renovation is done and it look great, but the birds aren’t in it due to covid 19
.the chinchilla are now only animal ambassadors
.the renovation to the hornbill aviary is almost complete and the(maybe the cotton topped tamarins and chinchilla will takeit up, and the hornbill will go the large aviary? IDK just a theory)
.new climbing structures have been added to the small clawed otter exhibit
.the Bali mynah/bamboo partridge/star tortoise exhibit is much larger and has around 3 more species.
.and finally there is a cage by the old monorail now permanently contains a tamandua

So a lot of things have happened at the zoo while we where gone
Where did all the birds from the Minnesota aviary go? That was one of the best parts of the zoo.
 
Yes, if Minnesota held those species, they would have fewer financial problems and might even be able to beat Como in a popularity contest.

HOWEVER, I do not like the idea of those animals joining the Minnesota zoo collection. Minnesota is very unique in the fact that it specializes in cold-climate species. Obtaining species like giraffes and elephants would take away one of the things that makes Minnesota so great. Sure, Minnesota has some tropical animals, but they kept indoors year-round while all the outdoor areas of the zoo are only cold-climate species. I wouldn't be opposed to a small all indoor collection of some smaller African animals (the zoo has a few already) but I don't want to see African expansion that is big enough that it must be put outside.

On another note, I think Como Park is a bit overrated. The zoo does nothing special and has a generic cookie-cutter species list in generic cookie-cutter enclosures. They may have a few rare bird species but there is no signage and they are basically impossible to find.
I think it’s a bit harsh to say that about como, it’s not terrible and it’s got some gems like Dallas sheep, puffins, the exotic birds and most of tropical encounters, golden headed lion tamarins, kudus, and most of the ribbit zibit, and I don’t think to zoo would invest money into a seasonal Africa attraction, but I would like them to make an African attraction out of the imax theater
 
Where did all the birds from the Minnesota aviary go? That was one of the best parts of the zoo.
The birds in there where phased out because the same birds can bee seen at the boardwalk area where the wild turkeys spend most of there time, does anyone no if the did phase out cotton topped tamarins?
 
I think it’s a bit harsh to say that about como, it’s not terrible and it’s got some gems like Dallas sheep, puffins, the exotic birds and most of tropical encounters, golden headed lion tamarins, kudus, and most of the ribbit zibit, and I don’t think to zoo would invest money into a seasonal Africa attraction, but I would like them to make an African attraction out of the imax theater
Como isn't terrible I just think it's a bit bland. I admit there are a few cool animals at Como, the Tufted Puffins and West African Lungfish stick out to me as highlights, but I do stand by my opinion that mist of the zoo is just a bit boring.

I agree that an African exhibit would be a nice use for the old IMAX theater. What is the ribbit zibit?
The birds in there where phased out because the same birds can bee seen at the boardwalk area where the wild turkeys spend most of there time, does anyone no if the did phase out cotton topped tamarins?
I'm not quite sure where you are talking about. First of all, where are the Wild Turkeys? I haven't been to the zoo in a few years, they must be new? Are you talking about the feeders? Yes, a lot of the species in that aviary were common wild birds, but Pileated Woodpecker and Ruffed Grouse were obvious highlights and some of the coolest species in the zoo.
 
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Como isn't terrible I just think it's a bit bland. I admit there are a few cool animals at Como, the Tufted Puffins and West African Lungfish stick out to me as highlights, but I do stand by my opinion that mist of the zoo is just a bit boring.

I agree that an African exhibit would be a nice use for the old IMAX theater. What is the ribbit zibit?

I'm not quite sure where you are talking about. First of all, where are the Wild Turkeys? I haven't been to the zoo in a few years, they must be new? Are you talking about the feeders? Yes, a lot of the species in that aviary were common wild birds, but Pileated Woodpecker and Ruffed Grouse were obvios highlights and some of the coolest species in the zoo.
I bet I’m the only zoochater that knows this but there is an amphibian area next to the conservatory called the ribbit zibit, featuring red eyed tree frogs, poison dart frogs, Panamanian gold frogs, another frog species I forgot, and until recently, Wyoming toads. And turkey vulture was a typo, sorry about that, and I also miss the woodpecker, fortunately I have one that lives right by my house. I wonder if, since the woodpecker at the zoo seems to not be able to fly, they put it in the feeder/turkey exhibit
 
Como isn't terrible I just think it's a bit bland. I admit there are a few cool animals at Como, the Tufted Puffins and West African Lungfish stick out to me as highlights, but I do stand by my opinion that mist of the zoo is just a bit boring.

I agree that an African exhibit would be a nice use for the old IMAX theater. What is the ribbit zibit?

I'm not quite sure where you are talking about. First of all, where are the Wild Turkeys? I haven't been to the zoo in a few years, they must be new? Are you talking about the feeders? Yes, a lot of the species in that aviary were common wild birds, but Pileated Woodpecker and Ruffed Grouse were obvios highlights and some of the coolest species in the zoo.
And I also really don’t like that they want to make the old theatre into a ropes corse :rolleyes:
 
I bet I’m the only zoochater that knows this but there is an amphibian area next to the conservatory called the ribbit zibit, featuring red eyed tree frogs, poison dart frogs, Panamanian gold frogs, another frog species I forgot, and until recently, Wyoming toads. And turkey vulture was a typo, sorry about that, and I also miss the woodpecker, fortunately I have one that lives right by my house. I wonder if, since the woodpecker at the zoo seems to not be able to fly, they put it in the feeder/turkey exhibit
Ribit zibit must be new-ish. I went into the conservatory once and saw nothing of the sort.

The bird feeders aren't in an exhibit, you know. All the birds seen there, including the turkeys, are wild.
 
Ribit zibit must be new-ish. I went into the conservatory once and saw nothing of the sort.

The bird feeders aren't in an exhibit, you know. All the birds seen there, including the turkeys, are wild.
Ribit zibit must be new-ish. I went into the conservatory once and saw nothing of the sort.

The bird feeders aren't in an exhibit, you know. All the birds seen there, including the turkeys, are wild.
I know but it is fenced in so I thought they might be plausible that the pileated woodpecker could go back in there, also I forgot to add that the hawksbill sea turtle is now in the tropical reef at the tropics trail. And the ribbit zibit is right in front of the conservatory, it’s been there for at least 8 years
 
I know but it is fenced in so I thought they might be plausible that the pileated woodpecker could go back in there, also I forgot to add that the hawksbill sea turtle is now in the tropical reef at the tropics trail. And the ribbit zibit is right in front of the conservatory, it’s been there for at least 8 years
I don't know how I missed the ribit zibit, then.
 
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