San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo News 2021

Kifaru Bwana said:
Why is SDZ stamp collecting takin ssp. while losing so many endangered antelope and caprine hoofstock species? What is the sense in that?
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This has been bugging me all week because your right it makes zero sense from every standpoint. San Diego doesn't have space to exhibit three Takins, and why would they, all three of the species they hold are relatively in the same area. Mishmi is the only species that wouldn't be found in a Panda exhibit, San Diego would have to give them some sort of Himalayan Foothill exhibit but there isn't much value of San Diego building one of those when their Snow Leopards and Red Pandas are in Panda Trek. If it was an AZA project it wouldn't make sense because even if the AZA wanted another Takin species it would only be ONE new species. Maybe the AZA is testing to see if it's possible to regulate three different hoofstock species but it just wouldn't make sense. If it was the AZA there would be more sense in testing if hoofstock like Takins could be interchangeable with other Caprids or Hoofstock.
San Diego could also be working on moving their Sichuan Takins to another zoo and keeping the Mishmi Takins at another zoo but that still wouldn't explain why.
 
An update on Komodo Kingdom and the hummingbird aviary opening on 1st June. There is a video tour in the link below of the beach and woodland enclosures for the Komodos as well as the hummingbird aviary. 17 species of bird will be introduced to the space initially with plans to increase this number gradually: The San Diego Zoo is set to open two new habitats June 1st -

Source: Kusi News
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
17 species of bird will be introduced to the space initially with plans to increase this number gradually
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This is promising, hopefully some interesting species are added! A variety of small tanagers, honeycreepers, manakins, and what not would be awesome.
 
I don't know if this can be answered but does anyone know why the bachelor Nubian Ibex herd that used to be exhibited with the Geladas at Africa Rocks were removed?
 
African Grey said:
I don't know if this can be answered but does anyone know why the bachelor Nubian Ibex herd that used to be exhibited with the Geladas at Africa Rocks were removed?
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I was told when I asked at the zoo that the bachelor herd that was there had left due to some confrontations between the ibex and gelada. And was told that they were expecting to introduce another bachelor herd to see if they would mix again but this was close to a year ago now and I’ve yet to see any ibex there. I feel sad they aren’t back :(
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Why is SDZ stamp collecting takin ssp. while losing so many endangered antelope and caprine hoofstock species? What is the sense in that?
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The Takin ssp were imported back in 2018/2019, before the fairly recent phase-outs at the safari park. Additionally, it's the safari park and not the zoo that's been phasing-out these animals. The two are not the same and these decisions are not made by the same people. As has been discussed in the split off threads, the safari park has a new director who joins them from the hotel and restaurant industry, and it appears as though she's given a directive to cut down on the hoofstock species. It is unfortunately and criticism-worthy, however that criticism should not be lobbied at the zoo. The zoo continues to be run by true zoo people as far as I'm aware.

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
The Takin ssp were imported back in 2018/2019, before the fairly recent phase-outs at the safari park. Additionally, it's the safari park and not the zoo that's been phasing-out these animals. The two are not the same and these decisions are not made by the same people. As has been discussed in the split off threads, the safari park has a new director who joins them from the hotel and restaurant industry, and it appears as though she's given a directive to cut down on the hoofstock species. It is unfortunately and criticism-worthy, however that criticism should not be lobbied at the zoo. The zoo continues to be run by true zoo people as far as I'm aware.

~Thylo
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Was it just the safari park they took over the running of? I was under the impression that they came in at San Diego zoo wildlife alliance/Global level.
 
AthleticBinturong said:
Was it just the safari park they took over the running of? I was under the impression that they came in at San Diego zoo wildlife alliance/Global level.
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While the organization runs and oversees both the Zoo and Safari Park, they each have different directors as they’re seen as different entities. It would be quite difficult for any one director be in charge of two massive facilities with so many moving parts to each. As @ThylacineAlive says, the director for the Safari park has had previous experience in working in the hotel/restaurant industry. Perhaps the call is being made at the CEO/ CFO level but I think Thylo hit it on the head.
 
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AthleticBinturong said:
Was it just the safari park they took over the running of? I was under the impression that they came in at San Diego zoo wildlife alliance/Global level.
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It could have, but as @Julio C Castro said the collections have different directors that may execute these directives differently. San Diego Global was rebranded as the Wildlife Alliance with a new director as well, so both the safari park and overseeing organization have new directors (I believe the SDWA's new director comes from a nature and conservation film background) while the zoo is still run by the same one.

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
It could have, but as @Julio C Castro said the collections have different directors that may execute these directives differently. San Diego Global was rebranded as the Wildlife Alliance with a new director as well, so both the safari park and overseeing organization have new directors (I believe the SDWA's new director comes from a nature and conservation film background) while the zoo is still run by the same one.

~Thylo
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Ok yes the phase outs at the Safari Park are different fro. The additions at the zoo but there still isn’t a reason why the zoo has 3 takin species, two imported from overseas. Also I believe you made an error here
ThylacineAlive said:
directors (I believe the SDWA's new director comes from a nature and conservation film background) while the zoo is still run by the same one.
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Here you said the safari park was being directed by someone in conservation and film
ThylacineAlive said:
the safari park has a new director who joins them from the hotel and restaurant industry, and it appears as though she's given a directive to cut down on the hoofstock species
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Here you said the new director was from the hotel and restaurant industry. Did you mean the new zoo director was from the conservation industry or did you mix up director and head curator?
 
Westcoastperson said:
Ok yes the phase outs at the Safari Park are different fro. The additions at the zoo but there still isn’t a reason why the zoo has 3 takin species, two imported from overseas. Also I believe you made an error here

Here you said the safari park was being directed by someone in conservation and film

Here you said the new director was from the hotel and restaurant industry. Did you mean the new zoo director was from the conservation industry or did you mix up director and head curator?
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Well we don't know why they imported them. It's extremely challenging to import ruminants into the US, and caprines in particular are nearly impossible to get approval for. It's unlikely that the USFDA would have approved the import had the zoo not had a good reason for it, even if they just claimed "scientific research". None of us know why the zoo imported them, but that doesn't mean there isn't one. While I don't see either population proving viable, I don't see a problem with the zoo decided to do so.

Sorry, SDWA = San Diego Wildlife Alliance.

~Thylo
 
Julio C Castro said:
I was told when I asked at the zoo that the bachelor herd that was there had left due to some confrontations between the ibex and gelada. And was told that they were expecting to introduce another bachelor herd to see if they would mix again but this was close to a year ago now and I’ve yet to see any ibex there. I feel sad they aren’t back :(
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They should have sent away the geladas! Ibex should take priority. You want primates? Look at the exhibit next door.
 
geomorph said:
They should have sent away the geladas! Ibex should take priority. You want primates? Look at the exhibit next door.
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Considering how uncommon geladas are in America that would be a great loss. There are three exhibits in Ethiopian Highlands and back when Africa Rocks first opened I remember the hamadryas troop, gelada troop, and ibex all had a separate exhibit to themselves. Why not revert back to this set up? Are there now two baboon troops? If so, they could have sent that troop away and maintained all three species.
 
Cat-Man said:
That is quite remarkable. They’re ten a penny this side of the pond!
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There are quite a few such species that are common on one side of the Atlantic but not the other. Why we don't have many Gelada I'm not sure given many areas could potentially exhibit them. Maybe someone here knows?
 
Great Argus said:
There are quite a few such species that are common on one side of the Atlantic but not the other. Why we don't have many Gelada I'm not sure given many areas could potentially exhibit them. Maybe someone here knows?
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I echo your thoughts. They’re an active and showy species. They make a great exhibit.
 
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geomorph said:
They should have sent away the geladas! Ibex should take priority. You want primates? Look at the exhibit next door.
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Great Argus said:
Only San Diego and Bronx hold Gelada though, versus quite a few holders for the ibex.
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I think I agree with @geomorph on this matter personally. There are a few holders of the ibex, yes, but that list is rapidly shrinking. The population has been in perpetual decline ever since the LA herd had to be euthanized. At the moment, only the SDZ Safari Park maintains a breeding population of this species and they are at high risk of dying out in US zoos. A breeding herd maintained at the zoo proper would be much more valuable than a bachelor group of Geladas or indeed a now twice as large bachelor herd of ibex at Bronx. More Geladas can fairly easily be imported from Europe, since they are quite common there as @Cat-Man (and I, myself) can attest to. More ibex will never be imported into the US from out of country.

That said, I imagine the popular move would be to phase-out the ibex. The species is kept at the organization's other park and monkeys will always be more popular with guests than goats. Additionally, I imagine the zoo would be hesitant to phase-out a primate that they spent the time and money importing from Europe for this exhibition. The star of the exhibition are the Geladas, not the ibex. I don't think it would be as easy rehoming the Geladas either. I doubt Bronx wants to take on six or so male Geladas that they would have to integrate into their already 20-or-so-strong breeding troop. After that, there are no other Geladas in the US, and no other breeding troops present in North America as a whole. Meanwhile, Bronx needs new ibex to supplement their aging and dying bachelors. Even if they didn't, plenty of non-AZA institutions are available to take them on...

~Thylo
 
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