Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo News 2020

Some quotes from a new elephant introductions update from the zoo's website:
"AUGUST UPDATES: In mid-July, keepers started introductions between all three elephants.
-Sessions begin with Brittany and Ruth in stall #5 (the recreation room with sand floors) and Belle in stall #6, adjacent to the rec room. To start, Belle is contained in stall #6, and then keepers open the door for her to enter stall #5, if she chooses. This allows for Belle, Brittany and Ruth to have access to the entire ECC as a 360-degree open layout.
-Brittany did show her rump to Belle which is an act of submission. During the previous side-by-side introductions, Brittany allowed Belle to place her trunk in Brittany’s mouth, which is a sign of subordination on Brittany’s part. .
-With introductions up to this point, keepers feel that Belle will be the dominant elephant over Brittany."
Here is the original article: Update on Elephant, Belle: May 2020 | Milwaukee County Zoo
You have to scroll down past the May Updates section. I'm somewhat surprised that Belle appears to be the new dominant elephant, for some reason? Maybe its just that Brittany has been in charge for so long, and I'm still more used to the zoo with 2 elephants rather than 3 :p
 
After my recent visit to the zoo today I have some questions/observations.

1. What happened to all the all the Thompson Gazelle? Currently there is only one on exhibit in the African Savannah exhibit.

2. Did Jethro camel move to another zoo?

3. Jozi the rhino now has access to both outdoor exhibits now that Mimi has passed.

4. The King Cobra has been off exhibit for sometime, anyone know what happened to it?
 
The difference is a woodland caribou (North America) nor a forest reindeer (Europe) are wild and natural species. The container notion "Reindeer" is the domesticated variety that has little to do with the ecology nor characteristics of wild reindeer or caribou.

Frankly, I find it somewhat astounding that so few North American zoos really invest or take an active interest in their wild caribou, for which climate change and habitat loss and competition with livestock and humankind are important factors in either limiting their distribution or actively impacting and reducing their individual populations.

I just wish it were otherwise!


Thankfully, allthough not across the entire spectrum a good number of zoos in Europe have realised that the forest reindeer is actually under threat and a more robust conservation breeding program is in place administered by EAZA through their EEP. Perhaps some time from now the North American AZA can replicate this effort!
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
The difference is a woodland caribou (North America) nor a forest reindeer (Europe) are wild and natural species. The container notion "Reindeer" is the domesticated variety that has little to do with the ecology nor characteristics of wild reindeer or caribou.

Frankly, I find it somewhat astounding that so few North American zoos really invest or take an active interest in their wild caribou, for which climate change and habitat loss and competition with livestock and humankind are important factors in either limiting their distribution or actively impacting and reducing their individual populations.

I just wish it were otherwise!


Thankfully, allthough not across the entire spectrum a good number of zoos in Europe have realised that the forest reindeer is actually under threat and a more robust conservation breeding program is in place administered by EAZA through their EEP. Perhaps some time from now the North American AZA can replicate this effort!
Click to expand...
Only two US zoos keep actual Woodland Caribou. It does seem very odd.
 
A few little updates from my visit yesterday:
- There are now at least 2 (possibly more that I didn't see) Cuddle-fish living in the tank that usually hold Moon Jellyfish.
- I saw Bosco the seal pup out for the first time. He sure is cute!
- There was only 1 crowned crane in Impala Plains instead of two.
 
A few updates from my most recent visit,
- giraffes are split into two herds for birth control reasons
- the yellow back duiker sign has been removed from the African Forest exhibit and no sign of the duiker
- the tortoises that once roamed in South America exhibit have been moved to the African Forest
- the baby snow leopard is getting conditioned for the outdoor exhibit and should be out in public view soon.
- still seems that we are down to only one Thompson gazelle
 
MKE Zoo guy said:
A few updates from my most recent visit,
- giraffes are split into two herds for birth control reasons
- the yellow back duiker sign has been removed from the African Forest exhibit and no sign of the duiker
- the tortoises that once roamed in South America exhibit have been moved to the African Forest
- the baby snow leopard is getting conditioned for the outdoor exhibit and should be out in public view soon.
- still seems that we are down to only one Thompson gazelle
Click to expand...
The savanna yard by the cheetahs must look empty.
Is one giraffe herd inside and the other outside usually?
 
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