The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens The Living Desert News

Well, I'm not sure if everyone already knows this, or if its been something that's been loss due to this whole quarantine thing, but Australian Adventures was set to open March 21. (The zoo closed on March 17.)

Species that are listed on the website include
  • Mammals
    • Bennett's Wallabies
    • Yellow-footed wallabies
    • Bettong
    • Short beaked Echidnas
  • Birds
    • Emu
    • Kookaburra
    • Tawny Frogmouth
    • Budgeriar
    • Cockatiel
  • Reptiles
    • Bearded Dragon
    • Blue-tongued skink
    • Centralian Carpet Python
    • Frill-Neck Lizard
    • Olive Python
I'll have more information as well as pictures once the quarantine ends and the zoo reopens
 
Recent births: 1.0 spekes gazelle (May 15), 0.0.3 chacoan peccary (around May 10-13), 1.1 bighorn sheep (March 31 & April 4), 1.0 serval (February 9).

The latest litter of African wild dogs have been integrated with the previous litter and parents to make a mixed age pack of 19! Wow! Surely the largest pack of African wild dogs in North America?
 
Apparently today is World Rhino day, so the zoo has held a Facebook Live with the President/CEO to give updates and a behind the scenes of the construction for phase 2 of the zoo’s masterplan, which is highlighted by a new exhibit for black rhinos. The first link is to the livestream and the second is to a video that the zoo posted about 3 weeks ago that shows what the finished exhibit will look like.
Biggest bits of information are that phase 2 will open fall 2021, and some of the hoof stock that will share the exhibit with the rhinos will be springbok, waterbucks, and klipspringers. The zoo expects to receive 2 rhinos, a male and a female. Also they announced there will be a new exhibit for underground life, highlighted by naked mole rats, dwarf mongoose, and a second exhibit for meerkats.
 
Tomorrow, December 17, The Living Desert will be reopening as an outdoor recreational facility. Outdoor recreational facilities are allowed to reopen under the December 6th guidance with new social distancing guidelines. The Living Desert says they can do this is because of their hiking trails meaning the only other zoo that could have a chance at reopening would be The San Diego Zoo Safari Park because they have the world gardens hiking area.
 
Tomorrow, December 17, The Living Desert will be reopening as an outdoor recreational facility. Outdoor recreational facilities are allowed to reopen under the December 6th guidance with new social distancing guidelines. The Living Desert says they can do this is because of their hiking trails meaning the only other zoo that could have a chance at reopening would be The San Diego Zoo Safari Park because they have the world gardens hiking area.
I wouldn't be surprised if other large zoos like LA and SDZ open up under similar guidelines. Probably under some sort of "outdoor park" designation.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if other large zoos like LA and SDZ open up under similar guidelines. Probably under some sort of "outdoor park" designation.
Maybe San Diego but not LA they took a very long time to reopen because Los Angles is much less stable than San Diego when it comes to Covid cases. I also don't think that will be an option until at least the New Year because they don't have hiking trails like the Living Desert and Safari Park which is the only reason they could open.
 

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WildLights, a night light display typically held during the Christmas season, will be held again this month. Dates are March 15-28, 2021, from 6:30-9:30pm.
 
0.1 desert bighorn sheep born April 15, 2021
Three additional desert bighorn lambs have been born since.

In other news, the last two Cuvier’s gazelles have been shipped out. These were the last two individuals of this species on display in the country.

The zoo has also welcomed groups of ellipsen waterbuck, South African springbok, and great white pelicans in preparation for their new exhibit opening this fall.
 
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